CHAPTER 107: CHAPTER 107: THE NIGHT WE MET.

Elena sighed at the flashback she had just had. It really broke her heart to no longer be able to feed her own child. Now, she has to feed him with donated or manufactured milk from other mothers and blood of animals. It was the most horrible thing she had ever witnessed and it pained her to the core.

"My lady?" Luan called from beside her. Elena snapped out of her reverie, brushing a strand of hair over her ear. "Are you tired? Would you like to rest?"

She had been standing there unmoving for a full minute that it made her worry if she was alright.

Elena shook her head. "Let’s call it a day, Luan. I feel kind of dizzy."

Luan immediately moved to collect the baby clinging to her neck. It made sense why he’s do that given the fact that he had an innate blood thirst.

Thankfully, he didn’t scream or kick. Luan placed him gently in the second stroller, took both from her lady’s hand and headed back towards the palace.

She glanced over at her lady who looked deep in thoughts. Luan contemplated whether to speak up or remain silent. Either way, she chose the former.

"You seem quite lost my lady. Anything the matter?" Luan asked gently. She knew she was in no place to even speak with the queen but how could she not? That lady had literally taken her as a sister than a mere maid. There was even a time she offered her one of her bangles made of pure nacre, a very expensive jewel, just to treat her dying brother.

Since then, Luan had sworn her life to her.

Elena looked over at her for a second before returning her gaze back on the path.

"I’m alright dear."

Luan flashed a gummy smile as she bumped into her playfully but gently. Elena giggled and retaliated. She took one stroller from Luna’s hand and together, they walked slowly back to the palace, giggling and chatting about mundane matters.

By the time they reached the palace, Elena could already feel exhaustion settling in on her. They got to the stairs and Elena picked up the children in both arms while Luan carried up the strollers.

"I’ll go call the other ladies-in-waiting to help with your bath your highness." Luan said once they arrived at the front of the children’s nursery.

"No need dear. I would love to have a nice soak on my own." Elena stopped with a smile.

Luan frowned a bit, fidgeting. "But you’re still so weak—"

"I said I can handle, Luan. I can manage myself." Elena replied, firmly this time.

Luan bowed her head upon hearing the queen’s tone. It was never her intention to upset the queen but the king had commanded to never let the queen alone after the incident with Prince Eden.

She was the only soul to know about it after the King and Queen and the king had practically threatened her to never let anyone else know about it.

The intense pressure had made her swear there and then on her life.

Not like she had a choice though. How could she even think of betraying her? A whole queen?

With Luan still bowing, Elena ushered herself into the nursery to put the kids down. Damien had initially planned on putting Eden in a separate room but after much begging and pleading from her, decided to just partition it instead.

It made less of a difference but at least they were still together.

A baby gate of medium height divided the room just enough to make it feel more accommodating than a prison. Eden was placed on the right hand while Edna was placed on the left which was closer to the entrance.

She kissed them gently and walked out. Luan instantly got the message. She rushed to the bathroom to prepare the bathing water for the kids assisted by two other elderly women who helped undress them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elena entered her chambers with the slow, dragging steps of someone who had been drained beyond her limits. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her eyes dim with exhaustion, and her shoulders drooped as if invisible weights weighed down on her.

The maids had offered earlier to assist her in undressing, but she had waved them off quietly. She wanted silence. She wanted solitude. She wanted the comfort of her own mind for once, not the constant presence of others who watched, bowed, and hovered.

Elena was well aware of Damien ordering the servants to always keep an eye on her especially her ladies-in-waiting.

He meant well but sometimes he could be overwhelming.

She shut the door behind her and exhaled shakily.

The room felt warmer than usual, the scented candles burning lightly on the pedestal near her mirror. She approached a mirror that stood beside the grand walk-in closet and began removing her clothes piece by piece.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she shed each layer: the outer gown, the bodice, the inner linen. Soon she stood bare, illuminated by the soft candle glow, her skin catching a faint golden color.

Elena ran her palms slowly over her body.

Her fingers travelled across her arms, across the gentle curve of her stomach, the widening of her hips, the fuller swell of her breasts which were plumper, softer. More woman than she had ever felt.

Her breath hitched faintly at the sight. Her form had changed these past months. It was softened and rounded, carrying signs of a body that had been just undergone childbearing. Elena wondered if the changes in her body was the reason why she got urges quickly especially when her husband was near. When he wasn’t, she sucked it up and distracted herself with the kids instead.

For a moment, she simply stared at herself.

I’ve changed so much

Elena could still very much remember her time in Lord Voss’ house with his wicked witch of a wife.

There was never enough for her to eat and still had been the scapegoat of the family.

Elena giggled.

What an irony. They always said nothing could could come out of her. Wouldn’t they be in for a surprise?

If she hadn’t been the scapegoat, she would have never been married to this man who could never get enough of her.

Her drew her concentration back to her reflection which looked almost foreign, yet deeply familiar. The strange, wild urge came back to her again stronger causing her to shiver.

Elena shook her head to dispel the thought.

gods! what the hell?!

Finally, she reached for her bathrobe, lifting the silky fabric from its hook. She draped it over her shoulders, letting the cool material kiss her warm skin. She tied the waist loosely, smoothing the robe down with a resigned sigh.

Just then, a sudden beam of blinding light cracked through the air.

It appeared so violently that she her body felt its weight immediately. A scream shot out of her throat.

