Cassian stirred awake then he slowly opened his eyes and turned to the woman still asleep on his bed. Her black curls were scattered on his arm, her leg lay on top his, under the covers and her beautiful brown eyes were closed. Cassian sighed, "How great will it be if she slept with her eyes open?" he whispered as he stared at her eyelids.
Zemira turned to face him, still asleep, the covers slid down her body and she shuddered as the cool breeze hit her breast. Cassian covered her properly and held her shoulder then she gave a small smile which took him aback.
"Is she awake?" he asked and waved his hand in front of her face but she did not move. He stopped waving and rested his face on his fist, "Perhaps she smiles in her sleep" he murmured and smiled, "She is beautiful".
He let his hand fall to her breast and he smiled as he remembered last night. Last night was magical, he thought as he remembered her moans. Last night was wonderful, he thought as he remembered their fingers intertwining as he pushed himself in her. Last night, she had become his and he had become hers.
His hand moved to her belly and he rubbed it gently, then his eyes widened. She was pregnant, and they had sex last night. He sat up suddenly, removing his arm from under Zemira's head to which she woke up.
"Cassian?" she sat up and he put his hand over his mouth, had he killed his baby? Zemira held his shoulder, "What is the matter?" she asked and he looked at her, panic in his eyes "Are you alright?" he asked.
Zemira was confused. Was there any reason why she should not be okay? "Yes, I am...alright. But Cassian, why are you---" "Is anyone there?" he shouted. "Cassian, what are you---"
She had hesitated before she had answered his question. She was not alright. Gertrude ran in, "My Lord, are you---" she quickly looked away from Zemira's nudity.
"Get the doctor...this instant!" Cassian yelled.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The doctor inserted the earpieces in his ears and placed the diaphragm on Zemira's bare belly then he listened to the baby's heartbeat. It was normal. He took the diaphragm off her belly and placed it on her chest. Her heartbeat was also normal.
He took his oil lamp from his bag and raised it to her face. Her pupils constricted normally. She was alright. The doctor stood up straight and looked at Cassian who was biting his nails nervously.
"She and the baby are alright" he said and Cassian let out a sigh of relief. "Having sex during pregnancy is not bad. It does not cause harm to the mother or the baby, but I would advise against having sex during the last weeks of the pregnancy. It can cause early contractions" the doctor explained and Cassian held his hands, "Thank you very much doctor. Gertrude, get something for the doctor to eat, show him around, you know, treat him well" he said to Gertrude who bowed.
"Lord Monterey, you are too kind" the doctor laughed and Gertrude bowed to him, "This way doctor" she said and walked away, the doctor following her.
Cassian breathed a sigh of relief and Zemira giggled, "Why were you so scared?" He sat on the bed and held her hand, "I was worried something would happen to you and our baby" he said and pressed a kiss to her hand.
Zemira was confused. Was Cassian really in love with her? Or was he compensating her for not being able to love her? Or was he trying to make her get over him, by giving her what she wants?
"Zemy?" Cassian called out and she looked at him, "What are you thinking about?" he asked and she licked her lips, "What are we doing, Cassian?" she asked and he smiled, "What do you mean? I am holding your hand and you are on a bed, with your---" "Not right now! Last night and this morning, you acting so loving towards me" "I am not acting. Nola is my past, you are my present" he said and placed his hand on her belly, "You and this" he said and she smiled then she rested her head on his shoulder.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Nola flung the golden goblet at her furiously. She flinched and Isander looked at her, "Control yourself" he said and Nola ran her fingers through her short black curls, "I think he is very in love with her" she said and Nola looked at her, "Shut up!" she shrieked and grabbed her sword and was about to throw it at her but Cato held her wrist, "Do you want to disgrace our lord before a commoner? Respect yourself else you will not like the aftermath" he said and flung her hand down.
"This is perfect, it creates another opportunity for us to strike" Isander grinned sadistically then he looked at her, "You are dismissed" he said and got up. She bowed and left the room.
"Now...for your punishment, Nola" Isander smirked and Nola looked at the woman's retreating figure. She was going to get punished anyways, but she knew Isander would not kill her. He needed her.
She pushed him aside and ran towards the woman with one question on her mind. Isander clenched his jaw while Cato gasped. "Bring her to me...now!" Isander yelled and some soldiers came in and bowed, "Bring that dead woman to me!" he yelled and the soldiers ran out.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
She walked cautiously along the cloister as she searched with her eyes for her son. She hated the fact that she was betraying Cassian who had done nothing but be so kind to her. But she had to do it else her son will be killed. She did not have a choice.
A hand dragged her and she was about screaming but another covered her mouth, "We need to talk" Nola sneered and the frightened woman nodded, then Nola led her to a room.
"First of, take off your hood" Nola said and the woman held her hood securely over her face, "Lord Isander does not permit me to show my face to anyone else other than him and---" she whimpered as Nola held her sword to her throat, "Well Lord Isander is not here right now, is he?" she smirked but the woman still held her hood, with shaky fingers this time. "Take. It. Off!" Nola repeated as she pressed the sword closer to the woman's throat.
The woman threw herself on the ground and held Nola's leg, "My Lady, please spare me" she begged and Nola grimaced as she tried to kick the woman away. "I can not do what you are asking of me. Isander knows what we are doing right now. If he sees me reveal my face to you, he will kill my son" she begged.
That was true, along with his telekinesis and mind reading, Isander could also see what another person was seeing, only, he had to make direct contact with the person. Nola had touched him, so he could see what she was seeing.
Isander gnashed his teeth, "She is at one of the rooms along the cloister" he said and the soldiers he had sent out, started running there. Cato had created a mind chain between Isander and his soldiers, so whatever he said was passed through to them.
The message reached Nola and she looked at the woman, "Get up!" she said as she dragged the woman up, "We do not have much time" she said and the woman stood up. "Since you bring information about Cassian's daily life, I suspect that you are a servant in his manor" Nola said and the woman bowed.
"The ring that Cassian gave his new wife, is it the same as the one he had given me?" that question had been disturbing Nola ever since she had seen Zemira's wedding ring. She wanted to know if she still had a place in Cassian's heart.
"My Lady, Cassian can never forget about you. The ring he had given you, lies in his drawer. He had given Lady Zemira another ring that had the same pattern but hers had rubies while yours have the blue jade...just like the colour of your eyes" the woman said as she caressed Nola's face which was stained with tears.
The door burst open and the soldiers ran in, they raised their swords at Nola who quickly wiped her tears, "Let the woman go, she did not show me her face" she said.
"Let the woman go" Isander said and one of the soldiers pushed her, "Move it!" he yelled and the woman ran out. "Bring me that dead woman" Isander said and all the soldiers charged in on Nola.
Dead? Nola thought and took out her sword then she slashed one of the soldiers. One ran to her and she climbed on him and broke his neck, she held another one's head and slammed it down on a table. Two descended their swords on her but she blocked it with her sword, she pushed them back then she kicked one and stabbed the other. The last man standing ran to her and she slid under him, with her sword raised up and tore him from under to the top.
She sighed and cleaned the blood on her face, "I will bring myself" she said and walked out of the room.
Isander smiled at the sight before him; five soldiers laying in a pool of blood. All killed by one woman. This was the reason why he could not let Nola go, she was the best weapon he ever had.
He smirked when he saw her walking towards him with so much confidence. That old hag must have told her something to make her this confident, Isander thought as Nola got on a knee and bowed, "I await my punishment, my Lord".
Isander leaned forward on his throne and smirked, he had just the right punishment for her. Something that had to deal with Cassian Monterey.