CROWN OF FORBIDDEN HEARTS
Chapter 53:

Chapter 53: 53:

The morning was quiet, the golden light of dawn filtering through the sheer curtains, casting soft patterns over the silk sheets. The air smelled of warm skin and lavender, the remnants of the night lingering like a whispered promise.

Zara stirred, the world coming into focus in a slow, dreamlike haze. A gentle weight pressed against her stomach, firm but warm, and when she shifted slightly, she felt the slow, rhythmic rise and fall of steady breathing beside her.

She blinked, her vision adjusting to the morning glow, and there he was.

Alaric lay on his side, one arm draped possessively around her waist, his face mere inches from hers. His dark lashes cast faint shadows against his sharp cheekbones, but his eyes, those piercing, molten gold eyes, were open, gazing at her with an intensity that sent heat curling through her veins.

He had been watching her.

How long had he been lying there, simply looking at her like this?

Her heart thudded against her ribs, but she forced herself to keep her breathing even. The weight of his gaze was suffocating, devouring, as if he were trying to etch the image of her into his mind.

"You’re awake," she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep.

His lips curved into a lazy, knowing smirk, soft yet teasing.

"I was hoping you’d sleep longer," he admitted, his voice deep and husky, a rough timbre that sent a shiver racing down her spine.

"Why?" she whispered, though she already knew the answer.

"Because you looked peaceful." His fingers skimmed up her waist, barely a ghost of a touch, tracing the curve of her hip before settling at the small of her back. He tugged her closer, their bodies molding together in a way that made her breath catch. "So... happy."

Her throat went dry. The way he said it, like it was the only thing in the world he wanted for her, it made something in her chest ache.

Zara swallowed, trying to ignore the pull, trying to ignore the way his warmth seeped into her skin, the way her body betrayed her by relaxing into him. "the great warlord Alaric, and yet here you are," she teased, attempting to lighten the moment. "Watching me sleep like some obsessive obsesser."

Alaric chuckled, a dark, low sound that sent a thrill through her. "And if I am?" His fingers brushed over her spine, slow and deliberate. "Does it bother you?"

Zara exhaled shakily, her fingers twitching against the sheets. "I don’t know," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper "I feel like I should be worried about it...but im not, I find it severely cute" she laughed.

Alaric hummed, his thumb stroking slow circles against her skin. "Then I suppose I’ll have to watch you every morning until you decide."

Her lips parted, but before she could retort, he shifted, leaning in so that their foreheads nearly touched. His breath was warm against her lips, teasing, his fingers curling into her waist as he studied her, searching.

"You’re always running from me, my queen," he murmured, his voice softer now, edged with something she couldn’t name. "Even in your sleep, I see it. But then you wake up... and you let me touch you like this." His hand slid up, grazing the exposed skin of her arm, up to her shoulder, then traced the column of her throat. His fingers curled there, not squeezing, just holding. "Why?"

Zara shivered beneath his touch, as she leaned into his warmth.

she reached out, her fingertips ghosting over the sharp angles of his jaw.

"Because I forget," she whispered, her throat tightening. "Just for a moment, I forget that I no longer have to fight or run from you"

Alaric stilled. His golden eyes darkened, the teasing light in them fading into something raw.

Then, slowly, deliberately, he dipped his head and pressed a lingering kiss to the inside of her wrist.

It was a worshipful touch, reverent, as if he was savoring her, memorizing her pulse against his lips.

Zara inhaled sharply, her fingers tightening against his jaw.

"I understand and I want you to take your time warming up to this, sometimes I still fear that you might leave, but I still try to be hopeful" he murmured against her skin. "But its hard. Not when every morning, I wake up next to you and wonder if you’ll still be here when I open my eyes."

She didn’t know how to respond to that.

So, she said nothing.

She let him kiss her wrist again, his lips trailing higher, brushing against her palm, then the soft curve of her forearm. Slow. Worshipful.

she saw him as though he was just a man, a husband, waiting for his wife to love him back.

