Chapter 377: Early morning greetings

Roxanne was inside her room, sitting listlessly with her gaze lowered and her eyes slightly red. The sorrow weighing on her was plain to see, even in the stillness of her expression.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Grieving?"

She flinched and immediately rose to her feet.

"Luke..." she breathed, before stepping forward and throwing herself into his arms.

Luke wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against him, allowing her to cling to him for as long as she needed. He gently rubbed her back and said, "It’s okay. Everything is fine now."

Last night, he had never gotten the chance to bring Roxanne to his house before the attack began. Still, with more than ten guards stationed around the place and several measures in place to protect herself, Luke had decided it was safer to leave her here rather than risk moving her in the midst of the chaos.

He regretted that decision now.

"I should have brought you to my house. With the others there, you would have felt much safer."

Roxanne shook her head against his chest.

"It was fine here too. And I knew Thea wouldn’t have agreed to come with me... Who would have stayed with her then?"

Hearing her mention Thea, Luke’s expression grew slightly more serious.

"How is she?"

Roxanne slowly parted from him and murmured, "Devastated. She hasn’t spoken much since last night. She was upset that she couldn’t see him one last time, but after a while, she stopped talking altogether."

Luke hummed thoughtfully before asking, "Was she really that close to Baldon? I thought becoming newly mated would help her recover sooner."

Feelings did not form that quickly, especially when Thea had never been particularly loyal to her own man. Luke had expected Roxanne to be the one struggling more visibly with Baldon’s death. After all, it was an undeniable fact that she had been with him for years.

Yes, her feelings had changed with time, and now she had Luke. Even so, a person could not simply erase everything they had shared with someone over such a long period. Years of memories and familiarity did not disappear merely because circumstances had changed.

"I believe it’s her sense of dependency that’s making her feel helpless," Roxanne explained. "I won’t deny that Thea was fond of him, but she’s insecure right now."

Luke hummed in understanding.

"I’ll talk to her soon. But first, come here."

He guided Roxanne toward the bed and pulled her down onto his thigh. His arm remained securely wrapped around her waist, keeping her close as she settled against him.

After a moment, she softly asked, "How are you? Were you scared?"

Roxanne lowered her gaze and said softly, "When I heard about Baldon... the only thing I wanted to do was rush to the battlefield and pull you back."

Luke exhaled slowly. "I’m thankful you didn’t come out. It was simply too chaotic."

Roxanne nodded. "I heard it... the sounds of the battle, the cries of the warriors. They sent chills down my spine several times, filling my mind with so many unpleasant thoughts that I couldn’t even begin to count them."

Luke offered her a helpless smile. "I made you worry. I’m sorry. I should have come to you earlier, but last night, I was simply too exhausted."

Roxanne shook her head and gently cupped his cheek. Looking into his eyes, she murmured, "It’s completely fine. I understand. Thanks to Gary, I knew you were safe, and that was all I needed to know."

The moment she had heard a brief account of the incident and learned that Luke had emerged more or less unscathed, she had felt the tension drain from her body all at once. It was as though her strength had suddenly left her, leaving only the profound relief that the man she feared losing was still alive.

"Well, I had help," Luke muttered before taking her hand in his. "And I was desperate to get back to you and the others."

Roxanne smiled faintly. "Are you feeling better now? Do you want to lie down and rest for a while?"

Luke was about to nod when a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Roxanne flinched slightly. "Who is it?"

"Lord Kalish has arrived. He asks for you, lady."

The voice belonged to a servant who had come to deliver the message.

Roxanne sighed before answering, "I’ll be there in a moment."

The servant soon departed, and Luke clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Couldn’t he have waited a little longer? It’s still so early."

Roxanne gave him a wry smile. "Well, he must be here to offer his condolences. Shall we go and see him?"

Luke groaned before looking at her. "Only if you kiss me until I’m satisfied."

Roxanne’s cheeks warmed.

"But I haven’t even freshened up."

Luke said nothing. He simply remained where he was, watching her with an expectant expression.

Roxanne sighed, finally giving in. Leaning closer, she cupped his cheeks, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips gently against his.

She lingered there, her lips barely brushing his at first, as if she were still hesitant whether she was doing it right.

The kiss was soft and careful, more comfort than hunger. She drew back just enough to breathe, then leaned in again and pressed another light kiss to the corner of his mouth.

Luke stayed still for her. His hands rested at her waist, steady but not hurried, letting her set the pace.

She kissed him once more, then again, small and sweet, her thumbs stroking his cheeks as though she needed to confirm if she was doing it right. Each touch was brief. Innocent in the way it asked for nothing except closeness.

"There," she whispered against his mouth. "Is that enough?"

Luke’s answering smile was slow. "Not even close."

Before she could tease him for it, he tipped her chin up and kissed her properly.

The gentleness did not vanish all at once, but it deepened.

His mouth moved over hers with more intent, drawing her closer until she was fully settled against him.

"Mm?" Roxanne made a small sound of surprise, then melted into it, her fingers sliding from his cheeks into his hair.

That was when he changed the kiss.

Luke parted her lips with his own and took the kiss from sweet to heated in a single motion.

His tongue traced the seam of her mouth, then slipped inside when she opened for him. The first slow stroke of it against hers pulled a quiet gasp from her throat.

He answered by tightening his arm around her waist and kissing her deeper, unhurried but thorough, tasting her as if he had been waiting all night for this exact moment.

Roxanne’s hands curled in his shirt. She tried to keep up, shy at first, then matching him as the kiss grew wetter and warmer.

Their tongues slid together, tangled, withdrew, and found each other again. Luke hummed low in his chest, clearly pleased, and tilted his head to take more of her.

When they finally broke apart, her lips were flushed and her breath unsteady.

Luke rested his forehead against hers, his voice rough with satisfaction. "Now I might be willing to see Kalish."

Roxanne let out a breathless little laugh and hid her face against his neck. "How am I going to show this face to anyone?"

"I know you can manage just fine," he murmured, brushing one last lingering kiss to her temple. "Come on. We will greet him. Then you are coming right back here."

.....

"Shouldn’t you have rested?" Kalish asked the short man beside him.

Unlike Kalish, whose presence here was necessary, Gary could have afforded to rest. He had worked hard throughout the previous night and had remained actively involved in every task since then, determined to ensure that no further ambushes followed.

Naturally, several guards had also been assigned to the area. They carried out their duties without needing to be ordered or forced, each understanding the gravity of the situation.

There was one guy who caught Kalish’s attention who commanded the troops well and has been quite active in preparing the arrangement for the injured ones.

At his words, Gary merely shrugged.

"I doubt you’re here just to share in the ladies’ grief, are you?"

Kalish exhaled slowly, his shoulders sinking as he let out a weary sigh. He did not bother denying it.

There was much he needed to say. More importantly, there was much he needed to apologize for.

Nothing he said could undo what had happened. No apology could restore what they had lost or erase the pain left behind. Yet, within the limits of his ability, he intended to do everything he could to help them endure what came next.

I hope I can be forgiven.

~~~

A/N:- I hope you liked the Chapter. I am not well these days so can’t update two Chapters daily. I hope you understand for the time being.