I woke a few hours later, leaping up the moment I realized Elle wasn't next to me.

She had fallen asleep hours ago after dinner and a movie marathon. While she slept beside me, I spent the late hours answering emails and watching her from the corner of my eye. But now, after perhaps two hours of sleep?

Gone.

I threw off the sheets, springing to my feet, my head whipping around as I searched the empty room. My eyes confirmed she wasn't there, but my nose…

Her scent was faint, but not stale. She hadn't been gone long.

A growl rose in my chest as I stalked from the room, searching the empty hallways for my mate. She was on bed rest—where else would she be? Unless…

Unless something had happened—but she would have woken me.

Or she'd been kidnapped—but I couldn't have slept through that.

I followed her scent, my anger intensifying as it led me downstairs. Damn it, the doctor explicitly forbade stairs. I pounded down the staircase, hurrying through the hall and slamming open the kitchen door—

And there she was. Seated alone at the kitchen table in the dark, surrounded by a mountain of food, her eyes wide.

"Um," she said innocently, lowering a piece of cold fried chicken. "Do you want some?"

"Elle," I growled, storming to her side, relief washing over me. "What are you doing down here?" She looked up, then gestured at the food as if it were obvious.

My snarl deepened. "The doctor told you to stay in bed."

"I didn't go far!"

"He told you not to go downstairs."

She held up a finger. "He told me not to go upstairs. And I slid down on my butt! It was totally fine!"

I groaned, throwing my head back. "Elle," I whispered through clenched teeth, "you can't take these risks—"

"I was hungry!" she protested.

I glared. "I could have gotten you food! Anything you wanted!"

Her eyes softened, filled with apology. "You would have gotten up," she scolded gently. "When you'd just fallen asleep, Dominic. You can't be at my beck and call—not for something simple like kitchen food."

"And how," I asked, my anger fading, "would you have gotten back upstairs after your…" I stared at the shocking amount of food, "…feast?"

"You have six couches, Dominic," she replied, smiling innocently. "I'd have napped on one until morning, when you could lift me in your arms."

"Oh, so you had it all planned out?" I murmured, relenting, and touching her rose-gold hair. My panic, while understandable, hadn't reached the darkest extremes I'd imagined.

"Yup!" she quipped, smiling and eating an Oreo.

I laughed and pulled up a chair. She hadn't won—not yet—but I couldn't resist the sight of my pregnant mate, happy, healthy, and hungry. But hungry for…

"What are you even eating?" I blurted, frowning at the fried chicken, pasta salad, cakes, wasabi-dipped peanuts, and peas.

"Everything," she murmured, grabbing licorice. "That's why I couldn't wake you. I didn't know what I wanted. Turns out, I wanted it all." I grimaced as she took a bite. "Any chance we could move the nest down here? It'd be terribly convenient."

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, Elle. You can't move into the pantry. We'll get you a better selection upstairs. Maybe we can hire someone…" I drifted off, thinking of solutions as she continued to graze.

My mind was too tired for real ideas. I sighed, rubbing my eyes, longing for my pillow and our bed.

Elle softly said, "Oh," putting a hand on my shoulder. "See?" she insisted, studying my tired face. "I was right—you needed sleep. You shouldn't be up, Dominic. You're not on the pregnancy clock. You should be asleep."

"Don't be ridiculous," I murmured, fighting a yawn. "I'm up whenever you need me—"

"And don't you see how that's a problem?" she pushed. "Dominic, your dedication means everything, but…" she paused, biting her lip. "You have more than me on your plate now. You'll be crowned King soon. You have to turn some attention to that, and let me care for myself."

"Elle," I began.

"No," she interrupted, touching my cheek. "Let me finish, baby. I see what you've been doing. You spend a whole day with me, and when I fall asleep? You spend a whole day catching up. Half your staff is on night hours, all for me." She shook her head. "It's too much, Dominic."

"No," I growled stubbornly. I wasn't angry, just frustrated because she was right. "It's not too much—you mean everything, Elle—"

"I know," she assured me. "But Dominic, I'm getting better. You've got to stop treating me like a porcelain doll—I'm strong. I am, after all, Goddess-born," she joked.

I laughed but shook my head. "Elle, if anything were to happen to you…"

"It's not going to," she stated brightly. "Trust me, Sinclair. I'm good. Let me take care of myself and our baby, and let me tell you when I need help. Like right now!" She raised her arms. "When I need you to carry me back upstairs because I'm finished with this." She grimaced, touching her stomach. "I think Rafe is telling me the licorice was a step too far."

I chuckled, gathering her into my arms. Before we went, I kissed her. "All right, trouble," I teased. "But you promise me you'll ask for help. No pride, no putting me or the nation first."

"I promise," she said seriously, smiling. "If it's between the national economy and me getting a bubble bath, I come first."

And so, smiling, I carried my love back to bed.