Chapter 248: Always There In My Dreams
Katelina felt a strange sense of familiarity when Queen Xenia greeted her and invited her to sit for a conversation.
"Ezekiel explained that you won’t be able to rember us until those mories co back. I’m just so glad that you’re safe and sound. Ah, my apologies. I’m used to calling you Tarah. Now I must get used to your real na, Katelina." Xenia smiled sweetly as she poured herself so tea.
"I heard that you’re slowly regaining your mories, so I’m sure you’ll rember our brief encounters soon and how you also helped ," Xenia continued. Katelina, curious, asked about those brief encounters.
She found herself imrsed as Queen Xenia narrated everything. "You helped
keep my disguise hidden. I guess you saw it in your visions and understood my fate with my husband, Darius."
Xenia lovingly looked at her husband, who was engaged in conversation with Ezekiel. "You’re such a lovely couple," Katelina couldn’t help but comnt.
Xenia grabbed her hands and gently squeezed them. "You and my brother are a lovely couple too. The journey ahead may not be smooth, but I hope you and Ezekiel stay strong together. I witnessed how he suffered when he lost you, so he may tend to be overprotective now... I hope you two stay strong no matter what."
Katelina nodded, feeling the sincerity in Xenia’s words. Xenia added, "If you need our help, don’t hesitate to tell us. Although I’m sure Mother and Father’s support will be enough. They will back you and Ezekiel with all their might."
Katelina smiled, feeling comforted by Xenia’s words and the warmth of her family. "Thank you, Xenia. It ans a lot to ."
Xenia smiled back, her eyes full of kindness. "We’re family, Katelina. We’ll always be here for you."
It felt good to hear those genuine words, to have soone supporting her. Katelina fought back the tears welling in her eyes as she whispered, "Thank you." She didn’t know why she was so sensitive lately. Probably because a lot had been going on, and feeling she had soone with her right now was overwhelming.
In her mories, Devon would always tell her that she had no one, that her only ans of survival was him, so she must please him. The abuse was too much, a constant tornt that felt suffocating. If it had been just her, Katelina might have chosen death to escape the tornt. But she couldn’t condemn her brother to the sa fate...
But now, those dark tis were just mories. Devon was no longer here to tornt her like before, and she felt deeply grateful for that. Just as in her previous vision, Ezekiel had saved not only her and her brother but also those who suffered under Devon’s tyranny.
She and Xenia engaged in more conversation until Ezekiel interrupted to get her.
"I’ll visit you so other ti," Xenia said, and Katelina nodded.
She bid her farewells to both Xenia and King Darius, then grabbed Ezekiel’s hand as they walked back to their camp.
"Won’t we visit Queen Mineah next?" Katelina asked.
"Hmm, let’s give her so more ti to recuperate. My brother-in-law is very protective. He didn’t want his wife disturbed for a few more days after giving birth," Ezekiel comnted with a pout.
Katelina chuckled, then recalled sothing and asked, "What about the bloodthread? You haven’t inford her about it?"
"Not yet. Besides, King Amon is away. He’s at Cordon right now for the ritual of marking. He’s marrying Cordon’s chancellor’s daughter today. It’s sudden, but I heard he’ll be back here tomorrow to leave and go back to Helion with the rest of the entourage," Ezekiel comnted.
Katelina nodded and muttered, "It would be disrespectful to interrupt such an important event. Maybe we can wait and observe. Besides, there seems to be nothing suspicious in King Amon’s movents."
"Indeed, but I still don’t want to take any risks. It’s best if my sister Mineah ets him as soon as she can. She might be able to identify energies within him and confirm that there’s no remnant of Devon inside him," Ezekiel comnted.
Katelina squeezed his hand and said, "Let your sister enjoy her rest and motherhood for now."
Ezekiel nodded, but Katelina could feel the lingering worry in his emotions. She knew he was anxious to eliminate the remaining remnants Devon had left behind. There were two remaining bloodthreads according to Ezekiel, and she couldn’t deny the lingering fear inside her that Devon could be revived using those.
