Chapter 132: I…Can’t Be…

“Ezra.” Kaelis places Lior down on the ground as soon as they get close to him. “This little guy has something to say to you.”

Ezra pulls himself out of his thoughts and looks down at Lior, who walks toward him slowly, shy and almost guilty.

’He looks like he’s about to cry again. My poor boy.’

Ezra lowers himself to one knee in front of him.

Lior keeps his gaze down.

“What do you want to tell me?” Ezra asks softly, holding himself back from reaching out and pulling him into a tight hug.

His chest feels tight.

Like something inside him is pushing, telling him to stop caring about the fact that Kaelis is watching and just hold his son.

But now—

Now that Ezra has finally let himself acknowledge it, even just inside his own head, that Kaelis is Lior’s father… everything feels heavier.

Years of denying it.

Years of pushing the thought away because of the embarrassment, the humiliation, the shame of having been that vulnerable with someone like Kaelis.

All the times he forced himself to forget. To erase the memory. To cut that connection completely.

But Lior—

Lior is the proof that it was never gone.

It is as if Ezra cannot escape it. The same golden blood running through Lior… and through Kaelis.

“I’m…” Lior starts, cutting through Ezra’s thoughts and pulling him back to the present.

Back to what matters.

Back to who matters.

“…I’m sorry,” Lior whispers. “I didn’t mean to call you a monster… you’re not a monster. You killed the bad guy because he took me… I—”

Lior’s lips tremble, and when he finally looks up, the tears fall.

Ezra doesn’t last a second.

The moment he sees Lior cry, he pulls him into his arms and lifts him. “I’m sorry. Please don’t hate me.”

He bites down on his tongue, not out of frustration, but to stop himself from breaking.

He can still feel Kaelis there, still watching, and Ezra cannot afford to fall apart again in front of him.

So instead, he just holds Lior tighter.

“I…” His voice catches. He forces it steadily. “I would never hate you. I was afraid you would hate me, Lior.”

Lior shakes his head against him. “N-No… I was just not brave for a bit. Kakay talked to me… and explained. Now I’m brave again. I’m clever again,” he whispers.

Ezra lets out a quiet breath that turns into a small chuckle.

Lior has always been like this. Somehow, even after everything, he still manages to say things that ease something in Ezra’s chest.

“You’ve always been clever,” Ezra says. “You knew killing was bad. I could never blame you for how you reacted. Yes, I did it for you, but that doesn’t make it right.”

“I know,” Lior says softly. “I won’t kill anyone.”

“You better not. Leave that to me,” Ezra replies.

For a moment, they just stay like that.

Lior presses his face into the crook of Ezra’s neck, holding onto him like he never wants to let go.

’I don’t know what I would’ve done if you were taken.’

And to think—

There was a time Ezra didn’t want a child.

There was even a moment when he almost got rid of the best thing that ever happened to him.

Five Years Ago…

“I’m…what? No. No, I can’t be, that’s…” Ezra stood up so suddenly his chair scraped harshly against the floor, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword as he stared at the doctor.

He had gone to see a doctor.

No—he forced one.

His face was covered, his voice low, his blade visible enough to make sure there were no questions asked. He had been feeling off for weeks.

Tired in a way that sleep didn’t fix. Sick in a way he couldn’t explain.

He couldn’t go to his usual physician. Not when Helios could be involved.

So he ended up here.

And now—

“Our tools are quite advanced, Mister,” Bartlebee said, pushing his glasses up despite the way his hands trembled.

Even with the fear in his eyes, he still held out the results. “I am one hundred percent certain you are pregnant. I understand this may come as a shock, especially if you were unaware you are a male omega, or if your situation is…complicated, but male omegas are known to be very fertile. You do not experience the same complications as female omegas.”

“What does that even mean?!” Ezra snapped, lifting his sword just slightly.

The doctor flinched, shoulders tightening, but he didn’t step back.

“It means,” Bartlebee continued, his voice more careful now, “whatever occurred has resulted in this. You may not have expected it, but biologically, it is entirely possible. Likely, even.”

Ezra’s other hand moved on its own, pressing against his stomach.

“I can’t…” His voice dropped, almost lost. “I can’t be pregnant. I can’t afford to be pregnant. I—”

“There is nothing to be done about the fact that you are,” Bartlebee said with a quiet sigh. “You are threatening me, which suggests you are hiding something. Perhaps your identity as an omega. I understand. Male omegas are rare and often judged. But if you know who the father is, then your situation is not without options. I can provide you with supplements, guidance—”

“Tell me how to get rid of it.”

Bartlebee froze.

“Pardon?”

Ezra’s grip on his sword tightened.

“How do I abort it?” he asked, his voice colder now. “How do I kill it?”

The doctor’s eyes widened, the fear in them shifting into something firmer. “Sir, I understand you are overwhelmed, but that is illegal, and more importantly, unethical. You can threaten me all you want, but I will not harm a fetus.”

’Shit.’

Ezra’s breathing grew uneven, his chest rising too fast.

This couldn’t be happening.

Not this.

Not now.

Especially not—

’Kaelis.’

The name hit harder than anything else.

If Kaelis found out…

If he remembered that night…

If Ezra carried his child to term—

Even if the child was illegitimate, even if it was hidden—

If it were a boy—

Kaelis would win.

Kaelis would become king.

Ezra’s stomach twisted.

“I can’t have this baby,” he whispered, more to himself than to the doctor.

Helios was meant to be king.

Helios had always been meant to be king.

That was Ezra’s purpose. The only thing he had held onto for years. The reason he endured everything.

He was not going to let this ruin it.

Not this.

Not anyone.

“Do you know any kingdoms that allow abortion?” Ezra asked, lifting his head again.

“That’s—”

“Do you?” Ezra cut him off, his voice rising.

“Y-Yes…” Bartlebee stammered.

Ezra stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar, pulling him closer. The sword pressed just enough to make the threat clear.

“Tell me.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep