Loved by a Beast - Miranda Bridges Page 0,8
them flying open. I gaze around the room only to find that I’m alone. It takes several minutes for me to orient myself, and that’s partially because the sun has already begun to set.
I scrunch my face as I try to recall the events prior to this moment, and everything comes back to my remembrance like a flood, the terrible memories making my breath catch as I drown in them.
Vivian. Her daughter. Frixon.
My baby kicks, and I massage my belly, earning another strong movement from within. It’s almost as if the little one senses my anxiety. But I really hope they don’t because I don’t want to put any stress on my unborn child. Although, that might be unavoidable if Vivian is gone.
However, I refuse to think that.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and get to my feet, stretching my back. After getting dressed—leaving my shoes behind because I have a hard time getting them on—and tying my hair with a piece of leather, I head outside.
It’s more like waddle, but whatever.
As much as I don’t want to know the truth about Vivian, putting it off won’t do me any favors. I just hope the news, good or bad, doesn’t send me into premature labor.
Jaxar’s gaze sweeps over me as soon as I clear the tent but then goes back to Ahknar, one of his warriors. I’m not able to discern anything from my husband’s face, since it’s void of emotion, which has me wondering if his conversation is private in nature. That would explain why he doesn’t greet me. But not completely. Jaxar has always shared confidential information with me, so I’m not sure why he would feel the need to keep it secret now. Perhaps he plans to tell me later.
I head over to the males with a smile on my face, but it wobbles the closer I get. From their hard expressions that remain stiff to the tense sets of their shoulders, it’s easy to guess something’s wrong.
“Hi,” I say, acknowledging Jaxar first and Ahknar second. The warrior gives me a brief nod, but my husband doesn’t. Nor does he kiss me, as per his usual. “Masse, where is our daughter?”
Jaxar’s gaze doesn’t soften at the mention of Tika like it usually does, and even though he’s looking at me, it’s as if his mind is far away. “She is with Yania again.”
“Okay, then.” As I wait for him to say something else, the atmosphere churns with an awkwardness that leaves me feeling troubled. I shift my gaze from Jaxar to Ahknar, and it dawns on me that they’re waiting for me to leave.
My cheeks heat as I clear my throat nervously. “I’m going to check on Vivian. I’ll talk to you later.”
The last of the sun’s rays turn my tanned skin into a beautiful golden brown as I turn and walk to Vivian’s tent, my ears straining to hear a farewell from my husband. But it doesn’t come. My feet drag the slightest bit in disappointment, but I keep them in motion, since there are more important things to deal with. The truth of whatever has happened to Vivian is not something I can run away from, no matter how much I want to. I clutch my chest in terror at the idea that her death is what prompted Jaxar and Ahknar’s behavior.
When I reach my destination, there’s a trembling to my hand that won’t subside and only grows worse when I clasp the tent flap. Summoning my inner courage and taking a deep breath, I step inside. Immediately my gaze shoots to the bed only to find a slumbering Vivian.
If I could faint without fear of injuring myself, I would fall to the floor in a pile of limbs, boobs, and belly.
“She survived the rising and setting of the sun,” Anwa says. “This is a good thing.”
I glance over at the healer, not having noticed her before. She looks more rested than the last time I saw her, but there are still deep lines of fatigue underneath her eyes. However, her gentle smile is present. It’s like the burning of sage, cleansing my body and mind of the stress from before.
“I’m so relieved,” I say with a sigh. After settling at the edge of the bed, I carefully take Vivian’s hand. Unlike last night, her skin is warm and her face is no longer deathly pale. “Do you think she’ll make it?”
Anwa hesitates before nodding. “I do not wish to give