© All rights reserved for The Heart of a King. The plot and characters are ORIGINAL and all MY OWN WORK. These are the products of my imagination and countless hours spent writing. Please do not copy/ reproduce in any way.

***********************************************************************************************

CHAPTER 28 – THE AWAKENING



Castle Xanthe City of Aphelion, Wolfen Territory The Realm of Xathos

Ailara drifted in and out of consciousness, floating in a dreamlike haze. She could hear faint voices, but they were too far away for her to understand. Every now and then, she felt a soft pressure on her hand, grounding her in the present, but her body refused to respond. The memories of the attack flooded back, like shards of glass cutting through her thoughts—the searing pain of the arrow, the coldness that followed, and then... darkness.

But now, something was different. She was slowly returning, pulled toward the world of the living by a force she could not resist.

Her senses returned first in fragments: the smell of burning herbs, the distant sound of wolves howling, and the soft rustle of fabric. She felt the warmth of a hand clutching hers. With a deep breath, Ailara opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was a pair of blue eyes, sharp and intense, staring down at her. Dimitrios.

Her heart fluttered in her chest, weak but steady, as her gaze met his. The stern lines of his face softened ever so slightly when he saw her eyes open. He was sitting at her bedside, his usual regal composure shadowed by an emotion she couldn't quite place.

"You're awake," he said, his voice a low rumble.

Ailara tried to speak, but her throat felt dry, as though she hadn't spoken in days. Dimitrios noticed and quickly reached for a goblet of water on the bedside table. He held it to her lips, and she took a small sip, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat.

"How... how long have I been out?" she managed to ask, her voice hoarse.

"Three days," he replied, his tone even, but she could see the concern lurking beneath his exterior. "You were poisoned."

Ailara's brow furrowed as the memory of the arrow embedded in her back resurfaced. She winced at the recollection, instinctively reaching for the wound. Dimitrios caught her hand before it could touch the dressing. "Don't. You're still healing."

The look in his eyes was serious, protective, but she also sensed something else—guilt.

"I should have been there sooner," Dimitrios said, as if reading her thoughts. He looked away, his jaw tightening. "I failed you."

Ailara stared at him, confused by the rawness in his voice. This was the King of the Wolfen, a man she had always seen as unbreakable, untouchable. To hear him speak this way was unnerving, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

"You didn't fail me," she whispered, her voice weak but sincere. "You saved me."

Dimitrios didn't respond immediately. His gaze remained averted, fixed on some unseen point in the distance, as if he couldn't bear to face her fully. "I let you get hurt," he said quietly. "I made a vow to protect you, and yet..."

Ailara's heart twisted at the sight of his inner turmoil. Despite everything—the political alliance, the tension between their people, the coldness that had defined much of their relationship—she couldn't deny that Dimitrios had shown more care for her than she had expected. His guilt was misplaced, and the last thing she wanted was for him to bear the weight of her injuries.

"You couldn't have known," she murmured, squeezing his hand weakly. "This was an attack. We're at war, Dimitrios, whether we like it or not."

He finally turned to look at her again, his blue eyes flickering with something she hadn't seen before—vulnerability.

"I failed you," he repeated, but this time, the words carried more weight, as if he were admitting a deeper truth, something that went beyond just the events of the past few days.

Ailara's chest tightened, her thoughts swirling. There was more behind his guilt, she realized. Dimitrios wasn't just talking about her being injured. He was struggling with the very nature of their relationship. The marriage that had started as a political alliance was evolving into something neither of them had expected, and it scared him just as much as it scared her.

"You didn't fail me," she said again, her voice stronger this time. "You've been at my side, haven't you?"

Dimitrios hesitated before nodding, his grip tightening around her hand as if afraid to let go. "I haven't left your side."

Ailara smiled faintly. "Then you've done more than I could ask for."

For a long moment, they sat in silence, their hands still clasped together. Dimitrios seemed lost in thought, and Ailara took the opportunity to study him. He looked exhausted, shadows darkening the space beneath his eyes. It was clear that he hadn't slept much, if at all, in the past few days. The weight of leadership, combined with the burden of protecting his people and now her, was taking its toll.

