Chapter 211
He led me up the stairs and got me into bed.
“You’re staying in bed from now on, if you want you want to go outside, I’ll carry you. I don’t want you going up and down the stairs anymore,”
“The doctor said that I was fine on my feet for another month,” I stroked his cheek and Darian leaned down.
“My love, I wasn’t asking,” his eyes hardened to show the depth of his seriousness but I laughed.
He had been fussing over me since the war, and the bigger I got the more he hovered.
But looking into those eyes and seeing the flame that was his love and affection, I just fell more in love with him.
The days passed with little excitement, I had done nothing but lay in bed because every time I tried to stand it felt like I would fall and roll down the hallway. Nora helped me with shorter walks around the room and Darian held true to his word about carrying me up and down the stairs when I needed some fresh air. He’d sit me down on a bench in the garden and after about an hour when even that became rough, he’d carry me back up.
Today was different though, I was getting dressed by the maids and the palace was filling with guests. Everyone gathered in the ballroom and I would make my entry in twenty minutes.
They helped me downstairs and I waited for Darian to give his speech, addressing everyone with veiled threats regarding the recent decimation of the Royal Guards. The war was on everyone’s lips, it didn’t matter if you were a rogue, Omega, or an Alpha- they had all heard about it by now. To ensure that such a thing would never happen again, Darian had taken precautions but he also made it clear to every leading figure in Valeria, everyone with power no matter how much or how little, that any sign of treason would be met with equal strength. It was dead silent in there when the doors opened.
“I would like for you all to raise your glasses,” he called and everyone turned to watch me.
“For my beautiful mate, Hazel Grey, Queen of Valeria!”
The ballroom erupted in cheer from all corners and I found a few familiar eyes that helped ease the discomfort I felt from being a walking balloon.
As I neared Darian standing by a throne that I hadn’t seen before, someone grabbed my arm.
I turned and looked at Iliana who was smiling from ear to ear, but she did a poor job hiding the nervousness in her eyes, and the black circles below them told me she wasn’t feeling too well.
“Hi!” She squealed. A loud growl sounded behind me and Iliana’s hand ripped from my arm.
“Do not touch the Queen!” I looked back and saw Lauren. My lip twitched in a smirk. There was no rule about touching the Queen, but there was an unwritten one amongst friends, that you don’t let backstabbing bitches get too comfortable. Of course, she was invited, I signed the invitation myself, she was the Luna and all leaders were present tonight but it was strictly business and I think she realized that now.
Darian took my hand when I stepped up to him and he immediately guided me to the throne.
“Darian-”
“Sit. You shouldn’t be here at all, you should be in bed,”
“I wanted to be here,”
He sighed and brushed the hair away from my face.
“It’s my job to protect you,” he said and helped me sit.
“How about you retire for an hour?” I grinned.
Darian pressed his lips against mine, kneeling in front of me as everyone watched in silence.
“Never.” He said, grabbing my chin, “Not even when I’m dead,”
1/2
The Alpha’s Hunt
