*Briella*
My arms tightened slightly around Emberly but not hard enough to rouse her from her little nap. She was the only one who could calm even slightly at that mont. I pressed my nose lightly against her silky smooth forehead, breathing in her sweet scent and allowing it to lull my senses slightly.
I couldn’t believe that this gorgeous child ca from . Emberly was perfect with Kryzen’s deep, endless gray eyes. She looked mostly like Kryzen, which I was grateful for. She had his slightly lopsided smile as well. She was so young but already laughing and smiling so much. The pealing bell sound always caused my heart to flutter happily.
She was developing quickly. At just a few months old, she wasn’t just smiling. She was also starting to play and explore the world around her. I wandered over to the bed I shared with Kryzen and sat on the edge of it, reaching for a puzzle toy ant for babies months older than Emberly was now.
She stared at the block in wonder for a mont before grabbing it in her strong, chubby hands and moving the pieces attached to the toy. It took her a few tries, but she was able to slide the knobs through the tracks to open the compartnt on the opposite side. Twinkling lights sparkled from inside the toy, throwing little stars on the wall opposite us.
Emberly squealed with delight and clapped her hands, reaching for the little dots of light. I kissed the top of her head before standing again so that I could cross the room and allow her to try and touch the little sparks of light. She closed her hands and opened them again and again trying to catch the dots. She frowned unhappily at when she was unsuccessful.
I laughed gently, tapping her nose. “You can’t really grab light,” I inford her. “You can still play with it though. See?” I held my hand up to the wall with my free arm, allowing the dots to settle on my palm.
Emberly giggled and set her hands against my palm, watching as the light covered her chubby hands.
I smiled gently at my daughter, marveling at how much she had grown, not just physically but emotionally as well. She was quite mature for a child her age. I couldn’t help but feel that despite Emberly’s young age, the little girl could oftentis understand what I was saying.
“You’re making this whole situation bearable, Emberly,” I said softly to my daughter, bouncing her up and down. I wandered over to the window and looked out at our kingdom. “Sotis, life can get complicated and a little scary, but when you’re with the people who you love the most, it isn’t so bad.”
Emberly looked out the window at the bustling marketplace in the distance and the flowers in the garden just below us. She placed her fingers on the glass before slapping it repeatedly.
I stepped away, doubting that the little girl could actually break the window but not wanting to take a chance.
Emberly was starting to get fussy, which ant it was probably about ti for her afternoon nap. I wandered over to the plush rocking chair in the corner of the room and settled into it, tucking my daughter close to my chest.
“We have absolutely nothing to worry about, Emberly,” I said softly as I rocked us back and forth. “Your daddy is going to make sure that we are all safe and protected.”
Emberly looked up at with almost knowing eyes, her gaze eting mine unflinchingly. I just smiled down at her, brushing her silky smooth cheek lightly with the tip of my finger.
I was trying to convince myself more so than my daughter that we were going to be safe. I should have felt a lot more safe than I did considering that Kryzen had gone to great lengths to increase security around the palace. Not only were guards stationed outside of our bedroom at all tis, but there were also a couple beneath my window and at dozens of other spots throughout the palace grounds.
I was grateful for the added security. It brought so level of comfort, but I was also beginning to feel like sothing of a prisoner. I could barely even leave the bedroom to go down to the kitchen without a couple of guards insisting they escort . At least Kryzen was tactful enough not to put guards in the room with .
My head shot up when a soft knock sounded on the door. I could tell who it was and called out for them to enter.
Alyna poked her head in and grinned at before her eyes rounded slightly. “Is she asleep?” she asked in a hushed whisper, probably not quite able to see Emberly’s face from the angle I was holding her.
I shook my head and lifted the little girl in my arms so that her aunt could see her face.
Emberly’s whole face lit up. She reached her hands out toward Alyna, her movents demanding. She gurgled impatiently, causing both Alyna and to laugh.
Alyna shut the door softly behind her before crossing the room and holding her arms out to Emberly. I set my baby in my sister-in-law’s waiting arms.
Emberly absolutely adored Alyna. I could already tell that Kryzen’s sister was going to be the cool aunt once Emberly was old enough to conceptualize such ideas. “How’s my favorite little niece?” Alyna cooed.
I gave Alyna a fond look but rolled my eyes. “Your only niece is doing just fine,” I said with a light giggle.
Alyna grinned at and bounced Emberly lightly. “She is getting so big so fast,” she comnted with wide gray eyes that really seed to be the Stormfall trademark.
