Chapter 54

VALKYRIE

I roll over in bed with a groan, my stomach doing somersaults. “Mia, take the food away,” I plead.

It’s been two days since Dimitri and I had our argument. I’ve tried to talk to him, but he’s always too busy.

I feel guilty for how I reacted. I know it wasn’t his fault, it was mine. But how do I tell him I’m pregnant?

“Do you want some water?” Mia asks, concern in her voice. “Drink up, my queen.”

“No, Mia,” I snap back.

“Valkyrie, you should let Michael examine you,” Mia suggests for the fourth time.

A knock interrupts us. Mia calls out, “Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Prince Zar,” comes the reply from the other side of the door.

“Let him in,” I instruct, hastily covering my naked body with furs.

Zar enters the room, gives a quick glance around, and then makes his way to my bed.

“How are you feeling?” he asks, his gaze meeting mine.

“I’ll be okay,” I mumble, closing my eyes.

“Could you bring her some soup?” Zar asks Mia.

“Of course.” Mia smiles and leaves the room. As soon as the door closes, I let out a loud sigh.

Zar takes my hand and starts tracing circles on my palm with his fingers. A warmth spreads through me, and I lazily open my eyes. What’s he doing?

“How do you feel now?” Zar asks, a smile playing on his lips.

I frown, realizing my nausea is fading.

“What did you do?” I ask, puzzled.

“I used my healing powers on you. It’s a soothing sensation that can alleviate any kind of pain,” Zar explains. I stare at his hand in wonder.

“By the way, you mentioned that Michael didn’t tell you that you were pregnant, right?”

“Yeah, now that you bring it up. I’ve been thinking about that,” I admit, “Why would that be?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe we have some sort of connection. Especially since we both have the same tamer’s mark,” Zar suggests. I nod, finding his explanation plausible.

We’re both puzzled about why we share the same mark. We’re both tamers, but we’re not related. Yet, I can’t deny the warmth I feel from him.

“Valkyrie? Are you listening?” Zar asks, leaning in closer.

I startle at his proximity. I look into his eyes, taking in his handsome features. Under different circumstances, I might have been attracted to him.

“Can I ask you something?” Zar asks, a smile on his face. I nod, waiting for him to continue.

“Do you have feelings for the king?” Zar asks, tilting his head to the side.

“What?” I ask, taken aback.

“Let me rephrase. Are you in love with Dimitri?” Zar asks, still smiling.

I stare at him, confused. Why is he asking me this?

“Love?” I echo, frowning.

“Yes, love. The person you fall in love with is someone you want to spend the rest of your life with,” Zar explains.

I look down at my hands, deep in thought. I’ve never considered love. But now that he’s asking, do I have feelings for Dimitri? I’ve never looked at him in that way.

“Valkyrie, have you been with him without loving him?” Zar asks, his brow furrowed in concern.

“I… I haven’t really thought about it,” I admit in a whisper.

Zar sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. I watch him, still pondering his question.

“Valkyrie,” Zar says, a sad smile on his face, “you’re pregnant with his child, and you don’t even know how you truly feel?”

I open and close my mouth, at a loss for words. It’s confusing. I’ve been with Dimitri because he declared me his queen. But he never expressed any feelings or suggested that we should have feelings for each other.

“I’m sorry…,” I mumble, fiddling with my hands, “But I… I can’t. I don’t think I have feelings for him,” I confess just as the chamber doors open and a stunned Mia walks in.

“What did you just say?” Mia asks, dropping the bowl of soup.

Zar stands and walks over to her. As Mia kneels to pick up the shattered pieces, I get up from the bed and start to approach but stop when I see her glaring at me. I flinch and take a step back.

“Mia, it’s not what you think,” I try to explain, but I’m not even sure what I feel.

“It’s not what? Explain to me, Valkyrie. Are you just toying with the king?” Mia demands, her voice filled with anger.

