The Hathway Kingdom (Book 2)

Thirty-Five.

~Thirty-Five. ~

It took Larissa a week longer to be able to sit up on her own. Another few days to be able to feed herself and then a further week to convince Rosaleen, Elissa and Romulus that she could get out of the bed she was confined to on her own. Though it took more out of her than she was going to admit to them. She still received her daily visits from Iovianus, the Professor and Lizbeth. She had even begun to receive visits from Tristan and Theodoras, which she was more than happy for. She knew that they didn't have to do that, but she felt an overwhelming sense of joy when they came to see her.

The only person she had yet to see, and wanted to see more than anyone else, was Akira. She wanted nothing more than to see her young cousin, to make sure that she was alright and safe. Both Iovianus and Lizbeth had assured her that she was well and safe, as had the Professor, who had also informed her that he had taken it upon himself to continue Akira's schooling and lessons and take care of her.

Larissa looked up from the book she had been reading, having read the same line for what felt like the third time and still having not taken in any of the words printed on the page. The doors to the medical room opened and she looked towards them, smiling when she saw Romulus had come back from cleaning himself up again. Now that she was out of danger and wasn't running the risk of making herself worse, he had made sure to take care of himself, especially since she now knew that he hadn't been, and he had received an hour-long lecture for his troubles. It had only been an hour long as that had been how long she could keep her eyes open at the time. Closing her book, she tilted her head back to kiss him as he leant down to kiss her when he came over to her, her hand on his cheek.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he pulled back, sinking into the chair right beside her own as she sent him a playful scowl and huffed.

"Are you really going to ask me that every time we see each other?" she asked him as he took her hand and chuckled.

"Until I know for certain that you are...Yes. Yes, I think I will," he replied, and Larissa grumbled at him before looking away.

"Well...In answer to your question for the millionth time: I am fine. Not that you'll believe me anyway," she said as she looked at him once more.

"True," he said with a smirk before he glanced towards the doors of the room, which had remained open. "I have a surprise for you, my love," he said, and Larissa looked at him carefully.

"What...what kind of surprise?" Larissa asked him cautiously as she went to pull her hand away, but he tightened his hold a little.

"A good surprise, my love. Tristan?" he called out and she looked over towards the doors as Tristan came into view. Larissa frowned before she realised that he was holding someone's hand. She eyes moved down his arm before they widened. What felt like two seconds later, Larissa found herself engulfed by a pair of tiny arms that held her with a strength she didn't think they had.

"Lassy!" Akira exclaimed as she held on tightly to Larissa, who was doing her best not to wince as Akira hugged her tightly. Larissa was still for a moment before her arms circled Akira and she held her close, tears forming in her eyes, and she blinked them away as quickly as she could. She tightened her hold on Akira, who she felt shaking in her arms.

"Shh...Shh, Kira. I'm here," she said gently, doing her best to sooth the young girl who gave a small shake of her head.

"I'm not going anywhere this time," Larissa said before she gently pulled Akira back to look at her and meeting Akira's startling blue eyes, looking as clear as the ocean as they sparkled with her tears.