Chapter 38

Sasha
She entered the dining room with her arm around Ana and Kalani walking on her other side. They had painstakingly dressed the princess for dinner. She had told them that she wanted to finally mate with Emile, but she wasn’t sure how to let him know. They had tried to convince her to just tell him. She had become very shy and tongue tied even thinking about walking up to him to tell him her deepest desires. The black, shimmering mid thigh strapless dress she wore made her velvet mahogany hair with deep cherry red strands mixed in and plum colored eyes pop. The glittery evening make-up made her already perfect face more flawless. The winged smokey eye and scarlet lipstick would hopefully drive him wild. The gold sandal’s ties wrapped all the way up her calves to tie behind her knees. Nestled at the base of her throat was a thin gold chain holding her name, Ana, that was purchased by Emile himself.
In her ears were dangling gold earrings with diamonds glinting in the light. Her hair had been pinned on the top of her head, leaving her long neck fully exposed, minus the few strands of her hair that had been purposely left loose to give her slicked back hair an organized messy look. Ana nervously tugged at the top of the dress which drew every man’s eyes to her curvaceousness. A growl echoed around the room and she froze. Sasha let her go and eased back a little to let her be the only one in his sight, not that she thought he had eyes for anybody, but Ana. Emile was staring at her and the air almost heated at the intensity in his eyes as they moved over her body. Sasha stepped away from her fully and Kalani fell back, too.
“Remember what we told you. Saunter and bat your eyelashes. Confidence is key,” Sasha murmured silently. Aiden stood up as she neared the table. His anger was easily picked up on. He leaned forward.
“Whatever this is, absolutely not!,” he snapped.
“Aiden-”
“I SAID NO, ANA!”
Sasha leaned her hip against the table with her arms folded across her chest. “And I told her it was okay.”
“Sasha, she is fucking 19 for Goddess sake.”
Sasha smirked and raised her eyebrow. “I’m 19, too, or did you forget? Besides, we aren’t innocent, so why does she have to be?”
He recoiled a little and turned red. “I know I won’t hurt you,” he muttered.
Sasha tilted her head. “I didn’t just paint her up like a harlot without teaching her how to control how far she goes. She is prepared to whoop his ass if he gets out of line. Trust her to know what she wants.” She paused as she leaned towards him to kiss him. “You trusted me.”
He sighed and gently wrapped his hand around her throat, sliding his fingers up through her hair.
“You and your sister, my dear, are very bad influences on the princess.”
Sasha giggled. “Just wait until we have kids.”
His mouth fell open. “Are we having kids?”
She pushed his mouth shut. “Well, I came as a breeder. It would only make sense for your breeder queen to produce your heirs.”
His eyes flashed black as Mikhail surfaced. “You are more than a breeder,” he ground out, angrily.
She smiled and licked the tip of his nose. “I know, but it will be an interesting story to tell our grandchildren… let me tell you how I met your granny.”
Sasha discreetly poked Ana in the side as Aiden’s attention was focused intently on her. She walked her fingers up his chest igniting little flickers of ecstasy along both of their bodies. She watched Ana slowly move around the table, bowed at the waist a little to whisper in Emile’s ear and his eyes widened. He nodded and the movement drew Aiden’s attention. Sasha put her arm around his neck and kissed him passionately. He groaned and pulled her across the table. Emile stood up and Sasha made Aiden bend more in the hopes the two could sneak out without being seen. When Kalani sat next to Gregory and gave her a little thumbs up, Sasha pulled away, leaving Aiden breathless. She took her seat next to him and when he sat, she leaned her head against his shoulder. He took her hand and kissed it.
“How was your day, Your highness?,” she asked.
“It was frustrating without you by my side.”
She squeezed his fingers. “Soon, my love.”
“It better be.”
Sasha pulled away from him when the servants began to serve platters. A bowl was set in front of her and she leaned down to smell the aromatic stew. A bowl was set in front of Aiden who immediately picked up his spoon to eat. Sasha inhaled again and her hand shot out to grip his wrist. The stew on his spoon spilled over and ended up on the table. He glared at her.
