Althea stirred at the familiar touch of Gavriel’s lips against her skin. A soft smile curved on her lips as she slowly opened her eyes. She was facing the small balcony of the cabin, and beyond it, the sun was already beginning to rise.
They were still wrapped in each other, bare and warm beneath the sheets. While she loved the comfort of his heat against her skin, a part of her longed to step outside, to feel the breeze and see the world beyond the cabin. She wanted to talk to lva again, to explore the vast ship they had been traveling on.
Days had passed with her rarely leaving the room, as Gavriel had kept her close, unwilling to let her out of his sight. They had spent nearly all their ti together, lost in each other’s presence, as though the world beyond those walls had ceased to exist.
“Gavriel, can we go outside today?” she murmured gently, her gaze lingering on the pale winter sunlight stretching across the horizon. “I think we need a bit of sun at this rate. Look how brightly it’s shining... It might not be that cold.”
Instead of answering, Gavriel pressed a trail of kisses along her arm, pulling her closer into his embrace. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, holding her possessively, her back resting against his chest as they lay side by side, both facing the rising sun.
“All right, I’ll let you rest today... but not before I have my breakfast,” Gavriel murmured against her ear.
Althea swallowed, already knowing exactly what he ant.
True enough, a soft gasp escaped her as he pulled her closer from behind, his touch familiar and consuming. She bit her lower lip, trying to stifle the sounds threatening to slip free as he moved against her, slow at first, then deeper, more deliberate.
Being with Gavriel like this was sothing she had co to cherish deeply. He always put her first, attentive to every reaction, every breath, making sure she was never left wanting. It still amazed her how he could draw such overwhelming sensations from her, again and again, until she lost herself completely in him.
What was supposed to be breakfast nearly stretched into lunch before Althea finally managed to convince Gavriel to let her go out and mingle with the others.
Her cheeks burned as lva greeted her with a knowing, teasing look, Ash in her arms. Gavriel had just stepped away with Admiral Arturo to discuss sothing, leaving her no chance to escape the inevitable.
The wolf leapt eagerly into her arms, and Althea gently petted it, trying to compose herself.
“Ah, finally,” lva said with a wide grin. “I was starting to think you and the king would stay locked up until we reached port.”
“Don’t tease ,” Althea replied with a small pout, which only made lva chuckle.
“I’m just glad to see you outside,” lva continued. “Ever since the siren attack, the king has practically kept you all to himself.”
Althea quickly set Ash down before grabbing lva’s arm, pulling her a short distance away from the others where no one could overhear them. They settled onto a fixed bench near the deck.
“Stop it already,” she muttered shyly. “You’re embarrassing .”
“Alright, alright,” lva relented with a playful smile. “Anyway, I heard so news. There’s a plan for Lady Beatrice to host a ball to find a suitable match. I’m guessing you still don’t rember her—or Lady Riela—so I’ll fill you in before we arrive.”
Althea nodded, listening intently as lva began summarizing the important details she had yet to recall.
“I see...” Althea humd thoughtfully. “I’m just glad I’m on good terms with Lady Beatrice and Lady Riela.”
“Well,” lva added, leaning in slightly, “I heard from Ben that Admiral Arturo used to be interested in Lady Riela. But then Alpha Cain stepped in and complicated things before he could even confess.”
Althea’s brows lifted in surprise. “Why do I get the feeling you’re trying to play cupid?”
“Not ,” lva said quickly, then pointed at her with a grin. “You, my lady!”
Althea blinked at her, caught off guard. “You want to interfere? Talk to Gavriel about it?” she asked, a hint of disbelief in her voice. “But you know I’m not soone who ddles in other people’s lives. And Gavriel... he seems like the kind of person who would let his sister choose her own path. It wouldn’t feel right to push her into sothing like an arranged marriage.”
lva let out an exaggerated sigh, though her expression softened shortly after. “I know it’s wrong... it’s just that...” she trailed off, hesitating as if searching for the right words. Her gaze dropped slightly, her voice quieter this ti. “I guess I’m just scared of losing what I have.”
lva paused. “I know I shouldn’t feel this way. Simon already reassured , but... I still feel a little intimidated by Princess Riela. I thought maybe I’d feel better if she found soone of her own.”
Another deep sigh escaped lva as she confessed, “I know I said I trust Simon, but I don’t understand why I still feel so insecure. Maybe it’s because I don’t have a title... or that I didn’t co from a noble family. Sotis, this feeling just creeps in, telling that Simon deserves soone better than .”
Althea gently took both of lva’s hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze. “Where is this coming from?” she asked softly. “The lva I know is strong... and always so full of hope.”
She smiled warmly at her. “You deserve so much more, lva, because you are kind, genuine, and easy to love. Simon is the one who’s fortunate to have soone like you in his life.”
Her voice softened further, filled with quiet certainty. “Status doesn’t define who we are, and it certainly doesn’t determine our worth. What matters is the kind of heart we have... and yours is more than enough.”
Althea gave her hands another gentle squeeze. “If Simon truly loves you, then nothing else should matter. Believe in yourself, lva, and have confidence. You’re more than capable of making Simon not just fall in love, but be completely devoted to you,” she encouraged.
“Then teach , my lady...” lva said, her eyes fixed intently on Althea as she waited for her answer. “How did you make the once cold-hearted king fall so deeply in love with you?”
Althea let out a soft laugh, shaking her head lightly. “Just be yourself, lva...” Her expression softened, warmth filling her gaze. “I believe I didn’t try to make him fall for . I simply stayed true to who I am... and sohow, that was enough.”
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