Bride of the Traitor (The Prophecy of Sisters #1) - Hayley Faiman Page 0,119

breath that I’d been holding comes out in a long whoosh. My bottom lip trembles, just as Elias’ gaze shifts to meet my own.

He takes his hand from mine and I think that he’s going to push me away, but instead, he cups my cheek in his palm, his thumb running across my bottom lip, as he’s always done. My eyes flutter closed and I wonder if he didn’t lose his love or his memory. I wonder if everything is just perfect.

“I feel as though I should know you, a fine creature at my bedside that weeps for me must be important.”

My torso jerks at the same time my eyes fly open. Lifting my hand, I wrap my fingers around his wrist and grip him tightly. “I’m your wife,” I whisper. “Queen Sybilla.”

His steel-blue eyes turn that indigo color that I love, one step closer to the glittering black eyes when he’s full of desire for me. They don’t take that extra step this time, they stay dark-colored as his gaze roams over my face.

“Wife,” he says as if testing the word out.

I watch as he licks his lips, wetting them as he continues to watch me, staring as if in search for something, what, I’m not sure My entire body feels cold, so cold that I can’t stop the tremors from shaking me down to my core.

Though my stomach clenches in pain, Elias reaches for me and draws me into his arms, pulling me against his chest. I rest my cheek against the center of his chest and inhale his manly scent. Gripping his biceps, I close my eyes, never wanting to leave his arms again.

“I do not remember, wife. I am sorry, are we a love match?” he asks softly, sounding so, so, sweet and I hate it.

Pressing my lips together, I hold the loud cry that threatens to escape me. Sitting up slightly, I release my hold on his arms as I find his gaze with my own.

“We are fated, Elias. A prophecy fulfilled, but yes, we fell in love.” Reaching for his hand, I place his palm against my belly. “And we have created something beautiful together with that love,” I whisper.

His eyes widen, dropping to my stomach, then lifting to meet my eyes. “By the gods,” he whispers. He opens his mouth to say something else when Merek bursts through the door.

Immediately Merek’s gaze travels the length of his cousin and his lips lift in a smirk to see that he is alive, breathing, and well.

Rolling my lips together, I try not to ramble and blurt out all that’s happened between us, the fact that he doesn’t even remember me.

“What do you last remember, cousin?” Merek asks.

The witches must have told him that Elias would likely not remember me, but they haven’t said how much time he would have lost. Merek is smarter than I am, more grounded, and looking beyond his selfish needs, unlike myself.

“I remember coming here, storming this castle and taking out the king. I remember a beautiful woman in a copper-lined room. I remember that you are engaged to a maid.”

Unable to hold my words in another second, I whisper. “You just don’t remember me.”

His eyes shift from Merek’s to mine and he gives me a single shake of his head. “I apologize, I do not remember you.” He lifts his head and looks to Merek. “She’s my wife? Carrying the heir?”

“Aye, Elias. Sybilla is your Queen,” he rasps.

Standing from the side of the bed, I brush my palms down the dress that was borrowed from the former princess here, a gown my girls procured, no doubt by just taking it for me. It’s a bit tight, but not nearly as tight as the ones that I wore when I first arrived here.

“Well, you must want to meet with your men,” I announce after clearing my throat.

“Sybilla,” Merek murmurs.

Shaking my head, I give Elias a watery smile. “Go be with your men,” I whisper.

He throws his legs over the side of the bed and stands. I expect him to breeze past me, but he doesn’t. Instead, he takes two steps toward me and cups my cheeks. His head lowers and I expect him to kiss my mouth, but he doesn’t.

Elias’ lips touch each cheek before his forehead lowers and presses against my own. “You will join me, my bride.”

I wish that he would call me sweeting. I didn’t know that it was something I would miss the moment that it was