“What are you doing?”
She leaned over to his bowl and sniffed. She growled and her eyes moved to the man who had given him his bowl that was in the process of setting a bowl in front of Gregory. She pushed her chair back, stopping him in his tracks.
“Thomas, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am. How can I be of service?”
“Who made the king’s food?”
“The cook’s, ma’am.”
“Who tampered with it?”
“I am not sure what you mean.”
“What’s the cook’s name that handled his food?”
“Erica, ma’am.”
She stood up and glared at him. “Sire, can you have Erica come out. I would like to speak to her.”
Less than a minute later, a frazzled elderly woman came running up. Sasha kept her eyes on Thomas as she addressed the frightened woman behind her.
“What did you put in His Royal Highness’ food, Erica?”
“N- nothing, ma’am.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Take a bite,” she ordered as she turned to watch the woman.
She lifted a spoon, dipped it and began to raise it to her mouth.
“Stop! You may go.”
She hurried away as Sasha studied Thomas again.
“Carla!,” she called over her shoulder.
Carla came slowly over. “Yes, Sasha?”
“At the rechoosing ceremony, you two seemed really happy to be paired together. Why is that?”
“Because he is my mate.”
“Good.” She pointed at Thomas. “Don’t move.”
She picked up the bowl and a spoon, before carrying it around the table to Carla.
“Gregory, if she doesn’t obey or drops the bowl, slit Thomas’ throat.”
“Yes, my queen.”
He moved behind the cowering man as Sasha pushed the bowl into Carla’s hands.
“Eat it. All of it. I want you to even lick the bowl.”
Carla shifted her weight. “Do I have to?”
“Yes,” Sasha answered, sitting on the edge of the table. “If you don’t, your mate will be put to death. Right here, right now.”
Carla sighed and began to eat. When the contents were gone, she pursed her lips.
“May I be excused?”
Sasha smiled coldly. “No. You will stand here until I am satisfied that your mate did not put something in my mate’s food.”
She walked back around the table and gave Aiden her bowl after checking it again. She leaned back in her chair to watch Carla. She smiled over her shoulder at Gregory.
“I do apologize for interrupting your dinner. If the king’s food was tampered with, I want him taken to the dungeons.”
“Yes, Your highness.”
Aiden lifted the spoon to her lips and she took the bite off of it. Within five minutes, Carla began to wobble. 15 minutes later, she dropped to the floor unconscious. She smirked over her shoulder at Thomas as she stood up. She walked over to Carla and knelt beside her as Thomas collapsed. She pressed her fingers into her throat.
“Oh, would you look at that? She’s dead.” She met Gregory’s eyes. “Lock him up and tell the cooks that if this happens again, everybody that handled his food will die by my hand.”
He gave a small bow. “As you wish, my queen.”
He dragged Thomas out of the room. Sasha stood up and met Tiffany’s eyes.
“Anybody that I find that is trying to harm the king, I will kill.” She glanced over at the council still seated beside the king. “You should make sure that everyone knows that. I will not allow the king to be hurt.” She clapped her hands together. “Now, to clean up. Where are your dead kept?”
“In the coolers in the basement. I can have someone come remove her body.”
Kalani stood up. “No! If you would allow me to assign someone to take the body down, I have someone in mind.”
Aiden’s eyes ping ponged curiously back and forth between the two women.
“Sure. Whoever you want.”
“Tiffany, if you would be so kind. I know she was your best friend. You may have the honors.”
Tiffany growled and Sasha stepped in front of Kalani. “You heard her. Take her to the cooler. Gregory will take you when he gets back.”
Tiffany glared at her and Sasha took the deepest pleasure in it as she sat on Aiden’s lap. He shared his food with her, spooning a bite of food into her mouth after every bite he took. When Gregory came back, Tiffany hoisted Carla’s deceased body over her shoulder and followed him out of the room. Sasha kissed Aiden softly.
“Please, don’t eat anything until I check it. This was too close for comfort.”
He kissed her forehead. “You need to tell me what is going on soon.”
She touched his cheek with the back of her hand. “I know.”