Captivated Desires

33

The kids looked at me with worry etched on their tiny faces, but the mention of their aunt and cousins seemed to calm them down somewhat. "Okay, Mama," Willow said softly, her small hand reaching out to pat my head. I laughed softly "You're the cutest,".

Willow managed a small smile, her fear starting to subside. Lionel and Levi also seemed comforted by my words, their worried expressions replaced by softer, more loving ones. "We'll be good, Mom," Lionel chimed in, his voice small but firm. "We'll go back to our room and be quiet."

"Actually why don't you guys go and see Uncle Azar," I said gently. The kids perked up at the suggestion. Visiting Azar usually meant treats and stories, and they loved spending time with him. The worry in their eyes faded even more, replaced by excitement. "Can we really?"

I nodded. Their faces broke into wide grins, and they all quickly said their goodbyes before racing out of the room, probably to go find Azar. The sound of their footsteps faded into the distance, leaving me alone with Reign again.

It was silent for a moment as Reign continued to look down at me, his expression now a mixture of worry and relief. Now that the kids had left, he seemed to relax slightly, but his focus was still entirely on me. "How are you feeling?" He asked softly, his hand moving from my shoulder to my face, fingers gently grazed over my cheeks.

"It's getting to me, I can't lose them baby-" I started to cry.

"Hey, hey," Reign soothed, his voice gentle and comforting. He moved even closer, sitting down next to me on the floor and pulling me gently into his lap. "No one is going to lose anyone, okay? We won't let that happen." 

I kept crying "I'm trying to be strong for everyone but I can't, it's too much. I'm terrified,".

Reign wrapped his arms around me, pulling me tightly against his chest. "You don't have to be strong all the time," he murmured into my hair. "It's okay to feel scared. It's okay to cry. I'm here for you, okay? We're in this together."

He rocked me gently in his arms, his touch firm and grounding. "I'm not going to let anything happen to any of us," he promised, his voice steady and firm. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep us safe. I swear."

Gradually, my sobs quieted, my body relaxing against his strong form. I could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, the rhythmic beating of his heart, and I found a strange comfort in the steadiness.

Reign didn't speak, simply holding me close, letting his presence be my anchor in the storm. The silence in the room was filled only by the sound of my breathing slowly returning to normal. After a few minutes, he spoke again, his voice soft but firm. "You need to rest, okay?" he instructed, his arms still holding me tightly. "I'm going to pick you up and take you to our room."

Before I could protest, he gently lifted me, shifting me easily into his arms. I felt weightless for a moment, cradled against his muscular chest as he rose to his feet. With purposeful strides, he carried me down the corridor towards our bedroom, his pace steady and his hold on me unwavering. The world around me was a blur as he walked, my eyes half-closed, mind and body worn out.

He pushed open the door to our bedroom and gently placed me on the bed, his eyes looking down at me, concern written all over his face as he pulled the covers over me. I sank into the soft mattress, feeling exhaustion take over my body. The events of the past hour felt like a dream, or maybe a nightmare and all I wanted to do now was shut my eyes and forget.

After tucking me in, Reign stood there for a moment, looking down at me with a mixture of concern and determination. He hated seeing me like this, so vulnerable and scared. But he knew he had to keep it together for the sake of me and the kids.

With a last, lingering look at me, he turned away and quietly left the bedroom, closing the door gently behind him. He had responsibilities to attend to, decisions to make, and actions to take. He walked down the stairs and headed towards Azar, his mind already going through a list of things that needed to be done. Their enemies were closing in, but he wasn't going to let them get anywhere near his family.

As he entered the room, Reign couldn't help but smile faintly at the sight. Azar was sitting in an armchair, the three kids crowded on and around him. They were sitting on his lap, on the armrest, and leaning against his legs, clearly happy to be in their uncle's company.

"Looks like you've got quite the handful there," Reign commented, crossing the room to join them. Azar looked up at him and gave a small nod of agreement, though he looked slightly amused with the kids' antics.

"They're just being clingy," he remarked, one hand patting Lionel's head affectionately. The kids, of course, didn't disagree, snuggling even closer to Azar, obviously enjoying the attention.

Reign chuckled slightly, watching the scene before him. "Well, I think they're just glad to have their favourite uncle here," he said, sitting down in another armchair nearby.

Azar smirked, knowing all too well that he was their favourite. "What can I say, I have a way with kids," he said with a shrug, earning him enthusiastic nods from the three little ones.

The kids seemed completely content with their current situation, laughing and giggling as they playfully tried to climb all over Azar. It was a moment of levity in the otherwise tense atmosphere of the house.

Reign leaned back in his chair, watching the scene unfold. Seeing the kids happy and carefree, even for just a moment, was a welcome distraction. But he knew he couldn't let it distract him for too long from the gravity of the situation they were in.