Chapter 196

Lewis's POV

Goddess, two days ago I was so worried Dylan wouldn't wake up at all, and now we were both sat in Josh's old office, going through as much paperwork as possible before Dylan goes on live television to address the world. 

I smiled as I watched her. My sight never leaving her, meanwhile her sight never left the pile of papers in front of her. Every now and again she would jot down some notes on a separate pad then her attention would go straight back to Josh's own work. 

"You are absolutely beautiful..." Her head shot to me quickly and a small smile formed on her very kissable lips. I smiled back and made a move to walk over to her, only to be stopped by her finger pointing at me in pretend sternness. 

"Lewis..." she playfully scolded me. "Now, Don't do anything that is going to distract me... I have to get this statement prepared by tomorrow." I walked slowly over to her, and walked behind her, my hands found both her shoulders, and I gently pressed my thumbs into her tense muscles, performing a small massage. My girl sighed, and put her pen down on the desk, before leaning her back onto the chair, and closing her eyes, relaxing into my hands. 

"A little break wouldn't hurt anyone though." I thought she really needed a break. My head leaned over her to kiss her cheek, then down to her jaw, and then to her neck, the opposite side to where my mark rested, she hummed in satisfaction and moved her neck subconsciously to give me more access. 

"There's so much that needs doing Lewis..." Her mouth said one thing, but her body was saying another, as I continued to nibble her neck while massaging her shoulders. 

"It can wait... Dyl, I thought I had lost you for good, and now that you're here, and awake. I just want to..." She sighed, turning her chair around in order to face me square on. Her eyes looking at me with unease, which is something I wasn't expecting to see. 

"It can't wait, Lew..." she admitted. "The whole world is counting on me to make peace of a situation that is almost impossible to combat... I have to somehow find the right words that will bring together two species that both equally hold resentment to the other, I have the moon goddess expecting me to suddenly create political solutions to the mess that she created, and I need to somehow do everything with as little repercussions as possible." 

I just blinked at her, shocked at everything that was going through her mind. I had no idea she was so conflicted about her speech tomorrow. She was a natural at rallying support, so I just assumed she was alright about it. I had been so focussed on her literal death, and having her back with me, that I hadn't given myself any time to worry about her genuine concerns. 

"You, Dylan Riley, have a voice that commands respect without even trying... everything you have ever said or done has always been the exact words that people needed to hear. I understand how much stress you must be feeling, but you've honestly got this, if there's one thing that I am completely sure about, it's you and your abilities." My arms wrapped around her neck so quickly that I think my actions may have taken her by surprise slightly, although, it was only a second before she reciprocated my embrace with her sole arm wrapping around my back. 

"Thank you Lewis." I heard her words float into my head and gasped suddenly pulling her away slightly to look into her eyes. 

'Did you just...' I asked also through mindlink as I anxiously waited for the confirmation that we could now communicate through it. 

'I did... I'm getting better at it too.' Was it because she now wore my mark? Or was it just the moon goddess's gift finally taking full effect. 'I love you Lewis...' my heart stopped in my chest, it wasn't the first time she had told me this, in fact, the first time happened when I had convinced myself that Josh was actually going to succeed in executing me, but this time, I could feel her emotions. I could see how much she meant it, and I wanted her to know, that I fully reciprocated those feelings. 

"And I love you... with everything I am." I finally spoke, placing a meaningful kiss onto her beautiful lips. 

Our tender moment was cut off by a small knock on the office door, I groaned slightly which caused a chuckle to escape her. 

"Well... someone had better be dying..." she joked while I raised my brows at her. Thinking back to the first heated moment we had and how it was interrupted. "Come in..." she called out, still gazing at me with nothing but love in her expression. Something I never thought I would fully see.

The door opened and I was instantly met with the smell of peppermint which is what caused me to look away from Dylan and at the old man now stood in front of us. 

"Ahhh, I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Caius spoke holding multiple files in his grip. 

"Not at all, sir. Please come in." Dylan gestured to the room, indicating that Josh's grandfather had invitation to sit wherever he wished.

"I have those reports that you wanted Lewis." Ahh shit...

I looked at Dylan who frowned while looking at me, clearly wondering what I had asked the man to get for me. I wasn't sure how she would take it. 

"Thank you Caius." I smiled taking the small pile from his wrinkled hands as he too, returned my expression with a smile of his own. 

"If thats all you need, I'll be on my way." He bowed his torso lowly before turning to leave. 

"Sir?" Dylan stopped him, her respect for the man even through him off guard as he turned to regard her seated self. "I'm truly sorry for how things have turned out, I know I never had the chance to speak to you yesterday, but..." 

