Page 282 of The Wild Prince's Favorite
“Kiera is a good Aqayir.”
“Yes,”he nodded. “She can be Aqayir. I stay.”
As if to show her, he leaned more into the bed next to her like he was about to take a nap. It was the first time he was acting a bit childish like this, and Alezya had a feeling that was his way of comforting her, of showing her things were fine.
“Kassein,” she whispered. “...You hurt?”
She had already asked, but this time, she wasn’t asking about physical pain, and her gaze conveyed that. He frowned for a second before she saw him swallow. He sighed, staring at her with a deep, sorrowful look. The mist in his eyes came back for a second.
“I was scared,” he muttered. “Scared I lost you.You were... cold.”
Alezya let out a faint, pained breath.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
She brought his hand to her lips and kissed it as tears pearled in her eyes, staring into his hurt, dark green gaze. She was sorry he’d had to go through that. She had made her decision on that mountain, but she knew she would carry that guilt for the rest of her life. It hadn’t felt like a right or a good choice, and she didn’t believe there was such a thing, but it was the one she’d made for the sake of many.
Kassein swallowed again, and he leaned until his face rested in the crook of her neck, opposite to Lumie’s. Only Alezya was close enough that she heard the broken breath he let out. She held his hand tighter, but he moved it over her stomach, splaying it there, and she realized he had been worried about losing their baby too. She put her hand over his, caressing his skin with her thumb.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“Don’t go,” he muttered. “Don’t go ever again.”
“No,”she said. “I swear.With you. I’ll stay with you.”
The two of them remained like that for a while, in silence, until Kassein calmed down, breathing peacefully against her neck, and Alezya fell back asleep again, listening to the soothing rhythm of his breath against her neck.
When she woke up again a while later, the sun was high. Alezya had to blink a few times before her eyes got used to the influx of light, though the sunshine felt nice on her skin. Kassein was gone from her side, and so were Niiru and Lumie. Instead, the chair next to the bed was now occupied by a beautiful woman who was busy sewing something. Alezya was slightly confused. She had never seen someone with such pale skin aside from her daughter. It wasn’t as snow-white as Lumie’s, more like a pale, warm beige color. It made a beautiful contrast to the woman’s thick, long, wavy chestnut-brown hair held in a half-up hairdo, and the beautiful dusty pink gown she was wearing. Alezya hadnever seen such amazing fabric, and it was half covered by the thick cloak of fur wrapped around the woman’s shoulders.
When she glanced up and their eyes met, she smiled, her eyes a beautiful green color like the fresh grass in spring.
“Hello,” the woman said.
“...Hello,” Alezya muttered, feeling slightly intimidated for some reason.
The woman put aside her work, which looked like a small dragon plushie, and leaned over to check something on Alezya’s head.
“Does your head hurt?”
“It’s... fine.”
It was. There was still a lingering pain, but now, it was so faint it was almost forgettable. It certainly wasn’t as bothersome as how heavy Alezya felt. Her entire body felt unwilling to move, even as she was dying to stretch a bit. The woman gave her a gentle smile.
“It looks fine,” she said, putting something back on the injury. “Do you hurt elsewhere?”
“No,” Alezya said, which was true. “...Where is Kassein?”
“He went to the mountain for a bit,” the woman replied with a sorry smile. “Tievin insisted he come and help. He will be back soon. He didn’t want to leave you.”
Alezya blushed, pleased but feeling a bit shy.
“You’re... his older sister?”
The woman raised her eyebrows.
“I’m his mom,” she said.
Alezya’s jaw dropped. Kassein’s mother? There was no way. That woman didn’t look forty! And didn’t Kassein have many older siblings? She was scared to ask that woman’s age. Reading her surprise, the woman chuckled.
