Chapter 43: Chapter 43

KAMORA

Jarosh looked at Kamora with a mix of shock and hope, a faint flush rising to his pale cheeks. He turned to his father, eyes wide with confusion, unable to find the words.

But even Lord Maroke was too overwhelmed to speak. In that moment, he knew—his wife remembered.

She was finally home.

Kamora tried to sit up, and this time, she was actually able to do it. Lord Maroke rushed to her side to aid her, just as Greyson left the room, giving them privacy.

With Lord Maroke helping her up, she stretched her hands out toward Jarosh, who slowly walked into her embrace. Her tears fell faster as she touched his hair, his cheeks, his nose.

“Eight years,” she whispered. “They took eight years from me.”

Lord Maroke frowned, wondering who she was talking about, but remained silent, not wanting to disturb the scene.

“You really are my mom?” Jarosh asked, his voice shaky.

Kamora smiled. “I am,” she answered, placing her hands on his cheeks. “I’m so sorry for leaving you.”

Lord Maroke felt like she was apologizing for both times she went missing in his life.

Suddenly, Jarosh burst into tears, his wails loud as he fell fully into his mother’s arms. There they were, the three of them gathered together, holding each other.

Even Lord Maroke was overcome with emotion, and the ache in his chest worsened.

When Jarosh eased away from Kamora, she took hold of his hands, smiling. “I’ll never leave you. Never again.”

Jarosh’s smile was wide, and he leaned into his mother’s arms.

Lord Maroke longed to speak with Kamora. There was so much he needed to say—so much he yearned to understand.

She had promised never to leave her son again, but she hadn’t said anything about staying with him. Did she truly mean to leave him behind?

Did she no longer love him?

Jarosh quietly climbed onto the bed, curling into his mother’s arms. Lord Maroke gently helped her sit upright against the headboard as she began to stroke Jarosh’s hair.

The room fell into a calm silence—heavy with unspoken questions yet filled with peace and a quiet sense of satisfaction.

After a while, Jarosh fell asleep.

Lord Maroke was seated at the other end of the bed, going through documents that Greyson had brought for him earlier.

“You must have a lot of questions,” she said, breaking the silence.

Lord Maroke looked up, stopping what he was doing. He didn’t answer.

He didn’t even know how to begin.

“I never left you,” she confessed suddenly.

Those four words shattered the anxiety that had gripped him since his memory returned. Hope surged in his chest—sharp and overwhelming—intensifying the ache in his heart.

“I was deceived, that’s what,” she continued, staring back at her son.

This time, Lord Maroke stared at her, confused.

“Deceived?”

“There is a lot I failed to tell you, my lord,” she said with a sigh. “A lot you don’t know about this woman whom you married.”

Lord Maroke remained silent, letting her speak.

“But now is not the time to talk about it. When I regain my strength, I’ll tell you everything. Now, you must answer me this. What is wrong with Jarosh?”

He smiled as her question reminded him of the past. Kamora had an uncanny way of knowing when someone was sick.

He wondered if he should lie to her about Jarosh’s condition but then decided against it. She had just met her son.

She would hate him if she found out that he lied about something so important.

“He was kidnapped.”

“By the princess?” Kamora stated more than asked.

Lord Maroke’s eyes widened slightly, surprised. “How do you know?”

“The poison feels familiar. It’s not the first time it’s been used against someone in this household,” she laughed, mirthless. “But to use it on my son, I can’t forgive her.”

She stared at Lord Maroke, and he nodded.

“I agree with you. We can’t take this. We will have to deal with her.”

“Not deal, my lord. End.” Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “We have to end her. I have to.” She paused, her gaze distant. “Our kingdom will definitely not mourn her demise.”

Lord Maroke stared at her, startled by the hollow tone in her voice. His curiosity about what Kamora had gone through increased.

It seemed like his suspicions were true. The princess was really the one who was the cause of everything in his family.

“Is that what you really want?”

Kamora said nothing, then faced her son, gently brushing his hair with her fingers. “I know the antidote. Tonight, we begin Jarosh’s treatment.”

“Are you really strong enough? You can just tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

“In this case, there is nothing you can do to help us both. Except perhaps helping us find some ingredients. Yes, you can do that.”

“I’m on it. Just tell me what you need.”

Kamora began listing simple ingredients that were mostly used for cooking, and then some healing spices. She asked that they be brought fresh, just picked from the farm, not a day late.

Lord Maroke left the room to relay the orders to Greyson, who accepted immediately.

But before he left, he asked his master one question. “My lord, I am a bit confused. She is just recovering. Why must it happen tonight?”

Lord Maroke was confused too about why she insisted on it being this night. Why not the next day or the day after?

When he went back to his room, Kamora and Jarosh were still in the same position as he had left them in.

He walked toward the bed and sat next to her, staring at his son for a while, then at Kamora.

“I’m curious. Why can’t I help both of you aside from sourcing ingredients? And why must it be done tonight?”

“She kidnapped Jarosh the time I went missing, right?”

Lord Maroke nodded, surprised at how much she was able to deduce.

“Then she must have given him the first dose. We need to take the poison out of him while the moon is bright, but before it strikes midnight, as that is when I’ll have more strength.”

Lord Maroke stared at her, confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Perhaps it’s time I tell you one fact about me.” She stared at him, her gaze powerful.

“Your wife is not a simple human as you must have imagined.”

“I know,” Lord Maroke said. “I have always suspected that perhaps you were a halfling. Half Fae, half human.”

“Not human, my lord. Witch. I am part Fae, part witch.”