The Brave Human Mate

70.

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King Romulus' POV

Following Romulus licking Rhea's wound until it was soaked, he finally allowed the Healer to come closer—Whoever it was who made that decision had been smart to have a female on standby, in addition to waiting until the King had given them the okay.

The thought of privacy hadn't occurred to him, that the rumors of Lady Rhea's health or importance to him were most likely already well underway through half the Kingdom.

It pained Romulus, as he wanted to tell Rhea on his own accord.
But perhaps this could be downplayed for a while longer. Though his mind couldn't drift to other matters, even if he tried.

His inner beast agreed. Whoever did this to Rhea, would die.
Whoever had helped, would die.

This news made him rumble with approval as he laid his head on Rhea's chest, his ear tucked in nicely against her upper breast. A spot where he could perfectly hear her heartbeat, one that was most definitely growing stronger.

The Healer had thought the same. And that was a comforting stride forward.

"Hmm." The voice returned his previous declaration, and he nuzzled deeper. Wanting to hear another record of the small voice that escaped Rhea's lips.

It soothed him, even after only being awake for a few hours—His body and wolf knew that it had been long since they were together.

And at one point, they had been separated.

With his snoot digging into her chest, turning into the crook of her neck, the regular reaction of trying to close the space shut had enacted.
And he huffed, was she awake?

Romulus had wanted to move back and shift to skin, hoping to engage in a proper conversation—To hear her voice properly.
But a hand had caught him before he could move.

The hand had landed on the back of his neck lazily, but after a moment she started to stroke through his fur and repeated her hum. It had turned into a back-and-forth motion, until he couldn't take it anymore and took to getting out from underneath her arm.

It pained him to watch as her hand was searching for him, but he soon took it into his own two—Embracing the warmth and tugging the blanket back over her figure. "Rhea, can you hear me?"

The King was met with silence, besides the quiet and long breaths, he assumed her to be sleeping. Though as he was nearly a second attempt, her head lolled to the side and squinted open.

"Rom?"
"H-how are you feeling?... Goddess, Rhea...You're—" A sharp breath had caught his next word, he wanted to hear her speak more. But the scent of tears coming from his female had turned him into an overbearing Alpha.

"Does it hurt?" She hummed, a loud sniffle coming from her as she seemed to be getting her bearings in order. Though much too slowly in his eyes, but once her eyes had opened properly to gaze into his.

And all words were lost on account of returning her stare.

They were broken, the light that had been in them had dulled completely.

Romulus had heard through passing that Rhea was captive for days. Something that she never deserved but had endured on account of making enemies in his court.

A hand ran over her forehead and pushed her hair back behind her, hoping to engage in some sort of connection once more. But even with his blood coursing through her veins, his saliva still coating her wound, it appeared that she still could not recognize him.