Soleia’s response was to wrap her arms tightly around his neck, clinging onto him as though she would never want to let go. The fact that Rafael was still living and breathing was nothing short of a wondrous miracle. Sohow, she had stolen Rafael’s life straight from the jaws of death.
Tears of relief welled up within her eyes at the realization that she could have lost him for good, and Rafael could only shoot her a loving, indulgent smile at her display of emotion. He patted her hair softly, relishing in the familiar embrace.
A stray blood whip flew at them, intending to spear Soleia when her back was turned. But Rafael was not the sa man he was re minutes ago. With a sharp bark of laughter, he crooked his fingers. Imdiately, a do of blood ford over both of them, causing Ricard’s paltry attempt at assassination to bounce harmlessly off the protective shield.
Any other ti, Rafael would have loved to see the look of incensed indignation on Ricard’s face, but now he only had eyes for his wife, Soleia, who was sobbing unrestrainedly on his shoulders. He hugged her tightly, his own eyes growing wet with unshed tears.
He had found her again. He had made it in ti.
And she wanted him. She loved him. With every teardrop that soaked his tunic, he understood Soleia’s true feelings. If Soleia could still cry this hard because she cared about him, their marriage could still be salvaged. There was no mountain too high for him to scale if Soleia was waiting on the other side.
"I’m sorry," Soleia gasped out, her breath coming out in a watery sob. "I’m so sorry― I shouldn’t have left you, now Orion is dead, Oliver is dead... this is all my fault!"
"No, sweetheart, none of it is your fault," Rafael said. He cupped her face with his hands and tenderly wiped away her tears with the pads of his fingers.
"There is only one― okay, technically two people we can bla for this, and one of them is rotting underneath the ocean waves. I can handle the other. Also, you’d be glad to know that Orion is alive and kicking. He was the very reason why I could co and get you," Rafael admitted with just the tiniest reluctance.
He didn’t like owing people, especially people he had technically betrayed. But Soleia’s clear feelings for him had soothed the jealous monster in his chest.
In a way, Rafael had his brother to thank for this.
"Orion is alright?" Soleia heaved out a sigh of relief, a tremulous smile forming on her face. At least, there was a silver lining. "That’s great news."
"Well, yes." Rafael cleared his throat and offered his hand for Soleia to hold. "When I lower the do, I want you to keep your hands on at all tis. I don’t know why or how, but when our skins touch, I feel an overwhelming strength. It could be the power of love," Rafael added glibly. "But no matter what, with you by my side, Ricard wouldn’t be able to stop us."
Soleia’s eyes widened in surprise at Rafael’s words. If she hadn’t seen his wound heal up with her own eyes, she would have dismissed his words as the re ramblings of a lovesick man. But the proof was right there in front of her eyes― for so reason or another, she could boost Rafael’s powers to bring him back from the brink of death.
"But what if I end up nullifying your powers by accident?" Soleia asked, biting her lip worriedly. After all, she didn’t have any clue how she had done such a feat. If she took away Rafael’s powers, both of them would be sitting ducks. "I’ve never done sothing like this before!"
Rafael paused, wondering if he should ntion what he observed months ago. Soleia noticed his sudden quiet and raised an eyebrow.
"You look like you have sothing to say. Spit it out. It’s not like I haven’t been angered or shocked by your words before," Soleia said dryly.
After finding out he was an illegitimate prince who wanted a crown, her standards for Rafael’s bullshit had been raised indefinitely. She doubted he could say anything to surprise her now.
"Well...you’ve actually done this before," Rafael confessed sheepishly. "Back when we were escaping that old woman’s store. You passed out. When I held you, I suddenly felt my powers strengthen."
On second thought, Rafael could always exceed her expectations. She didn’t know whether to be appalled or impressed.
"...Were you ever planning to tell about this, or was I supposed to find out years later on my own?" Soleia asked with a pointed look. "And I suppose you could just knock out and sling on your back then. I will have words with you about this later."
"No! Of course I’m not knocking you out," Rafael exclaid, horrified. "Even if you took away my powers, you’d just need to give them back."
Soleia stared at him in disbelief. "I don’t know how to do that either."
"No ti to learn like the present," Rafael said, giving her an encouraging look. He pressed a kiss to her lips, causing Soleia to squeak at the unexpected display of affection. "I believe in you."
Soleia spluttered. "You shouldn’t! I might end up killing both of us! And our unborn child!"
Rafael’s expression turned ecstatic, as though he had received a lifeti’s worth of birthday gifts. His hands imdiately ca to touch her belly.
"There’s a baby? Our baby? Is it real?"
Soleia’s eyes softened, and she nodded. "Raziel examined and discovered it." She placed a hand over Rafael’s before realizing the danger. "Wait, don’t hold my hand―"
But before she could pull her hand away, Rafael’s hand shifted, and he laced his fingers through hers.
"Soleia, don’t let go of ," Rafael said, a fervent glint in his eyes. "I feel like I could split this kingdom apart. Please believe when I say there’s nothing you can do that will ever harm ."
Soleia’s mouth ran dry. She wanted to point out the multiple instances where she had hurt Rafael in her attempt to escape, but none of the words erged from her lips when she caught sight of the devotion and understanding in his eyes.
Rafael knew she had hurt him. He didn’t care anyway.
What else could Soleia do but nod?
If they died, they would die as a family. She squeezed his hand, her heart in her throat.
Rafael smiled, and tore down the do― only for Ricard’s blood sword to greet them right in the face.
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