Chapter 237: Healthy Food and Hellfire

RAVIAL

I watched my lamb sleep.

The room was dark except for the faint silver glow of moonlight slipping through the curtains. Leitana lay curled on her side, one small hand resting protectively over her rounded belly even in sleep. Her breathing was soft, shallow, but steady. I had my palm pressed gently over her heart, feeling every fragile beat against my skin. Every few minutes I would lower my face close to hers, just to feel the warm puff of her breath against my lips.

Still here.

Still mine.

For days I had not slept. It was unnecessary for me, but I had spent every hour like this, watching her, guarding her, terrified that if I looked away for even a second, she would slip away from me. The fear was new.

Ancient pride had kept me from bowing to anyone for thousands of years, yet here I was… willing to fall to my knees before the Creator Himself if it meant more time with her.

Take my power. Take my throne. Take everything. Just let her stay.

I had never wanted anything so badly in my entire existence.

I brushed a stray curl from her forehead, my thumb tracing the delicate line of her cheekbone. She looked so peaceful like this. So pure and so heartbreakingly mortal.

How had this small, soft creature reduced the Devil to this?

I worshipped her.

Not with prayers or temples, but with every breath I allowed her to take. With every beat of her heart I guarded like the most sacred relic in existence. I would tear the heavens apart and drag the stars down if it meant keeping her here with me. I would burn every realm, every soul, every law of creation just to buy her one more day.

My thumb moved lower, resting over her belly where our child grew.

My lamb. My light. My only redemption.

I leaned down and pressed the softest kiss to her forehead, lingering there, breathing her in.

Stay with me, I thought, a silent plea I had repeated a thousand times. Do not leave me in this darkness alone.

Lucius’s voice suddenly entered my mind, respectful but urgent.

My lord… apologies for interrupting.

I didn’t move, still watching Leitana’s peaceful face.

Speak.

We have a lead on the arsons.

I pressed one final kiss to her temple, then slowly rose from the bed. I tucked the blanket higher around her shoulders, making sure she was warm, before leaving the room without a sound.

In my private study, Lucius and three of my most trusted men were already waiting. The moment I entered and sat behind my desk, Lucius began.

“The fires were professional, we found a pattern in the payment trail, all of them lead back to the same source.”

He placed a tablet in front of me.

“Elias Monroe.”

I stared at the name in silence.

Lucius continued, “He hired an elite mercenary unit, former special forces operators turned private contractors. They’ve worked for governments and cartels. The symbol, the circle with three jagged lines, is a personal mark Monroe uses in some of his underground dealings. A stylized broken crown.”

A slow smile spread across my face.

So the jealous little dog had finally decided to bite.

He wasn’t just obsessed with my wife. He wanted to weaken me first. Strip me of power and make me vulnerable so he could try to take what was mine.

How pathetic.

And how entertaining.

“Send a message,” I said calmly, leaning back in my chair. “Burn one of his main logistics warehouses. Not too much damage just enough to let him know I’m aware and make sure the same symbol is painted on the wall. Let him understand who he’s playing with.”

Lucius bowed. “It will be done tonight.”

As my men left the study, I remained seated, fingers tapping slowly on the armrest.

Elias Monroe.

You want my wife.

You want my empire.

You want to challenge the Devil himself.

I laughed softly, the sound low and dangerous in the empty room.

Come then.

I will enjoy breaking you.

Piece by piece.

Until you regret the day you ever looked at Leitana with desire.

Back in the bedroom

I returned to our room and found Leitana still sleeping peacefully. I climbed back into bed, pulling her gently into my arms, one hand returning to rest over her heart.

“Sleep, my love,” I whispered against her hair. “I will handle everything.”

Even if I have to drag Heaven and Hell into war to keep you here with me.

The next morning

“Mi Ravial… what is that?”

Leitana’s face curled up in pure disgust as she stared at the tray in front of her.

I sat beside her on the bed, looking far too pleased with myself. The entire surface of the large tray was covered with what I had demanded from the kitchen at 5 a.m. a monstrosity of “healthy pregnancy food” that included pickled herring, steamed kale with turmeric, raw oysters on ice, goat milk porridge with dates, and a thick green smoothie that smelled like grass and regret.

Leitana poked the kale with one finger like it had personally offended her.

“Mi Ravial…” she said slowly, voice full of horror, “why does it look like the food is fighting each other?”

I leaned in, brushing her messy morning curls behind her ear with gentle fingers.

“You fainted last night,” I said simply, as if that explained everything. “Your body needs nutrients. The doctor said you must eat better. So I had them prepare every superfood known to man. This will make you strong.”

Leitana stared at the tray like it had betrayed her.

“Mi… mi love you,” she said weakly, “but mi cannot eat this. It looks like it will eat me first.”

I tried not to smile. Failed.

She looked so small and adorable in my oversized shirt, nose wrinkled, lips pouted, one hand protectively on her bump as if shielding our child from the offending breakfast.

I finally chuckled and set the nightmare tray aside. I reached for the second tray I had hidden behind the nightstand (the one with her favorite things: fresh mango slices, warm buttered toast, scrambled eggs with cheese, and a small bowl of strawberries).

“Better?” I asked, offering her a piece of mango on a fork.

Leitana’s eyes lit up instantly. She opened her mouth and let me feed her, cheeks still slightly puffed in protest from the first tray.

“You are very dramatic, mi Ravial,” she mumbled around the mango, but she was smiling now. “One day you will kill me with healthy food.”

I leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth, tasting the sweetness.

“I will never let you die,” I whispered against her lips. “Not from sickness or from bad cooking or from anything.”

She giggled softly and leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder as I continued feeding her small bites. My free hand stayed on her belly, rubbing slow, gentle circles.

For a few minutes, the room was quiet except for her soft chewing and the occasional happy little hum she made when she liked something.

Then she looked up at me, eyes soft and full of love.

“Even when mi am sick… you still take care of mi like this. Mi don’t deserve you.”

I set the fork down and pulled her fully into my lap, wrapping my arms around her.

“You deserve everything,” I murmured into her hair. “And I will give it to you. Even if I have to fight death itself.”

Leitana hugged me tighter, burying her face in my neck.

For now, the fear from last night was pushed aside.

There was only us, her soft laughter, my quiet obsession, and the tiny kicks of our child between us.

And for a little while, that was enough.