The Warrior’s Broken Mate novel Chapter 93

Lyra POV

The moment I stepped through the portal, I felt it–this was home.

I emerged in the same spot where I had vanished into the other realm, and I didn’t need to think twice about where to go. I knew the way back to the castle like the back of my hand.

I started running, my pace slower than I remembered because of the weight of my swollen stomach, but I didn’t care. That uneasy, gut–wrenching feeling in my chest was getting stronger by the second, and it pushed me to move faster, harder.

Elias was in trouble. I could feel it.

When I finally reached the castle, I saw the wolves racing into the forest for their pack run, but Elias wasn’t with them. He was still here. I followed the pull of his scent and the dread flooding my chest, rounding the corner to the patio–just in time to see him standing on the edge, ready to jump.

I didn’t think, I just moved. I launched myself through the air and tackled him backward, both of us crashing painfully onto the stone floor. It wasn’t a soft landing, and I winced as I hit the ground.

For a moment, I couldn’t move, just gasping for air. Then I heard Elias stand, heard his shocked intake of breath.

I pushed myself up, meeting his eyes. All the color drained from his face as he stared at me like I was a hallucination.

Neither of us knew what to say.

Later, back in our bedroom, it still felt the same–awkward silence, but not because we didn’t want to talk. We just didn’t know where to start. All we knew, deep down, was that we couldn’t ever let something like this happen again. Neither of us could survive it.

I’d held myself together while I was gone because I believed I’d make it back to him. But Elias … he hadn’t had that assurance. He had been living in this world without me for over two months, thinking I was dead. I’d only been without him for a week. Seeing him standing on that patio had terrified me because I knew–I knew–If I had been even a few minutes later, I would’ve lost him forever.

The next morning, I woke up in my own bed, wrapped in Elias’s arms. It was like a dream come true. For both of us.

We lay there quietly, simply savoring each other’s presence, until someone started pounding on the door.

“That’ll be Luke,” Elias muttered.

I glanced at him and smiled softly before slipping out of bed. I padded to the door and yanked it open in one quick motion. Luke stood there, mid–knock, his eyes widening as he registered who was standing in front of him.

“Hey, Luke… what’s the matter? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost,” I teased.

Elias started laughing behind me.

“What the fuck?” Luke blurted out, staring at me in disbelief.

“She found her way back last night,” Elias said as he walked up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

“Queen Lyra… I don’t believe it. You’re actually here,” Luke said, his voice full of awe.

“You want to hug me, don’t you?” I asked, grinning.

“I’m allowed to. I have a mate now,” he said, gesturing to the woman standing next to him.

“Alright, I’m going to want to hear all about that,” I said with a raised brow.

“Absolutely,” Luke said as he leaned forward and hugged me tightly.

“I think we should go downstairs and let everyone else see that I’m back,” I said.

But that didn’t mean we had to let it define the rest of our lives, especially now that I was going to become a mother myself. Rowan deserved the chance to know her grandchild.

“Alright. Everything is arranged,” Stephanie said as she walked back into the room.

“Arranged for what?” I asked.

“For your welcome home celebration. I’ve let everyone know, and they’ll all be here tonight,” Stephanie answered. I glanced over at Elias, who was trying very hard not to laugh.

“It’s also formal. So, you two have to wear suits,” Stephanie added. I smirked at Elias the instant his grin vanished when he heard that part.

That night, the entire castle ballroom was filled with everyone from the village that surrounded the castle. I stood at the top of the staircase wearing a floor–length, dark blue chiffon gown that flowed comfortably around my growing belly. The bodice was low cut between my breasts and encrusted with shimmering diamantes, yet it still managed to look both elegant and modest. On my feet were silver high heels.

Elias offered me his arm as we stood together at the top of the staircase.

The doors finally opened, and we stepped out onto the landing overlooking the crowded ballroom while the announcer waited to the side.

“May I present Queen Lyra and King Elias,” the announcer declared.

I turned to Elias with a smile before we began descending the staircase, greeted by hundreds of cheerful faces below us. They clapped and cheered as we made our first entrance together as King and Queen.

THE END