Happy new year everyone! 2024 you've got so many hopes and dreams riding on you!
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It took two days before I could bring myself to get out of my room.
My instincts demanded I hide away, wait in the safety of my nest for my mates to return, for them to make everything safe again.
But I couldn't do that.
Because information inside the palace spreads out to the neighboring towns.
Meaning there was a mob. Outside the palace at the moment. Demanding the head of Evander.
I'm so tired. . .
My people were outraged upon hearing that I had been wounded and my daughter threatened.
The story about my injury and the entire situation got out of control with every person telling it. . .Eventually getting to the point that my people assumed I had been mauled and my attacker was defended by the palace guards and was currently residing on the throne.
I love my people. . .But the headache I have from dealing with them. . .
Sighing, I settled down heavily on the throne in the palace throne room, utterly exhausted.
''You going to be okay there Theo?'' Sophia asked softly, leaning down over my shoulder as she spoke.
''Yeah, I'll be good. . .Just tired is all'' I whispered, tilting my head back to look up at my friend as I spoke.
The faintest, tempting smell drifted towards me as Sophia sat down on the floor next to me, chatting with me as my mind slowly drifted.
''D-Did you go see Evander today?'' I asked abruptly after a while, very bluntly changing the topic as I tried to pull myself out of the slight scent induced daze I was in.
She smells distantly like him. . .
It sort of soothed me. . .While he isn't one of my bonded mates. . .He is a destined mate of mine. . .
''Yeah, I did. The guards are angry at him for hurting you and as such have refused to bring him any food or water'' Sophia explained, making me frown slightly.
Sure I wasn't happy about the other man harming me and down right pissed at him trying to hurt my daughter. . .But I didn't want him suffering. . .I didn't want anyone to suffer.
Looking down at said daughter, I reached a hand up to scrub at my eyes, trying to shake myself fully out of the scent fog.
''I'll bring him his food tonight. . .Would you be able to contact the scouts and messengers? See if my mates are anywhere close to home?'' I asked quietly, a. . .Tiny hint of desperation in my voice as I made that request.
Sophia gave me a look that bordered on pitying before nodding.
''I'll do that, In the meantime, there are a few problems that require your attention if you're up for it'' Sophia asked quietly as a few guards entered, pretending to not be checking up on me. . .Like the thirty or so other guards who had come through over the past few hours had done.
Taking one more, steadying breath, I nodded, steeling myself for a long day.
--- Time skip ---
My daughter was tucked safely under my loose fitting robes, resting right over my heart as I carried a wooden tray holding baked root vegetables, rye bread, fruit slices and a cup of clean drinking water down the endlessly winding stairs of the deepest parts of the dungeons.
No windows studded the cold stone walls. . .No rays of sunlight broke through the oppressive darkness, my barely there night vision only working well enough for me to see the steps directly in front of me.
Lovely place here. . .Now I see why everyone tried to discourage me from coming down here. . .
I hadn't thought to check where my guards had put the man who attacked me. . .Too busy spiraling into an inconsolable state to wonder how my pissed off people were treating my attacker. . .
Now I feel a bit bad. . .
Finally, at the bottom of the twisting stairs, I got a faint light to see by.
Hanging just outside of the only cell down here was an oil lamp, keeping the cell constantly lit. . .Preventing the prisoners from being aware of how much time was passing.
At least the ceiling doesn't leak. . .
Approaching the bars, I got a view of the man imprisoned inside.
Evander was sitting at the base of the furthest wall, his eyes closed and the faintest smirk on his lips.
''If you wanted to break me, you could have tried so much harder. As far as prisons go, this is quite pleasant'' The man rumbled out, his voice low and rough, making my breath hitch slightly.
That one single noise from me made the other man's eyes to snap open, training on me instantly.
I felt a fair bit like an animal trapped under the gaze of it's predator.
''Well now, this is a pleasant surprise'' He rumbled out softly, sitting up a bit straighter but thankfully remaining where he was against the wall.
Swallowing thickly, I approached the nearby cell door, balancing the tray on one hand as I fished a key out of the hidden pockets sewn into the loose toga like robe I was wearing.
Near the bottom of the cell door was a small locked 'mini door' for us to slide the trays in through.
I tried to ignore the other man's piercing gaze as I unlocked the flap, carefully pushing his tray through before locking it again.
What. . .Am I supposed to do now? Do I. . .Do I just leave?
''Normally. . .The woman leaves after giving me some food. . .Surprised you're still here'' Evander commented quietly as he went to grab the tray, his gaze sharpening as I took a step back.
I shrugged slightly, instinctively wrapping my arms around where my daughter was resting in a silk sling against my skin.
His gaze drifted towards my daughter, blinking slowly before moving back towards the wall, sitting down at the base of it again as he picked up a slice of bread to munch on.
''Figured. . .I'd give you a bit of company'' I whispered softly, staring down at the visible bump my daughter made in my robe.
The man hummed softly, silence descending between the two of us.
''What's their name?'' Evander asked after a few more slow bites of food, his question drawing my gaze back up to him.
''She doesn't have one yet. . .I was kind of waiting for my mates to return and add their opinion'' I admitted quietly, my gaze meekly moving back to my egg as the other man's gaze sharpened.
His scent, while making my head foggy. . .Was making the feral unsafe feeling inside of me fade away slowly.
''Tell me dove. . .What force. In the stars above or the cold dark abyss below could pull your mates away from their mate with child?'' Evander asked quietly, his rumbling voice cold, sending a shiver down my body.
''They didn't know'' I defended quietly, my words earning a soft scoff.
''Still, even without knowing, they left you in charge of an entire kingdom, no caring mate would throw that upon their loved one'' Evander continued, making me frown as my grip tightened on my daughter, small tears beading in my eyes.
I don't want to hear this. . .
Perhaps sensing my distress, Evander changed the subject abruptly.
''How many months before we get to meet her?'' He asked, his voice softening when speaking about my child, that fact sharply catching my attention.
''. . .Two more months?'' I guessed. . .I had. . .Sort of lost track of time during my distress over my missing mates.
Evander smiled slightly at that, his eyes softening at the edges.
''Do you have a nest set up for her? I can send for my people to bring one for you if not, my kingdom has quite a few talented woodworkers'' Evander offered, confusing me a bit.
''. . .I. . .I thought you wanted to kill my daughter'' I whispered softly, a bit shocked at his offer.
He nodded slightly at that, taking another bite of his food before finally answering me.
''I did at first, but. . .I've had time to think over my actions, and I cannot cause so much hurt to you by taking your child. . .Besides, if I raise her as my own she won't be aware of her original sire anyways'' Evander explained simply, making me slowly blink in surprise.
Not. . .Not sure what emotion I'm supposed to feel here. . .
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Evander is 100% down to fully brainwash to a child. 'Me? Yes I am the one who made you. Do not ask anymore questions.' - Evander.
Anyways! Like always, Have a good day/night and find a better book! - fallen