His Highness's Second Wife
His Highness’s Second Wife Chapter 73

Kassian strode into the Main Palace, ignoring the stares of the servants and the whispers that rose behind him, his hands instinctively tightening around Raena’s relaxed body even though nobody tried to approach him. He headed directly for his quarters, barely slowing down as Blaine appeared from his office with a frown.

“Your Highness, there was some kind of disturb.” his words trailed off as his eyes landed on her sleeping form and the confusion turned to panic for a second. “Is she…?”

“She passed out. Get me a doctor immediately.” Kassian snapped. Blaine continued to stare at them until Kassian barked at him, Now!”

His aide jumped, disappearing back the way Kassian had come from, shouting at the servants to scatter and for the Head Maid to follow her master. Kassian heard steps trailing behind him, but he didn’t wait for her to catch up. He strode to his bedroom without thinking, stepping towards his bed and laying Raena down gently. Her head wobbled to the side, her pale face still covered with dirt and smeared with tears and traces of b***d.

Her sleeve was torn and so was the hem of her dress, but apart from the splatter of red on her clothes and hands, she seemed unharmed.

She is fine, Kassian told himself again as he ran a hand over his face, trying not to think about what could have happened to her had he been just a bit late. The rage that he had pushed aside surged, gripping his throat tightly.

Who dared invade his own home, hurt his own people, and try to harm his wife? Even the Empress had never been so bold, although her hate was well known even to the lowest of nobles.

Craidal insurgents? The guy that spoke didn’t have a Craidal accent, he had the typical Etrobian accent that was so well-known here in the capital. Then mercenaries? But who would send them, and why after Raena? Could it have been because of something she did as Madam Lydia?

His head was going to explode. A knock came from the door and a second later the Head Maid stepped in, bowing her head.

She said something and waited, but when Kassian didn’t reply she just headed towards the bed. He tensed as she neared Raena, but forced himself to relax when the woman checked Raena’s pulse, then proceeded to search for any wounds. When she confirmed there were none, she gently turned Raena to the side, unfastening the ties on her back so she could strip the dress. She paused a few times, checking if he was still there, but proceeded when he didn’t move from his spot by the feet of the bed.

Kassian turned around after he received another silent stare, staring at his table instead while the sound of rustling fabric filled the room. A knock came from the door and he went to open, glaring at the elderly man that stood on the other end. His resident physician curled under his gaze, but relaxed when Kassian looked away and let him in.

Kassian was just about to close the door, his eyes following the man as he neared the bed, when somebody pressed their hand against it. He looked at Blaine’s grave expression, frowning.

“Please come with me, Your Highness,” Blaine said in his usual calm voice, but he couldn’t hide the tension in his voice. “The doctor needs time to check on your wife and the Captain of the Guards is waiting to speak with you.”

Kassian threw another look towards the bed, then stepped outside and closed the door. He let Blaine lead him to the reception room and as they stepped through the door, his eyes immediately landed on the Captain of the Guards he was a man almost twenty years older than Kassian, with a hair and beard that were gradually turning gray and a fair, but stern disposition. For all the time he served him, Kassian had had no complaints. But tonight he had let him down.

His second-in-command was standing by his side, looking around nervously. Gerrin was there with his sheathed sword in hand, but he was not wearing any of his armor. As they saw them enter, all three soldiers saluted him, bowing their heads down.

Kassian strode to them, stopping in front of the Captain of his Guards and giving him a sign to raise his head. The older man did as he was told, opening his mouth to speak, when Kassian’s fist connected with his cheek. The Captain staggered backwards, bumping into his second-in-command, who kept him to his feet. Gerrin stepped forward, pressing a hand against Kassian’s chest as if to stop him from attacking again.

“The only reason you still have your head is because she is alive.” Kassian spat, pushing Gerrin’s hand away without even looking at him.

You allowed enemy combatants to enter my home and almost harm my wife without anyone even raising an alarm! Where were your guards? What were your defensive measures? Why are you even here? I picked you because lI trusted you to keep safe what is most important to me and you failed me today.”

Even before he finished speaking, the Captain had dropped to his knees, bowing so low, his head touched the floor. His second-in-command didn’t hesitate to do the same.

“I have failed at my duty, please punish me as you see fit, Your Highness.” The Captain said in a shaky voice, staying in the same position. Kassian gritted his teeth, his hand itching to reach for his sword, but then remembering he had left it behind in the forest.

“We had turncoats,” Gerrin spoke, bringing Kassian’s attention to himself. “We found two of our guards dead by one of the roads in the Concubines’ palace. One of them had a large amount of money on him.”

Kassian glared at the Captain again, then turned to Blaine, who silently watched from his side.

“Demote those two to footsoldiers. I don’t care about their position or achievements. Also, interrogate everyone who was on duty in the past week. I want to know who approached the traitors and if there are any more of them. Fire all the guards if you have to.”

“Your Highness…” Blaine and Gerren said at the same time, looking at each other. Blaine looked back at Kassian, his lips pursing. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“Is anyone left alive? Did anyone escape?” He asked, looking at the others in the room.