"Please, don't apologize." His smile held nothing but genuine affection for Dylan. "I am upset by the events that have unfolded, but I was not oblivious to the ill treatment of the humans at my families command. You did what was necessary." I think his reaction to everything even shocked Dylan because she just stood there, at a loss for words. 

“You’re welcome to stay…” She stated suddenly taking both me and Caius by surprise. “Here, in the palace I mean. I’d appreciate your council.” 

“Thank you, but this is no longer my home, and I’ve been told Australia is a very nice retirement place.” I chuckled at the guy, he was always very laid back, I think he’d enjoy the travel. “I’ll take my leave.” He bowed lowly before exiting the room, leaving me and my mate alone once more. 

"So What reports have you asked for?" She looked me in the eyes before glancing at the stack of papers in my hand, while I simply sighed, unsure how she would react to what they were. 

"It's... a few coroner reports." Her eyes widened as she sat up straight in her chair, the cogs in her mind turning so fast I could almost see her eyes twinkling with thoughts. 

"Iliana's?" She ask while I bit my lip and nodded my head. “She wasn’t just your mate, Lewis. She was your friend, it makes sense that you want to review her death again.” 

Oh shit, I hadn’t told her. She don’t know that it wasn’t hunters that had killed her. 

“Josh was the one who actually killed her…” Maybe I shouldn’t have blurted the information out the way I did. “He told me in great detail right before he planned to kill me.” 

“King Josh killed her?!” Dylan’s shock was definitely expected. 

“He used her to trigger me into joining his family’s attack. It got me thinking about other deaths that triggered hatred for the humans.” I could see her eyes studying my face in detail, while her mind began to race with thoughts of her own. 

“Oliver’s parents.” She stated slowly after about a minute of silence. She shocked me actually, I wasn’t aware she even knew about them. I simply nodded my head again while holding up one of the files. 

“Josh was young, but I honestly think his parents could very well have orchestrated their deaths. Oliver is gifted with strength, similar to me and Josh, I think that Josh’s parents had things planned from very early on.” I think they deliberately put me and Oliver in Josh’s path. Josh had to learn his manipulation from somewhere. 

“I think you should go and speak to Oliver first.” She surprised me. “I need to finish this statement anyway, and if you’re right, then the bastard is going to need a genuine friend.” 

“Are you sure you’re ok on your own?” She nodded and smiled. Walking over to me to place a chaste kiss on my lips. “I really do love you, Dylan.” 

“And I love you.” I held her in my arms for a minute, savoring her scent before finally taking the reports and leaving her. 

I made my way through the familiar palace corridors. I knew Oliver would be in his usual bedroom and so I made my way instantly to it, I knocked gently and waited for the reply. 

“Just Come in…” Vees voice wafted to me and I immediately obeyed, entering the room slowly to find Vee cradling her new baby brother in her arms. “Olly just got puked on so he’s in the shower.” She stated nonchalantly as if this had been her life for years and not a mere few days. 

“How’s the little guy doing?” I asked walking over to gently tickle the baby under his chin and getting absolutely no reaction out of him. “He looks like a little alien.” Vee must have seen me frown at the boys lack of emotion, because she chuckled softly. 

“Lewis, baby’s don’t smile or laugh for weeks after they’re born… Do you want to hold him?” Did I? I had never held a baby before, but nodded all the same flingin the files onto the bed. 

I had been a figure in both fights for the throne. I had fought and killed hundreds of people, and yet, my hands shook slightly at the thought of hurting the little bundle of wrinkles as Vee placed him in my arms. 

“He’s so tiny.” I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the boy. “Does he have a name yet?” 

“No… Dad keeps refusing to even acknowledge him, so me and Olly have just been taking turns feeding him, and things.” I can’t even begin to know what Carlos must be feeling. 

“How is Carlos?” Stupid question really, I mean, he had just shifted, killed his mate, found out he was a father, and then got his only daughter back. 

“Hes as good as he can be… He’s gone to the gardens. Said he liked the fresh air.” She stated with a shrug before going back to staring at the baby in my arms. 

“You should name him. He needs a name.” I couldn’t help but see the possibility of Vee and Oliver taking the boy in permanently. They had honestly taken to parenthood so quickly. 

“That’s what I’ve been saying too.” Oliver came out with his torso dripping with water and his wet hair slicked back which instantly turned Vee on. “Is everything ok, Dylan, is she…” 

“No, no, she’s fine, she’s currently in the office. I’ve actually specifically come to speak with you.” I watched him frown, and nod, telling me to continue. “I need to talk about your parents death?!” I stated holding the file out to my friend.