Page 61 of The Possessive Alpha’s Reborn Luna

Alice

Warm sunlight hit my face. I opened my eyes.

Strange ceiling. Ornate vines carved into it, crystal chandelier throwing soft light. Soft bed, silk covers, faint rose scent in the air.

Not the palace. Not the forest either...

I shot up—then gasped as pain ripped through my wounds. "Shit—"

The pain snapped me alert. My hand flew to my stomach, panic flooding my voice. "The baby! My baby!"

"Easy." A familiar voice, teasing. "Your baby's fine. He's good." A pause. "I know Sleeping Beauty's always dying to see her handsome prince when she wakes up, but no need to rush."

The baby was okay. Relief washed over me. I turned toward the voice.

Adrian sat in a chair by the bed. His left shoulder was wrapped in thick bandages, dark red blood seeping through. His right arm hung in a sling, wrapped in gauze. A long gash cut across his cheek. He looked like hell.

"Your injuries—" I started to get out of bed. His hand pressed my shoulder back down.

"Don't move." Light tone, firm grip. "Compared to you, this is nothing."

"Nothing?" My voice rose. "Your shoulder's still bleeding! And your arm—"

"This?" Adrian glanced at his shoulder, unbothered. "Just caught some witch magic. Looks worse than it is. Doctor said a few days' rest and I'll be fine. You, on the other hand—you lost a lot of blood. Deep wounds in your shoulder and side. If we hadn't gotten to you in time, you might've—"

He stopped. The smile faded slightly. "Anyway. You need rest. So the baby can grow strong."

I stared at him. My mind was still scrambled. Last thing I remembered—Adrian and I, backed up to the cliff edge, the river churning below. Both of us were covered in wounds, no strength left to fight. I thought I'd die there...

"Where are we?" My voice came out raspy, throat burned raw. "How did we—"

"You passed out from blood loss. I was about to jump off the cliff with you—one last shot at survival." Adrian handed me water. "Lucky my men showed up just in time. Beat back those assassins and witches. Then I brought you here. My country."

So this was Adrian's country. The Kingdom of Rhine. My heart pounded. I'd survived. I'd made it through that death trap!

Tears spilled over. I was really... really out. I didn't have to live in pain and fear anymore. My baby could be born safely.

"Alice, relax. You're safe now. Drink some water—doctor's orders. Food's coming too. You're weak. You need to build your strength back up."

I pulled myself together and took the water. My fingers shook. I sipped, throat grateful, then forced the words out. "What about Victoria and—"

"Got away." Adrian shrugged, annoyed. "That woman ran like a damn rabbit. But my men aren't useless—she took at least three sword wounds. Won't be causing trouble anytime soon."

Relief. But the guilt toward Adrian deepened. If not for me, he wouldn't have gotten dragged into this mess.

"I'm sorry..." I looked down, fingers twisting the sheets. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on going to that forest, you wouldn't have gotten hurt, you wouldn't—"

"Whoa, stop." Adrian waved his hand in front of me. "I don't remember anyone dragging me anywhere."

He leaned back, amber eyes warm.

"I chose to help you. Besides..." He paused, smile lingering. "Saving ladies in distress is a knight's duty. Sure, I'm a prince, but playing knight now and then isn't bad."

I looked up at him. My throat felt tight.

"But I..." I bit my lip. "I'm hideous. Abandoned by my own kingdom. I'm not worth you risking—"

"Hideous?" Adrian's eyes went wide, like I'd told the world's worst joke. "Alice, if you're ugly, there's not a beautiful woman left on earth."