I clutch the fur covering my body and look down at the floor. I search within myself for any sign that I have feelings for Dimitri.

Anything that could confirm it, even a little. But I just don’t see him in that light.

“I’m not toying with him…,” I whisper. “I… I don’t feel anything for Dimitri.”

I utter the last words in a barely audible whisper, close my eyes, and brace myself for Mia’s outburst. But instead, I hear movement.

“You…,” Dimitri whispers. My eyes snap open to find Dimitri standing behind Mia, a pained expression on his face. I gasp as I realize what I’ve just admitted.

“Dimitri,” I breathe.

“Say that again,” Dimitri whispers, his voice so low that I flinch. His tone is so icy it chills the air around us.

“Dimitri… Let me explain,” I stammer.

“Leave us,” Dimitri suddenly commands. His angry voice echoes off the chamber walls. I glance at Mia and Zar and give a small nod.

They exit without a word. Once the door closes, Dimitri and I are left in an uncomfortable silence. Finally, I gather the courage to look at him.

Dimitri’s head is bowed, his face half-hidden by a curtain of hair. “You… You don’t feel anything for me?” he whispers.

“I… I don’t know,” I admit, unable to meet his gaze.

“So, I’m the only idiot here who’s fallen for you?” Dimitri blurts out, causing me to look at him in surprise.

“What?” I ask, taken aback.

“I have feelings for you, Valkyrie…” Dimitri confesses, his golden eyes meeting mine. They’re filled with pain. “I…”

I stay silent, just listening to him.

“I… Now that I think about it,” Dimitri says, laughing bitterly, “I really am the only idiot!” I frown, confused by his reaction.

“I’m the only idiot who’s fallen this hard. Do you have any idea how much I love you?” Dimitri’s voice rises. “DO YOU EVEN KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU?”

I flinch, closing my eyes against his words.

“I love you…and you don’t…” Dimitri’s voice trails off into a whisper, followed by a hollow laugh. “How stupid am I?”

I’m speechless. My chest aches as I watch him.

“Tell me, have I been so terrible that you can’t feel anything for me? Was I just a plaything to you?” Dimitri asks.

“A plaything?” I echo. “Wasn’t I just a plaything for you?”

Dimitri scoffs, shaking his head in disbelief.

“I know I wasn’t perfect, Valkyrie. I know I have a fucking temper problem, and I can lose it easily. But I never saw you as a plaything,” Dimitri says, chuckling bitterly.

“You’re my queen. I’ve never seen you as anything else. All I ever wanted was to make you my queen.”

There it is again, queen. The same phrase he always uses. “You only see me as your queen,” I say, “but what about me? Have you ever considered my feelings? Did you ever think that maybe I was scared of certain things?”

I don’t know what’s come over me, but I snap at him.

“Did you ever ask me if I was okay with us being together? Because you know I was scared of you and… I still am,” I whisper the last part.

“Scared of me? What are you talking about?” Dimitri asks. “Is it because of how I treated you? Is that it?”

I lower my head, considering his question. Is that it, really? Or am I scared of my own feelings?

“Answer me, Valkyrie!” Dimitri demands, grabbing my arm. “Have you always been scared of me because I’m a monster?”

I glare at him. He’s not a monster. To me, he never was.

“No,” I say, looking him straight in the eye. “I’ve never seen you like that.”

“Then why? Tell me, Valkyrie, why… Why can’t you love me the way I love you?” Dimitri asks, his voice filled with despair.

I have no answer for him.

“ANSWER ME, DAMN IT!” Dimitri roars, yanking my arms. I yelp as he pulls me towards him. “I want a fucking answer now!”

“I don’t have one!” I admit. “I don’t have one…”

He pushes me away, and I stumble over the fur and fall. I groan as I hit the ground, glaring at him.

“Why did you do that?” I snap, anger flaring.

“Because it seems like you want me to treat you this way,” Dimitri retorts. “You don’t feel anything. So why should I care about how I treat you? Let me give you a real answer to your unanswered questions.”

