Chapter 56

DIMITRI

The realization that Valkyrie doesn’t love me is a pain I’ve never known. Her words, sharp and cold, leave me numb.

I can’t believe her. Her harsh words slice through my heart, echoing in my mind.

I know I shouldn’t have laid a hand on her. I’m aware of my temper issues. The anger I’ve been harboring for years is becoming harder to manage.

Anything can set me off, and anything can provoke a reaction. Hearing her words made me lash out.

I never thought she’d be in danger. I just wanted to show her how much she hurt me. But now, seeing the blood between her legs, my heart is pounding in fear.

Zar’s angry glare stokes my fury.

He has no right to touch her. But when he mentions a baby, my anger evaporates, replaced by fear.

I follow him back into the room, stunned. Valkyrie is screaming, clutching her belly. In an instant, Michael and the others arrive. I’m frozen in a corner.

Valkyrie turns to look at me. Her pale face fills me with guilt. When Mia leaves and returns with a midwife in five minutes, I know this is real.

I want to help, to say something, but I’m paralyzed. I feel someone next to me and glance over. Michael is frowning, mumbling something I can’t make out.

He drags me out of the room. I take one last look before the doors close.

I slump in the hallway corner. Leo and Michael are talking near a window. I bury my head between my knees, tugging at my hair in desperation. Neither the midwife nor Mia has emerged.

Instead, I hear Zar’s voice as time ticks by. I have no idea how long I’ve been sitting here. Michael occasionally enters Valkyrie’s chambers, then exits with a heavy sigh.

I try to ask him what’s happening, but he just glares at me. Damian is nowhere to be found. I wonder why he isn’t here. He must know what happened.

Another hour passes, and I lean my head against the wall. I hear footsteps and open my eyes. It’s Damian, accompanied by Jordan and two other men.

I stand, brushing off my pants. As I take a step, a punch lands on my face. I stumble backward, falling to the ground. Caught off guard, I try to react but another punch hits me.

“You fucking bastard!” Damian growls, hitting me again. After four more punches, he stops. Breathing heavily, he stands and kicks my legs. “You don’t deserve her!”

His words sting. I don’t have the strength to fight back, so I just spit to the side.

“Enough, Damian,” Michael intervenes. I lift my head to find a hand. I grab it and Michael pulls me up.

“I did not hear that,” Michael says, turning away.

“How could you?” Damian snarls, his nostrils flaring. “She’s a woman, your fucking mate, Dimitri!”

“Damian,” Leo intervenes this time.

I know he’s right. Valkyrie is my mate, not just another woman I’ve slept with. I spit again, moving to the window. I wipe the blood dripping from my nose.

I’m about to sit down again when the chamber doors swing open.

Everyone turns to watch the midwife emerge. At first, I don’t recognize her, but then it hits me.

“Calandra?” I murmur.

“Shut up, Dimitri!” Calandra snaps, her eyes glowing. “Do you realize what you could have caused?” I lower my head in shame.

“You’re lucky all three of them are okay. Despite her injuries, the babies are still healthy,” Calandra explains.

“Babies?” I ask, shocked. “What babies?”

“You didn’t know the queen is pregnant with twins?” Calandra asks, scowling.

“I…” I fall silent, realizing that Valkyrie kept this from me.

Calandra sighs, turning to Michael to inform him that Zar is with Valkyrie.

“Why is Zar with her?” Damian asks.

“Believe it or not, he’s the reason the queen didn’t lose the babies. He has healing powers, and he has a connection with Valkyrie,” Calandra explains.

“Connection?” I ask, confused.

“Yes, you know they share the same tamer’s mark, right?” Calandra asks.

Shocked, I laugh. “What are you talking about?” I ask, chuckling.

Calandra frowns, her face serious.

“I knew they share the same mark,” Damian suddenly says. I look at him.

“You what?” I mumble.

“I knew about it. Remember when I interrogated Zar? Well, I knew. Michael and Leo knew too,” Damian says.

How is it they know more about Valkyrie than I do? I feel so disconnected from her life that it hurts. Have I neglected her so much? Have I not been paying her enough attention?

