CHAPTER 472: PLEAD WITH HIM

"Ian?"

"Hmmm?"

"If that much time has passed, then I need to go back to see the kids. How are they? I miss them," she whispered, her voice soft and wistful as she lay curled in Ian’s arms. Her fingers absentmindedly traced little circles on his chest, eyes distant with the ache of separation. Ian held her a little tighter, pressing a kiss to her forehead as if trying to fill the silence with comfort.

"They’re in good hands, so don’t worry about them - "

Shelby bolted upright as if remembering something else and interrupted Ian,

"What of that demon of a woman?!"

Shelby did not know what Aliya was, but she was more positive than she would care to admit that Aliya was behind what had happened to her. Call that a woman’s intuition. Shelby was a hundred per cent positive of this, and because of this, she was scared for the kids.

Some may call her paranoid and whatnot, but even though Aliya had birthed and adopted the children, Shelby knew from her little interaction with her that the woman did not care one bit for them, and that in itself scared her!

She bolted upright, her heart racing just at the thought of what Aliya could possibly do. The peaceful moment shattered like glass. The mere memory of Aliya curled cold fingers around her spine.

Yes, even though she was Ingrid’s biological mother, Shelby knew a deceitful, double-edged snake when she saw one. There was always something off .... that fake smile that she mostly gave to Ian, the too-sweet voice for him and the kids, the way her eyes never quite matched her words.

"The kids... they’re with her," Shelby muttered, panic creeping into her voice. The thought alone was too discomforting. It was just too terrifying for her to stomach. Her pulse quickened, and she threw off the sheets, already moving and muttering to herself,

"I shouldn’t have let this happen," she said through gritted teeth. "Not even for a second."

Ian sat up with her, gently pulling her back into his arms, one hand smoothing her hair. His voice was calm, warm, but firm. It was the kind that wrapped around her panic like a protective cloak, and Ian had always been that protective cloak since he opened up to her.

"They’re okay," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. "They’re safe. I made sure of it. Ian’s statement was technically a half lie as he had been bedridden, but at the same time, it was the truth because he and Currey had worked together for so long that they both were in sync, and Currey could act in Ian’s best interests without being told, as was Murray towards Shelby.

"They’re in good hands, with people I trust with my life. Mum, that old man, Brad and even Suzie are there, nothing would happen to them,"

Shelby still looked uncertain, her eyes clouded with doubt, but he cupped her face and held her gaze.

"Hey," he said softly. "She may have her ways, but she’s not alone with them. I wouldn’t risk that.... not with our kids. You know me better than that."

A beat passed, and slowly, her shoulders began to lower, the tension easing slightly. Ian was right; what could possibly get past Geneva and Suzie? Absolutely nothing!

Besides, even though Aliya was their mother, the children had made it clear that they did not want her in their lives. This fact made Shelby’s worries disappear the more because she deduced that the adults would work in their best interests.

"I know," she whispered. "I just... can’t help worrying."

Ian smiled faintly. "That’s why I love you. But I promise, my Elfin, they’re okay. And we’ll see them soon. Besides, we’re going to be leaving soon," Ian added,

"Really?"

"Yes, Ian repeated, rubbing his warm palm over the slight curve on Shelby’s lower abdomen."

"We

will be going home soon...."

Shelby nodded, relaxing back into his embrace because she knew that he was referring to the three of them.

That sound mind did not last long, though, because another thought crept up in her mind, making her frown,

"What of these people, though?" Shelby asked, referring to the Faes, who seemed to then hold a high regard for Ian in terms of the throne. That actually made her worried because Ian was half-human as well, and for him to take the throne meant that he had to stay in this realm.

Shelby was unsure of how feasible that was, but she also did not want to stay there either. His little experience there had left a bitter taste in her mouth, and Shelby could not wait to get out of there.

At the same time, she knew that if Ian decided to agree to their demands, she would stay with him without him asking. He was her man, hers only, and Shelby could not see a life without him in the human world. She looked at him expectantly, waiting for the answer.