This made zara feel more intensely horrible because the child he adored, the one he touched so reverently...

Was not his.

Her fingers trembled as she absentmindedly combed through his dark strands, her heart a battlefield of emotions. Alaric pressed another kiss against her stomach, his lips warm against the thin silk of her nightgown.

Zara closed her eyes, but guilt gnawed at her.

She had to force herself to breathe, to shove the thoughts away, but they would not relent.

Alaric studied her for a long moment before sighing. He pressed a final, lingering kiss to her stomach before moving back up, gathering her into his arms again. "Then rest, my queen," he whispered against her hair.

she loved it, she loved how he cared so deeply for her but she couldn’t help but wonder if it was because of the child she carried.

And that was the problem.

Because he did not know the truth.

"You’re tense," Alaric murmured against her skin. "Are you hurting?"

Zara’s eyes snapped open. His voice was laced with concern, and when she looked down, she found him watching her again, his brow slightly furrowed.

She forced a small smile. "No, just... tired."

Alaric studied her for a long moment before sighing. He pressed a final, lingering kiss to her stomach before moving back up, gathering her into his arms again. "Then rest, my queen," he whispered against her hair.

But Zara knew rest would never come. Not with the weight of her secret crushing her.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

The days passed, and Zara grew quieter.

She could feel the distance growing, feel herself retreating into her own mind as the secret inside her became unbearable.

And Alaric noticed.

"You’re not yourself," he said one evening as they lay in bed, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her arm. "Something is wrong."

Zara stiffened. "It’s nothing," she lied smoothly. "The pregnancy is just... exhausting."

His golden eyes searched hers, sharp and assessing, but after a long pause, he nodded. "Then let me take care of you."

Zara forced a smile. "You already do."

But she could tell he wasn’t convinced.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Since they last shared a bonding moment, Scarlet had always been able to see through Zara.

And tonight was no different.

"You’re hiding something," Scarlet accused, her sharp green eyes narrowing. "I know you too well, my queen. You’ve barely been yourself these past few weeks."

Zara hesitated, swallowing against the lump in her throat. The chamber was dimly lit by candlelight, casting long shadows over the walls.

"Scarlet, I—"

"Spare me the excuses." Scarlet crossed her arms. "Whatever it is, it’s eating you alive."

Zara’s hands trembled at her sides. And then, before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out.

"It’s not Alaric’s."

Silence.

Scarlet didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

And then, "What?"

Zara bit her lip so hard she tasted blood. "The child... It’s not Alaric’s. It’s Erythian’s."

Scarlet inhaled sharply, stepping back as if the words had struck her. She raked a hand through her hair, pacing for a moment before turning back to Zara, her expression unreadable.

"Does he know?"

Zara shook her head quickly. "No. And he can never know, Scarlet."

Scarlet exhaled slowly, her expression darkening. "my queen... if this gets out—"

"It can’t get out." Zara’s voice was barely above a whisper. "Alaric would never forgive me. He would kill me, Scarlet. Or worse..." Her hand unconsciously cradled her stomach.

Scarlet’s jaw clenched, and in that moment, there was a flicker of fear in her eyes.

She hesitated. Then she grabbed Zara’s shoulders. "Then you and I must take this secret to the grave, do you understand me?"

Zara nodded, but deep down, she wasn’t sure if she could.

And what neither of them noticed...

What neither of them felt...

Was the presence just outside the window.

A shadow lingered in the darkness, unmoving, silent.

Lady Vaelor pressed a hand against her chest to steady her rapid heartbeat, her mind reeling from what she had just heard.

The Queen’s child... was not the King’s.

Her lips curled into a slow, sinister smile.

Zara had no idea what she had just set into motion.

Lady Vaelor, with a personal vendetta against the queen has just gotten all that she needs to wreak havoc.

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