Chapter 102
Rowan’s POV
I paced the length of my study, the tension in the room palpable as I tried to focus. on the video call with some of the cabinet members.
Their voices droned on, discussing matters of state and policy, but my mind was elsewhere. Nesta.
She was sick, and I felt sick to my stomach with worry. Though Nolan was with her, ensuring she was cared for, it di tle to ease the gnawing anxiety in my chest.
The screen in front of me flickered as one of the members spoke passionately about some new initiative, but his words barely registered.
I kept glancing at my phone, half–expecting an update from the physician or Nolan. Each minute felt like an eternity, and the urge to be by Nesta’s side was almost overwhelming.
“Rowan, are you with us?” one of the members asked, pulling me back to the present.
I forced myself to focus, nodding and giving a noncommittal response, but my heart wasn’t in it. They all know I am anywhere but with them but they are trying to be polite. It’s good to be the alpha king.
“I apologise,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “It’s been a long day.”
They seemed to accept this, continuing the discussion, but I could see the concern in their eyes. They knew something was off, but they didn’t press further.
I resumed my pacing, hoping the movement would help burn off some of the nervous energy coursing through me. I hate that we had sex yesterday and she was sick now. What does that say?
I shouldn’t have offered to take turns using my powers. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, a way to share the responsibility and give each other a break.
But fuck it, I couldn’t stay away from Nesta. I wanted–no, needed to know she was alright. That was enough. I just want to see for myself too.
The cabinet members‘ voices became a blur again as I replayed the events of the day in my mind. Seeing Nesta so vulnerable, lying unconscious with a fever, had shaken me to my core.
The sight of her pale face, usually so full of life, had stirred something deep within me. I couldn’t shake the image from my mind, and it left me feeling helpless and angry at the same time.
I paused by the window, looking out at the darkening sky. The palace grounds were quiet, the calm before the storm.
I pressed my hand against the cool glass, trying to ground myself. Nesta was strong. She would pull through this. She had to.
My phone buzzed, and I snatched it up, hoping for news. It was a message from Nolan: “She’s stable. Fever’s starting to break.”
Relief flooded through me, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I was holding. I typed a quick response, thanking him and asking for any additional updates.
Knowing Nolan was with her brought so comfort, but it didn’t quench my desire to be there myself. I know I shouldn’t overdo it either. Not after what I did yesterday. I should stay away.
“Your majesty, are you okay?” Another voice from the call broke through my thoughts. I turned back to the screen, forcing a smile.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said, my voice steadier now. “Let’s continue.”
They nodded, and the meeting resumed, but my mind kept drifting back to Nesta. Limagined her waking up, confused and disoriented but safe.
I pictured myself sitting by her bedside, holding her hand and telling her everything would be alright. It was a comforting thought, one that kept me grounded as I navigated through the rest of the call.
But Nolan… Nora.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the meeting came to an end. I ended the call and sank into my chair, exhausted.
My study felt suffocating, the weight of the day’s events pressing down on me. I needed to see Nesta, to reassure myself that she was truly on the mend.
I stood up and headed for the door, determination fueling my steps. As I made my way through the palace, I replayed Nolan’s message in my mind, clinging to the hope it offered. Nesta was stable.
The fever was breaking. She was going to be okay.
Reaching her room, I hesitated outside the door, gathering my thoughts. I took a deep breath and pushed it open, stepping inside.
The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting gentle shadows. Nesta lay on the bed, looking pale but peaceful. Nolan sat beside her, his hand resting on hers.
I walked over, and Nolan looked up, giving me a nod of reassurance. “She’s doing better,” he said quietly. “The fever’s down, and she’s resting.”
I nodded, my throat tight with emotion. I reached out and touched Nesta’s hand, faling the warmth of her sin the dried lightly, her eyes fluttering open. When she saw me, the gave a work smile.
Hey I said sofily, my voice harely above whisper. “How are you feeling?” ‘Better‘ the muuumurel, her voice raspy. “Thanks to you both?
I glanced at Nolan, who gave me a small angle. We were in this together, and that was enough for now. I sat down beside her, taking her hand in mine. The worry and hear of the day melted away, replaced by a deep sense of relief,
For now, Nesta was safe. And that we dont mattered,
I spent the rest of the day in Nesta’s room, unwilling to leave her side, Nolan was there too, acting like nothing was wrong
Despite the tension from the previous night, we both focused on fiesta, making sure she was comfortable and cared for. It was as if an unspoken truce had been formed between us, all for her sake,
Nolan’s demeanour had shifted. He was different, Gone was the brooding, scowling figure who often seemed weighed down by the burdens of leadership and our father’s death.
Instead, I saw glimpses of the old Nolan, the one who used to smile easily and laugh freely. His presence was lighter, more relaxed, and it was clear that Nesta was the reason for this change,
Seeing him like this was both heartwarming and unsettling. It had been so long since I’d seen my brother so at ease, and it brought back memories of better times.
But it also made me question the nature of his feelings for Nesta. Was he perhaps in love with her?
I watched as Nolan gently adjusted Nesta’s pillow, his touch tender and his eyes soft with concern. He spoke to her in a low, soothing voice, and she responded with a small smile, her hand resting in his
He used to hate her for being a Healer just a few days ago and forced her to be his mistress. What has changed? Is it unexpected this trip he took?
The sight stirred something within me, a mix of emotions I couldn’t quite untangle. But for sure I could feel the burn of jealousy in me.
As the day wore on, I couldn’t help but observe the way Nolan interacted with Nesta. He was attentive, caring, and protective.
It was more than just duty or obligation; it was genuine affection. His wolf, usually restless and agitated within me, was calm. I mirrored Nolan’s state, at ease and content.
This was the brother I remembered from our youth, the one who had been my closest companion and confidant. I’m so glad to have him back and I won’t ruin our relationship.
But Nesta… fuck. I feel like I have never stopped liking her. Right from when she agreed to be with me after her peers rejected me.
Nesta’s presence had brought out this change in him, and it made me wonder if she was more to him than just a mistress or a responsibility.
Was it possible that Nolan‘ history we all shared? fallen for her, despite the complicated and painful
At one point, as we sat in the room together, Nolan caught my eye. There was a flicker of something in his gaze, a vulnerability I hadn’t seen in years.
It was as if he knew I had noticed the shift in him, but he wasn’t ready to acknowledge it. Instead, he offered a small, almost shy smile, and I returned it, hoping to convey my understanding and support.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.
The hours slipped by, and we talked about mundane things, avoiding any mention of the recent past or the complicated web of emotions that surrounded us.
It was a temporary reprieve, a moment of normalcy in the midst of chaos. We shared stories, laughed softly, and for a brief time, it felt like we were a family again.
As the evening approached, I found myself reflecting on the day’s events. Seeing Nolan so transformed, so much like his old self, made me hopeful.
Maybe, just maybe, Nesta had the power to heal not just him, but all of us. She had already brought light back into Nolan’s life, and I could feel the positive effects rippling through our bond.
But with that hope came uncertainty. If Nolan was truly in love with Nesta, what did that mean for me? For us?
The tangled web of our relationships seemed impossible to unravel, and yet, in that room, with both of them, I felt a strange sense of peace.
Maybe we could find a way to make it work, to navigate the complexities of our feelings and our bonds.
For now, I focused on the present. Nesta needed us, and we were there for her. Whatever the future held, we would face it together.
And as I watched Nolan smile at her, his eyes filled with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in years, I couldn’t help but hope that love, in whatever form it took, would be the key to our healing.
I hope I will be part of this.