The Prince's Gift

Chapter 74.

Braelyn's POV

I couldn't shake the thoughts of Elias from my mind as I walked down the hall toward Ana's room. Just the slightest touch of his hand made my heart leap into my throat and my breath nearly stop. It was difficult to see him since he was a house slave to one of the elder councilmen, Casimir. He wasn't free to come and go as I now was, and seeing him wear that awful collar only made the memories of my time wearing mine come straight to mind.

Each time I saw it, I flinched slightly as he'd come close to me. It seemed to trigger my old reflexes and a flash of Maddox's face always popped into my thoughts, even if only for a second.

I came to Ana's door and I heard she and Kora giggling for only a moment before the tone turned solemn. It was nice to hear her enjoying a few seconds of happiness and normalcy, even if it was brief.

I quietly knocked on the door and waited patiently for her to answer. When she opened the door, she greeted me with a soft smile before letting me in. Kora greeted me and made room for me on the couch before Ana walked over to sit in the chair in front of me.

"What is it Braelyn?" She asked gently. Her voice was so soothing, as if she knew I was struggling with the pain still fresh from my memories.

"It's...Maddox." I said, my tone dropping as I knew just hearing his name hit us both harder than we'd like to admit. She waited for me to continue, hiding her own discomfort much better than I could. "They're preparing to sentence him. They want to have Zane crowned immediately and then carry out the punishment."

She let out a slow breath, seeming to try and gather herself as Kora leaned forward. "When does everything start?" Kora asked, reaching across for Ana's hand.

I paused, seeing the two of them interacting so easily made me wish I had someone to lean on as well. Ana's eyes flashed up to mine and she gave me a look of acknowledgement before I pushed forward with my message. "They're beginning tonight. They're meeting in an hour."

Ana nodded shortly and stood to walk to the bathroom when I interrupted. "Ana, wait." She turned to face me and I pulled my wrist up to hover in the air between us. She looked as if she was about to argue but I pushed my wrist farther in front of me. "You need to feed. You haven't eaten all day."

She finally surrendered and slowly came to sit down beside me. "Braelyn, I don't want this from you. I don't want this to become your role for me." She said.

I shook my head and leaned forward. "Ana, I owe you everything. I'm alive and well because of you. Please let me do this for you. If it helps, I'll find another way even if I have to simply draw blood and have it brought to you, but you have to feed. And I'm happy and willing to help."

She smiled and accepted my wrist, gently biting into my skin as smoothly as she could. I winced slightly but as soon as she began, it faded. It was as if she was easing my pain herself. Once she finished, she quickly wrapped her hand around my wrist to heal me.

"Thank you Braelyn. I already feel..." she began before stopping short.

She gasped and bent forward, curling around herself as she whimpered. "Ana! It's ok Ana. Breathe." I said in shushed tones once I recovered from the surprise.

Kora looked panicked but I simply nodded to her and continued soothing Ana before she slowly began to relax.

"I don't think I'll get used to that for quite some time." She whispered, her face seemingly flushed with the change sill coursing through her body.

"What just happened?!" Kora said in shock.

"She's growing." Ana said with a smile, her hand wrapping around her belly. "It seems to happen every few days. She's growing faster than planned. At this rate, I'm not sure how long my pregnancy will even be."

Kora's eyes widened as Ana stood, her abdomen now grown by several inches. She had a more pronounced bump than before, seeming to be about the size of a cantaloupe at this point.

"That's incredible..." Kora said, her words floating into the air before falling slowly.

"Come on ladies. We should start preparing. It's going to be a long evening, and an emotional one I'm sure." She said, her words tightening as a quick flash of anxiousness crossed her face before disappearing.

Kora nodded and the three of us said our goodbyes before leaving Ana to get ready. It was going to be a long night, for both of us. But thankfully, it would be a little bit closer to being over. And that was enough for me."

———

Ana's POV

I showered and dressed for the night ahead, knowing it would take a heavy toll on everyone involved. Tonight would be the close of a chapter that was stained with blood and pain. With a little time to spare, I slowly made my way down to the wing where Lilith was being held. It didn't make sense to me, but I could feel something drawing me to her room. It was like I was being pulled to her.

I entered the room expecting to see guards surrounding her, but none were there. Zane had probably excused them for privacy and peace while they interacted. I half expected to walk in and see him still sitting with her, but thankfully she was alone.

As I came closer to her bedside, I saw for the first time how truly worn she looked. Her body was withered and frail, her bones beginning to show. Her cheeks were becoming more hollow and the dark circles beneath her eyes had deepened. I did sense a quiet strength beginning to rise within her from her interaction with Zane, but she still had so far to go before she'd be fully healed.

She stirred in the bed, her eyes fluttering beneath her closed eyelids. "No please...don't hurt him!" She cried out.

I began to see see a flash of her dream and I focused to bring it clearer into my mind.

Maddox was being drug out of the cabin in front of her and thrown in chains. A quick pain shot through her and I felt it tingle through me as I saw her double down in pain before being scooped up by a pair of strong arms. It was Zane.

"Zane." She whispered. "Don't let them kill him. Please. He's my father. Zane, promise..." she whispered weakly.

"I can't make that promise Lilith." He said tightly.

She sobbed into his chest as her hand twisted into his shirt, pulling herself closer as they walked down the long path to meet with the rest of the group.

"I'm sorry." Zane whispered to her quietly.

I looked down at her and saw her clutching her stomach as she cried in her sleep. She may have played a part, but she didn't deserve the hand she was dealt just the same as I hadn't. She was a young woman doing what was asked of her from her father and King, doing her part to better her kingdom's future. She was both a daughter and now a mother, just looking to keep her family safe.

At the end of the day...she was just like me; Only, I was able to find my family. I was able to keep them close and hold us together. Tonight, she was going to lose the only family she had left. She'd be forced to raise her child in solitude as a traitor. Worst of all, she'd be alone.