"After a few days of scanning all the people here with demon’s blood, we’ll return earlier than planned to Ebodia and proceed with our marriage ceremony," Ezekiel comnted as they returned to her tent, and she nodded.
Ezekiel led her back to her bed and added, "Have so more rest for now. Tomorrow, you’ll join your training with Onyx and the others."
Katelina nodded, slowly regaining her strength after performing the dragon spell. Her recovery was slower compared to when she had done it with Jade and Luis. Elen had ntioned that the resurfacing of her past mories was causing her stress, which was affecting her recovery.
Cora, Levi, and Luis had begun their training with their dragons under Master Kasper’s guidance. Katelina’s eyes lit up as she said, "Right! Have you heard about Asura and Master Kasper? Their plan to get married?"
Ezekiel nodded. Katelina pulled him to sit on the bedside. "What’s your thought on this? Asura seems so happy and in love, but I don’t know much about Master Kasper. It seems like a whirlwind romance. I’m worried about Asura..." Katelina expressed her concern. Asura had been brokenhearted twice, and she had witnessed her friend’s suffering.
Ezekiel smiled at her and gently caressed her cheek with his warm palm and thumb. "Master Kasper is a very responsible man. He’s been living here for more than a millennium but hasn’t involved himself with won... until now, with Lady Asura," Ezekiel pointed out.
Katelina released a heavy sigh of relief. Maybe she was just overthinking. Ezekiel was about to get up and leave, but Katelina grabbed his wrist.
"How co you’re no longer kissing
on my forehead or lips whenever you go away from ?" she timidly asked.
Ezekiel paused, a pained expression crossing his face. "Kate, it’s not that I don’t want to. I’m just worried... after what happened. I don’t want to cause you any distress or bring back bad mories."
Katelina’s eyes softened. "Ezekiel, I don’t want us to change because of what happened. I need you to be the sa loving and caring partner you’ve always been. Your touch, your kisses... they ground , they remind
that I’m here with you, not back in those dark tis."
She missed him so badly, but at the sa ti, she now understood his hesitation. She pulled him back onto the bed, and he sat obediently. She moved on top of him and straddled him, kissing his lips because she could feel his longing through their bond.
Katelina focused on thinking it was Ezekiel with her. But...
’Katelina, I told you to kiss . I know you can endure the pain I’m inflicting on you, but will your little brother endure the sa?’
Devon’s voice taunted, and her body stiffened. She instantly pulled away and hugged Ezekiel tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.
Ezekiel gently stroked her head and back as he humd, "It’s alright, Kate... I understand. I will be patient, so take your ti. Just always think of
and rember I’m always here for you."
She was trembling, her whole body shaking as another flashback of her past surfaced. Two years of suffering under Devon’s disgusting presence. By this ti, Devon no longer took her to the dungeon to inflict physical pain, but he continued to force her to watch him engage in his dirty sexual acts with other won.
"I want to vomit, Kiel," Katelina muttered, rembering how Devon had forced himself into her mouth nurous tis. She felt so disgusted that she vomited on Ezekiel.
"It’s alright... Let it all out," Kiel comforted her, holding her tightly despite the ss.
"I’m sorry... I’m sorry..." she sobbed hard, overwheld by the sll of her own stench on him.
"It’s fine. I’ll clean you up and have this bed replaced. It’s fine, my love," he whispered in her ear, lifting her gently and carrying her to their bath.
She clung to him, not wanting to be away from him. Ezekiel carefully undressed her and placed her in the warm water, his touch tender and reassuring.
"We’ll get through this, Kate," he murmured as he began to wash her gently, his hands steady and comforting. "You’re safe now. I’m here."
Katelina looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude and pain. She touched his face and smiled. "I rember you now. You’re always in my dreams and visions," she weakly muttered, tears streaming down her face.
That was when she started formulating a plan and changing her tactics around Devon. Instead of fighting him, she submitted to him and gained his trust. In her three years as his captive, she beca the headmistress and received privileges, including the safety not just of her brother but of her people. She used Devon’s obsession with her to her advantage while she planned her way to fully escape with her brother.
"Kiel, you beca my beacon of hope during those dark days. You were always there in my dreams. You beca my hope for survival."
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