From The Ashes

Chapter Forty-Nine

Five Months Later

I stood on the stone balcony and breathed in the warm summer air as I looked out over the kingdom.

I laid my hands that were still gray-but lightening every day- on the railing and sighed as a gentle breeze combed through my dark locks.

My hair was longer again, now down to my hips. I didn't do much with it these days besides let it fall where it may. 

Two strong arms wrapped around my torso from behind and caressed my white cotton dress. 

"It's time to get ready, my love," Valen purred in my ear.

I leaned my head back and exposed my neck to him as he peppered it with kisses. I reached back and tugged on his hair and chuckled when he groaned. 

"Keep that up and we'll be late for our coronation," he muttered in a husky voice.

I turned to face him full on and smiled. He was as handsome as ever, but he'd decided to grow his hair a little longer as well. It now fell just above his icy eyes that were regarding me with warmth. 

"Now, we can't let that happen, can we?" I smirked.

He threw his head back and laughed. Truth be told, we had rescheduled this day twice already and the new council was beginning to get anxious. 

Anton, who was the head of the council, had stormed into my room the last time Valen had delivered the news and demanded an explanation. 

I had explained to him that I still needed time to rest. Apparently taking in the darkness had effected me more than any of us had imagined it would.  I was weak and sickly for a while, and my moods would change on the flip of a dime. I wasn't strong enough to be a queen yet.

I wasn't worthy.

Anton had finally relented when he saw for himself just how bad of shape I was in.

I sighed and stepped around Valen to walk to my closet. We had rebuilt our palace on top of the old ruins and construction had completed just a few weeks ago.

We were now able to hold all of our pack and Moonlight in the ball room where the coronation would be taking place. 

Valen wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back to him once more.

His lips met mine with a heated passion and my head was spinning from lack of oxygen. He pulled away and smiled before lowering his gaze to my swollen belly. 

I put my hand over it and felt a small kick. I gasped and grabbed his hand, placing it exactly where mine had been.

We waited for a moment with bated breath until finally, a small thump could be felt. 

A warm smile covered his face and his eyes lit up. He leaned down so that he was face to face with my stomach. 

"You two need to settle down in there, it's a very important day for mommy and I. We can't have her being any more uncomfortable than she already is," he purred.

My heart tightened at the touching sight before me and tears pricked my eyes. He placed two delicate kisses to my abdomen and stood back up.