Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch

I have been uneasy the entire day. The silhouette figure that has haunted my dreams was not simply a nightmare, but a message, a foretelling of Corvin Graves.

My encounter with him was unexplainable, and it riled me up. Not even my first encounter with Damon was this unsettling. This man did not threaten me, yet it felt ominous. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

I place a hand on my stomach, eyes on my gigantic library. Drevon’s desire to give me books encompassing many things, because of my keen interest, brought this library to life.

Still, I have searched every catalog, but I didn’t find the name Graves.

Was Corvin Graves just an unknown man who randomly appeared to me? Who was he? What is he?

I’m scared. I may have played it off as a brave person, but I was shaking in my bones.

This man was definitely an intruder in the empire, and no one knew this except me. I must tell Drevon this.

I hurried down to the second floor, but I suddenly gripped the railing when everything spun. I rasped, balancing myself, trying to catch my breath.

Gosh! This is suddenly reminding me of my ailment days, were they always the same as pregnancy?

I groaned, rubbing my temple when a headache formed. I somehow got down the last flight of the stairs before collapsing on the divan beside the window, my breathing hitched more. There was water on the table, but I couldn’t reach it. My eyes couldn’t even stay open; they were too heavy.

As darkness claimed me, I heard my name echo.

~•~

I stirred awake, feeling a much softer divan, or maybe it wasn’t. It was a bed.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw Drevon, but he wasn’t looking at me. From his side profile, his concern was very obvious. I only just fell asleep; nothing bad happened.

"Celia?" I mumbled weakly when I saw her, too.

"You shouldn’t speak, Your Majesty."

She was right, that one word felt like I’d used all the energy I had.

"The queen needs to eat. She’s too weak."

"She ate five times already today."

Only Drevon can answer things like that with such accuracy.

"She needs more; there are no nutrients in her body."

That can’t be right. The past few days, I have been stuffed, Drevon made sure of that, and even I didn’t believe I was capable of eating that much. Was it not enough?

"I shall have a small list for more nutritious food, the more the better. She needs to stay hydrated as much as possible, too."

"Send the list to the servants and have them get them in crates. I’ll reach out to the farmers too."

"Yes, my liege," she bowed and left the room.

I finally looked back at Drevon. There was a deep countenance before it quickly flickered away. He smiled at me.

"You must rest, my love, your body needs to digest the brew properly. When you awake, you shall eat."

His words were like a soft echo as the realms of sleep held me captive once again.

~•~

The next time I awoke, I heard the soft showers of rain. The only source of light in the room was from the chandelier and the hearth, burning with plenty of wood. The room was very warm, and it was comfort I didn’t know I needed. I felt much better.

I pushed the covers off me, and I blushed. I wasn’t in my nightdress but Drevon’s shirt! It was so big and thick. I sniffed and sighed in ecstasy at his spicy scent. Who knew wearing his shirt was far more comfortable than my night attire?

"Maybe from now on you’ll wear my shirt." Drevon neared the bed, resting his arm on the wood. "The look on your face is priceless."

"I cannot resist that offer, Husband."

"How are you?"

"Much better, thanks to you, dearest."

"Why wasn’t Talia next to you?" he suddenly asked, an unusual frown taking over his expression.

"She was... I just needed to make some findings in my study, so I was alone at that time," I replied, recalling what happened today.

"That will not do, my love. You’re in a very delicate position, and if I’m not close to you, then your handmaids should always be."

"Delicate? I’m only growing a baby," I said amused. "Though it’s not as easy as it sounds. I didn’t know it could be so... tiring."

I placed my hand on my stomach before leveling my gaze.

Drevon sat beside me and took my hand. "You’re carrying our child." His words were heavy. "We have to avoid any risks."

"Risks?" I narrowed my eyes. "I’m living carefree; a lot of work is off my hands already. So I don’t think risks should be considered."

"We can never be too careful."

"You can tell me plainly."

"Pardon?"

"I carry the future, and I’m aware that no one sees me as a person but a vessel. Everyone is more concerned about the royal baby, except you and Diana. You’re the only ones who are worried about me."

It was quite obvious about the Empire’s thoughts. It wasn’t hard to miss because of the Dowager’s behaviour. I knew the baby was only her concern, and others thought the same, even the ladies at the inner court.

"Let the empire have their thoughts, that does not concern me. Talia must be by you, understood?"

"I’m already like a pretty doll sitting in one place all the time, Drevon. Truly, you shouldn’t be so worried. I’m strong enough. There’s no need for me to be followed all the time."

"It’s for your safety."

"Safety now?"

He sighed. "Eloise..."

"Leave that out of the way, there is something important I must tell you."

"What’s more important than this?"

"It—" I choked, coughing hard like my entire body wanted to dissolve. I didn’t know when Drevon handed me a cup of water, and I chugged it down.

I coughed again, water spilling to the bed, but I finally found some relief, hand at my throat, still shaken by what just happened.

I heard Drevon’s voice, but it was distant, not until he cupped my cheeks and snapped me out of it.

"Are you alright?" he asked in extreme worry, searching my face for any distress.

"I..." My eyes trembled. "I must have choked on my own tongue or something."

"Eloise, that is not funny."

"I’m not trying to be," I mumbled. "That aside, what I was saying was that I met—"

My tongue twisted, and suddenly I couldn’t speak.