Chapter 100 Another Attack
The mirror reflected someone I was still learning to recognize.
My belly was bigger.
Not just the natural growth of a pregnancy... but too fast. Too visible for the short time that had passed since we found out.
I carefully ran my hand over my belly, feeling the gentle curve beneath the fabric of my light dress.
"You're growing fast, little one..." I murmured.
There was emotion in my voice.
And fear too.
Because every change in my body came with a silent question: is this normal... or is it magic?
The baby moved slightly, as if answering.
I smiled without realizing it.
"Can you hear Mommy yet?"
Strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind.
I didn't even need to look to know who it was.
Conrad.
His scent enveloped me first—wood, wind, and something warm that always made me feel safe.
"The baby always listens to you," he said close to my ear.
I tilted my head back, resting it on him.
"Sometimes I think he listens to you more," I replied jokingly.
Conrad slid his hands to my belly with an almost sacred reverence.
His fingers spread carefully over my abdomen, as if afraid of hurting me.
"How much has it grown since yesterday?" he asked.
"I don't know... but it seems like more."
He was silent for a few seconds.
It wasn't desperate concern.
It was observation.
Protection.
"Does this scare you?" he finally asked.
I took a deep breath.
"A little."
I turned to face him.
"Things are already happening too fast... the war, the rift, the journey... and now the baby too."
Conrad brought his hand to my face, caressing my cheek with his thumb.
"Look at me."
I obeyed.
His golden eyes were gentle.
Calm.
"No matter how fast everything is happening... we'll go through it together," he said. "You're not alone in anything."
My throat tightened.
"I know."
He smiled slightly.
"I think our son is just anxious to arrive."
"Son?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Father's intuition."
I let out a low laugh.
"You don't even know yet."
"I know you're strong," he replied. "And stubborn."
"That certainly got you."
Conrad feigned indignation.
"Impossible. I'm extremely reasonable."
"Of course... the king who wants to face interdimensional monsters alone."
He laughed, and the sound vibrated in my chest.
For a few seconds we forgot.
We forgot Solange.
We forgot the advice.
We forgot about the gap.
It was just us.
A family.
Conrad rested his forehead against mine.
"Are you tired?"
"A little."
"Then come here."
He guided me to the bed, sitting down first and gently pulling me to lie down against him.
His hand automatically returned to my belly.
Instinctive protection.
The baby moved again.
Conrad froze.
"Did you feel it?"
"Yes."
His eyes shone with a pure emotion that always melted me.
"Hi, little one," he murmured to my belly. "I'm your father... in case you haven't noticed yet."
I laughed softly.
"He already knows."
Conrad kissed my belly.
Then he kissed my lips.
Slowly.
Tenderly.
Home.
That was what he was.
And in that moment, for the first time in days...
I felt peace.
Conrad kept his hand on my stomach even after the kiss, as if he couldn't pull away.
"He responded when I spoke," I said, my voice low, almost marveling.
"He always responds," I murmured. "Especially when you're around."
Conrad frowned slightly.
"Have you noticed this before?"
I nodded.
"Ever since the cell... when my magic was blocked. He would get restless. But when you came near... he would calm down."
His eyes darkened with a mixture of emotion and worry.
"So my power... is influencing him."
"Not just influencing," I corrected gently. "Balancing."
The silence that followed wasn't heavy.
It was full of meaning.
Conrad ran his fingers in slow circles over the fabric of the dress, as if memorizing every detail of that moment.
"I wish I could take all the danger away from you," he said suddenly. "All this responsibility. The rift... the kingdom... everything."
I brought my hand to his face.
"But if you took it away... I wouldn't be me."
He closed his eyes for a second, resting his forehead against my palm.
"I know," he replied. "And that's exactly what scares me."
I smiled slightly.
"The great wolf king afraid?"
"Of losing you?" he opened his eyes. "Always."
My heart tightened.
I leaned in to kiss him again, longer, feeling his breath mingle with mine.
Conrad's hands slid gently down my back, pulling me closer, as if he needed to feel that I was truly there.
"Promise me something?" he said against my lips.
"What?"
"That if at any point you feel it's too much... that it's too heavy... you'll tell me."
"I always tell you."
"Not always," he retorted with a half-smile.
I grimaced.
"Sometimes."
He chuckled softly.
Then he became serious again.
"I need to know when you're not okay. Not just as king... but as your partner."
My hand went to the nape of his neck, caressing it slowly.
"I promise."
Conrad seemed to relax.
The baby stirred again, a stronger movement.
We both froze.
"That was... more intense," he commented.
"It's happening more often," I admitted. "Especially when we talk about the crack."
Conrad immediately looked at my stomach.
As if he could protect it with just a look.
"He feels it," he said.
"Yes."
"What do you think that means?"
I took a deep breath.
"I think... he knows we're going to need him."
Conrad's jaw clenched.
"I hate this."
"I know."
He rested his head on my shoulder, hugging me tighter.
We stayed like that for a few minutes.
In silence.
Just breathing together.
Until I felt something different.
A slight vibration in the air.
Subtle.
But familiar.
My whole body went on alert.
Conrad noticed immediately.
"What was that?" he asked, lifting his head. I looked towards the bedroom door.
"The castle," I murmured. "The energy... has changed."
His eyes turned golden in seconds.
Wolf instinct.
King instinct.
Protective instinct.
Then the baby moved again.
This time it wasn't curiosity.
It was reaction.
Alert.
Conrad gripped my hand tightly.
"Something's happening," he said.
And I knew.
The peace of that moment... was gone.
Conrad didn't let go of my hand for a second as we left the room.
The bond between us was stronger than ever, but now there was something else following our steps.
Urgency.
We descended the castle corridors almost in silence. Guards hurried past, servants whispered amongst themselves, and the tension in the air was so palpable it felt like weight.
"It was sudden," Conrad murmured. "I felt the change too."
I nodded.
"And the baby reacted before I did."
That made his expression harden.
We arrived at the great hall and the doors were already open. Inside, Kael was in the center of the room, surrounded by advisors and two captains of the guard, all speaking at once.
He looked up when he saw us.
Relief crossed his face—but it vanished too quickly.
"What happened?" Conrad asked, his voice firm, immediately assuming a kingly posture.
Kael took a deep breath.
"There was another attack."
My stomach sank.
"Where?"