The Second Choice | COMPLETED

Chapter 9

A/N: I just wanted to thank all of you for sticking around with the long waits for updates and yeah. Happy Reading!

The next couple weeks seemed to fly by. I had spent loads of my free time with Kriss after realizing she still held a piece of my heart. She filled up most of the empty space that America had previously owned. Sometimes, I felt a little twinge inside at the thought of the fiery red head that still managed to stay in my thoughts. But I knew she was safe. I had sent guards undercover to watch her and make sure she and her family were always safe.

I was reading with Kriss in the royal library, the sweet smell of books filling the air. Kriston was with his nanny. Then, I heard a low cough. I looked up to see a guard, dressed neatly in his uniform. He had grey eyes and blonde hair, as well as a bit of a stubble.

"Your Majesty?"

"Yes, Officer Thomas?"

"We have news... But..." The officer's eyes flicked towards Kriss before coming back to meet mine.

"Ah." I nodded in understanding. There were just some things I didn't want to place upon Kriss' shoulders although at the moment, I wasn't quite sure what the news was. I kissed her forehead, giving a quiet explanation before stepping out and closing the door behind me.

"Is it about Kriston?" I asked confusedly.

"No sir, it's about America Singer." He replied in a low voice. My chest tightened.

"What is it?" I asked stiffly.

"She's... She's been in an... Accident." He said gruffly. His eyes seemed gentle, as if he didn't want to be the one bringing me the news.

"She's been trapped in a coma for two days already. We don't know if she'll wake up." And then everything fell upon me. How I'd never be able to see her smile again, never meet those blue eyes, never kiss those soft lips and have them return it. How I'd never be able to even speak with her again. My America. I felt faint and dizzy and the hallway was spinning.

"Your highness?" He darted forwards as I began to sway.

"America..." I whispered before everything went black.

~

I awoke with a pounding headache. Grimacing, I lifted my hand, searching with probing fingers to find the source of pain. I felt my fingers brush over a bump and winced. There it was. I then opened my eyes, squinting at the bright palace infirmary lights. Groaning, I sat up. I looked to my left to see Kriss feeding Kriston with a small blue bottle. I didn't think she had noticed me yet. So I watched for a while, observing the special between a mother and her child. It was then I realized that I had not spent enough time with my son.

"Kriss?" I whispered, my voice hoarse. Her head shot up, sending some locks of brown hair flying.

"Maxon!" She stood up quickly, rushing over to my side, Kriston still in her arms.

"What happened?" I mumbled, scratching at my sore throat as I looked around for water. Even turning my head jerked some pain.

"Well, you went outside to talk to the officer and then all of a sudden, you just passed out. Actually, I didn't even find out until the guard came to get me around twenty minutes later. I don't even know exactly what happened. Do you remember what the guard told you? Before you passed out." She added. The news flooded my mind again. But I had to lie.

"No, not really. I think I was just feeling unwell." I murmured.

"Are you sure?" She asked skeptically.

"I'm sure." I mumbled. I despised lying this much. But I couldn't tell her. I heard a babble from Kriston and the corners of my lips turned upwards.

"Can I hold him?" I asked softly.

"Of course. He is your son too." She passed him into my arms. I cradled him gently, he seemed so tiny. But he smiled like he didn't have a care in the world. He really didn't. I chuckled quietly, kissing Kriss' cheek.

"Thank you for being here." I murmured.

"Always." She replied in a quiet voice.

"Yeah. Always." I mumbled. We sat there in a comfortable silence for a while with an occasional giggle from Kriston. Kriss rested her head on my shoulder.

We stayed like that for hours.

HELLO AGAIN!
Anyways, sorry for the relatively short chapter but I really wanted to update. Anyways, WE'RE ALMOST AT 2K WHAT???
LOTS AND LOTS OF HUGS AND FABULOUSNESS,
Val.