“I feel terrible.” She had him exactly where she wanted him. Buying the body-weakening and swollen-face pills from the black market was worth it. It gave her inner joy. Outside, her eyes watered as she watched him. The seller told her that the illegal pill did make a person an emotional mess. She was glad about that, too. She needed all the help she could get.
“What is wrong?” he asked in a calming voice.
“I started having lots of pain in my belly and I’m so weak. I couldn’t control the pain; it was too much.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.
“I should have Baski examine you. She might be able to help.”
“No. Not Baski.” She shook her head. “Wouldn’t want to be a burden to her. Kaya already called Argie, the medicine man, and he has examined me. He made me some herbs to take, too.”
Her eyes went to the table beside her, leaving the king’s eyes to follow. Indeed, there were drugs on the table, but they were her fertility pills and body-energizing potions.
The king nodded. “You will be fine, Vetta.”
“Thank you, my king. I’m just so s-scared.” She swallowed, looking frightened. “I hate being sick. It reminds me so much about that horrible place. I don’t want to live with the thoughts of that hideous past in my head.”
He raised his hand. Hesitated. Then he placed it on her arm. A muscle in his jaw ticked in that telltale sign he didn’t like the intimacy of touching others. He didn’t pull his hand, though. “Try not to think about it. We are free, Vetta. The drugs might make you delirious, but try not to get buried in those awful memories.” His eyes clouded. “I know what it feels like to drown in them. It is not a good feeling.”
She knew he knew how awful and tormenting their past had been for them, which was exactly why she was using it. Tears filled her eyes and overflowed. Being delirious was her best strategy.
“I feel so alone,” she cried.
“You are not alone.”
“Lucien?” she whispered, knowing he wouldn’t punish her for it.
He stiffened. She’d called him that a few times in slavery after massive torture sessions. “Mm?”
More tears. “Can you please stay this night with me? I’m so scared. I don’t want to be alone. I’m so scared to be alone.”
Danika was tired and worn out by the time the project was finished.
She took Corna back to his mother’s house and dropped him on the front porch. Lowering herself to become eye level with the boy, she ruffled his hair again. “You’ll be fine, Corna. Be a good boy, okay?”
Corna nodded obediently. “You are a good queen. Very beautiful queen.”
Danika smiled at him, even as she wondered what was with the little boy addressing her the same way Remeta addressed her. “I’m not a queen. I was a princess, Corna. But not anymore.”
The boy reluctantly released his finger from his mouth with a pop. He moved closer and placed his little hand on her belly. He touched every inch like a healer would do during an examination. He looked up at her confused face and smiled. “Pwince of Wain. Evewything will be fine.”
Danika returned his smile, even though she hadn’t understood most of his halting words. The door opened, and his mother came out with a warm smile. She thanked Danika for everything.
“Because of you and the king, we will eat well again. We have water again. Thank you so much. You are so different from your father. I am so sorry that we have hated you because of him. You are a good woman, Princess Danika.” The woman smiled at her before she took Corna into the small house.
Danika’s heart filled with happiness as she walked away from the premises. It was a good day today.
Her happy mood only lasted until she entered her bedroom, and Baski informed her that the king would spend the night with his mistress in her bedroom.
She should feel relief---it would buy them more time to tell the king about her pregnancy, which she and Baski had already decided they would do on the morning of the morrow. If the king didn’t spend the night with her, he wouldn’t have to find out by himself and accuse her of betrayal.
She should be giddy with relief. But all she felt was anguish. Her chest tightened, and her eyes watered. She turned away from Baski so that she wouldn’t see her tears. “It’s a good thing for me, anyway. I can use this opportunity to get some much-needed sleep. I’ve been so stressed; I need the rest and---”
Baski came to her front and hugged her close. “It’s okay to feel bad, Danika. No one ever gets used to the bitter fact that a man who was supposed to be hers is in the company of another woman.”
Danika swiped the tears away. “The king is not mine.”
“You’re right, he isn’t. You are not the only woman the king has. Several mistresses and slaves belong to the king, but a king belongs to his queen.”
The answer only made her hurt more. It reminded her of the things she could never have—of her former status she lost.
“Our king already has his future queen, but guess who he has feelings for?” Baski added.
Danika stiffened, pulling back to see the older woman’s face clearly.
Baski nodded. “I don’t know what those feelings are, and I can bet that he does not know either. But he has feelings for you, Danika. Feelings that are not hate. Feelings that he does not have for any other woman who belongs to him.”
Baski smiled as she began walking to the door. “Why don’t you keep that in mind as you try to get that much-needed sleep? And you’re going to need to sleep very well. It’s a big day tomorrow. And we don’t know what it will bring.”
After she left, Danika walked to the bed and sat on it. Her heart was light and filled with hope.
Did the king really have feelings for her?
Well, Baski was right about one thing. It was a big day tomorrow. They would go together and break the news of her pregnancy to the king. No going back.
What will tomorrow bring?
Will it change her life for the better?
Will it change her life for the worse?
Will tomorrow end her life?
Danika took her bath and came back to her bedroom. Lying on the bed in a simple nightgown, she couldn’t shake the bad feeling that settled in her gut.
Why did it feel like tomorrow would change her life forever?
.