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Yes, well. That wouldn’t have been hard.
They moved towards the house, walking up a simple white stone path to the front door, which was then opened by a uniformed older woman who gave Galen a small bow. She murmured something in Kalitheran and Galen nodded.
The house was cool and quiet, all white walls and dark wooden floors, and it was peaceful, though the anxiety in Solace’s stomach felt as if it were growing thorns and sticking into her, making it difficult to breathe.
Galen led her up a set of stairs and down a small hallway to a plain wooden door. Then he opened the door and went in.
Beyond it was a large room that faced the sea, and probably would have had magnificent views if the white linen curtains hadn’t been drawn over the windows, turning the light diffuse and soft. A rustic but beautifully made wooden cot stood near a window, a mobile made of driftwood and shells turning slowly above it.
Solace froze in the doorway, the inexplicable anxiety wrapping around her throat and pulling tight.
Galen had paused beside the cot, looking down at the small form inside it. He smiled and it was as if the sun had found its way into the room despite the curtains, the whole space lighting up. And all she could do was stare at him in astonishment, the anxiety momentarily forgotten in the face of that wonderful smile.
He loves your child too.
The thought resounded like a bell inside her and then was gone, because he leaned down, pulling away the blankets, before scooping up their baby with gentle hands, holding him as if he’d been holding babies all his life.
Then all thought left Solace entirely. Because there he was, cradled in Galen’s arms,herchild. Her baby boy. He’d grown so much.
Leo.
Pain throbbed behind her breastbone.
Galen glanced at her, his gaze luminous. ‘Here he is. Come and say hello.’
Her legs felt weak and there was a part of her that didn’t want to close the distance, that was afraid. As if once she touched him, he’d vanish. That he wouldn’t be real, and this was all a dream. Or maybe that he’d look at her with accusing eyes, knowing what she’d done...
You don’t deserve him anyway.
But it was that thought that drove her to move finally, coming over to where Galen stood. And then her arms were full of a warm burden and a little face was looking up into hers.
‘He has your eyes,’ Galen murmured.
A rush of the most powerful love swept over her in that moment, so intense she couldn’t have spoken even if she’d wanted to. He was warm in her arms, and heavy, and he felt exactly as she’d remembered, and it was as if a piece of her soul had returned to her.
She stared down at him, not even noticing the tears running down her cheeks.
She didn’t notice, either, when Galen slipped out of the room, leaving her alone with their child.
Galen closed the door of Leo’s bedroom quietly and stood there, staring at the dark, polished wood, a fierce wave of emotion tightening in his chest.
An emotion he didn’t want, yet had ignited the moment he’d seen the fear on Solace’s pale face as she’d stood in the doorway. Then had tightened like barbed wire around his heart when she’d taken Leo in her arms, tears streaming down her face.
Guilt again. Guilt at what he’d taken from her. Guilt that he hadn’t tried harder to find her once his son was safely at his side. And something else, something even more powerful that he couldn’t name. Something to do with her holding Leo...the mother of his child holding his son...
They both belong to you.
Galen turned sharply from the door and strode down the hallway in the direction of the living area, where he could wait for her.
It was a ridiculous thought to have, like the one he’d had earlier, about marrying her. Yes, his son belonged to him, but Solace? He didn’t know her so how could he possibly say? He wanted her physically, that was true, their chemistry was still there and still burning strong. He was going to need a mother for Leo and hopefully more children to secure the succession, so she would be a good choice of wife in that respect, considering she was actually Leo’s mother. Also, since he wanted her, the getting of more children wouldn’t be an issue.
But as he’d already thought, marrying her wasn’t ideal either. Kostas would certainly have something to say about her suitability considering her origins, and how Galen wasn’t following tradition. His past behaviour would no doubt be dredged back up, making things difficult, and there would be yet more talk about how unfit he was to rule, and how his contempt for Kalithera was clear in the woman he’d chosen to be his wife.
And then there was Solace’s suitability for the role itself. She’d have no idea about what being the Queen of Kalithera meant. How her reputation had to be as spotless as his and she could not be seen to court media attention. There could be nothing in her background that would invite speculation, nothing in her behaviour either. She needed to be someone used to being in the public eye, too, and used to the pressure of being essentially public property.
Galen knew what was at stake. Could he afford to put his crown, not to mention his country in jeopardy for the sake of his guilt? Or even for the sake of Solace’s feelings?
Itwouldsolve a great many of his problems, however.
