Page 71 of The Wild Prince's Favorite
“You know I have no reason to.”
Kiera smiled and gave a faint punch against his shoulder.
“The bad apples stick together,” she chuckled. “Come on, let’s get started. I am not letting that poor girl sleep one more night in your stinky tent.”
Chapter 7
The relief of knowing that Lumie was alive and well felt like a faraway, too short-lived dream that had been caught up and devoured by the subsequent nightmares.
Lying in a bed of pain, Alezya relived the painful memories, over and over. She was aching everywhere, but the worst lay in her memories.
She had been separated from her child, again. It just felt like a nightmare on repeat, a loop of torment she just couldn’t get out of.
She cried, silently, painfully. She had no escape, no way out of this madness, no way out of this horrible, gut-wrenching plan her father had imposed on her.
This time, her protests had been met with the worst beating she’d ever received. She had tried to refuse. She had tried, so hard, to voice and shout her anger at her father’s evil, disgusting plan. She had shouted from her guts how abominable he was, he and his monstrous plan. She had screamed until they’d hit her face to shut her up, until they’d knocked her to the ground, and kicked her some more.
It was even more horrifying that this scene had happened in front of Lumie’s eyes, under her baby’s shocked cries. Lumie’s terrified screams still haunted her. Alezya hoped her cousin’s husband had taken her baby away at some point, but she couldn’t remember how that violent scene had ended; she’d passed out before that. She truly hoped Lumie hadn’t beenforced to witness it for too long, but she truly couldn’t tell. She’d already lost sight of most of what was going on since her head had violently hit the ground, but then it was all a blur, an agonizing blur of pain and helplessness.
She had a vague memory of her body being dragged and thrown out of the mountain. She had a faint impression of the familiar cold ground under her, shuffled in waves of fresh snow, and then, seconds later, while she thought she’d passed out, or died, something had grabbed her. She’d been taken away from the cold ground, and lifted up by something rough, but warm.
Then, at some point, she had found herself in Kassein’s bed, again.
It was as if the previous events had been but a fleeting nightmare, but sadly, they weren’t. It was real, she knew all too well. She was certain from how her face and body hurt, way more than before. She was certain from the way her father’s diabolical plan haunted her, like a sentence.
Worse, Alezya was certain because Kassein was furious. Absolutely furious. She felt even more sorry. After all the time he’d spent caring for her, they were back to square one, with her intruding on his bed and needing his care and benevolence, again. He ought to be lost, or to think she was mad. He probably found her troublesome, at least.
Alezya knew she hadn’t been gone long, and felt ashamed to be back so soon, and in that state. She knew it probably made no sense to him, no sense at all. And yet, Kassein was by her bedside again, caring for her, guarding her, feeding her, and patiently waiting as she healed from her wounds. His kindness was almost suffocating, especially since Alezya was growing more aware of him, and her father’s horrible plan kept resurfacing in her thoughts.
Every time she caught a glimpse of his dark green eyes, she couldn’t help but think about it. He wanted her to have a child with Kassein, a child he’d then plan to steal from her. Worse, she’d never see her daughter again if she didn’t go along with that horrible scheme... It was her father’s curse and warning to her.
His voice still echoed in her mind, more oppressive than any of those nightmare-like memories, far worse than any of the pain she’d endured; she’d never be granted to see Lumie again unless she came back pregnant... Alezya wasn’t just heartbroken from having been separated from Lumie once more; she couldn’t believe she’d have to betray Kassein to see her child again. She didn’t want to believe it.
But it was all too real. Her father had shouted at her, again and again, as he was beating her, that she’d never be allowed to come back and see Lumie until she was pregnant with his child.
Alezya had known her father was horrible from how he’d treated her, but she couldn’t believe a single person could have that evil of a heart to wage children in a war.
Her children.
When the pain had retreated a bit, leaving her a few lucid moments lying in the dark on Kassein’s bed, Alezya had even found herself cursing at those gods she didn’t believe in anymore.
Why? Why her, why her children?
Why to a man as good as Kassein? Why would the gods, if there were any, impose so much suffering on her? Was there a plan from above, as her mother had once taught her to believe?
Alezya had thought about it. She had tried, like someone looking for a light in the dark, a thin strand of hope in the midst of all that pain and despair. As horrible as it was, Alezya had thought about it, or she had tried. Could she do this? Could shego along with her father’s despicable plan if it was for Lumie’s sake?
One look in Kassein’s deep green eyes had told her everything she needed to know.No.
No, she would never be able to. That man was too good, and there was no way she wouldn’t love another child she’d give birth to as much as she did Lumie. She would never hatehischild. Kassein had been good to her, so good it almost hurt.
She could feel her own heart growing weaker in his presence every time their eyes met. At times, Alezya wondered if it wasn’t just her own wishful thinking, making it look like he possibly liked her. But if she was wrong, what could explain the long hours he spent by her side without asking anything in return? How he slept on a fur rug while she was in his bed? The way he gently took care of her, how he looked at her?
The bath, earlier... She’d felt her heart make a loop several times from how close his fingers had been to her skin. And she had been so glad he didn’t see her embarrassed self, her shameless blushing. How could she be having such thoughts in her situation?
She shouldn’t have the luxury to think about this. About a man, in that way. She couldn’t afford to think about romance or desire, not when she had so much else to think about. Lumie. She had to think about how to save Lumie in a way that wouldn’t require sacrificing another child... or conceiving one. And yet, Alezya cursed herself, for she couldn’t seem to think straight whenever her eyes met with Kassein’s.
Her emotions were long out of control, and she was afraid she couldn’t trust herself near him. He was too nice, too caring... He was unlike any man she’d ever met before, and he was breaking the walls she’d erected around herself. He was feeding a hope she shouldn’t have let grow in her heart, as it was only adding to her inner turmoil and torment. The way he’d kissedthe palm of her hand... She knew that moment would haunt her for a long time.