Her knees buckled, her vision exploded into white, and her breath escaped her in a rush. She felt nothing afterward, only darkness swallowing her whole.

The room remained silent. No one had heard her scream. She wasn’t even sure if she had screamed.

When Elena’s eyes finally fluttered open, her vision slowly got clearer. Her back ached from the floor. Her head rang faintly as though she had slept too long on stone. She turned her head slowly, left, then right trying to gather her bearings.

Then a figure materialized in her vision.

A tall silhouette cloaked in a deep blue royal attire.

Her breath caught as her eyes adjusted to the light.

"Ca—calithar?" she whispered frowning in confusion, her voice barely audible.

He stood at the center of the room; magnificent, unearthly, dressed in his regal attire as though he had stepped straight from a dream or from another plane entirely. His eyes, those deep, luminous irises, were locked onto her with an intensity that made her chest constrict.

Shocked to the core, Elena jerked to sit up.

But before she could voice the barrage of questions in her mind, his gaze fell slowly, deeply over her robe-covered form.

Elena’s cheeks warmed. She scrambled to her feet quickly, clutching the robe tighter as if trying to hide every inch of skin his eyes dared to roam.

Calithar moved before she even steadied herself.

He crossed the distance in two steps and pulled her into a crushing embrace.

The breath was knocked out of her. Her trembling hands pressed against his chest instinctively, but the warmth and familiarity of his hold made her stop resisting.

He smelled like flowers and power. That gentle, warmth-filled scent mixed with divinity.

He held her as though he feared she would slip through his fingers again. As if she were the only anchor he had left in the world.

When he finally pulled away, Elena opened her mouth to speak.

But he didn’t give her the chance.

His lips crashed into hers.

A soft groan followed by a growl escaped Calithar before she could even think of what to say. His mouth was hungry, desperate, consuming, ravaging her lips with unrestrained hunger.

It felt as though he had been starved for year after year without the taste of her, the warmth of her lips, the softness she offered only to him.

Elena’s heart pounded, her breath shortening. Her hands clutched the edges of his clothes, powerless to stop him by her own strength.

She had always been powerless against him against him when she had gone to him and now that he was with her.

His arms wrapped around her waist, dragging her closer until her bare body beneath the cotton robe pressed fully against the hard lines of his.

Heat rushed through her stomach.

His hands roamed her back, her hips, her waist. Every touch felt like a forgotten memory resurfacing. Something she had never allowed herself to remember since she disappeared from his sight.

For a fleeting moment, she melted into him.

Then

A jarring pain struck her neck.

She gasped and shoved him away, pressing her palm against the throbbing spot. Her eyes widened, breath shaky.

"Calithar—wh-what are you—?"

But one look at him and she froze again.

The surprise on his face was brief but quickly replaced by a soft, lovesick expression that sent chills down her spine.

He stepped toward her.

She stepped back.

"Elena..." His voice softened dangerously, dripping with devotion that felt too intense, too overwhelming. "My love."

Her hands clutched her robe tighter. His gaze swept down her body again, lingering too long, too possessively.

"I’ve come for you," he whispered.

The way he said it made her heart quicken, quivering at the same time.

This wasn’t a mere visit.

It was a claim on her.

Before she could retreat further, Calithar gently but firmly took her wrists. He lowered her hands even as she tried to cover herself.

"You’ll hurt yourself if you keep doing that," he murmured.

Her breath hitched as he lowered her arms, leaving her completely exposed to his gaze. Her robe hung loosely, revealing her plump cleavages.

"When...how..."

He didn’t let her finish.

He cupped her jaw with one hand, lifted her chin, and leaned in.

His lips hovered over hers, soft breath fanning over her mouth. His eyes half-lidded with worship and longing.

"Elena," he said quietly, voice reverent. "I’ve missed you beyond sanity."

Then he kissed her again.

This time slower.

This time deeper.

This time with an intensity that felt like a vow binding them together.

Elena’s knees nearly buckled but Calithar held onto her tighter. Her heart thundered violently, torn between confusion and fear.

She wanted to push away so badly like she had done before but her hands weren’t just moving! They laid limply beside her.

Useless, betrayers.

Everything about the moment felt so familiar like she knew he could never harm her. Or that she had felt it before.

His fingers threaded into her hair while his other hand slid down her waist and gripped her hip, pulling her flush against him.

Her breath broke.

The kiss devoured her.

She felt herself being swallowed into him, into the heat he pressed against her, into the memories of that night.

She couldn’t think.

Couldn’t breathe.

Couldn’t resist.

It was too much.

Too familiar.

Too dangerous.

But as his mouth moved against hers, something inside her whispered that this Calithar the one kissing her like his life depended on it was no longer the same man she once knew.

She wasn’t sure but something somewhere had changed about him since the last time they met.

When his lips left hers and traced the line of her jaw, she felt that painful throb on her neck pulse again

As if something inside her was reacting to him.

As if her body sensed the truth before her mind did.

"Elena..."

His voice was a prayer against her skin, enchanting her. Pulling her into his spell filled lullaby.

"I’m never leaving you again."

She swallowed hard, fear and warmth colliding helplessly in her chest.

Calithar lifted his head and smiled softly at her with an adoring, hungry, unblinking look.

And as he leaned in to claim her lips once more

Her hands finally moved, smack on his chest, pushing him away from her...