Chapter 66 Working Overtime Is Such A Thing
All of Aeltherra had only rumors to certify the fact that Isabella Montague had returned, but it was only after Calista Banister held a tea party that they knew she had returned for certain… and was now marrying the crown prince, Cassian.
She showed them this by presenting the first paper which claimed to have coined herself as a ‘flyer’. Still, they would not even have believed it if Calista had not said it and shown proof!
Because it was clear she was trying to return back to the social ladder and regain favour as always.
“But I know far more information as well. More than this,” And they were all far too bored to resist the promise of gossip.
So once again, Calista had the nobles in her grasp.
“You are… different,” Amir said from behind her. He had more flexible wear— elf wear, to be precise. Maeve had something similar. She seemed to enjoy this new habit of clothes matching more than he did. “Still as… eccentric but you are not throwing a tantrum for food or rest,”
“Yet,” Maeve rubbed her gloved hands together as she looked around the empty church. “Had a little epiphany and met my baby brother. Sort of made some part of me that I was certain had died return almost instantly,”
Amir was shocked, naturally. Maeve never told anyone of her plans. Talk less of being honest about what she was thinking so he turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing slightly, “I did not know you had… other siblings. It seemed the Master and Mistress—”
“Not from them,” Maeve sighed and raked her fingers through her hair. “Vashka… she let me see him, which is crazy because I didn’t think she was real until I held the little bugger in my hand, and though I’m still not sure how I was certain it was him but… a sister always knows. He was so tiny though. I’d forgotten how he looked when he was in my arms, and I got to spend so much time with him. Chasing flowers, smelling his hair, dancing with him… I didn’t want to wake up,”
Amir stared at the woman in front of him like he was seeing this person for the first time. “Then why did you?”
Maeve stopped, her eyes falling on the familiar altar of the church they were in as she said softly, “I knew what his death did to me. They were… people I knew who would become what I was then if I did not wake up. I could not let that happen. Have to tie lose ends first,”
Tie lose ends?
Amir wanted to ask her what that meant or… or if she saw him as part of those people who would change if she had not woken through the days she stayed unconscious.
He wanted to know if she had heard how he had not panicked. Not even once. And perhaps, tell her that the only reason he had not… was because he could sense her.
The feeling… of another life becoming you. Moulding into your soul… the bond they shared currently seemed to intensify the longer that she was gone.
He could feel her, like she was the heart beating in his chest. Powering him. It made sense now why he had already trusted her even when his instincts said he must not. Why even then he could not seem to worry.
Amir… knew they had a life together.
She was his Mate. His Fated Mate. And she would never abandon him. He knew that.
But now that he knew all of this for certain… how was he supposed to control his new desires for wanting to know more of her all of a sudden?
“LADY BELLA!”
The sound of little feet running towards them echoed through the church.
Amir turned to look at them, watching as a wide smile spread on Maeve’s face as she bent her body lower, tapping her legs like she was urging them to come even faster.
Which he realized she was.
Because as soon as all three got close enough, they all shoved her hard into the floor.
Lucien Averay joined them too, one of the orphans on his shoulder which he gently placed down into what looked like a… chair? But with wheels? Slowly.
He did not look at Amir.
“Might just be me but I think you guys are getting far too strong for me to keep up with,” Maeve let out a pained groan though it seemed to change into a laugh as she began wiggling all over the floor. “Wait. Wait! No one should try tickling me—! Finn! I know those are your tiny hands! Stop. STOP!”
Some priests passed by, passing small looks towards them— but it was not of malice. It was more of them looking happy that the children were happy as well.
“ENOUGH!” Maeve’s voice echoed through the air as she shot up from the children, hurrying across the church floor on her behind as she pointed at all of them. “You have all bullied me today! You shall regret it!”
Finn, the leader of the group, stared at her with two of his front teeth missing which were more apparent with the wide grin on his face while Sorrel and Briar, the other little buggers wore mischievous smiles on their faces.
“Now,” Maeve said, straightening her jacket with a fake serious look in her eyes. “Where is Lara, who seems to be the only one who likes me?”
“Here I am, Miss Angel,”
Maeve raised her head slightly from the floor, her eyes looking up at the little girl who was directly behind her with the widest smile on her face. “Well, hello little one. Your dear friends were trying to stop my heart from working effectively,”
Lara giggled slightly. “Boys can a bit mean,”
“A bit?” Maeve asked as she rose up from the floor and dusted off her dress, her eyes on Lara. The little blond girl looked healthier and seemed to be in less pain. “Has it been that long since I last saw you? You seem to have grown five inches,”
“Two,” Lara corrected, blushing slightly.
“Oh? Who helped you count?”
“My aunty,” Lara responded, her eyes beaming with happiness. “I did not know I had one but she came over recently, saying she had more time to check on me now. It has been very nice. She helps me with everything.”
Maeve made a look of surprise. “Really? Who would have thought?”
“Lady Bella! Look at our clothes too!” Finn called from behind. Maeve turned around, her hands cupping her chin as she scratched it slightly. “Hmm. Seems like someone has some new drip. All three of you. Turn around, let me see,”
They all did as they were told.
Amir stared at the children as they all rambled about the gifts they were given and how much they enjoyed it.
And a strange image came to his head.
Maeve holding a little child with her skin and his hair…