“One of them is still alive. They caught him running.” Gerrin said quickly. “I’ll personally interrogate him, don’t worry. Everything he knows, you’ll know too.” Kassian nodded, raising his hand to rub his temple. His head was killing him. He wanted to just go back to his room and stay in the quiet until she woke up. “Your Highness, is that your b***d? Are you hurt?”

Kassian looked down at where Gerrin was pointing, touching his arm with his fingers, only to have them come back smeared in red.

“It’s just a graze.” He said, letting his hand fall. He didn’t feel it, he felt no pain. Only worry and relief. This had been close, too close. If he hadn’t gone to see her tonight, he never would have found out she was gone. Not before it was too late. “Send someone to alert her Head Maid that she will be staying here tonight.

“Staying in the Main Palace?” Blaine asked in surprise, but when Kassian looked at him he quickly nodded. “Yes, Your Highness, I’ll take care of it.”

“Good.” Kassian nodded. “Dismissed. Get those two out of my sight.” He added, nodding towards the ex-Captain of the guards and his second-in-command, “Report to me if there is any urgent news.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Gerrin nodded, saluting him, and he stepped towards the other soldiers, barking at them to get up. Kassian turned on his heel and headed back towards his private quarters with Blaine in tow. They reached his room just as the doctor was walking out and before he knew what was happening, Blaine had told the man of Kassian’s graze and he was being forced into a chair, his shirt stripped like he was a child that couldn’t undress himself. After his flesh wound was tended to and the doctor confirmed that the weapon that left it wasn’t poisoned, the two men finally left him alone with the Head Maid, who continued to fuss over Raena. They had wiped her clean and changed her into a nightgown, and she was sleeping easily under the covers.

In his bed. In his Palace.

He had never allowed any of his women to step foot here, not even Sarea. He had way too many important documents and conversations to allow somebody to roam inside freely. Yet he had brought her here without thinking, without a moment of hesitation.

“Leave.” He said and the Head Maid turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. “I’ll call for you if we need anything.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” she said, but didn’t move right away. “If she wakes up, and she is in an emotional state, make her drink this. It will calm her.” She motioned towards the cup that stood on the nightstand, then bowed and left. The click of the door sounded unnaturally loud as the quiet settled into the room.

There were just a few candles still burning, so most of the room was drowned in shadows.

Kassian sat in a chair in the darkest corner, leaning his elbows on his knees and staring at the unmoving form in his bed. A few minutes dragged, then a few more, but Raena didn’t shift or move even slightly. Unnerved, he got up, stepping towards the bed.

She looked perfectly relaxed in her sleep, almost as if what happened tonight never did. Only the traces of it remained – a broken l*p, a grazed palm, a handprint of fingers around her neck.

Raena finally shifted, tossing her head aside, her hair falling over her face. Kassian hesitated, then sat at the edge of the bed, reaching out and pushing the long blonde locks out of her face. She looked so innocent and peaceful when she slept. Her eyes fluttered excitedly under the pale eyelids despite her relaxed expression, her brows creasing and straightening up.

It was almost funny how in just a few months she had turned from a burden he didn’t want to have anything to do with, to someone that made him rush at the enemy with nothing but a sword – outnumbered, unprepared, reckless. The thought of losing her had rendered everything else irrelevant.

Kassian gently ran the back of his hand over her cheek and her face relaxed immediately, settling into a content expression. The edges of her lips curled into a gentle smile. It was beyond him how she could smile like that when she had almost died, but then again, for some reason, he realized he was smiling too, despite taking so many lives tonight. They were quite the pair.

Kassian got up reluctantly, preparing to return to the chair so he wouldn’t disturb her, when something touched his hand. He looked down at her as she held his hand with her delicate fingers, almost jumping as he noticed that her eyes were open. He was just about to call her name when her eyelids fluttered and she closed them again, sinking back into her slumber. She kept holding onto his arm, though, keeping it close and refusing to let go.

Kassian tried to unfasten her grip, but she just tightened her hold, hugging his hand even harder. He hesitated for a moment, then climbed into the bed behind her, trying to settle down as carefully as possible. She didn’t react, her body moving ever so slightly as she let in and out deep breaths.

Closing his eyes, he tried to calm himself down, but despite everything that had happened, despite the fear and anger that lingered at the back of his mind, his heart was full of joy. Kassian opened his eyes and stared at the messy hair and frail shoulders, the small ears, and fair skin. Even without seeing her face, his mind cheered in citement just looking at her lying next to him.

He tensed as she shifted, turning around and burying her face in his chest. He lay perfectly still, staring down at her, but she didn’t pull away, and soon her soft breathing became even slower.

He probably should have changed – his trousers were dirty and stained with b***d. He should have taken a bath too. But now that she had snuggled against him, he didn’t think there was anything that could make him move.

Kassian raised his hand and pushed the hair out of her face again, then slid his hand over her shoulders and pulled her closer. Her body was cool despite the warm weather, and so soft he loosened his hold, afraid he might break her. Her – hair smelled of flowers with a hint of dirt and leaves, but he didn’t mind as he buried his face in it, taking a deep breath.

She was safe, that was what was important. She was safe, and she was here, with him, at least for tonight. That was what was important.