“I can’t believe you call yourself her mate,” Calandra says, shaking her head. “Could you guys leave us, please?” she asks.

Michael excuses himself and enters Valkyrie’s chambers. Damian and Leo leave with the others.

I stay by the window. The sun has already set.

“Tell me, why do you think she didn’t tell you?” Calandra asks. I have no answer. “Did you know Prince Zar found out she was pregnant?

“Not even Michael knew. Which is strange, because he’s a healer? He should know. But somehow, only Prince Zar knew.”

I look at her. Calandra has her arms crossed.

“Valkyrie is one month pregnant. Because she’s carrying dragon blood, her pregnancy is advanced. Not only because she is a hybrid, but because your blood is unique.

“Her belly will start to show in about two to three months,” Calandra tells me. “She needs to rest for at least two weeks, and Prince Zar will be the one by her side, not you.”

“What? Why?” I shoot back.

“Because, Dimitri, his healing powers can soothe her pain and help her,” Calandra explains, her brow furrowed. “But there’s more to it.”

“More about Zar?” I ask.

“Not just him, but the queen too. But that’s not our main concern. We need to focus on her. And you, jerk, need to change,” Calandra says, giving my head a light smack.

“If you love her, then tell her and stop being so angry. You won’t last long.”

“But… But she doesn’t love me,” I whisper, my voice heavy with defeat.

Calandra glances over her shoulder, her hair falling across her face. “How do you know?” she asks.

“Because that’s why the fight started,” I mumble. “She said she didn’t feel anything for me.”

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I lift my head.

“Maybe she doesn’t realize her feelings. She was a slave, wasn’t she?” Calandra asks. I nod and let out a sigh. “Well, why don’t you confess to her? Tell her how you feel, Dimitri.

“Someone like you, who has longed for a mate, should be honest. And change that stupid attitude while you’re at it.”

I smile and thank her. Calandra returns the smile and excuses herself. I stay where I am, gazing out at the forest. Winter is coming, and soon the trees will be blanketed in snow.

***

I feel a light nudge on my head and groan, looking up. Rubbing my eyes, I see Mia holding a fur coat.

“Here, my king,” Mia says, helping me into the coat.

“Thank you,” I mumble. “What time is it?”

“It’s dawn,” Mia tells me. “Valkyrie is still unconscious.”

I tense at her words. She still hasn’t woken up. Zar hasn’t left her side for more than twenty minutes.

I’ve been to the chambers twice, and the second time, Calandra asked me to leave. I know I can’t do anything, but I wish I could at least be by her side.

Sitting on a wooden chair, Mia offers me some soup. I thank her and stay by the window, watching the sunrise.

The second and third days are the same. Valkyrie doesn’t wake up, and I don’t move. I stay outside her doors, waiting for her to wake up.

Damian and Michael come several times to ask me to rest, but I don’t want to. All I want is to stay by her doors.

On the fourth day, Zar comes out. He looks exhausted. Seeing me, he looks down and scoffs.

“I don’t mean to disrespect you, but you don’t deserve her,” Zar spits. “You should never have met her.”

“And who would be better, you?” I snap back.

“No,” Zar replies. “Your brother.”

I scowl at him.

“Damian doesn’t know anything,” I say, irritated.

“He may not, but his feelings and love for Valkyrie are real,” Zar says, walking away. “At least he wouldn’t dare hurt her.”

Growling, I throw the armchair next to me. It shatters as it hits the wall.

As night falls, I sit on the window ledge, looking outside. Calandra approaches me with something.

“Here, have these,” Calandra says, handing me some cookies.

“You baked them?” I ask, my voice weary.

“Who else?” Calandra replies, munching on a cookie. “Go rest, Dimitri. You’re going to age prematurely.”

I roll my eyes and watch her disappear back into Valkyrie’s chambers.

On the fifth day, I close my eyes, trying to rest my mind. But then I hear a noise. Lifting my head, I hear the voice I’ve been longing to hear.

I jump up and rush into the room. Valkyrie and Zar look at me. Relief washes over me and I drop to my knees. Michael crouches next to me and tells me to take it easy.

