Chapter 68-

Ayla:
I stand in front of the mirror and barely recognize the person l see. She is beautiful, dressed in a dark blue gown that shimmers when the light hits the intricate beadwork that covers it. She stands tall and proud, her face is painted with her long, dark hair woven into lovely braids and a silver crown on top of her head. I will be her today, I have to be. I have been happy to blend in and go unnoticed but for this to work I need to put the shy, awkward girl away and be a queen. My king, Darius, Irvin and the woman who has been my dearest friend need me. Darius should be here any minute so that we can make our way to the camp, I take these last few moments alone to pray to the goddess, to ask her for courage to play my role.
I feel him before I see him enter my room, the hairs on my arms stand at attention and my heart starts racing. I close my eyes tight willing him to leave me alone, his heady scent fills my nose and the worry that feels like it might crush me eases. Instead of leaving me alone like I hoped I feel his shadow cover me and his breath skate across my neck. Every part of me wants to submit and offer him my neck, but I can’t, not now when Oriel needs me to be strong. My eyes fly open when Apollo’s wet tongue runs from my shoulder all the way up to my ear where he whispers darkly. “Are you trying to drive me mad? Letting my sister’s lover hold you, comfort you, and now pretend to have something he could never possess. Something that belongs only to me. Don’t tell me you haven’t figured it out yet. You are mine.” I gasp when he rakes his sharp teeth across my sensitive skin. “Play all you want today, do what is necessary to save my sister, but remember who you really belong to.” All the built-up rage and anxiety boils over and I quickly turn slapping him across the face. I’m almost as shocked as he is when I see the blood that drips down from where my nails scratched him. I can’t believe I did that; I can’t remember the last time I hit anyone. I hate violence and have always let Oriel, or my uncle fight my battles for me but there is something about the angry beautiful man in front of me that stirs something long forgotten inside of me. “Ahhh my little kitten has claws after all.” Apollo smirks at me wiping the blood from his face before putting the bloody finger into my mouth. Blood has always been a normal part of my diet, something to keep me strong, almost an inconvenience but the flavor that bursts on my tongue makes me ravenous. I feel just those small drops coursing though my body, making me desperate for more. An uncontrollable moan leaves my mouth, and my fangs elongate. Apollo leans in close so that his mouth ghosts over mine. “Good luck today little pretender, don’t forget who you really belong to.” Before I can say anything back to the smug asshole my uncle Rowen and Darius enter the room making Apollo turn quickly and leave, but not before growling low as he passes Darius.
“What’s the matter sweetheart, are you okay? You look flushed if this is too much, we can figure something else out.” I quickly straighten my spine. “No uncle Rowen I can do this, I promise.” He hugs me tight to his chest; I can see how anxious he is, and it makes me that much more determined. “You look beautiful Ayla; I know you and Darius will do great. Just know you are precious to me too, both of you.” Darius and I both smile warmly at our distressed king. “Time to go Ayla.” He says after kissing my uncle. “I’m ready.”
Darius:
The plan has been set and everyone is in place. I steel myself for the task ahead, I will do anything to save Oriel even pretend to side with the father I hate. I will kill him, today he will finally pay for his crimes. I look at Ayla and smile she has come so far from the little girl who came to the castle afraid of her own shadow. “Are you ready darling?” I chuckle when her face heats. “Remember we are supposed to be lovers.” I grab her hand as the carriage nears the camp. “I’m ready.” Her small but confident voice rings out. “Let’s bring our queen home.”
