Chapter 140: Quiet Moments

ELIAS’ POV

I woke to soft morning light filtering through the heavy curtains. Our son made small cooing sounds from the cradle beside the bed. I shifted carefully, mindful of the fresh bandages around my abdomen, and turned toward Kai. He lay on his back with one arm thrown over his head, chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. For the first time in days, his face looked peaceful. No clenched jaw, no lines of worry etched across his forehead. I reached out and traced a finger along his arm. He stirred and caught my hand without opening his eyes.

“Too early,” he muttered.

“The baby thinks otherwise,” I whispered back.

Kai cracked one eye open, then smiled that slow smile reserved only for us. He rolled over and pulled me closer, careful not to press against my injury. His warmth seeped through my thin shirt. We stayed like that for several minutes, listening to our son’s gentle noises. No alarms, no urgent knocks. Just the three of us in this room while the castle woke up around us.

I slipped out of bed first and lifted our son from the cradle. He fit perfectly against my chest, tiny fingers grabbing at the fabric of my shirt. His weight felt solid and real. Proof that we had made it through the chaos. I carried him to the wide window seat and settled there. Kai joined us moments later, carrying two cups of water from the side table. He handed me one, then sat beside me, his shoulder brushing mine.

“He looks stronger every day,” Kai said. He ran a gentle finger over the baby’s cheek. Our son turned toward the touch and made a small gurgling sound.

I chuckled. “He takes after you. Stubborn grip already.”

Kai leaned in and kissed the top of the baby’s head, then pressed a quick kiss to my temple. “He has your eyes. And your habit of demanding attention at dawn.”

We sat together while I fed the baby. Sunlight warmed the room. Birds called outside. Kai kept one hand on my knee, thumb moving in slow circles. The simple contact grounded me. After the ride north, the fight in the compound, and the tense words between us yesterday, this quiet felt like a gift.

A soft knock sounded at the door. Kai rose to answer it. Beta Marcus stepped inside, looking more rested than he had in days. He carried a rolled report in one hand.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Marcus said. He glanced at me and the baby, then back to Kai. “You asked for updates first thing this morning.”

Kai nodded and motioned him to the small table near the window. “What did you find?”

I kept feeding our son but listened closely. Marcus unrolled the paper and kept his voice low.

“My men tracked the group to an old camp site ten miles north. They moved fast after the rescue. Clara, Gavin, and a handful of Seraphina’s guards. No sign of Liora’s mother slowing them down. In fact, witnesses along the trail described her as driven. She gave orders like someone who expected to be obeyed without question.”

Kai crossed his arms. “Any indication of their next move?”

Marcus tapped the report. “They headed toward the Ironclaw peaks. Looks like they plan to regroup there. Supplies suggest they intend to stay hidden for a while. One scout caught a conversation fragment. Clara mentioned waiting for reinforcements from Seraphina’s father. They lost their leverage when we took Liora back, so they will look for new ways to strike. We reinforced the northern borders overnight. Extra patrols on every road.”

Kai studied the map Marcus had brought. “Good. Keep the pressure on them. I want daily reports. If they move, I want to know before they finish the first mile.”

Marcus rolled the paper again. “Understood. Liora slept through the night. She asked for light breakfast and time with the baby later if you both agree.”

I smiled at that. “Tell her to come whenever she feels ready. He needs to meet his aunt properly.”

Marcus nodded, gave a small bow, and left. Kai closed the door behind him and returned to the window seat. He took our son from me once the feeding finished and lifted him high, earning a delighted squeal. The sound filled the room and pulled a laugh from both of us.

“Strong lungs,” Kai said. He brought the baby down and cradled him against his broad chest. “Definitely your influence.”

I stood up slowly, testing my side. The pain had dulled to a manageable ache. I moved behind Kai and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my chin on his shoulder. We stood like that, watching our son grasp at Kai’s finger. The three of us formed a small circle of warmth and safety.

“Yesterday feels far away,” I said quietly. “All the running and fighting. For a moment, it is just us.”

Kai leaned back into me. “It should be like this more often. I keep thinking about how close we came to losing everything again. But you brought her home. And now we have this.”

Our son started to fuss. Kai handed him back to me and fetched a soft blanket from the bed. We spread it on the floor near the window and laid the baby down. He kicked his legs and waved his arms, eyes wide as he stared at the shifting patterns of light on the ceiling. Kai stretched out on one side of the blanket. I took the other. We played with our son together, letting him grab our fingers and babble at us.

At one point Kai rolled onto his back and lifted the baby above him, making airplane sounds. I had never heard him make those noises before. The sight made me laugh until my side protested. Kai grinned at me over the baby’s waving arms.

“What?” he asked. “Warriors need training too.”

“Clearly,” I said. I reached over and poked Kai’s ribs. He squirmed and lowered our son safely to his chest. The baby settled there, content.

We stayed on the blanket for a long time. Kai told me small stories from his returning memories. Simple things. How his father once taught him to track deer in the eastern woods. How Liora used to hide his favorite boots when she wanted him to play with her instead of training. I shared memories of my own childhood, the quiet moments before everything changed. Our voices stayed soft. The baby dozed on Kai’s chest between us.

A maid brought lunch later. We ate at the small table while the baby napped in his cradle. Fresh bread, roasted chicken, and sliced apples. Kai cut pieces for me without asking. I poured water for both of us. Small acts that felt enormous after the past days.

“Marcus will keep digging,” Kai said between bites. “Clara and Gavin lost their advantage. They will try something new. Seraphina’s father has deep pockets and old grudges. We stay ready, but we do not let them steal every moment.”

I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Today we do not think about them. Today belongs to us.”

Kai turned his hand over and laced our fingers together. “Agreed.”

After lunch we moved to the bed. I lay on my back. Kai curled beside me with our son between us. The baby slept deeply, tiny fists curled. Kai rested one hand on the baby’s back and the other on my arm. Sunlight crossed the room slowly. We talked about nothing important. Favorite foods. Plans for a quiet walk in the gardens once I healed more. Dreams for our son’s future.

“He will be strong,” Kai said. “But I want him to know peace too. Not just fighting.”

I nodded. “We teach him both. Strength and kindness. The way you lead the pack. The way you love us.”

Kai shifted closer and kissed me. It lingered, warm and unhurried. When we pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine. “I love you. I should say it more when things are calm like this.”

“I know,” I replied. “I love you too.”