Kairen nodded, and rubbed her back.
“We’ll find her.”
“She may not be in the Capital anymore, it’s been so long,” cried Cassandra.
Before she could add anything else, Kairen gently kissed her, and pulled her into the middle of the bed. He kept kissing her, until she finally began to slowly respond to his kiss.
Her sister had been lost for almost ten years. Even if the news that she may have been sold to a brothel was hard, Cassandra still had hope. If she was alive, with the Prince’s help, they would find her.
Right now, there was something important to celebrate. Kairen was going down to her jawline, onto her neck, down to her collarbone. Her skin was now all his to touch, caress, and kiss, as much as he wanted. Even on Cassandra’s pale skin, one could see the thin tan line from her slavery days. Eight years… For eight years her neck and shoulders had carried the weight of that heavy, rusted metal.
“I want to bathe,” she suddenly said.
“Now?”
Cassandra nodded, and Kairen quickly kissed her before leaving the bed, allowing her to sit up. He had gone to give orders to the servants in waiting. After a few minutes, they had her bath ready, lukewarm water with flowers and oils, right in the middle of the room. They dismissed the servants that were waiting with towels in order to be alone.
Cassandra undressed, revealing the little belly under her dress. Her breasts, too, had gotten a bit fuller and more firm during those last weeks. Kairen helped her step inside the bathtub, sitting behind her as she liked.
She could finally relax a bit inside the water, with the Prince’s warm torso against her back. Kairen brushed her hair back, kissing her neck and shoulder.
“We should celebrate,” he whispered.
“That I’m no longer a slave?”
“That and… this,” he said, caressing her tummy.
Cassandra nodded, smiling a bit for the first time in a while. She put her hand over his, feeling a lot better just from his touch.
“How do you celebrate?” she asked.
“Probably a feast… Gifts… I want to get you something.”
She chuckled. She would never have guessed the War God was into gifts. So far, all he had given her was gold bars! He was so rich he didn’t need to buy anything for himself, as was all of the Imperial Family.
“More dresses?” She asked.
“No…a necklace.”
Cassandra was a bit surprised. A necklace? What kind of necklace was he thinking about?
“I understand my brothers better now.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, a bit confused.
“You’ll see tonight.”
He was probably talking about the Feast. Since they were in the Imperial Palace, they would probably have to attend. Last time, Cassandra had been there as a slave. Now she was a free woman. That feeling was still too new to her. Despite the weight being taken off her neck, she had yet to get used to not being a slave anymore. Her status had risen considerably in just a few seconds. She was a low-rank Concubine, now, which meant she had gone from the lowest status in this country to one of the highest.
“Why did you ask your father to… take you out of the running as his heir?” she asked, suddenly remembering that issue.
Kairen glanced at her pregnant belly, his dark eyes bearing a solemn expression.
“To protect you…and our son. As long as I can inherit the throne, you’ll both be in danger. Constantly.”
“But…it’s such an important matter.”
He sighed, and pulled her closer, pouring water on her back, washing her gently.
