Newly Found Wishes

Nathaniel had been looking through the files from the underground lab once again, when he heard the laugher of his wife. It annoyed and infuriated him that she was out there with someone else when she didn't even find the time to apologize yet. Simultaneously, he was jealous because he couldn't be by her side.

In truth, it all began and ended with him wanting to be the one to make her laugh, or at least be beside her while she did. Yet, until she apologized, his pride forbade him from searching her out himself.

That was also why he suppressed the urge to complain. He knew that she was just as proud as him and if he found it hard to give in, she would most likely feel the same. It was a silent fight of who was more stubborn. Maybe the embarrassment was also part of it. Admitting an error was never easy, but for a female virgin it would be even more so when it was related to the domain of intimate acts like theirs.

Nathaniel closed his eyes, when for a moment the sight of her beneath him flashed through his mind. The ravishing beauty of her red and panting face, the daze in her eyes, and the wildness that made her move against him, stirred a prompt reaction in his body. With a troubled frown, he forced his thoughts away from the danger zone.

One day, he would have to let her go anyway. The day she realized that he could never be her husband in the real sense of the word. The day she noticed that she wanted a normal life with a normal man that could do anything a human male usually could without bringing danger to her life. Or maybe it would be the longing for a child that would drive her away. Any one of these were reason enough for a marriage to fail.

When that happened, he shouldn't blame her. Remembering the little girl he once saved at a party and how she called him 'Daddy' with her sweet childish voice, made him realize that in another life without magic power, he would have wanted a family. A real, complete family.

His gaze got dazed as he allowed himself to imagine Katherine's belly swelling with their baby. Somehow, he would convince her to let him feed and pamper her all the way until it was born. That would also give him more time with his wife. As a normal man, he would steal lots and lots of kisses from her, and every once in a while, renew the act that formed this new life. Yes, he'd repeat it over and over again.

Hopefully, while thinking of the health of the child, she wouldn't be so stubborn and would let him help her more. Of course, he also loved her pride and stubbornness. Yet, like right now, it could also be bothersome.

The baby, of course, would be a little miniature of his wife, who he could show the world and protect under his wing. He wanted to carry her in his arms, teach her how to fight and ride a horse, and kiss her goodnight on the forehead.

With a deep sigh, Nathaniel turned away from the window. The pressing sadness on his chest was not any lighter to bear than desire. He couldn't help but think that it might be better for her if she didn't apologize and just stayed away from him. He was falling for her more and more, and the danger increased in the same pace.

That reminded him, he had yet to check what was up with the poison left in his arm that had vanished overnight. After a thoughtful second, Nathaniel pulled the curtain over the window, freed himself of the gloves, and began unbuttoning his shirt.

His strong collarbones were revealed first, building a contrast to the smooth, nearly gleaming white skin that covered them. When the fabric parted further, the muscles of his chest got visible, followed by a a slender waist. The sixpack was more pronounced compared to the last time Katherine had seen it, and there was still a lack of surplus fat. All in all, he had recovered quite a bit.

This image, however, got severely damaged when he removed the shirt completely. Big parts of his arms were covered in bandages, and one side of his waist even sported three black stitch marks. Yet, miraculously, there was no wound in sight. The stitches in his side seemed completely unnecessary, like they were just an accessory.

Seeing the smooth skin where a slightly serious injury used to be, Nathaniel's face froze. Maybe caused by the bad light or the fact that his thoughts were occupied when he changed clothes yesterday as well as this morning, he hadn't noticed that his wounds were healed at all. Pain was so natural for him that it only occupied a tiny, nearly forgotten corner in his head. Especially, when the injuries were not fresh anymore, like the ones from the last battle.

Remembering the worst injury he got from a certain prince, Nathaniel felt up his leg. Now that he focused on it, he realized that this pain was also gone. In disbelieve, he pulled down his trousers and removed the bandage covering his thigh. There were some leftover bloodstains on the fabric, but the leg was completely healed. Similar to his side, black stitches stood out of smooth, unharmed skin.

"So, I didn't imagine her glow", Nathaniel mumbled in wonder. "But how did she do it?"

Mind me, when he first met Katherine, she could only heal within a very short range of her body, and it took a big toll on her. Yet yesterday, she seemed to have build a globe of her power that reached much further than any time before. Additionally, this seemed to have been a subconscious effect. She had been so lost in ecstasy that he doubted she even noticed it.

Shaking his head as if to shake himself out of his stupor, he continued removing his bandages. He had yet to verify what happened to the residing poison. If it was somewhere else in his body, it could be a latent problem. It could even endanger his life, like the time when Katherine had accidentally pushed the poison in the direction of his heart.

The bandages on his right arm showed nothing but a few bloodstains and recovered skin beneath. Only when he came to the left side, did something unexpected happen. On the insides of the bandages was a dark, sticky liquid, effectively turning them black.

Nathaniel's brows knitted together. This looked like it was similar to what happened in Katherine's usual healing session. Just that he had natural wounds this time, so the poison could flow out through these, and not the ready-made cuts. Then afterwards, her magic had healed the cuts till he was as good as new.

It was somewhat disappointing that it was still the same process. She did not somehow find a way to cure his condition instantly or act against the root of the problem. The only things that changed were the range of her power and the ease with which she brought it out. Both to an astonishing level.

He should be satisfied with this knowledge, but he was not. After all, his newly found wishes only had a chance of realization if his power was destroyed once and for all.

Anyway, now, that he was healed again, he at least didn't need to play the patient again. He didn't want to lie to her any further.