After Remeta ran away, Danika couldn't help stealing glances at the king. There was so much pain in his eyes, it made her heart burn.
Why would he hurt his way? Oh, what did Remeta say to trigger a look like this on his face?
She didn't know when her arm rose on it's own accord to rub soothingly on his back. She didn't know where the courage came from, but she found herself patting him.
King Lucien was deep into his head before he felt the soothing caresses on his back. Remeta had spoke about babies, and it had triggered painful memories.
Memories of when the healers and medicine men of the kingdom told him one after another, that he can't father a child.
Memories of the first year after slavery when he had desperately tried to prove them wrong, bedding so many women of the kingdom who had been all too happy to graze his bed.