All Chapters of The Knight's Claimed Bride : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Rebecca's POV I woke slowly, the world hazy, half convinced I was still in the carriage. The gentle sway was gone, replaced by a quiet stillness that made my eyes widen. Sunlight spilled in through the tall windows, painting the room in soft gold. The bed beneath me was vast and unfamiliar, the linens fine, warm, and impossibly smooth. My eyes flicked down to the soft folds of fabric tangled around me—the wedding gown still clinging awkwardly, stiff from yesterday’s exhaustion. “Ah, there you are. Finally awake.” I turned my head toward the doorway and saw Maeryn, her apron dusted with flour, a gentle smile warming her sharp eyes. “I was starting to think the Commander slipped a sleeping draught into your wine,” She said, crossing the room. “But then again, it was a long day. And the palace isn’t exactly a place for resting hearts.” Her voice was brisk but warm, the kind that made you want to behave and soften at the same time. I pushed myself up, still hazy. “I didn’t mean to

Rebecca's POV “You… love me?” I whispered, barely trusting the sound of it. Gideon’s eyes closed, like the words hurt him to hear out loud. When he opened them again, they were softer—unarmored. “I do,” He said quietly. “Gods, Rebecca. I’ve loved you longer than I have any right to.” Every thought I’d clung to—every reason to keep my distance—crumbled like ash. Gideon lifted a hand, slow and careful, brushing a stray lock of hair away from my cheek. His fingers lingered, tracing the line of my jaw as if memorizing it. Then he leaned forward until his forehead touched mine. “Gideon,” I whispered. “You don’t have to say anything,” Gideon said softly. “Just… please. Don’t run from me right now.” “Why now?” I whispered again, my throat tight, my hands trembling slightly as I tried to keep them in my lap. “Why tell me this now?” Gideon didn’t answer right away. He stayed still, his forehead still resting against mine, his breath warm against my skin. For a heartbeat, I thought he m

Rebecca’s POV The blade flashed—too close. I barely had time to raise my arm before a blur of motion cut between us. Steel met steel with a sharp, echoing crack that split the alley’s air in two. The man who’d lunged at me stumbled back, his sword knocked clean from his grip. And there—standing between me and the danger was Gideon. He didn’t say a word, didn’t even look at me. Just reached out, caught the next attacker’s wrist, and twisted—controlled, precise, effortless. The man went sprawling, his weapon clattering against the cobblestones. I fell backward from the force of the movement, landing hard against the cold ground. My scarf slipped, fluttering away like a breath I couldn’t catch. And when I looked up, Gideon's jaw was tight, eyes dark as stormwater. Every motion was calculated, deliberate—an anger so quiet it burned colder than fire. The men tried to run. Gideon didn’t let them. He moved like the Knight Commander everyone feared—striking low, turning their momentum

Rebecca’s POV Morning had come, spilling itself across the realm. I could feel it, pressing quietly, unrelenting, like it had its own plans for me. I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands wrapped around a cup of tea I hadn’t touched, staring at my finger—the one Gideon had tended days ago. Maddie leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, her brow furrowed but her eyes soft with that relentless worry she always carried for me. “I respect your decision,” She said carefully, as if testing the water. “Divorce. I get it, Becca. I really do. But… you and Gideon just got married. Days ago. And now…” She shook her head, biting the inside of her cheek. “You want him out of your life already?” I didn’t answer immediately. I just stared at her, letting the bitter taste in my mouth linger. “I said what I said,” I muttered. “I can’t… I can’t be part of that palace anymore, Maddie.” Maddie sighed, stepping closer. “You know why he married you. You know—he did it to save you from the Queen. From…

Rebecca's POV By the time I reached the stables, the rain had turned into a steady downpour, soaking through my cloak and clinging to my skin. Pale light was just beginning to creep over the horizon, the kind that makes everything look half-awake. A few minutes ago, we’d said our goodbyes—Maddie trying not to cry, Karl lingering at her side, warning me to be careful. And I had promised them I would. Two horses waited, saddled and restless, their breath misting in the cold morning air. One for me; the other, clearly, for Gideon. Gideon’s presence appeared before I even glanced at him. He said nothing. He simply stood there, broad shoulders beneath his soaked cloak, eyes sweeping over the sky, the horses, and the horizon. I swung onto my horse silently, trying to keep my distance. Gideon mounted his own steed beside mine, as composed and commanding as ever. The horse’s hooves hit the wet ground with soft claps. Rain slicked roads stretched ahead, mist curling over the fields like