Chapter 151 A Secret Life
\[Lilia\]
I woke to a shower of soft kisses peppering my face. As my eyes drifted open, the first thing that greeted my vision was Kael, hovering just above me.
Panic gripped me instantly. I whipped my head toward the window, seeing that the sun hadn't yet broken the horizon, but it was dangerously close. Kael sensed my rising hysteria and cupped the side of my face, bringing my gaze back to his. He leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose, melting my tense muscles into a puddle of relief.
“It’s okay, doll. You’ve only been asleep for an hour,” he whispered reassuringly. Only then did I allow myself to relax against the silk pillows.
Still, a nagging question remained. “You really ought to be leaving,” I said, sliding my fingers into his hair and playing with the dark strands. We were both still naked, and from my peripheral view, I caught a glimpse of his "sword" already poised for yet another battle.
“Nah.” A coy smile broke across his face as he shifted to settle right next to me. “Let me spend a little more time with you.”
He slipped one arm underneath my head, offering it as a pillow. He nudged my body into a comfortable position, pulling me flush against his heat. I couldn’t help but lick my lips, watching him with hooded eyes as he explored my skin. He kissed me again, and I didn't protest, feeling his hand slide down to my breast, gliding over my ribs, and tucking me close.
A sharp intake of breath filled my lungs as Kael slowly—painstakingly—entered me again. I hadn’t even noticed I was already slick with arousal, making it easy for him to slip into my core. This time, he was gentle and slow, taking his time with me as if to memorize the sensation of us being one. It felt like a true honeymoon—a husband and wife bound by more than just words.
We made love until we were both exhausted and sapped. By the time we finished, my gaze caught the sky through the window; it was tinged with indigo, a sure sign that the sun was about to rise. I pushed myself up, ignoring the throbbing ache between my legs, and stared down at my sleeping husband.
Husband. The word was a lullaby in my head. He had his eyes closed, resting, but I knew he wasn't fully asleep.
“You should go. The sun is coming up.”
It hurt to say it. It felt like a cold metal blade stabbing through my back and out my chest. We were married, yet we were still forced apart. I tried not to let the tears well up as I sat up straight.
Kael cracked his eyes open and sighed. “It’s only temporary, love. We’re going to be together once this is over.”
“When will that be?” I asked, my voice somber and impatient.
“Soon. I promise.” Kael reached out, caressing the side of my mouth. “I—”
I didn’t get the chance to finish. Suddenly, that wave of strong nausea and queasiness struck me again. I clamped both hands over my mouth to keep from making a mess on the bed. In a split second, I leaped up and shot into the bathroom. I barely made it to the sink before the vile acid trickled down my chin. My stomach retched with a violent contraction, squeezing my gut until tears sprung to my eyes.
I heard a rustle behind me. A large, warm hand landed on my back, and my hair was swept to the side. Kael held it for me as I emptied my stomach. It took longer this time for the sensation to ease. When I finally could breathe, I rinsed the acidic aftertaste from my mouth and splashed cold water on my face.
I met Kael’s firm stare in the mirror. He stood behind me, still holding my hair, but there was something in his gaze—a lingering, calculated intensity that seemed to bore a hole into my soul.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice strained.
I nodded, wiping my face. “Yeah. It’s just... these past few weeks my senses have been so sensitive. I've been throwing up a lot.”
I thought back to the flight from Russia, when the mango juice tasted like stagnant water. I had deemed it unimportant then, overshadowed by the terror of being taken.
“Kukla.” Kael’s voice was demanding now. The thread holding his composure snapped, and I swallowed in fear. Was he angry? But I saw no rage in his mossy eyes; it was something far more profound.
“What?”
Kael let go of my hair and spun me around to face him, gripping both my shoulders tightly. “When was the last time you bled?”
I looked at him, flustered. The inquiry was so sudden, so clinical. “What are you—”
Then, it hit me like a block of ice. Chills raced down my spine, and my heart seemed to stop beating entirely. I felt like I might be sick again, even though my stomach was empty. I never kept a strict track of my cycle. I was so pent up with emotion lately that I hadn’t realized I was long overdue.
“You’re pregnant,” Kael stated. It wasn’t a question. “I never used protection with you.”
He never had. He had planted his seed inside me over and over, and I had never given it a second thought.
“Are you mad?” I whispered, terrified of the answer.
A part of me was joyous at the thought of carrying a piece of him, but the dread of our situation loomed large.
My worries vanished when Kael smiled gently. He pushed the hair from my face and placed his large palm over my flat belly. The warmth from his hand spread through me.
“No, doll. Of course not. Why would I be mad? This is a blessing.”
He kissed the top of my head and pulled me into a hug. I leaned my forehead against his chest, listening to the thunder of his heart.
“What are we going to do?” I murmured.
Kael didn't answer right away. He led me back to the bed, covered me with the blanket, and knelt on the floor in front of me. Even with me sitting, his height allowed him to look me right in the eye.
“I need you to be careful. Take care of yourself and our baby. Don't go anywhere dangerous, avoid the stairs and slippery floors. God, I wish I could be with you.”
He growled in exasperation, hating the distance between us.
“But I’ll come back. I promise. I’ll get both of you. Okay?”
“Okay,” I nodded, blinking back tears. Now I knew why I had been so emotional.
“I love you. But I have to go. Eat plenty of fruit and take your vitamins,” he said, kissing me one last time. He quickly pulled on his pants and grabbed his discarded shirt.
“Could I tell them?” I wondered aloud, thinking of Pa.
“Keep it between us. For now,” Kael warned, taking my hands. “I love you.”
I watched him stride to the window. He threw a glance over his shoulder, nodded, and leapt outside. I scrambled to the pane, leaning out, but he was already gone. The sky was now painted in vibrant oranges and pinks.
Morning was here. I needed to get dressed before Linda walked through that door.