The thought was like being on the fence with a decision.

Outside their room, there was a tense atmosphere. Murray, who was back in peak condition, shared a look with his brother - a silent exchange thick with unease and curiosity.

They also shared some of Shelby’s concerns, but unlike Shelby, they were bound by duty and some other things to Ian, so no matter what Ian did, these two brothers would forever follow with no hesitation.

Just beyond them, half-hidden in the dim corner of the corridor, stood two figures. Not just any two. Murray’s eyes narrowed, and recognition hit.

He knew them.

One was a fellow captive – the resilience and funny Fae that Shelby had said reminded her of Gabriel. His eyes found Murray’s almost instantly, wide with surprise, then relief... and then hesitation.

It was indeed a bit funny to look at him, but Murray had long realized the Fae’s reverence towards his mistress. The Fae was in awe! However, Murray knew everything; Shelby would be thrilled to see this particular Fae at any time.

’Her Highness gained herself another follower,’ Murray mused as his eyes moved to the second figure, the head guard.

This Fae made his blood boil. He had been their captor! The one who had once stood smug behind doors, toying with power, but he was also the one who had bowed and scraped before his mistress, not out of duty, but out of fear and something else Murray couldn’t name. Fascination, maybe. Devotion. Madness?

That classic scene would forever be ingrained in Murray’s mind. The Fae had come to torment but had reneged on his own.

When Murray’s gaze fell on the head guard, his shoulders slightly hunched, and his eyes cast down. He looked like a man weighed down by shame. There was no arrogance in him now, no mask of cruelty—just a haunted silence and a look that begged for something unspoken. Forgiveness? Understanding? A chance to explain?

That was his own issue, and Murray did not want to be a part of it. He had his own issues to deal with... which was how to get his master to trust him again. Murray knew that what he had done was not sufficient.

Without anyone telling him so, he knew that he had failed in his duties as a shadow guard yet gained. He had thought of it too often but always came to the same conclusion.... Murray started thinking of what he could do to absolve himself from his masters....

Currey was of a different line of thought and looked at the two in the corner with vigilance. Obviously, his brother had shared their info with him, but that did not mean that he would not take it with a grain of salt, and there was also the issue of what Murray had told him about Shelby’s new power... the same one that had subdued the head guard. Currey sighed, it looked like it might take a while to go back, he mused.

Just then, the old Faes approached, their movements slow, though through flying. It was not from age alone, but from the weight of uncertainty that hung heavily over them like a fog. They exchanged glances as if silently daring one another to be the first.

None wanted to speak, yet all of them hoped for answers .... perhaps even forgiveness.

They had all stood watching as Shelby was going to be harmed, yet now, they needed her.

Finally, Brian was nudged forward, almost imperceptibly, as if the others hoped to hide behind his courage.

He was the only one among them who had good contact with Ian and his bonded one. They, therefore, had to leverage him.

He stumbled a step, caught himself, and then zapped into the air to hold himself. His voice trembled with age but more so with emotion.

"We... we didn’t come with malice," he began, eyes not meeting the one they addressed. "We just want to understand. If there is penance, we will all bear it... but we ...."

Behind him, another’s lip quivered. One clenched his gnarled hands as if to stop them from shaking. And one blinked back tears he’d never let fall before ...not in public. The silence that followed was thick ...taut with waiting, weighed with centuries of pride, mistakes, and buried truths.

He let his sentence hang, hoping that Murray and Currey would understand his hint.

Murray had met him and had no malice against Brian, as did Currey, but that did not mean that the others were okay, and they could direct Ian and Shelby to their whim.

So, Currey raised an eyebrow, indicating that he should complete his sentence,

Another stepped in rather,

"Could you plead with His Majesty to stay? Our land needs him!"

*********

Thank you so much to all for your votes and comments! I hope we can keep it up ^_^

Support the author by reading only on Webnovel :) ~Uploaded only on webnovel by Loctovia ~