chapter 34

I woke up to Jaxon k*ssing my forehead. I stirred awake from the contact and looked up at him only to see that he was already dressed. He was wearing a pair of dark trousers and a button up shirt and he looked a lot better than he did last night.

“Where are you going?” I asked trying to get the last remnants of sleep out of my eyes. “What time is it?”

“It’s very early,” he spoke softly almost as if he was trying to coax me back to sleep. “I have to meet with the elders today so we can talk about what to do regarding the rogue attacks. I am going to be very busy today but I’ll try and be back in time for dinner.”

I was too sleepy to protest so I just hummed. He ki*sed my hair once more and I faintly heard the door click shut before I snuggled back into bed. I glanced at the clock a little before sleep overtook me and I saw the clock read

5:30a.m.

I woke

up again around 7 and by then I fully rested. My interaction with Jaxon felt like a faraway dream but his side of the bed was cold and empty so I knew it was real. Once I managed to drag myself out of bed I freshened up and walked into the closet. I realized I either needed to move my clothes in here or move back to

I

my room because I couldn’t keep wearing Jaxon’s clothes

I made a mental note to tell him about that but in the meantime, I wrapped my robe tighter around myself and I tried to sneak into my room without anyone seeing me. Thankfully, I was only sighted by one maid who greeted me with smile and disappeared without as much as another word.

Once I was dressed, I made my way to Kiara’s room to check up on her. I still felt very guilty about leaving her alone last night and I scared as to how she going to react. I had never had to put someone else before

her and I was worried she wouldn’t take it well.

When I opened her door, I expected her to scream at me or refuse to speak to me but she leaped off her bed and practically threw herself into my arms. I let out a sigh of relief I held her close to my chest and she looked up at me with a wide and toothy smile.

“How’s daddy?” she asked. “Uncle Aiden said he was sick yesterday. Maybe we can give him cake because it

makes me happy when I’m sick.”

I couldn’t stop my l*ps from curving upwards. Here I was worried out of my mind and she just wanted to know if her father was alright. I couldn’t believe that I had raised such a selfless little girl and it made my heart warm.

I leaned down and pressed a ki*s to her hair and she giggled in my arms like I had tickled her. “You are the most

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Chapter 34

amazing little girl thave ever met.”

She wriggled her way out of my arms with a small squeal.

“Come let’s get you ready for the day so we can make a cake for daddy.”

Once I had mentioned the word cake was more eager to co operate with me. She loved cakes and when we lived in the town, it was our way of getting along on Sundays. I was busy during the week and she was mostly with a baby sitter but Sundays were our days and I would place her in a high chair while I baked and she

watched.

I her in a of faded overalls and a flower printed . It something she had owned for a while and Iwouldn’t have minded getting dirt on it. She insisted on walking as we made our way towards the kitchen and it was practically empty save for an older woman who stood to the corner wiping down dishes.

I recognized from the last time I there and I noticed how beautiful she . Her hair was in a tight bun at the of her neck was covered by net. She soft features with upturned eyes warm doc eyes. Everything about her screamed soccer mum and I wouldn’t have been surprised if I found she had a

or two.

Judging by the bracelet hidden beneath her sleeve, I would bet she had a daughter as well. I realized |

too long when she cleared her throat. My cheeks heated and I her an apologetic smile.

Her eyes widened when she saw me and she straightened. “Is there something I can help you with? Do you want your breakfast?”

“No, please, I held out a hand to stop her because I could see that she was beginning to worry. “I just want to

bake a cake for my daughter.”

“I would be more than happy to do that. If you could give me a few-”

“No, I meant, I wanted to do it,” I cut her off and she looked confused for a split second then her eyes widened almost comically.

She stared at me as if I had just told her I pooped gold bars. I wondered if no one had ever offered to make something by themselves before. She nodded softly and gave me an awkward bow as if she wasn’t sure if she was supposed to bow to me.

“Everything you need is in the top drawers and your breakfast is in the microwave if you want it,” once she had said that she disappeared from the kitchen.

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When she left, I let out a breath I didn’t know I holding. I placed Kiara up on the counters and opened the microwave to see stacks of breakfast burritos. I warmed up a few so we could snack on while we were cooking and I placed them on the shelf to cool down because I knew Kiara wasn’t very patient.

“Are you ready?” I asked and she nodded eagerly. “Let’s bake daddy’s cake.”

We ate the burritos while mixing the batter. At first the plan was to make a cake but it turned into brownies because I messed up one of the steps by accident. Kiara laughed when I mentioned it and kept trying to swipe the batter with her fingers. I couldn’t even bring myself to stop her because she was smiling so much and it made me happy to see her so carefree.

I placed the trays in the oven and looked around the kitchen that was a complete mess. Cleaning up was always my least favorite part of cooking. I placed the dishes in the dish washer and started wiping down the tables while trying to make sure I didn’t keep any sharp objects around Kiara because she tended to explore.

We had almost finished the breakfast burritos and I was worried that someone else hadn’t eaten. I wanted to ask the woman from the kitchens but I didn’t know where she disappeared to. I was wiping down the counter when I heard footsteps. Without looking up, I knew who they belonged to.

“Something smells good in here, Aiden mused as he made his way further inside. “What are we making?”

“Brownies for daddy,” Kiara said excitedly. “You said he was sick and mummy makes the best brownies.”

“I’m sure he does,” Aiden said while trying and failing to hide a smile. I looked up at him and he saw the silent question in my eyes because he dropped his voice to a whisper. “He’s fine, they’re in a meeting but I was excused momentarily to check up on you.”

“You didn’t have to,” I said feeling bad that he had to leave his meeting to make sure I was fine. “One of the other guards could have done it.”

“Jaxon doesn’t anyone that isn’t his immediate family. It is a miracle that he trusts me but then again, we grew up together,” he ran his hand through his hair. “I have to go back but do keep some for me.”

“I will ” I assured him and he ruffled Kiara’s hair before disappearing the way he came.

Once he had disappeared, I turned to my daughter who had flour and batter all over her clothes. She was messier than I was which I found amusing since I was the one that did most of the cooking. As if she knew what I was thinking about, she flashed me an innocent smile and I shook my head at her.

“Once we finish.here, you need to take a bath. You are absolutely filthy,” I tickled her as I spoke and she squealed so loud I was sure that the guards at the front of the palace could hear her.

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“You’re filthy, mummy,” she threw back and I raised a brow at her. “You’re the most filthy in the whole world.”

I laughed out loud and pressed a to her forehead. I heard the oven beep and I put on mittens to check it. While I was bent over, I felt another presence in the kitchen but I didn’t recognize it.

I stood to my feet immediately and I saw one of the guards standing at the doorway. I had never seen him before and I was on guard.

“You have a letter,” he said and I noticed the piece of paper in his hands.

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