I’m not surprised when weapons are drawn on us as we step out of the carriage. “Stop! State your business.” I squeeze down on Ayla’s shaking hand. If things get out of control, I know we have the wolves hidden in the forest and Rowen is not far with his men, having them near gives me the confidence to move forward. “I demand an audience with Lord Hoffer; my father.” “Who are you other than the king’s whore to request an audience with our lord?” “I am his lordships eldest son, and this is my wife princess Ayla Dunkan. Now I won’t ask again, take me to my father.” One of the guards leaves us and goes into the camp I assume to tell my father I am here because he quickly returns and ushers us in through the gate and to a large red tent in the middle of the camp. I squeeze Ayla’s hand again as we pass by my chained mate. My blood boils when I see how they have treated their queen, every nobleman who has plotted with my father will be killed for their treacherous actions. They have hung a sign over where they chained her hands to the tree that reads. “All hail the dog queen.” I let my eyes meet her beautiful, mismatched ones for only a second but it’s enough to see her small smirk. That’s it my love keep that fire burning just a little bit longer. I am impressed when Ayla holds her head high and doesn’t even allow herself to look in Oriel’s direction. The only way this will work is if we convince them we are on their side. When we enter the tent, I smile bright at my father who sits surrounded by his little group of noble puppets and unfortunately my younger brother. I have always wanted to be close to him but as I defied my father Liam only grew closer to him, sharing in his delusions of taking the throne for the glory of our family, such nonsense. “Dad it’s been a long time, please meet my wife Princess Ayla Dunkan and our future queen…”
Oriel:
The rage has been burning through my body all day. They think they can break me by chaining me up and calling me names, how foolish. They clearly don’t know who they are dealing with or what my mates are capable of. One or more of them must be close because I keep feeling them though the bond, I know they are coming for me. I can’t wait to see Lord Hoffer’s flesh pulled apart by the eager beaks of birds who fill their bellies with the dead. The cold wind whips at my tired, sore body but I let my need for revenge heat and comfort me. They will be here soon I can feel it, not much longer Lord Hoffer. There is a commotion in the main tent where the rats plot, and not long after that I see him, my gentle longsuffering mate. I hold my head high and hide my joy with a little smirk. To get in he must have something up his sleeve, I am surprised to see Ayla holding onto Darius and standing tall. She is stunning, beyond stunning I offer a quick prayer to the goddess to protect them and for justice to prevail.
Ayla:
It takes some time and I see Darius’s father’s hesitation, but the clear excitement from the nobles and the throne easily in his grasp brings him to our side. I felt the men’s greedy gaze on me when they figure out who I am and what blood runs through my veins. When they see me, they see power and opportunity to use the throne for their own profit, they think if they help us take what belongs to my uncle and Oriel that we will bring them in as our counsel and abolish the new laws put into place by Rowen. We weave our tale of the jilted lover and power-hungry heir to the throne and suck them right in. A few times I feel the anxiety of the lie threaten to crush me but knowing Oriel is out there chained up and abused keeps me strong. I will get her out. I walk around the tent as Darius lays out our idea to attack Rowen head on and rush him before he gets a chance to try and negotiate. Darius has made promises to ride out first and kill Rowen, making the point that once he’s gone it will be easier to overwhelm his forces when they are scrambling without their leader. As I walk my eyes search the tent for the item I need to free my friend. Liam’s angry eyes follow my every step, he has not shared in the joy of our vicious plan like the others. His anger at the loss of his chance at the crown is apparent and his hate for his older brother is not well hidden. It makes me sad to see two men made into enemies by their own father.
Just when I think the key must be in hidden in someone’s pocket a gust of wind hits the tent. That burst of cold air moved the corner of the map that is hung in front of where I stand for just a moment, but that small moment was enough to show me the silver key hanging behind it. I stuff the smile that wants to break free down, I don’t want Liam’s ever watchful gaze to destroy our plan before we get to play the rest of it out. I take my place by Darius’s side when the howling of war fills the air, and the sound of the warning bell blares. I swear I can hear Oriel laugh as soldiers scramble around the camp. Darius looks at his father. “The wolves must have shown up early, quickly we must defend the walls.” The nobles quickly move out of the tent to gather their men, I nod to Darius letting him know I have located the key. “I will go out with my father and brother; you will be safe in here my darling.” I look him in the eye and smile. “Go do what needs to be done.” Finally, I am alone I move quickly to the map, snatching the key from its hiding place. Just as I am about to leave the tent to free Oriel, Liam pushes inside and backs me up into the table. “What is that in your hand little princess? You think I’m just going to stand aside and let you and my brother scheme to take my place? Let’s see how the nobles like you now that I have caught you trying to free the dog.” Fear rises up in me, the thought of failing Oriel, of possibly being tortured by these men when they find out what I have done has my feet moving towards Liam. “I’m sorry…” I whisper as I slam the key into the side of his neck, when I pull it back out blood sprays everywhere and he drops to his knees before me. I step over his body, the beautiful dress I put on today is ruined and covered in blood. I run outside to where Oriel is chained and drop to my knees behind her. “I have it, I have the key, everything is going to be okay. We need to get you to Rowen.” Oriel’s feet have been successfully freed and I work frantically on her hands but it’s hard to fit the key into the lock above my head when my hands are slippery and won’t stop shaking. “It’s okay Ayla. You did good so good.” We both freeze when Lord Hoffer steps out of the tent with a dagger in his hand and quickly moves towards us. He must have seen Liam’s body when he was inside. Stupid…stupid…I messed this all up. “Drop that fucking key or I will cut your head right off of your body.” I am terrified but I can’t stop, not now. Where is Darius? What happened? Whose blood is on his dagger?