As I watched the two interact, I couldn’t help but feel a rush of gratitude for my sister-in-law. It had only been a few days since we learned that Malphas was still out there sowhere, and she was the first to rush over. She offered to help with Emberly and to stay in the palace with us. It was comforting to have her there. She was like a big sister to , but she was also essentially my best friend.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, setting Emberly back in my arms before sitting in the armchair next to . “Are you still having those strange dreams?”
I shook my head, cradling Emberly close and rubbing her back when she started to fuss a little bit. “I’m not having them at all now,” I said, suppressing a shudder. “But that doesn’t really feel like a good thing.”
“What do you an?” Alyna asked, tilting her head to the side slightly. “Isn’t that how Malphas has been trying to communicate with you? Wouldn’t that an having them stop ans he can’t reach you anymore?”
I winced. “Not necessarily. It could an that he knows that we are on to him. He could be trying to go further into hiding.”
Alyna’s mouth ford a little “O” before her eyes narrowed dangerously. She looked so much like Kryzen at that mont. She had been angry as well when she found out about Malphas. “The coward,” she seethed. I had a feeling she wanted to say a much more vulgar word but was holding back in front of Emberly, who was looking between the two of us curiously.
I felt my shoulders sag, exhaustion washing over like a wave. “The dreams might have stopped, but sothing is definitely still off,” I explained. “Right after they ended, I started to feel a strange, dark energy. It seems to co and go.”
“Hmm,” Alyna humd thoughtfully, resting her chin in the palm of her hand with her elbow resting against the padded arm of the chair she was on. “Do you think it could be from the battle against the dark army?” she asked after a mont.
I nodded. Kryzen and I had considered that as a potential possibility. “It could be,” I said. “There is bound to be unrest throughout the kingdom after a battle like that. It was really the first in the realm as far as we know. They had been in peace for centuries before this.”
Alyna nodded in understanding. She reached over and gripped Briella’s arm. “Don’t worry,” she said fiercely. “I’m not going to let anyone hurt any of you. You are a part of my family.”
I couldn’t help but grin widely, giggling slightly. “You sound just like your brother,” I said fondly before my gaze softened. “Thank you.”
Kryzen was a bit later than normal. I was just about to tuck Emberly into her bassinet when he pushed our bedroom door open and walked in. He looked exhausted. His shoulders sagged slightly, but his face brightened when he saw us.
“There are my girls,” he said, crossing the room where I was standing in front of the crib with Emberly in my arms. He kissed on the lips in greeting before kissing our daughter’s chubby cheek.
“How was your day?” I asked lightly, surrendering Emberly to him so that he could hold her.
I loved watching Kryzen with our daughter. His expression softened considerably as he gazed down at her. She made a happy cooing sound and grabbed the front of his shirt in her tiny hands.
A shadow crossed his face for a second before he shoved it away and kissed Emberly’s forehead. “It was alright,” he said in a tone that made imdiately suspicious. “Let’s tuck our little one in and then step out onto the balcony. I have sothing to tell you.”
Concern imdiately settled over , but Kryzen just gave a reassuring hug with his free arm.
“She’s all excited now because you showed up,” I said in a slightly scolding tone as Kryzen lowered Emberly into her crib. She imdiately sat up, a whine building in her throat.
“Shh,” Kryzen crooned, running his hand over her wispy black hair. “It’s alright. Daddy’s ho.” He brushed his finger along her cheek. Emberly imdiately grabbed hold of it.
We talked softly to her. She must have been happy to have both of her parents with her because she fell asleep within minutes.
“Good girl,” Kryzen murmured, smoothing her hair before taking my hand.
We tiptoed out to the balcony so we could gaze up at the night sky. Kryzen wrapped an arm around my shoulders, tucking against his side. He pressed his lips to my temple, but I could tell he was lost in thought.
“Did sothing happen?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“No, not really,” Kryzen said carefully. He looked at . His expression was serious. “I’m going to be gone for a couple of days though. There have been reports of strange sounds coming from Malphas’ old obsidian palace.”
I sucked in a sharp breath at the ntion of Malphas’ na. “That sounds like a trap,” I said, my throat tightening.
The arm around started to rub my shoulder soothingly. “We’re taking a team of the best,” he said and then smirked. “Drius will be leading us. We’ll take every precaution, so don’t worry.”
There was no way I wasn’t going to be worried, but I did trust Drius and Kryzen to be wise about the mission. I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my face into his chest. “I wish I could go with you,” I murmured.
I probably could have if I begged enough, but we both knew I wouldn’t. I didn’t want to leave Emberly behind.
“I don’t,” Kryzen said honestly. He dropped a kiss to the top of my head. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“That better be a promise, Stormfall,” I muttered, causing Kryzen to chuckle.
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