Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1)

Chapter 41

I open my eyes and am greeted by a bright light.

I'm alive? Huh.

An overwhelming amount of bittersweet pleasantness surrounds me.

I can't bring Emily back and just thinking about her tears me apart, but I do know Saul won't hurt anyone ever again and that brings an overwhelming peace of mind.

"My queen!" I hear Leeza somewhere to the left of me. "You're awake."

I'm filled with relief that Leeza is there. I missed that sylph.

My head hurts. In fact, everything hurts. A strangled out groan escapes my lips as I try to sit up. Down to my bones aches, and my body screams at me as I move.

"Where is Alvar?" I ask through grit teeth.

"Lucy, I was so worried," Mom's voice is near, "If it wasn't for Alvar giving you his Cursed blood again you wouldn't be here."

Alvar gave me his blood?

Just as he gave me his blood long ago when I was dying in my mother's womb and it healed me.

"Mom, where is Alvar?" I ask, my eyes are starting to adjust to the light. I'm in my room at the palace.

"The people of Underland are returning now that the threat is gone," Mom say, refusing to answer the urgency of my question. "They are here to celebrate you. Their queen and the savior of Axus."

"They think I saved Axus?" My voice almost squeaks.

Damn. This is going to be incredibly difficult, I'm not the type of person who is comfortable with hero worship.

"Without you Underland and Axus would be lost," Leeza says, as if she's read the embarrassment in my face. "You may not feel it, but you are the hero of our world, and the hero of Earth too." Leeza chuckles. "How does that make you feel?"

"Terrified," I mutter, "now where is my husband?" I search my room.

"Lucy, there's something you need to know," Mom says, her face twisted in a cringe of sorts as if she doesn't want to talk about this, "Alvar is leaving."

"What?" I scramble out of the warmth and softness of my bed and realize I'm wearing only a silky nightdress, but I don't care. Let them think their queen has gone mad, running down the halls in her nightdress, I need to get to my husband!

"Lucy, stop." Mom grabs my hand. "He's a monster," Mom says, "many of his people don't want him to be king anymore. Don't you see? I don't want you to be with him either!"

So she'd learned she'd sold her daughter off to be married to a beast instead of a man and was uncomfortable with it? How silly it was that only after that knowledge she doesn't want me to be with Alvar?

"Had I known—" Mom begins, trying to place her arms around me.

I pull myself away from her, my body rigid and cold. How dare she?

"He's a hero," I state, glaring at her. "He saved his world and ours too."

"A world that wouldn't have been in jeopardy if he didn't exist," Mom mutters and she narrows her eyes at me suspiciously. "You're not in love with him, are you?"

"Mom, I am in love with that man. If he's leaving, I'm leaving." How can she be upset at me about my being in love with the man she set me up with?

Mom rolls her eyes. "Lucy, think sensibly. You don't have to lower yourself like that. You're being crazy!"

I'm the one who is crazy now? How ironic life is...