Chapter 84 Did She do the right thing
Aloria
I take the bowl from Kellan, my hands still shaking, but the warmth of the stew seeps through the ceramic, offering a moment of comfort. I lift the spoon to my lips and take a big sip, the rich broth flooding my senses. It’s a welcome reprieve to the gnawing hunger in my stomach, though I can still feel the exhaustion weighing me down, the remnants of the fight lingering like a heavy cloak around my shoulders.
The adrenaline has stopped me from feeling it before, but now, as my body is coming down I feel like I could eat a whole moose. The hunger is back… and it is making me feel even more exhausted.
I glance at River, still nestled on the ground, his face pale but peaceful. I can’t help but wish for a miracle… something to make this all go away, to ease my heart’s relentless ache. I know I should be eating more, taking care of myself, but all I can think about is him… and the hunger.
With another sip of the potion the healer in the city gave me, I close my eyes, letting the bitter taste wash down my throat. It’s not as potent as the essence of River's blood, but it’s all I have for now… I can’t take his blood without consent and I also have a feeling he needs it right now.
I can feel the surge of energy from the potion coursing through me, sating most of the hunger and revitalizing my weary limbs, though my thoughts remain fixed on River.
Then I start eating again, the food now feeling much more saisfying and filling, which again helps me relax,
As I lower the bowl, I catch a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye. River’s eyelids flutter, a groan escaping his lips. My heart leaps into my throat as I lean closer, urgency surging through me. “River? Please, wake up,” I whisper.
His eyes crack open, revealing a confusion that quickly morphs into disbelief. “Was that… a dream?” he murmurs, his voice hoarse but familiar, like a sweet melody that pulls me from the depths of despair. “Or were you fighting the evil prince… Saving me?”
“It wasn’t a dream,” I reply, tears of relief prickling at the corners of my eyes. “You were hurt. The prince double crossed you, and I… I thought I lost you.” My voice trembles, but I hold his gaze, willing him to understand. “I had to save you.”
“I should be angry with you for not following my instructions… I told you to stay at the pack,” he says, a flicker of mischief sparking in his eyes, but it’s quickly overshadowed by the weight of reality. “You should’ve stayed back, Aloria.”
My heart races, but I can’t help the smile that breaks through my worry. “I knew something was wrong and I couldn’t just stand by at home and wait. You needed me. I had to save you.”
He lets out a soft chuckle, the sound stirring something deep within me. “And here I am, grateful that you didn’t listen to me. You’re impossible, you know that? You even talked Kellan into helping I see”
I nod, my chest swelling with a mixture of joy and relief. “But I’m your impossible.”
He reaches out, his fingers brushing against mine, and I hold on, feeling the warmth radiate between us. “You did the right thing. I’m proud of you, Aloria.”
My heart races at his words, but then doubt creeps in. “Did I do the right thing? Letting the prince go? What if it comes back to haunt us?”
River’s expression shifts, his brow furrowing in thought. “You did what you felt was right. You showed mercy, and that’s a strength, not a weakness… You would have felt bad if you killed him. The king will hear about this… it sends a message.”
“But what if it’s a message that puts us in more danger?” I ask, the weight of my choices pressing heavily on my shoulders.
“Then we’ll face it together,” he says, his voice steady and resolute. “We always have.”
I stare into his eyes, the unwavering determination within them igniting a fire in my own heart. “We make an awesome team,” I grin, feeling the truth of those words resonate deep within me.
The crackle of the fire fills the silence, and I can hear Kellan and the others murmuring softly in the background. The world around us feels both distant and close, a tapestry of danger and hope woven tightly together.
I lean closer, resting my forehead against his, feeling the warmth of his breath against my skin. “You scared me, River. I thought I would lose you.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he replies, a hint of teasing in his tone. “Not while you’re here.”
I pull back slightly, searching his face for any sign of pain, but all I see is the fierce light in his eyes. “Promise me you’ll be careful next time,” I plead, my voice earnest.
“Only if you promise to listen to me, my Luna,” he says, his lips curling into a smirk. “I can’t have you charging into danger like a reckless warrior.”
“Deal,” I say, unable to suppress my own smile. “But only if you promise to wake up next time.”
River chuckles softly, and the sound makes my heart soar. In that moment, I realize the battle may have left its scars, but it also forged an unbreakable bond between us.
As the stars twinkle above us in the night sky, I can feel the warmth of hope blooming inside me. We will face whatever comes next together, and with that thought, I know we can conquer any darkness that threatens to creep into our lives.