CHAPTER 191: FREED AT LAST

Time passed....it was like time had stopped just for this moment. Ariana just stared at them, her eyes locking on Zavren whose gaze was fixed on her gently, her heartbeat raced and yet no words left her lips; there was nothing she could form. It was like her heart was brought back to light.

Her heart had been dimly lit , which had been lit because of her hope for a daughter, was now brightly lit because of her husband. She just stared with mixed feeling; she could not even put what was in her heart into words. Had she been so tired she was now seeing and hearing things?

Little Vreni, curious by her mother’s silence, stared at her father, then back at her mother.

"Momma," she spoke softly as she stared at her mother.

Ariana’s gaze slowly shifted from Zavren’s calm grey ones before she rested it on her daughter, whose face now looked worried. She could not blame her—Ariana had been still for minutes, and it was normal for her daughter to be worried.

"Oh, Vreni," she spoke as she walked towards them. Her breath hitched as she was now more aware of her steps; she knew Zavren’s eyes were still locked on hers. She tried her best to keep a calm expression, but she could not help already feeling nervous. She had never felt like this in a long time, so it surprised her more than she could admit.

Her baby moved as Zavren handed Vreni to her, and just as she took Vreni her hands touched Zavren’s. The moment their hands met her body shivered as an electrifying sweetness sparked in her veins, rushing through fast.

She made sure not to lock gazes with him, as she knew if she did she would break down completely.

"M..Momma, awnt weah clean mwe up?" she spoke, pointing at her lips—exactly where Leah had cleaned her after eating. Ariana smiled softly and, in a low voice, answered,

"Really Woww? you know it is time for bed." The little girl nodded with a smile. Zavren just watched them; though his face was calm, the amount of surprise on it at actually seeing that his little daughter had grown this much already told him that he had slept for years.

Earlier immediately he had heard those words, something sparked in him, he had been in a dark room. He was struggling to open the gate; he had managed to push it a little, and as the light peeked in it was like the end — no matter how he pushed he could never open it. Of course his wife’s voice every time he heard it had motivated him to push, but today, for some unknown reason, he had not heard her voice, which worried him. He wondered if she was in trouble — he had heard her voice in that room every single day, but he didn’t today.

For some unknown reason, immediately he heard the words "Dada" called from his little one, and he immediately pushed. The gate opened; it was like all the strength came at once and he pushed. A loud crack echoed as the chain broke and the light flashed in. Just as he covered his eyes, trying to adjust from the blinding light, his eyes met the ceiling — he was finally freed.

And just as he had sat up his eyes landed on the little girl who stared at him with a tilted head as she repeated,

"Dada."

And that finally dawned on him — she was his little one. Her hair was similar to his, her mother’s eyes already told him so, and now watching his wife and daughter talk surprised him.

Ariana walked to the door and yelled out. Leah stood there with a bow, and finally she saw Vreni. Vreni laughed softly and clapped her small hands; with a bright voice she spoke,

"Awnt weah." Leah smiled yet waited, as she did not know if the queen would still trust her with her child. Even though it was not entirely her fault, she made sure that she would be extra careful next time if anything like this ever happened.

"Lady Leah, take her to sleep," Ariana spoke softly. Leah bowed and took Vreni gently as the little girl began to babble softly; Leah nodded and answered her.

Ariana moved back and did not know why her heart began to pound.

She entered the room where Zavren still stood, expression calm and neutral. He stood where he was; Ariana stopped in her tracks as she could not move further.

"Z..Zavren," she managed to say, and immediately those words left her lips. Her eyes widened as she felt his strong arms wrap around her in a warm embrace.

Her breath caught as all the emotions finally crashed in and tears began to roll down her cheeks. Earlier she had tried to be calm, but now, feeling his arms around her and that scent, everything made her body shiver. All the pain, all the struggle, all the hope — everything clashed together and tears kept falling.

Zavren rested his face on the crook of her neck; feeling her tears on his chest, he pulled away softly. His grey eyes softened as he gently pressed his lips to her forehead.

"Don’t you..dare l..leave me again — don’t you ever do that. D..Don’t," she spoke, her voice trembling. Zavren’s eyes softened even more as she punched him, her fists hitting his shirt; tears rolled down her cheeks as her voice came out broken.

She punched him harder; Zavren allowed her — he did not push her away. She allowed herself to punch him and he did not mind. He was wrong; he had been wrong, and he understood it was normal for her to feel that way. As she punched him, he cleaned her cheeks; gently he wiped the tears away.

"You are so annoying, selfish rude," she spoke softly as she finally held his shirt, squeezing it hard. She pressed her forehead to his shoulder; she had already grown tired of punching him, and Zavren allowed her to do all she wanted with him.

"I am so sorry, my wife," he apologized.

Ariana’s tears rolled down more as she sniffed weakly, her breath coming out short. Zavren moved as his trembling hands gently caressed her hair slowly while she continued her sobs.

"Y..you made me worried. I was scared...so scared, Zavren—and I thought I would lose hope. I did not want another year to pass. I regretted ever doing that and...," she sniffed again as she tried her best not to think too hard. Zavren allowed her; he just kept apologizing as he did not want her crying like this.

"You can punish me all you want," he finally spoke as her hands freed from his cloth. Her hands, which she had used to squeeze his shirt, pulled away softly. Their eyes locked — her heart skipped as his intense gaze stared at her before his eyes landed on her lips, and just as it landed on her lips her body shivered sweetly.

As she shifted her gaze her face flushed hard; she lightly punched him on his shoulders as she laughed softly. A sinful smirk curled on Zavren’s lips as he knew exactly what he had done.

"You are planning to distract me, you sly husband of mine," she spoke as she gave him a hard glare. Zavren gave her an innocent look as she slowly looked at him.

"No, I am not sweetheart. What kind of punishment did you even think I was talking about, hmmm... touc—" his lips closed as Ariana glared at him and then spoke.

"Zav, you have to be mindful of your words. Remember that we have a little one and we would not want her hearing that," she said. Zavren nodded.

"I know that. I would say that when she is not here, like now—" immediately he finished his words. His hands moved to her waist, pulling her to him. Her wet lashes parted as she gazed at him before pouting; she lowered her gaze. She did not know how to feel right now — it felt too real, too good to be true — and she wished this moment would never end.

"You..." Ariana pointed at him as he lowered his head to her neck, sniffing her scent. He had missed her so much; he gently kissed her there as Ariana’s legs almost weakened.

"Me? What happened to me?" he asked, staring at her innocently. Ariana gave him a glare; she could not even be mad at him. She had already planned how she would punish him and tell him how wicked he had been for allowing her to stay alone, and now seeing him she could not even bring herself to punish him again.

"Oh, Zavren, I would punish you so hard," she spoke. Zavren’s eyes flashed sinfully, his lips burning to a mischievous smirk — but his body stiffened in shock as she added,

"I will punish you so hard it would be worse than spreading your legs."