Chapter 56: Marinah

We return to the citadel the next morning, much earlier than I wanted to. The only bright moment is the sound of small feet running through the cavernous hallways before Che barrels into me. I give him a huge hug after twirling around.

He giggles and smiles proudly. "My brother should be born soon. Axel says within three days." He holds up three small fingers and my grin widens.

I wipe tears from my eyes and squat down to his level. His cheeks are rosy red, his eyes sparkling as he looks at me. My heart tightens. "You will make the best brother." I slide my fingers over a slight hair-lick at the top of his head.

"Che?" his mother calls from the hallway he just ran from.

"Mom, it's Marinah. She came to play."

Maylin, with her stomach looking large and uncomfortable, enters the foyer. I smile, but her eyes are on King. She runs like a waddling duck and launches herself at him, tears immediately falling.

I might have felt sorry for her. I might have taken a few moments to understand