I stare at Dimitri in shock. His face twists as his beast emerges. Scales ripple across his body. What’s happening to him?

I sense a dangerous aura emanating from him. Clutching the fur to cover myself, I start to back away.

“D-Dimitri?” I stammer, fear creeping into my voice. Dimitri strides towards me, reaching out to grab my hair. I bite back a scream.

“How about we play a game? Like the one you play with my feelings?” Dimitri suggests, his voice dripping with venom. I flinch as his grip on my hair tightens. He yanks me to my feet, and I groan in pain.

“Let go!” I demand.

Ignoring me, Dimitri drags me towards the bath. I struggle, trying to break free. I need something to defend myself.

“Dimitri, listen to me,” I plead, but it’s no use. He just growls in response.

As we step into the bath, steam from the hot spring obscures my vision. I can’t see where he’s taking me.

“DIMITRI!” I shout, grabbing a goblet from the side and striking him with it.

The goblet grazes his face, and he groans, releasing his grip. I try to run, but Dimitri grabs my arm and pulls me back.

“You’re not going anywhere!” Dimitri hisses, his wound healing before my eyes.

With a sudden jerk, Dimitri throws me against the rocky wall. Pain shoots through my back. He grabs my face, lifting my chin. The pain starts to spread to my lower abdomen.

I try to block out the sharp pain.

“I should treat you like what you are!” Dimitri says, leaning in close.

The sharp pain hits me again, and I cry out. My mind finally registers what’s happening. The baby.

“Dimitri, let go, please,” I beg, clutching his arm. The pain in my lower abdomen is becoming unbearable.

“Stop struggling!” Dimitri orders, smirking.

“Please let go!” I plead, tears streaming down my face. “I’m begging you, just let me go right now.”

My heart is racing, and I cry out louder. Something starts to trickle down my legs as I dig my nails into Dimitri’s arm.

“I said stop moving!” Dimitri growls.

Fear and instinct kick in. Unable to bear the pain any longer, I scream. The first name that comes to mind is Zar.

I let out a scream, his name echoing in the room. Zar’s voice, laced with worry, follows, with Mia’s footsteps pounding behind him. I plead with Dimitri to release me.

“B-baby, b-baby… p-please,” I manage to stutter out between sobs. Dimitri’s face is a mask of confusion.

“Fucking let her go!” Zar demands, shoving Dimitri with force.

I slide down the wall, clutching my belly. Zar drops to his knees beside me, his hands quickly assessing my condition.

“You fucker, what have you done!” Zar’s voice is a furious growl. Dimitri just stares at us, his face a picture of confusion.

“Zar, the b-baby!” I manage to stutter out, fear gripping me.

“You’re going to be okay,” Zar assures me.

“Let her go, you bastard!” Dimitri’s voice is a snarl of anger.

“What’s wrong with you?” Zar retorts, landing a punch on Dimitri. “Can’t you see what you’ve done?”

Dimitri’s gaze lands on me, my body shaking uncontrollably. I let out a cry as a sharp pain shoots through my back.

“Oh, my goddess!” Mia exclaims, dropping to her knees beside me. She gasps as she sees the blood. I lift my hands, my eyes widening at the sight of the blood. I let out a gasp, my hand flying to my mouth.

“Valkyrie!” Mia’s voice is a shocked whisper. “This…”

“Call Michael,” Zar commands her. “Now.”

Mia nods, her movements quick as she rushes out of the bathroom. Zar scoops me up in his arms, carrying me back to the room.

“You better pray that both of them are okay,” Zar warns Dimitri, his teeth gritted.

“Both?” Dimitri’s voice stops Zar in his tracks. “What are you talking about?”

I keep my eyes shut, my body curled up as I focus on the pain.

“Yes, Valkyrie and your baby,” Zar confirms as he walks out of the bathroom.