Natalia’s POV
The following morning, I woke to find that Andrei’s side of the bed was already empty, although still warm when I stretched my hand out. Cracking my eyes open, I found him tiptoeing around the room, carefully putting on his leathers and tying his hair back in a knot. He was preparing to leave.
“Where are you going?” I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
He winced as if he hadn’t intended to wake me up.
“Just going on a border patrol,” he replied. “One of our guards said there were more rogue sightings last night near the southern perimeter. I want to check the tracks myself, see if I can make sense of it.”
I was already swinging my legs out of bed. “Oh, okay. I’ll come with you.”
“No.” Andrei shook his head. “You need to rest. It’s probably not best for the baby if y
