Chapter 19

Kalani grinned as she shook Sasha awake.
“Rise and shine, sleepy head. It’s dinner time. You have been out for hours.”
Sasha blearily looked up at her. “What time is it?”
“It’s 7. Dinner is only on the table for another hour and I am starving so bad I could eat a horse. Besides, Gregory just stopped by to let me know that their business was concluded and that it was safe to show our faces outside of the room now. He asked me if we had eaten. I told him no. He is waiting for us outside the door, so come on.”
“Whose business?”
“Aiden’s and Gregory’s.”
“What business did they have?”
“There was an issue at the school. He dropped me off here with you and left.”
“What school? Does.. does Aiden have a child?”
She tilted her head. “Kind of.”
“What the hell do you mean kind of?”
“It’s not my place to tell you. Let’s go eat and he can explain it to you.”
“I don’t want to go.”
“Aja, come on. I’m starving.”
“No. I’m not-”
The door opened and Gregory stood in the doorway. “King Aiden has requested your presence at dinner. I am not to show my face unless you are with me. So, please do me a favor and come to dinner. Kalani won’t go without you and I know she is hungry.”
“I.. don’t think I should.”
Kalani sat on the bed and took her hand. “What happened, Aja?”
She looked away. “Nothing.”
“Sasha, whatever happened to upset you we can figure it out. Please, just come to dinner.”
“Nothing happened. I am just tired. I think I’m going into heat.”
“What did you just say?,” Gregory asked, shocked.
“Heat? It’s time for my heat cycle. You know.. Girls have periods.”
He met Kalani’s eyes. “Do you go into ‘heat’, too?”
“Four times a year, like I’m supposed to.”
He frowned. “And you Sasha?”
She flushed. “Four times a year.”
His frown deepened. “You guys only have periods four times a year?”
“Yes. Our mom called it heats. I think it’s because Tiffany is a wolf.”
“How often does Tiffany come into heat?”
“Twice a year. As human females, we have more.”
His mouth dropped open. “Do you know how many periods a year humans have?”
The girls exchanged confused looks. “Uhmm.. four?”
“No. Human females have 12 periods. They have one every month.”
“What? Mom said we are only supposed to have 4.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “She lied to you. Let’s go to dinner. I think we need to talk to the clan doctor soon, because that is not normal for a human.”
“Is it for a witch?,” Kalani questioned.
Sasha narrowed her eyes on her. What game was her little sister playing?
“No. Witches also have 12. Just like a human. Come on.”
Sasha grumbled, but got up. She pushed her feet into her sandals before standing up. Gregory led them out of the room towards the dining hall. They turned the corner and her heart started pounding when she saw Aiden standing outside the doors with his arm protectively around a young woman. Sasha eyed the girl curiously. Aiden’s head snapped up and he stared at her. He shifted his body halfway in front of the girl as they approached. Sasha shrugged Kalani’s restraining hand off of her shoulder. They stopped in front of the king and the woman, who was peeking shyly around Aiden’s broad shoulders.
“Sasha-”
She ignored him to step up beside him to offer the woman her hand and a warm smile. “Hi. I’m Sasha.”
The girl beamed and enthusiastically shook her hand, bounding around Aiden. “Hi. I’m Ana. Aiden has told me so much about you.”
“You remind me of Kalani.”
A look of surprise crossed her face. “Can you see me?”
“I can see shadows and shape lines, but I feel your energy.”
She let out a relieved sigh. “I thought you were going to rip my throat out,” she admitted nervously.
“Why would you think that?”
She glanced at Aiden. “My brother said you don’t like other women around him.”
Sasha laughed. “Your energy is innocent. I know you are not a threat. I mean…” She flushed. “I am not possessive.”
Kalani snorted. “You are definitely possessive.”
Sasha cleared her throat. “How old are you?”
“19.”
“Are you still in school?,” she asked as the events of the day clicked into place.
She grinned. “I’m a freshman in college.”
Sasha let out a relieved breath. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I heard there was a problem at the school,” she said, fishing for information.
“Emile caused a scene, because someone tried to hit on me,” she replied, blushing. “I keep trying to tell him it’s okay for people to hit on me. I am not interested and I would never date them. He gets so jealous.” She grinned. “Just like you.”
“Why is he like that?”
She glanced shyly at Aiden. “He doesn’t want my brother to know that we are mates. Aiden is very scary to some people.”
“YOU’RE WHAT?! WITH WHO?!”
She rolled her eyes. “Reel it in. You’re killing Greg.”
Sasha glanced over her shoulder to see Greg trembling and sweating profusely. Kalani frowned at Aiden.
“ANSWER ME, ANA!”
She looked at Sasha, begging for help. Sasha moved closer to the king and placed her hand on his arm. Aiden’s attention immediately shifted to her.
“Aiden, can we talk privately?,” she murmured.
He blinked in surprise. “Yeah, sure.”
He took her hand and began to lead her down the hallway towards his office.
“Gregory, have the cooks bring me dinner for two in my office,” he called over his shoulder.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He deposited her in the blue leather office chair in front of his desk, before sitting on the dark mahogany piece of furniture.
“What’s wrong?,” he asked, concerned. “Who bothered you?”
She recoiled a little. “What makes you think something is wrong?”
“I don’t know. I never know what is up with you. I hope nothing is wrong, but I am still trying to figure you out.”
She reached into her bra and Aiden’s eyes followed her hand. She grabbed her key and held it out shyly to him.
“I.. I’m sorry for earlier.”
“Why?,” he inquired, refusing to take the key.
“I.. uhmmm.. I-”
She stopped talking when someone knocked on the door. He took her key and folded his arms over his chest.
“Enter!”
Three people hurried in and quickly set up a table with half a dozen platters on it. They set down two sets of silverware and a few plates and bowls.
“Your Highness, do you want us to serve plates?”
“No, we will take care of it. You are excused.”
They bowed to him before leaving. He listened intently until they were gone, before he let his arms drop.
“Why?”
She looked away. “I upset you….”
He raised an eyebrow. “Did you?”
“I thought I did.”
He took her hand and pulled her up his body. She fell onto his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist. He buried his face in her neck and inhaled deeply.
“Trust me, you didn’t upset me.”
“Then why did you run out on me without saying anything?”
He put his cheek on the top of her head. “Baby, Ana linked me hysterically. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I was trying to get to her. I am all she has since our parents are gone now.” He moved his cheek over her hair. “I thought about you every minute I was away from you.”
“Did you?”
He chuckled. “Of course I did. The way you felt under my hands and the way you smelled when you..” He broke off to let out an aroused growl. “I was enjoying holding you. What were you going to say before I left?”
She snuggled into his chest as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Can we talk about it later? I really just want to be close to you right now.”
His heart pounded against her cheek. “Of course. Are you hungry?”
“No. I just want to stay like this.”
“I don’t know if I can wait for 48 more hours.”
“What happens in 48 hours?”
“You become mine and I can keep you by my side.”
She smiled into his chest. “48 hours, hmmm? That does seem like a long time.”
“Yes, but I would really like it if you spent the night with me.”
She pulled back to look up at him. “Where would we sleep that we wouldn’t be seen?”
He pointed at the couch across the room. “There.”
She played with his shirt as she thought about it. She wanted to, but would her heart survive her feelings growing deeper? Would she shatter when she took his life or would she be strong enough to use his lust for her to get close enough to fulfill her promise? She chewed on her lip.
“Okay.”