Chapter 199

Chapter 199
Lina's POV

Four months had passed, and my condition could no longer be concealed beneath flowing gowns or strategic positioning. The gentle curve of my belly had become pronounced. On this particular evening, as autumn's chill began to settle over the citadel, Augustus came to my chambers with an unusual solemnity that immediately caught my attention.

The firelight cast dancing shadows across the silk bed hangings as I reclined against the headboard, my hands instinctively cradling the swell of my abdomen where our child rested. The baby had been particularly active today, responding to sounds and movement with gentle kicks that never failed to fill me with wonder. Augustus paused in the doorway, his golden eyes taking in the domestic scene before him with an expression I couldn't quite decipher.

"Dismiss the guards," he commanded quietly to Selas, who had been standing at attention nearby. The sound of the door lock turning with finality made my pulse quicken with anticipation and a touch of wariness that had become second nature over these months of cautious peace between us.

"Your Majesty?" I asked, shifting slightly to better face him. "Is there something special you need to discuss tonight?"

He approached the bed with measured steps, his usual commanding presence tempered by something gentler as he reached for my hand. The warmth of his palm against my fingers sent that familiar flutter through my chest, a sensation I had long since stopped trying to analyze or resist. "I need to speak with you about the coming weeks," he said, settling beside me on the edge of the bed. "There are arrangements that must be made."

Before I could respond, he had drawn me carefully into his arms, positioning me so that I leaned back against his chest while both of his hands came to rest protectively over my rounded belly. The gesture had become natural between us over these months, this quiet claiming of both mother and child that spoke to something primal in his dragon nature.

"The Rhine floods have finally receded," he began. "I've decided that I must travel there personally to oversee the reconstruction efforts."

I felt my body tense involuntarily. "Must Your Majesty go personally? Surely the regional governors could handle such matters."

His arms tightened slightly around me. "This disaster claimed tens of thousands of lives, Lina. This is my responsibility as their ruler."

I found myself leaning into his embrace despite my concerns. "I understand."

"Do you?" he asked with a slight smile. "Are you reluctant to see me go?"

"It's not exactly reluctance," I admitted. "But with you here in the citadel, there's a certain stability. A sense of security I've grown accustomed to."

His quiet laugh held something bittersweet. "That sentiment does more to shake my resolve than all the council's arguments combined. But I cannot abandon my duty."

He outlined his arrangements: "The daily governance will remain under Moros's supervision with the Prime Chancellor. Selas will remain to ensure your protection."

Then came the words that hit me like a physical blow: "The Royal Guard will accompany me."

"How long do you anticipate this journey will take?" I managed to ask.

"Approximately two months," he said, his hands moving in gentle circles over my abdomen. "I will return well before your time comes. I give you my word that I will be here for the birth of our child."

Augustus shifted so we were facing each other, his forehead coming to rest against mine. "Before I leave, I want to speak with our child. I need to say goodbye properly."

"You want to talk to the baby?"

"I'll be gone for two months. I need this little one to know that their father will return."

"And how exactly do you plan to have this conversation?"

"Speaking through layers of fabric isn't conducive to clear communication. I need to be closer, to speak directly to them."

Before I could fully process his intentions, he had scooped me up and deposited me gently on the bed, his fingers working at the fastenings of my nightgown.

"Your Majesty! This isn't what I thought you meant!"

He paused with that infuriating smile. "If you would simply allow me closer access without protests, I wouldn't need such creative interpretations."

"You're being deliberately obtuse," I accused.

"Perhaps," he admitted, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "But if my beloved would be more accommodating to my requests for intimacy, I wouldn't need elaborate excuses."

What followed was extraordinary tenderness. Augustus was gentle as he helped me from my nightgown, his hands reverent as they traced pregnancy's changes to my body. When I moved to cover myself, he caught my wrists gently.

"Don't hide from me," he murmured. "You're beautiful, Lina. More beautiful than ever."

"But the physician said..." I began.