Chapter 274 The Arrival of the Heir

Chapter 274 The Arrival of the Heir

Finally, the long, heavy hours of the night reached their end, and the final guests dispersed from the courtyard.

The moment the heavy oak doors of the royal bedchamber clicked shut behind the last servant, the king didn't wait. He scooped his queen right up into his arms, carrying her easily across the cold stone floor toward the wide fur-lined bed.

Queen Felda let out a bright, bubbling giggle as he dropped her onto the mattress, the heavy silver crown tumbling from her head to clatter softly against the rug. He was already tearing at the heavy fastenings of his tunic, his chest heaving with restless energy.

She didn't waste a single second either. Her fingers moved quickly, slipping free of the pins in her hair and shedding the restrictive weight of her royal gown until she was bare beneath his burning gaze.

She was his, and he was hers.

No more hidden glances, no more stolen moments in the dark, no more laws or packs standing between them.

From now on, they could have themselves however they wanted, whenever they wanted, for the rest of their lives.

When he came down to her, every touch was fierce and heavy, a raw release of years of waiting and survival.

The room filled with the sound of ragged breathing and low, desperate murmurs as they tangled together in the furs, matching each other's frantic rhythm until the tension broke into a wave of pure, shaking heat.

Hours later, tangled in sweat-dampened sheets with the fire burning down to glowing embers, the king pressed his lips against her damp temple. "You are my life, Felda," he whispered against her skin.

She smiled softly in the dark, her fingers tracing the hard line of his jaw. "And you are mine, Daze. Forever."

•••

Seven months later, the quiet peace of the palace shattered.

Queen Felda was locked inside the steaming labor room, her screams echoing down the heavy stone corridors.

Outside, King Daze was entirely beside himself. He paced back and forth across the hallway like a caged beast, his heavy boots thudding against the floorboards until his personal guards had to step back to avoid his path.

He could smell her pain, thick and sharp in the air, and it made the alpha side of him claw at his chest, desperate to break down the door and drag her away from the agony.

Inside, the elder midwives bustled around the bed, pressing cool cloths to her forehead, but nothing was working. Her body was exhausted, the pup refusing to turn.

"Call my husband! I want him here!" Queen Felda yelled, her voice cracking as another violent contraction wrung her body.

The midwives exchanged panicked glances, knowing the strict custom of keeping the alpha away from the blood of birth, but Felda's glare was murderous. Without another word, one of them threw the heavy door open.

King Daze didn't wait to be told twice. He bolted into the room, his eyes wild and wide as he rushed to the side of the bed, dropping to his knees and grabbing her trembling hand in both of his.

"Kiss me," she demanded, her chest heaving, tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.

The king hesitated, looking up at the head midwife to see if this madness was allowed.

The old woman gave a sharp, urgent nod, knowing better than to cross a desperate woman in labor.

The king leaned down, pressing his lips to her dry, trembling lips in a slow, deep kiss, trying to pour every ounce of his strength into her. But the moment he pulled back, Felda's eyes flashed with sudden, hormonal fury. She shoved his chest backward.

"It's you! Yes, it's you who got me into this damn situation!" Queen Felda sobbed, fresh tears spilling over as she grabbed a fistful of the bedsheet.

King Daze didn't flinch. He just reached out, taking her hand back gently, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over her knuckles. "Yes, it's me, my queen," he said softly, his voice thick with steady devotion. "And I'll help you through it. I'm right here. I'll never leave your side."

She sniffled, staring down at him through watery eyes. "You mean it?"

The king nodded, his jaw tight with resolve. "Yes."

"Then help me give birth," she wept, gripping his hand so tight her nails bit into his skin.

The king swallowed hard, looking up at the midwives for guidance. One of them nodded encouragement. "Talk her through it, Your Majesty. Keep her voice locked with yours."

King Daze turned back to his queen, leaning his forehead against hers. "I can do this with you. You just have to listen to me, my love... Take a deep breath and push."

The women in the room rushed to assist, guiding her movements. Following the deep, grounding sound of her husband's voice and his steady commands, Felda threw her head back and pushed with every remaining ounce of her strength.

A few tense minutes later, a sharp, healthy cry of a newborn baby boy surged through the room, cutting through the steam and the chaos like a silver blade.

The king let out a breath he felt like he'd been holding for months, a wide, broken smile spreading across his face. "You did it," he whispered, pressing frantic kisses to her sweaty forehead. "You gave birth, my queen."

Felda collapsed back against the pillows, a weak, beautiful smile touching her lips as she kept a tight, unyielding grip on his hand, refusing to let him go even for a second.

"It's a boy," the king announced to the room, so overwhelmed with pride and joy that his voice shook.

He had an heir. A strong, healthy son.

"Really?" Felda asked later, her voice soft and dazed after they had washed her up, changed the linens, and let her catch her breath.

"Yes," King Daze beamed, sitting right beside her hip. "They're bringing him over now."

The heavy wooden door creaked open, revealing the senior midwife carrying a small bundle wrapped in soft, clean linen cloths. She stepped forward carefully and placed the infant into the queen's waiting arms.

"Aww, my baby," Queen Felda muttered, her voice breaking as she looked down at the tiny, wrinkled face pressed against her chest.

She reached out and started feeding him.

Minutes later, the heavy oak doors banged open again, and a familiar, joyful voice came rushing into the room.

"Mother! Mother, you've given birth? What gender is it? Is it a girl? Can I see?"

Tovanna rushed across the chamber, darting straight past the guards to plant a quick, breathless kiss on her father's cheek before scrambling up onto the edge of the large bed, crawling right toward her mother and the bundle in her arms.

Queen Felda didn't even have time to answer her string of questions.

Tovanna gasped, her eyes going wide as saucers as she peered down. "Aww, it's a baby boy! I have a brother!" Without waiting for permission, she leaned right over, gently pressing a soft kiss to the baby's tiny, fuzzy head.

Queen Felda and King Daze exchanged a long, amused look, both of them bursting into warm, tired laughter.

"Take it easy, princess," the king chuckled, reaching out to steady his daughter by her shoulder. "He's barely an hour old; don't knock him over."

Tovanna pulled back with a wide, unapologetic grin, sitting back on her heels. "I'm just so happy. Thank you, mother, for being the strongest being I've ever known."

The king raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a playful mock glare. "And me? What about your father who held her hand through the whole thing?"

Tovanna shrugged playfully, her eyes dancing with mischief. "You too!"

The whole room erupted into light, happy laughter, filling the royal chamber with a warmth that pushed away all the cold shadows of their past.