I put my hand on her cheek and tipped her head back again, so she was looking at me. “Everyone in the castle knows damn well at this point that you’re the queen. Having a baby would make you look stronger, not weaker, so get that out of your head. Our decision to have a child or not will be based on whether we want to grow our family right now.”

“It would be insane to do it this quickly, right?” she asked, searching my gaze.

I lifted a shoulder. “Perhaps. But everyone is trying to repopulate right now, so there’s plenty of support.”

“And a kingdom’s leaders should do their part in repopulation, right?”

“If their leaders want a baby, they should.”

Her lips curved, and she slid her hands over my chest. “I’m terrified that I’ll be a shitty mom, but I still do want to be one. Eloise was right about the freaking fever.”

“It does seem to catch quickly.” I lowered my lips to hers and kissed her lightly. “You have a few more hours to make up your mind. When the first one of your scales falls, you’ll feel it, and we’ll make a decision.”

“If I decide I want one…” she trailed off.

“You know I love children. I would enjoy nothing more than to raise one with you, whenever you’re ready.”

Her face warmed, and she nodded. “I’ll tell you when I decide. And when the scale falls.”

“I’ll definitely know when your fertility begins, Sweetheart.”

Her forehead creased. “How?”

“I thought you’ve spoken with the other women about having children.”

“Well, yeah, but not about the actual breeding part. I told them I didn’t want a baby yet.”

I kissed her lips lightly. “There’s a reason people use the birth control plant rather than abstaining when they don’t want kids. At the party, ask them.”

Her face reddened. “It seems weird that you’re not just going to tell me.”

“You’ll believe it more easily if you talk to them first.”

“Well, that sounds ominous.”

“Good thing you have time to change your mind.” I kissed her again, and she kissed back for a moment before I pulled away.

As much as I would’ve enjoyed making out with her there all night, she needed time to think, and we would be missed if we didn’t get to the party.

So, we headed down the hall.

When we reached the massive ballroom the party was being hosted in, Aria kissed me one more time before slipping away. I poured us both glasses of wine, and found her in a conversation between a few ex-human females I vaguely recognized. I was fairly confident they were some of the newer women who had been claimed after I brought Aria home.