Chapter 193

Chapter 193
Lina's POV

The gentle knock at the door interrupted our quiet moment in the dragon-flame chamber. "Your Majesty, my lady, I have brought your nightclothes," came Aria's respectful voice from outside.

Aria entered swiftly, placing a deep blue velvet robe beside the bed before offering a quick curtsy and retreating.

Augustus walked toward me, extending his hand with that familiar commanding yet gentle expression. "Come, help me change."

I approached him, reaching for the silver clasps of his black formal outer robe. I worked to unfasten each button with careful precision. When my fingertips accidentally brushed against the solid expanse of his chest, he caught my wrist gently, his thumb tracing over my pulse point.

"Slower," he murmured, his voice dropping to that intimate tone that always made my heart race. "I enjoy having you do these things for me, Lina."

Heat bloomed across my cheeks and I found myself unable to meet his penetrating golden gaze. I helped him slip out of the formal robe and into the deep blue sleeping robe, the silk whispering softly against his skin.

Once the task was complete, Augustus drew me into his embrace, his strong arms encircling my expanded waist with infinite care. His chin came to rest atop my head, and I could feel the steady rhythm of his breathing.

"Lina," he said, his voice softer now, "the child will be born soon, and I want us to be together as true companions should be. Not just bound by circumstance or duty, but as partners who choose each other."

His hand moved to cover mine where it rested on my swollen belly, and I felt the baby respond with a gentle kick against our joined palms. The moment felt precious and fragile.

I nodded against his shoulder.

He pressed a satisfied kiss to my forehead. "Good. I've been thinking—I should keep some clothes here permanently. It would be more convenient, and it would mean I could stay with you more often without having to send for things from my other chambers. What do you think?"

The implication made my pulse quicken. He was planning to spend many more nights here, with me. "If that's what you wish, Your Majesty," I managed to say.

"It is exactly what I wish," he said firmly. "I want this to feel like our shared space. Now, it's time for you to rest."

He guided me toward the bed with gentle hands, but as I settled onto the edge of the mattress, a sharp pain suddenly lanced through my abdomen. I couldn't suppress the grimace that crossed my features as I instinctively pressed my palm against the source of discomfort.

"What's wrong?" Augustus was beside me in an instant, dropping to one knee as his golden eyes searched my face with fierce intensity. "Where does it hurt? Tell me exactly what you're feeling."

"It's nothing serious," I assured him quickly, though the tightness in my voice betrayed my discomfort. "I think I stood too long today, or maybe walked around more than I should have. I'm just tired, that's all."

"Damn it!" The curse escaped him with genuine fury, his hands hovering protectively over my belly. "I should have insisted you remain in bed all day! I should never have let you exert yourself like that!"

Before I could protest, he was kneeling at my feet, his elegant fingers working to remove my embroidered slippers with a gentleness that seemed almost reverent. The sight of the Dragon King tending to me so carefully was deeply moving.

"Your Majesty," I breathed, eyes wide with surprise. "You don't need to—"

"Don't move," he commanded, though his tone held no harshness. His touch was feather-light as he eased the soft shoes from my feet. "Now lie down. Carefully."

I obeyed without question, settling back against the pillows as he helped me loosen the ties of my outer robe. Every movement was executed with meticulous care, as if I were made of delicate glass.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked as he settled beside me on the bed, one arm sliding beneath my neck to serve as a pillow while his other hand came to rest on the curve of my belly. The heat from his palm seemed to penetrate through the thin fabric of my nightgown.

The soothing pressure of his touch worked like magic, the sharp pain gradually dissolving before fading entirely. "It's much better now," I whispered, allowing myself to relax into his embrace.

"You must have gotten cold earlier," he said with certainty, his palm moving in slow, gentle circles over my abdomen. "The temperature in these old stone chambers can be unpredictable. Starting tomorrow, I'll have the servants install an additional magical temperature control array. Your safety and the child's wellbeing are more important than anything else—more important than cost, more important than protocol."