Chapter 657
“Forgive Mama for not being with you, baby,” Amelie whispered, pulling Noah tightly against her chest. Her heart ached at the sight of him; his small eyes were puffy and red, and his cheeks were flushed from hours of distress. She showered him with gentle kisses, trying to soothe the tremors still racking his tiny body.
“Noah never cried so much before,” Gabriel said, a rare look of exhaustion crossing his face as he ran his fingers through his hair. He looked like he had been through a battle of a different kind.
Amelie rocked Noah, her hand rhythmically patting his back. “Staying with Flora was important, Gabriel. I truly thought he would be okay with you p>
“He gets distressed too easily when one of us isn’t here,” Gabriel admitted, his voice softening. “He barely touched his bottle. You should breastfeed him; he needs that comfort. I’ll freshen up. And Amelie… I want to apologize for yesterday. After coming back to the palace and sitting with him, I realized… Flora might have just been scared. Maybe she didn’t want to drag us into whatever she was facing p>
Amelie looked up at him, her gaze steady. “Apologize to Flora when she wakes up. It must be an apology from the bottom of your heart, Gabriel. She needs to know she’s truly forgiven by all of us p>
“I will. She’s going to wake up,” Gabriel asserted with a firm nod. “My mother knows a healer with the best abilities in the world. They’re already making the call p>
“Yes, Brother Casaio told us at the hospital,” Amelie said, feeling a glimmer of hope. “Go on now, freshen up p>
She moved to the center of the large, silk-draped bed, settling into the pillows to nurse Noah.
Dominick lowered the phone onto the mahogany desk of his study, a cold frown deepening the lines on his face. “Alex was resurrected?” He snickered. “That bloody witch made sure to try and separate Gabriel and Amelie until the very end p>
He heard a sharp knock on the heavy oak door. “Come in,” he commanded, his voice regaining its usual authoritative edge.
The door swung open, and Jeniva walked in, a file firmly in her hands. She bowed to him in deep reverence before she began her report. “Your Highness, Evan and I successfully rescued the child with the help of the sentinels. We made sure he was returned safely to his parents p>
She stepped forward and placed the file onto the table, sliding it toward him. “Your signature is needed on these mobilization orders, Your Highness p>
Dominick glanced at the file and gave a short, approving nod. He flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the technical details of the mission before he scrawled his signature at the bottom with a sharp flourish.
Dominick went still, his hand pausing over the closed file. “You’re a submissive omega,” he replied. “Around alphas, it is natural for your senses to heighten p>
“No,” Jeniva insisted, her voice firm. “This is different. Around you, I get… triggered p>
Dominick looked away, his gaze drifting to the flickering fireplace. She hasn’t understood so far why it is happening, he thought bitterly. How am I supposed to bring her to the truth if she can’t even recognize her own bond?
“Your Highness, do you have something to say to me?” Jeniva asked, sensing the silence.
“No,” Dominick refused. “You can leave p>
Jeniva clutched the file to her chest and bowed, though the confusion remained etched on her face. “I have decided to go to the market after work. So, I may return late in the evening,” she asserted.
“You need not inform me of your personal schedule,” Dominick said, turning his back to her.
Jeniva knitted her brows, a flash of frustration crossing her eyes. She pivoted on the heels of her boots and marched toward the door. It is so difficult to understand him, she thought as she stepped out into the corridor.
“Your Majesty, forgive me for the delay,” said Sora in her calm and melodic voice. She was a woman of timeless grace.
“Please, don’t apologize,” Mabel said, rising quickly from her seat to greet her. “I am glad you traveled so far at my request, Sora. Please, take a seat. Would you like something warm to drink p>
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Sora replied. As she began to settle, Raidan walked into the private chamber. His presence was commanding, but he softened his expression out of respect for their guest. Sora immediately rose again to greet the Alpha King, then returned to her chair.
“It is wonderful to see the greatest healer. It is a pleasure for us,” Raidan stated with sincerity. He stood beside Mabel, his hand resting supportively on the back of her chair.
“The pleasure is mine, King Raidan,” Sora said, her eyes reflecting a deep, knowing intelligence. “I understand the situation is dire. A daughter of the Alpha line trapped within her own mind is no simple task p>
Mabel leaned forward, her hope rekindled. “We have moved her to the capital’s best facility, but the healers say it is now a matter of her will. Can you reach her mind, Sora p>
Sora looked at her hands, then back at the royal couple. “I can open the door, but someone she trusts must be the one to pull her through. Her mate, if possible. If not them, then either her mother or father p>
“Flora has a mate,” Raidan replied. “However, he hasn’t marked her yet. Flora wasn’t ready to formalize the bond because of the past actions that she deeply regrets and has been carrying as a heavy burden p>
Sora paused, her fingers curling around the delicate porcelain cup. “Hmm. If she has a mate, then that is the path we must take,” she asserted, her tone brooking no argument. She gave a small nod of thanks to the servant who served her tea. “A fated bond is the strongest bond to the physical world. If her soul is drifting, his scent and his presence are the only things that can act as a lighthouse in that darkness p>
She took a slow sip of the tea, her mind clearly already at work. “We must bring him to her side immediately. If the mark is not yet there, the connection is fragile, but it is still her best hope. I will need him to be prepared for what I am about to do p>
Mabel looked at Raidan, a silent concern passing between them.
“We will have him ready,” Raidan promised. “He is already at the hospital, refusing to leave her side p>
“Good,” Sora said, setting her cup down. “Then let us not waste another moment. The longer she stays in that labyrinth, the more she forgets who she is meant to return to p>