"I heard my people outside," Ailara said softly, breaking the silence.

Dimitrios nodded. "They've been holding a vigil for you since the night of the attack. They haven't left."

Her heart swelled at the thought of her people standing watch, their loyalty unwavering. "And the Wolfen?"

Dimitrios' expression hardened slightly. "They... they follow my lead. They've honored my request for no celebrations until you are fully recovered."

Ailara raised an eyebrow, surprised. "No celebrations? But it's the full moon..."

Dimitrios sighed, rubbing a hand across his face. "Yes, and some aren't happy about it. But I'm their King. They obey."

Ailara bit her lip, considering his words. It wasn't lost on her that Dimitrios had put aside his people's traditions for her sake. He was showing more loyalty to their alliance than she had realized, and perhaps, more loyalty to her as well.

"Thank you," she said quietly.

He met her gaze, his eyes softening. "I should be the one thanking you."

Ailara blinked in confusion. "For what?"

"For surviving," he replied, his voice low and raw. "For giving me the chance to make things right."

Her breath caught in her throat at the intensity of his words. Dimitrios wasn't just talking about the immediate danger she had faced. He was talking about their future—about making right what had been broken between them from the very beginning.

Before she could respond, the door creaked open, and Argus stepped inside, his eyes immediately going to Dimitrios.

"My King," Argus said, bowing his head slightly. "There's something you need to see."

Dimitrios stood, reluctantly releasing Ailara's hand. He glanced back at her, his eyes filled with unspoken words. "I'll return soon."

Ailara nodded, watching as Dimitrios followed Argus out of the room. Her body ached with fatigue, but her mind was alive with questions. What did Dimitrios mean by making things right? Was he truly ready to change the nature of their relationship, or was he simply trying to ease the guilt he felt over her injury?

As her thoughts swirled, the door opened again, this time revealing Andreas, the Vampyr priest who had been treating her.

"Your Majesty," Andreas said softly as he approached the bed. "How are you feeling?"

"Weak," Ailara admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm alive."

Andreas smiled, relief evident in his expression. "You've been through much, but you are strong. The Goddess Lai has heard our prayers."

Ailara nodded, grateful for his presence. "Thank you for everything, Andreas. And thank the others for their prayers."

He bowed his head. "Your people never gave up hope. They held the vigil every night."

Ailara's heart warmed at the thought of her people's loyalty. But even as she felt comforted by their devotion, a new sense of responsibility weighed on her. She was their queen, and they needed her—now more than ever.

"Andreas," she said after a moment. "I need to know... was there any sign of who might have been behind the attack?"

Andreas hesitated, his expression darkening. "There were traces of Cerran involvement. But... there is also suspicion that someone from within the Wolfen ranks may have aided them."

Ailara's blood ran cold. A traitor within the Wolfen? Could this be true? And if so, how close were they to Dimitrios?

"Have you told Dimitrios?" she asked, her voice sharp with urgency.

Andreas shook his head. "I wanted to ensure you were stable first. But he must know."

Ailara nodded, her mind racing. "Go to him. Tell him everything."

As Andreas left, Ailara's thoughts spiraled. A traitor within the Wolfen ranks was dangerous not only for her, but for the fragile alliance between their people. If this traitor went unchecked, it could destroy everything they had worked for.

But there was something else nagging at her—something deeper. Why had she been the target? What was the real motive behind the attack?

She closed her eyes, trying to calm her racing thoughts. There was more to this than met the eye. And she was determined to uncover the truth.

Even if it meant risking everything.



***********************************************************************************************

Please vote for the story if you liked it! Would also love to know your thoughts in the comments. (No rude / entitled comments please)

Notes:

Want more chapters? Please head over to Patreon or Inkitt. Chapter 30 (Steamy chapter, read at your own risk!) also posted today.

You can subscribe for a month for $2.99 and read all my completed works or $4.99 to read all my completed works + get early access to all ongoing stories.

Important Links:

Join my Facebook Group where people get early heads up, links, etc: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aerithsage

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/aerithsage

Instagram / Threads: @aerithsage

Twitter/X: @aerithsage