Damian and the others come in and head toward Valkyrie. I watch, a pang of jealousy hitting me as Damian rushes to her and kisses her hand. The relief and smile he shows her makes me feel envious.

Zar’s words were right. Damian loves Valkyrie, and she looks at him like she might feel the same. I can barely get Valkyrie to smile at me.

Feeling defeated, I decide to confess to her. As I stand, Calandra walks by, taking a seat and checking on Valkyrie. I look at her face; she looks tired, like she’s in pain. It’s all my fault.

Calandra asks everyone to leave us alone. I thank her with a smile as everyone leaves. Walking up to Valkyrie, I take a seat carefully.

Valkyrie looks at me, but I can’t read her expression. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears.

Taking a deep breath, I start telling her how I feel.

Why it hurt, why I was mad, and why didn’t she feel the same? I wanted to know why. But she doesn’t have an answer, and it hurts.

As I keep talking, I finally decide to do what I have to do and kneel to beg her to give me a chance. I give her everything so she can believe me.

I, a king, a dragon, feel fear. Fear of being alone, being rejected. I let all my feelings out, and I tell her I love her. I wait for her to respond.

I keep my eyes on her, but Valkyrie just blinks. Carefully, I rest my head on her body and reach for her belly. As a beast, I have better hearing than humans.

I lean in closer, and I can hear two faint heartbeats. Smiling sadly, I slide my hand over her belly and rub. Valkyrie still doesn’t say a word, and it worries me.

I hear a soft sigh and look up to see her eyes. She shakes her head and motions for me to rise. I do as she asks, my hands buried deep in my pockets. My fingers tremble with nerves.

“I’m sorry,” Valkyrie whispers. Her words make my fingers clench tighter around the fabric of my pants. “I’m sorry, but I can’t…”

My breath catches in my throat and I nod, unable to find words.

“Just let me think about it; I’m confused,” Valkyrie continues. A sharp pain shoots through my chest. “Dimitri?”

I glance at her and see her eyes widen. I don’t understand why until I feel something wet slide down my face. I reach up to wipe it away and stare at my hand in surprise. Is that a tear?

“Dimitri?” Valkyrie’s voice pulls me back as she starts to rise. Fear grips me and I move to stop her. She can’t move.

“No, Valkyrie,” I say, holding her back.

Valkyrie just looks at me. Her face is a mask of pain and I can see the tears welling in her eyes.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I say, surprised by my own words. “I—I understand.” Her trembling hands reach for my face, wiping away the tears that continue to fall. Why am I crying? What’s happening to me?

“Don’t, Valkyrie,” I whisper, catching her hand and stopping her. I don’t want her pity or her pain. I gently move her hands away and force a smile. I need to leave.

I stand and turn away from her. I can’t bear to look at her any longer. As I start to walk away, I hear a thud.

Fear grips me and I spin around. Valkyrie is on her knees next to the bed.

“What are you doing?” I ask, rushing to her side and helping her up. Valkyrie winces in pain, her hand clutching her belly.

“Please,” Valkyrie gasps. The chamber doors burst open and Calandra, Zar, and Mia rush in.

“What are you doing?” Calandra cries.

“It’s me. I got up,” Valkyrie says.

“My queen, you can’t get up,” Calandra says, her eyes darting to Valkyrie’s legs.

Zar steps forward and gently lifts Valkyrie into his arms.

Valkyrie gasps in pain and clings to Zar’s arm. Her hands ball into fists as he lays her back down. Zar carefully pulls away, letting the bed sheets fall back over her body.

My eyes widen in shock as I see the massive purple bruise that covers her back, stretching from her lower back to her left shoulder blade. I had no idea the bruise was so severe.

“It was the rocks. A sharp rock hit her back,” Michael explains, standing next to me. Calandra mutters curses under her breath as Zar settles next to Valkyrie, his hand moving to her belly.

“I see,” I say, turning to leave. As I reach the door, I hear Calandra’s voice rise in argument.

“Wait, Dimitri,” Valkyrie calls out, struggling to sit up. Zar holds her back, a sheen of sweat forming on her forehead. “Just let me, please let me understand my feelings for you, just that.”

I nod, turn away, and close the door behind me.