𝒯𝒽ℯ ℛ𝒾𝓈ℯ 𝒪𝒻 𝒜 𝒬𝓊ℯℯ𝓃

Chapter |15| Baby Shower

A R A B E L L A ' S. P.O.V

"So, how long exactly is this baby shower going to be?" I met Hardin's eye through the large oval mirror as I slid in a pearl droplet earring.

"I don't know, a couple hours or so. I didn't even know until yesterday. Flo and Rory wanted it to be a surprise but of course, Flicker blabbed to me." Turning around, I slipped on my black kitten heels that matched my purple lace gown perfectly and then crossed the room to meet my husband.

He chuckled softly, buttoning up his pale blue shirt. "She never could keep a secret. I'm surprised she managed to keep quiet about her and Xander for so long." Snorting in agreement, I grabbed the tub of gel and spurted some onto my fingers.

Gently I pushed his hair back, styling it with the tips of my fingers. "Where are you going?"

"Me, Wyatt, Xander, Daniel and a few other guards are heading down to the pub near Silene." I retracted my head and frowned.

"Is that safe?" Despite the depletion in the number of threats we've been receiving from rebel groups, and yes they are actually counted by the mailing centre on the first floor of the Palace, it's still dangerous. They could be plotting something right now, waiting
to catch Hardin off guard.

"Hey, I'll be fine. I promise you." His hands trailed my neck, his fingers accidentally pressing down against my bruises. After two weeks the bruises were still there, a constant reminder of Benjamin's attack. "Shit, I'm sorry baby. Do they still hurt?"

His eyes were filled with a heavy concern, the type that inevitably weighed you down, acting as a weight slowly crushing you. Hardin worried enough, he didn't need to add me to the mix.

"No, it's just a little sore."

"And your throat? Was I too rough yesterday? I shouldn't have done that, it was too much." I shook my head and grabbed his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me.

"Yesterday was completely amazing. Don't apologise, I asked for you to be a little rougher than yesterday, and I needed it." I pressed a lingering kiss to his cheek, my own flushing from memories of last night's passion entwined evening.

His face brightened, a smile playing on his lips. "You know I've actually been to a baby shower before." This quirked my interest.

"You have? When?" Holding my hand, he slowly led me over to the bed and sat down, pulling me onto his lap.

"It was years ago, I must have been maybe four or five. My mother would have to go to them as part of her duties, and I would always tag along." He laughed, staring off as he remembered fragments of his past. "We used to leave them early, ditch our guards and then go off into the city and explore. Ice cream was our favourite."

"Double chocolate chip." It was his favourite, always had been, always will be.

"Exactly yeah, it was her favourite first though. I used to prefer strawberry, believe it or not? She force fed me the chocolate once and I've become addicted every since."

"I wish I could have met her. She sounds amazing." Queen Lilia was an inspiration, a person I admired with all my heart. I spent hours in the library reading all about her, the changes she made and the programmes she launched.

Believe it or not but Dahlia used to actually be worse before she came to the throne, and through it all I genuinely believe she loved Benjamin. It's just a shame he didn't love her back.

"She would have spoiled our little Prince to no end, and then some." Our baby would already be spoiled, despite hardly any actual blood relatives to speak of. However, our family consisted of the best people. Each of us had known little love in our lifetimes, but yet we came together to create our own family filled with happiness and love. A support system for us all.