Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1) Chapter 45

“Lucy, I’m here,” Alvar says, lifting me and carrying me to my room. His strong arms wrapped tenderly around me are comforting, and help me fight the remainder of my panic off. “You’re safe now. You’re safe, my love.”

I’m safe with him. Breathe, Lucy.

“I’ll stay with you as long as you need me to, love. I promise he’ll never hurt you again,” he soothes, his voice husky and cracked in quiet rage at Vessin’s attack.

“I can’t stay here, Alvar, no one wants me here. I’m going to–to fail,” I murmur, I’m not sleepy, but the adrenaline and injury has exhausted me. My body is healing because of his blood.

“I can’t keep you here if you don’t want to stay. I can send you back to Earth. But, Lucy, I want you here, I want you here to stay with me,” Alvar says, his voice choking up. “I promise, I will protect you. You didn’t fail, Lucy, you changed Underland forever… when I think of what almost happened… It’s my fault! I was so wrapped up in the stress of all this that I didn’t think about–.”

“Don’t blame yourself!” I start to cry. “Alvar, I–I’m not innocent the way you wanted me to be anymore. Why are you taking care of me?”

“Arlite, girl, you’re an angel! Did you leave me when you found out about Saul and his treatment of me?” Alvar asks quietly.

“No, I’d never leave you for that!”

“So why would I leave you for this?” Alvar asks, his expression pained, “If you want to leave I won’t blame you. You shouldn’t have to feel unsafe. If we can’t even keep the queen safe in her own house… we’re going to have to change the staff. I was an idiot for not thinking this through. I forgot how many still have a prejudice against the Cursed. It’s obvious we need to find guards we can trust. This example of Lord Vessin will be important to changing things. You told me to stay, so I’m staying. I am told you convinced a room full of our leaders to keep me as king. Others may fail, but you, Queen Lucy, despite everything thrown at you in life, you prevail.” He pauses and sets me down on my bed, tucking me in as if I were a child. “Leeza was the one who found me. She flew out the window as soon as she saw what was happening. If it wasn’t for her–I–I don’t want to think about it.” Alvar shakes his head and shudders.

How lucky I am that Leeza was willing to put aside her prejudice to help. I could just picture her, flying headlong toward the thing she feared most just to save me.

Bless her.

Guilt sits on my shoulders when I think how I had been so angry with her on being judgmental of Alvar. I squeeze my eyes shut. Oh, Leeza, thank you!

“Lucy, I’ll be staying by your side at all times until we get a good security staff,” Alvar promises. “Unless you still want to go home?”

It’s as if what happened with Vessin is a bad dream now, but as I close my eyes I see Vessin’s evil leering gaze at me and I sit up and grab hold of Alvar’s arm and whimper, “Please. Stay with me.”

“Always, love,” Alvar assures me, getting into the bed fully clothed and holding me close to him. The warmth of him and the sound of his breathing lulls me to sleep.

*

I don’t do much the next week. I stay in my room. I take lots of baths. The only people I let see me are Leeza and Alvar. I don’t know why, but I don’t want to face my mother yet. She’d wanted me to leave Alvar and if I had listened to her none of the crap with Vessin would have happened.

Alvar enters the room and I stay under the bubbles as I take another bath. There is concern written on his features. He notices me and I can tell he also notices I’m naked, but doesn’t want to say anything because of what had happened with Lord Vessin. We haven’t had sεﾒ since the incident and I know Alvar is just giving me time, but I’m starting to be afraid it’s something more.

“We’re leaving for the ocean,” Alvar announces to me, “It could bring you some healing.”

“I’m fine,” I hurriedly say, wrapping my arms around my knees and hugging them to my chest while in the bath. I don’t know why, but the water soothes me and keeps the frightening memories at bay. I’ve been through a lot. I know I have, but I want to be strong. “Is his trial soon?” I ask.

“You don’t need to worry about that. There were enough witnesses. Grey also is standing trial.”

I cast my gaze downward at the water.

“He was technically an accomplice to your assault, Lucy, I will not have him go unpunished.”
“Your physical injuries may have healed, but that’s not what I’m worried about,” Alvar says, walking over to my bath and leaning over the ledge. “Let’s get you a change of scenery. It hasn’t just been Lord Vessin that has shaken you up. It was what you went through with Saul and everything you’ve experienced since coming here. It’s understandable if you want to go back to earth.”

“I can’t go back to Earth because you’re not there,” I say, shaking my head. “I love you, Alvar. I can’t go back to Earth because I love Axus and Underland and want to see it prosper. I can’t go back because I want to have your babies.”

Alvar raises his eyebrows. “You do?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my eyes glassy as I gaze at him. My husband. “So take me to the ocean, Alvar.”

“I’ll arrange to have the Sky Wave take us tomorrow,” he says, his face brightened, and he turns to leave me.

“Alvar,” his name leaves my lips a bit louder than I’d wanted it to.

He stops and turns. “Yes?”
“Want to join me?” I uncurl myself, letting him see my body. I’m not sure if I’m crazy to be feeling this after such an attack, but I want my husband’s arms surrounding me once again. I long for it.

“If you’re sure you want to?” Alvar says, unbuttoning his shirt and shrugging it off his muscular shoulders.

“Yes, I love you,” I murmur, why does he always have to be so freaking amazing? “Are you sure you want to?” I throw back.

“I love you,” he says with an adorable grin. “More than anything in the world, Lucy.”

“What about in my world?” I say, unable to help a giggle.

“I love you beyond worlds,” Alvar says.

Yes, this is home. It will always be home because I’m with Alvar.