Page 160 of King Alejandro

“I don’t want to go outside,” she said, staring down at her lap.

“Why not?” I asked softly. She shook her head, refusing to speak. I stood up and sat next to her on the bed, putting my arm around her.

“So where did you get this teddy from? I’m sure I haven’t seen it before.” I tried to make conversation.

“Raihana ordered it online for me,” she said, brushing her hand over its fur gently.

“Tell me, what’s your teddy bear’s name?” She remained quiet.

“Shall I name it? Hmm, what is a good name for a teddy bear as cute as this one? Hmm, hmm…”

I looked around. Maria had told me Kat usually preferred to play with her array of pastel-coloured teddies and unicorns. In comparison, this one was a rather interesting and different choice. A quick scan of her bed and the room told me it was far different. Skyla’s toys were obvious from her action figures, Disney villain collection, and superhero dolls. Then, there was Kataleya’s pile of pretty and fluffy teddies. Her porcelain and baby dolls were a stark contrast to the teddy in her hand.

“What about Coco?” I suggested, looking at its dark brown fur. She shook her head, tightening her hold on it before she moved it and looked down at its face. “No? Okay, what about Brownie?”

“No, his name is Kiké,” she said quietly. With sudden realisation, I stared down at the teddy. Hazel eyes and brown fur. Kiké – Enrique…

Goddess, she had named it after him.

I fought back the surge of tears that threatened to spill and scooped her into my arms, hugging her tightly.

“Oh, baby… I love the name,” I complimented her lightly, rocking her gently. “He is so cute.”

“He is,” she whispered, hugging it tightly.

I wished I could turn back time and make all her pain go away, make Enrique’s pain go away. I wished I could protect every child on this earth…

“Shall I tell you a story, Kat?” I asked gently, looking down at the top of her head, a head of hair that was the exact same shade as mine. She nodded. I rested my chin on top of her head and gazed out of the window.

“Once upon a time, there was a little boy. He was brave, compassionate, and caring. But then… he was treated horribly until he became cold and angry, but that was only because he was hurting inside. Then, a little princess was kidnapped and kept locked away, and even though he knew he shouldn’t, he still took care of her, but in the process, he was punished severely.” Her little heart thumped, and I stroked her back as I rocked her gently. “He lost something special, but it wasn’t the princess’ fault. It was the monster’s fault. The very same one who was keeping the princess captive. But you know when the princess and the little boy were saved? He became angry and would say hurtful things to the princess, and she took it to heart.” I felt something wet spill onto my arm and hugged her tightly as I continued, letting her cry quietly.

“And even when the time came for the little boy to leave, he refused to listen to the princess… leaving her little heart broken. But fear not, that isn’t the end of the story,” I said softly, placing another kiss on her head.

“It isn’t?” She asked quietly.

“No, because that little princess grew up into a strong, pure-hearted woman, and that little boy grew up into a strong yet cold-hearted knight. They would meet again, and that little princess and the little boy would have their own journey to heal their hearts.” I frowned, confusion rippling through me. I didn’t know why I had said those words, but they felt so… real. Almost as if I was certain of them. Kataleya looked up at me, hope lighting up her small face.

“They will?”

“Yes,” I promised. A small smile crossed my face. I was certain that one day Enrique Escarra and Kataleya Rossi would cross paths again. A glimmer of hope washed across her face. She looked out of the window and nodded.

“Then… I will work on being a strong woman, someone who can help others… not someone who always needs help,” she said quietly. I smiled and nodded.

“Yes, always remember you are so much more than you think,” I said softly. She nodded, and a small smile crossed her lips. She turned her gaze to the teddy.

“We will meet again, right, Mama?” She asked again as if she needed that certainty.

I nodded, not only because of that feeling I had but because I would make sure they did. One day, I would let Kat go and find him. She didn’t get the closure she needed, so all I could do was give her some hope until that day came.

A short while later, Kataleya agreed to go and play with the others. I fixed the bedding and decided I would go and try to bake some brownies or something to keep myself busy. I left the girls’ room and was about to go down the stairs when I suddenly looked down the hall. It was currently empty, as the guards were only stationed here during the night in case Dante needed something or if something happened. I walked to my room and, entering it, headed straight to the closet. I frowned as I realised I had no idea what I was doing there.

Fear suddenly rushed through me the moment I grabbed one of the daggers at the back of my wardrobe, daggers that I saw every day yet didn’t think anything of. I tried to pull back, but my hands seemed to have a mind of their own. My chest was pounding as I slid the dagger from its leather sheath.

No. What was I doing?

I moved away from the drawer, closing it slowly, the panic within me growing

Alejandro! I needed to tell Alejandro.