Chapter 42

Aiden
He sat at the table directly across from King Lukas, watching him twirl noodles around his fork. The last two days had been nothing, but being shown around the castle and the kingdom. King Lukas, like Aiden, had recently ascended the throne. But unlike Aiden, his father was still hanging on by a thread that was likely to snap anyday. He studied the man again. He was a little younger than Sasha, but older than Kalani, perfectly set in the middle of them. His heart ached to be back at his kingdom with his mate. According to Gregory, she was getting worse. She still had not eaten and she spent her days sleeping. Kal was insanely worried and had been lashing out at everyone. All she wanted to do was lie beside Sasha and comfort her. She thought her sister was dying and frankly so did he.
“Aiden?”
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Lukas.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Lukas. You may call me Lukas,” he repeated, his green eyes sparkled with amusement. “What’s her name?”
“Who?”
“The girl that has you distracted.”
Aiden sighed and put down his silverware. Maybe he could broach the reason for his visit by talking about her. He wanted to get this handled as soon as possible and go home to her. He didn’t like the way he left and Mikhail had been anxious this whole time. He was worried for Irina as much as he was worried about Sasha. Speaking of Irina, now he knew where her aura came from. She was so strong and determined. He could only hope that Irina would keep her alive until he could get back to her.
“Aiden?”
He snapped back to the present again. “I do apologize, Lukas. Her name is Sasha.”
“Tell me about her,” he ordered, eagerly.
“She came to the Dragão Clan around three and a half weeks ago as a breeder.”
Lukas’s eyes widened and he sat forward. “Has she been bred yet?”
“No!,” Aiden growled. “She was attacked by someone, though.”
“Who?”
Aiden cleared his throat. “By my soon to be ex beta.”
He tilted his head. “He has not been punished?”
Aiden tugged at his collar. “She doesn’t know that I know that it was him. She put him in a coma. He’s been in one since he attacked her.”
“And you have not punished her?”
Aiden narrowed his eyes. “She would not be punished even if she had killed him,” he snapped.
“Why is that?”
“Because my mate will be queen. My queen and their queen. She is the reason the breeding program was changed. She is the reason my people are now permitted to mate for life with humans. My council and I are working to create better bonds with the human villages around us in the hopes that more of our people find their mates.”
“You love her?”
“I do.” He chuckled. “Mikhail is always fighting with me over her. He without a doubt would take her over me.”
He took a bite of pasta. “So, do you miss her?”
“More than I can say,” he admitted.
He chewed thoughtfully. “What does she look like?”
“Her and her sister both have the prettiest red hair. It holds so many shades of red that it almost looks like a fire.” Aiden eyed him. “Almost like yours, except theirs have traces of gold. They both have green eyes. Hers are like emeralds glittering in the sun. Her sister’s eyes are the color of young evergreens. They are both fair skinned. Sasha has a few freckles across her nose and cheekbones and her sister has none.”
“So, she has a sister?”
“Yes, she does.”
“Tell me about them. What do they like to do?”
“Sasha is 19. She loves to read, cook, take care of people and is so fierce that she would make any warrior drool. Her sister is a nurturer. She tends to my gardens, helps as many as she can and is always quick to protect what is hers. She has fought me several times over being stupid with Sasha.”
“Did you know she was your mate before she came?”
“Yes. I saw her picture and I knew that she was mine.”
“So, why the lottery then? Why not go straight for her?”
Aiden sighed, pushing his food around on his plate. “Because there were laws that I had to figure out how to get around and the lottery was a mistake. Trust me, I know, but now everyone that matters is where they are supposed to be.”
“Are you mad I had you come out here to meet with me?”
“May I be frank, Sire?”
Lukas waved his hand. “Please, do. I may be the king of kings, but you seem to have a better handle on your kingdom than I have on all of mine.”
“I am, yes. Her health has not been good the last week, but I know that I have to answer when you call. I know that even though I do not wish to, I have to handle kingdom business. When my father died, he left me a mess to deal with. I was selfish when I changed the laws, because I wanted Sasha. In all reality it was not needed, because she is not human.”
“What is she?”
“We don’t know. We are trying to find her father.”
“What do you know about him?”
“Supposedly his initials are L.S. and I know he is powerful. Her aura and her sister’s are off the charts. She was using it before she knew what it was.”
“Out of curiosity, how old are they?”
“She is 19 and her sister is 17.”
‘Aid, you need to come home! NOW!,’ Gregory yelled, panicking through their link.
He immediately jumped up and threw his napkin down. Lukas eyed him.
“Is everything okay?”
“No!,” he called over his shoulder as he walked out.
Lukas hurried behind him. “What is her sister’s name?”
Mikhail let his wings come out. He took a running start and leapt into the sky, knowing he would be severely punished for treating King Lukas like this.
“WHAT IS HER NAME?,” he yelled from below him.
Aiden cursed softly. He turned back and quickly flew back to hover twenty feet above him. The door opened behind Lukas and a frail man stepped out, leaning against the door frame.
“Her name is Kalani,” he answered King Lukas, before looking up at Aiden. “Go home to her, son. We will be right behind you.”
Aiden gave him a curt nod and took off again rushing as fast as he could back to his castle. He had to get back to her. He knew something was happening. He just prayed that he wasn’t too late. Gregory had never ordered him around before. Mikhail didn’t feel anything like how he thought he would. He was excited and it got stronger the closer they got to their home. The air was thick and small bursts of power started rolling over him when he got within 5 miles of the castle. Tingles started in his stomach and he breathed in. The aroma of blood and peaches mixed with a stronger mint scent filled his nose.
“Sasha,” he whispered.
He urged Mikhail faster. ‘She needs us. Go.’
‘Irina will keep her safe until we get there. It’s happening. Oh, Goddess, it’s happening.’
‘What’s happening?,’ Aiden asked, confused.
‘I don’t know, but Irina seemed confident that we would be pleased.’ Mikhail paused. ‘Just don’t mess this up for us, human.’
Aiden growled. ‘Our mate is dying and you are worried about me picking a fight!’
‘I don’t think she’s dying.’
Aiden growled. ‘Gregory said-’
‘I’m aware of what Gregory said, but I think he is wrong.’
‘I hope you’re right because we need her. I love her.’
He landed on the ground in a dead run, hurrying towards his wing. He didn’t even bother with the doors, choosing to incinerate them seconds before he reached them, racing through the fire on his rush to her. His wings came out to carry him up the stairs faster than him leaping them would have, only to be reabsorbed into his body at the top of the stairs. Kalani and Gregory stood at the top of the fourth staircase, guarding the entrance to his area. Kalani rushed over to him, tears streaming down her face. She gripped his shirt to pull him to his room.
“You have to help her. There was so much blood. She kicked us out. Please,” she begged.
Fuck! It must be terrible if Sasha had kicked Kalani out. She slammed into a barrier while Aiden himself passed through. He kept moving as Gregory picked Kalani up to rock her while she sobbed. He incinerated his door and stepped inside. Pools of blood lay all around the room, but she was nowhere to be seen. He sniffed the air, looking for her. Her scent came from the balcony and he sprinted towards it, following the trail of blood.
‘Please, let her be okay,’ he begged the Goddess.
He drew to a stop when he saw her huddled in a corner of the balcony. He slowed and put his hand out.
“Sasha? Baby? Are you okay?”
She looked up at him with sad eyes. “Please, don’t hate me.”