Hiraeth

Chapter 34: The Queen

I feel a light touch on my hand. It lightly travels up my wrist, my arm, my shoulder.

At first I think it's Kaius. Then the hand touches my cheek and I feel how feminine it is.

Feminine and familiar.

"... everything is okay sweetie... come back now..."

The voice is soft and I hum, leaning into the hand on my cheek. My eyes still see darkness but my skin feels warmth.

As fast as it was there, the hand dissolves away and feels like a brush of wind. I feel myself frown and slowly my senses come back to me...

The buzzing of a machine is audible. It isn't until I hear the sharp beep that I am jolted awake. My senses are sharp and every sound is loud.

I open my eyes and see a white ceiling. As I look around, I realize where I am. I'm in my room... back at home.

Kaius's castle.

Kaius. The fight. Fenris. My father.

It all comes back to me and my heart picks up. The machine beeps with me.

I rip the IV and heart monitor off, grunting as the pain runs through me.

I need to find Kaius. I need to make sure he is okay.

No one is in the room so I assume that I must have been out for a while. I open the door to the hall and walk to his room.

A knock tells me he isn't there and so I head for his office. As I work my way there, I realize what I am wearing. It is a new pair of clothes.

Kaius must have dressed me out of my battered and bloody clothes. He changed me into jeans and a white shirt, my favorite outfit.

The hallway feels longer than usual and as I get closer to his office, my eyes catch the paintings on the wall.

I have seen them before but I have never stopped to stare for too long. On the wall is a massive painting of the old King and his Queen, Kaius's parents.

The Queen is a spinning image of Kaius with long black hair and a similar face structure to Kaius. Her eyes are a sharp forest green.

Kaius's father stands in his regal King uniform. He looks like a golden eyed Fenris with his blonde hair.

I feel something stir in me as I look at the Queen. I recognize the crown. It is the very crown that was placed on my head.

Another feeling stirs in me and I feel restless and slightly panicked. But they are not my own feelings.

I hear a growl down the hall and I rush back towards my room. The growl comes from my room and I rush in to see Kaius checking the closet.

"Kaius."

His eyes snap to me and I see him relax.

"Where did you go? You shouldn't be out of bed! I leave for one hour and you disappear."

I close the door behind me and approach him as he stands there huffing like the Alpha he is.

"Kaius."

His rambling stops and he looks down at me, noticing how close I am to him.

"What happened after I passed out?"

He sighs and picks me up bridal style, carrying me to the bed and laying me down.

It is funny. Before us, I would have never let anyone carry me a few feet. With Kaius, I want him to. When he touches me to pick me up, I can't help but notice how the air entered my lungs a little easier.

"A lot of people died. It is going to take a lot for that area to recover but we are doing everything we can. Ryder and Lucy have been very busy and I have been trying my best to do work here with you asleep."

"How long was I out?"

"Two days. The doctor says that your body used a lot of energy trying to survive and fight off the heat. Hiraeth." His eyes that were on my hands rise to meet mine. "Most human females die after one day of the heat. You have survived 3 whole days. No one has ever done that."

I look to the bed and frown. I don't feel anything now accept for a faint pain. Then something comes to my mind.

My eyes rise to his golden ones that are watching me closely. "Do you think it was the moon goddess? She took Fenris when he caused too much unbalance and if we were destined to rule together, I wouldn't be surprised if she let me live."

Kaius's eyes softened and the corner of his lips lifted into a breathtaking smile. "Or maybe you are the strongest woman who ever walked this earth."

His smile fades as something approaches his mind. "I'm sorry, my love. I should have never let you leave the castle so soon after marking you. I let you suffer because I underestimated my brother."

I feel a burning in my stomach as I listen to Kaius. I try my best not to react, knowing the heat is coming back. The moon goddess is pushing it.

My hand reaches up and I place it on his cheek. "Kaius, I love you. I would never blame you. I trust you more than anyone."

I have learned so much from him. Changed so much. He is the force in my life that made me see things differently. I am no longer Hiraeth Hannum who hates all werewolves.

"Kaius."

His hand takes mine and he brings it to his lips, kissing my fingers.

"I love you."

His eyes slowly meet mine and I take in the intensity in his golden orbs. They swirl with emotions and I feel what he is thinking without him having to tell me.

I know what is next and I have never wanted it more in my life before. All I see is Kaius and all I want is Kaius. I want to be one and for him to have me, possess me in every way possible.

"Kiss me" I whisper.