Kaizan took Olivia for a bath. "You need it, love," he said as he set her on her feet in the bathtub. He slid her down his body making sure that he still wanted her. His erection hadn't waned. But the fact that Olivia was also willing to have him again made him lustier than ever. At the same time, he didn't want to hurt her after making love to her mindlessly. He wanted her to recuperate. Every time he had sex with Olivia, he would think that he would go vanilla, but every time he lost control. 

When he too stepped in the bathtub, he pulled her against him and cradled her head against his chest. He licked her skin where he had pierced his fangs so that it healed quickly. "I can never stop loving you," he whispered. 

"And I can't stop loving you," she whispered back and pressed a kiss on his lips. Kaizan picked up a wet cloth, lathered it with soap and started rubbing it gently on her arms. He lifted her arms and made them curl around his neck. He took the cloth to her neck, underarms, breasts and very gently to her belly and in between her thighs. The way he cleaned her over there with so much concentration that his brows knitted. Olivia giggled and kissed his chin, but the man wasn't distracted. He growled in return as if she was disturbing him from the most important work. After some time, she said, "I wanted to visit Ara and see how she is doing." 

Kaizan stopped his hand. Olivia's words surprised her. It was only in the morning that they had taken Ara to the temple. He kept the cloth on the side and said, "I think you should wait for a few days before visiting her. Anastasia will be going to the temple tomorrow for the ritual. Once the ritual is performed, Ara will be more tamed." Although Kaizan wasn't averse to the idea of Olivia going there, in reality he was scared that Ara may become violent and hurt his wife. 

Olivia sighed. "Okay…" 

Kaizan didn't continue with the topic because he felt tense talking about Ara. All his thoughts now went to his sister. He really wanted to be with her. As if understanding his thoughts, Olivia said in a low voice, "Let us go and talk to Paige. I can't imagine how devastated she must be. At least we both have each other. We take care of each other as a couple, but what about her? Other than the parents, she doesn't have anyone to talk to freely." 

Tucking her head beneath his chin, Kaizan exhaled. Paige had been extremely rude with Olivia and she was under no obligation to soothe Paige's current state, but she offered to go and be with her. "I won't stop you, Olivia," he said, "but I don't want you to feel sad either. Paige must be very depressed and it will rub on you, and—" 

Olivia placed her finger on his lips. "Hush." Kaizan stopped talking and gave her a brooding gaze. "We should go to her and even if she doesn't want to talk, we will sit with her, silently supporting. I can't imagine her heartbreak. We have to be there." 

"Yes…" was all that Kaizan managed to say. 

They went to the dining hall where the food was laid out for the dinner, but there wasn't anyone. The whole mansion was shrouded in the darkness. The servants had lit up one brazier per room and the soft fire burning in them dispelled little darkness. Kaizan smelled his parents and Paige and realized that they were in her room. Olivia started to go to Paige's room but Kaizan held her hand and growled, "First you are going to feed my babies!" 

Olivia laughed softly. "Yes General!" she saluted him and then ambled to the dining table. 

Though she wanted to eat quickly and get going, Kaizan ensured that she ate properly by adding more food to her plate. "You have two wolves in your womb, and they are my pups. What do you think they are? Won't they eat even this much?" Saying that he added more meat on her plate. "I want them to come out strong and healthy like their father." 

"Really, Kaizan?" Olivia stopped herself from rolling her eyes. The peacock part of her husband was showing its head. 

They finished dinner at a much slower pace than she anticipated but it was well worth it. She was very hungry. 

Nate and Ookashi were sitting on either side of Paige. She was sprawled in the middle on her bed with her arms over her forehead. One could hear soft sniffles in between. Ookashi looked at Olivia and surprise crossed her face. She wasn't expecting Olivia to come down here though she was supposing that Kaizan would surely come. Ookashi pursed her lips and shook her head. A sigh escaped her lips. She looked at Nate whose face was etched with concern. He looked outside the window at the darkness of the night, his face going gloomier. He got up and walked to the window and leaned on it with his arms folded on the ledge. Ookashi got out of the bed and went to Nate. She placed her hand on his shoulder and stroked his back slowly. The two were undergoing a lot of stress because of Paige but not even once did they ask Kaizan to come to emotionally support them.

Olivia went to sit next to Paige. "Paige," she said softly. She wanted to stroke her hair gently and talk to her, but the girl was crying. She could see her swollen lips and wet cheeks. 

Paige wasn't expecting Olivia at all, but when she heard her voice, removed her arms and through her hazy eyes saw Olivia leaning over her. She swallowed her saliva as she stared at her sister-in-law with red, swollen eyes. "I— I am so sorry…" she sniffled. 

Olivia placed her finger on her lips. "Shh…" she said. "You are not at fault, okay?" 

"But I am," Paige replied with guilt pangs piercing her heart like daggers. "I just didn't have the heart to come out of a relationship because I wanted to give it all." 

Olivia stroked her cheeks with her thumbs, wiping her tears off. "I understand…"

"And she—" Paige hiccupped, "—she betrayed me…" Her lips quivered. "The betrayal is not even the tiniest part of why I am feeling so bad. She tried to take advantage of me to get to my family." More sniffles and coughs. "I couldn't ever imagine that she had put poisoned underwear in your wardrobe. This is so—" sniffle, "so—" whimper, "so inhuman!" cough, "she was pregnant with Luke's child, for fuck's sake!" 

Olivia bent over her face and kissed her forehead. "And now she is gone. All her dirty secrets are uncovered. So how about we don't see the past and look forward to a future?" 

"Oh, Olivia!" Paige turned to her and hugged her. "How can you forgive her? How can you forgive me?" 

"I won't forgive you if you go on brooding. Get out of the bed. We are going to the creek and spend our time there tonight!" 

"No…" 

Olivia narrowed her eyes to give Paige a deathly scare. Paige giggled. For Olivia she would go to the creek. 

--- 

Music recommendation suggested by Eulinda_Ogiste: "Simply The Best" by Tina Turner 

PS: I will be launching the new book soon! Fasten up your seat belts!

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