Chapter 53

Chapter 53
Sasha
She leaned against Aiden’s chest as they waited for Gregory, who had gone to retrieve Lukas and their father. Kalani stumbled over and sat in Aiden’s lap. Sasha growled and Kalani giggled, nuzzling into his neck.
“Kalani, you are pushing your luck!,” Sasha hissed.
Kalani looked up at her from under her eyelashes, before bouncing up. “Just checking.”
She settled back on the bench next to Sasha, laying her head on her shoulder. She took her sister’s hand.
“You know Sasha, I never thought I would get my milkshake before you,” she teased.
Aiden raised his eyebrow. “Milkshake? You could have had a milkshake whenever you wanted. The chefs would have gladly made you one.”
The girls exchanged looks, before bursting out laughing. Sasha bent forward as tears started streaming from down her face.
“Stop it. I’m gonna pee!”
“Milkshakes are what they call us, Aid. When they first got here, Kalani asked her what she wanted to eat besides you, to which Sasha replied she didn’t want to eat you. Kalani then replied alright, you wanna suck him down like a milkshake. Or something like that.”
Sasha’s laughter was replaced by a furious blush. Aiden leaned over to press a soft kiss to her lips.
“You can suck me down like a milkshake anytime. You don’t even have to ask,” he murmured.
She groaned as her arousal filled the surrounding air. Her father cleared his throat, while Lukas tried to hide his smile. Aiden pecked her lips again.
‘Hope you're not lactose intolerant, love, because I have a lot of cream for you,’ he whispered in her head.
She got even more aroused and Aiden chuckled. “Later, my queen.”
“Tease.”
“I learned from the best.”
“Alright, you two, enough. That is my daughter you’re talking to,” her father lectured.
Aiden laughed. “Sorry, sir.”
He sat back on the bench, very obviously pleased with himself and put his arm over Sasha’s shoulder. Gregory picked Kalani up and moved to sit on the other bench in the king’s personal garden. Lukas and their father sat at the table. All eyes were on Sterling, waiting for him to start. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
“I am not sure where to start.”
“At the beginning. Don’t leave anything out,” Kalani told him.
“So, I am 1,327 years old. When I was 492, my father gave me the option of marking someone who was not my real mate or never taking the throne. I agreed to choose a woman to mate with. My father hosted all the single royal females at an extravagant ball. There was this woman that was everything that I thought I wanted in a mate, in a queen. Her name was Odanya. A week later at my coronation, we were mated, marked and crowned. She was a good queen. A good mate. Attentive, smart and eager to please me.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “She became the Mother of Dragon’s through our mate bond. She was a blessing to our people. Everyone loved her. Under her reign as the Mother, our species blossomed. Children were born and every clan was prosperous. The only thing she couldn’t do was provide me an heir. We were happy for 820 years, even without a child.”
He paused.
“What happened after that?,” Kalani encouraged softly.
“We went to the Dragão Clan, who had been chosen to host the annual meeting. All of the clans and their witches were in attendance. At that time, she was with the Lotus Clan. As soon as Odanya and I walked in, I smelt her and it was like I was electrified. I followed your mother’s scent all the way to her.” His chest rumbled with a growl. “She was nursing a baby. My mate had had a child with another man. When she saw me, she stared at me for a moment, before showing me the ring on her left hand. She then rejected me. I was so angry that I threatened to take her right then and there on the middle of the meeting floor. She laughed in my face and tried to walk away. I grabbed her arm and she screamed over and over again, begging me to stop as I dragged her away. Odanya stood watching. She was always so regal, not reacting. She calmly made excuses for my behavior while I dealt with your mother. ”
He drew in a deep breath. “I refused to let her go. I told her that she was mine. Odanya hated that she was my mate. She had grown used to being the queen. She didn’t want your mother usurping her position in the kingdom. Anastasia snuck out of my room at the meeting and I caught her with a wolf.” He slammed his fist down on the table. “A fucking wolf. He tried to claim her, he tried to challenge me for her. I tore him to shreds.
Your mother hated me for killing him. Resented me, her mate. The only way Odanya would let me keep her around was if I agreed to keep her in the dungeons. She was with us for four years. I tried to make her comfortable. I tried to make you all comfortable. Odanya wanted me to kill you, Sasha. You and Kalani. She only wanted me to have a male heir like the generations before me. One day, I went down to the dungeons and your mother was gone. You were gone, along with your sister. All that was left of my family was Lukas. I sent scouts out searching for you guys. I wanted to bring you home. I wanted my family back. I loved all of you guys. I was so pissed at Odanya for sending you guys away.
A year after you guys left, I realized that no more children were being born and all of our clans were starting to fail. Your mother had found a way to curse us. Odanya ended up really sick, until she died a few months ago. Even with that, I tried for years to convince your mother to come back. I tried for years after that to convince her to let you girls come home.
I paid her to take care of you, to give you everything you needed, but when I started coming personally to see your welfare years ago, I saw what you had been forced to do to survive. I hated it. I hated that you had to take care of your sister, Sasha. I never wanted that life for you. You should have been with me. You should have been able to embrace your roles. They are so important to every single dragon in our kingdom.”
He paused again, trying to gather his thoughts.
“See, the king of kings is supposed to produce a male heir. The Mother of Dragons is not supposed to be his mate. She is supposed to be a cousin of sorts to the king. Then, there is what we call the Secunda Regina, the second queen, which is a cousin as well. The first king of kings had three children. Two daughters and a son. The first born daughter was the Mother of dragons. His son was the king of kings.
His second daughter was the Secunda Regina. The King of Kings is supposed to keep the population in check by bringing death and maintaining order. The Mother of Dragons is in control of everything that is alive, including, but not limited to reproduction and success. She can bring it or destroy it.” He turned to Kalani, smiling. “Now, the Secunda Regina, was given to the second born daughter. She is the giver of life. She can give someone a dragon or she can take it away. Your fire is blue, your sisters will be yellow and your brothers will be white. You all will have a traditional red flame, but with your responsibilities, you have special flames that will come when you need it.”
Sasha sat forward. “So, will Aiden be king of king or not?”
“He will be equal to Lukas in power and title, yes, but not in ability. Lukas’ mate will be equal to you and Kalani in all the same ways. Her title will be queen of queens. Centuries ago, the king of kings used his powers to kill the Mother of Dragons and the Secunda Regina, so his wife became the Mother of Dragons. The Mother of Dragons is supposed to give birth to the next one. The Secunda Regina is supposed to produce their own heir and the king of kings is supposed to produce their own prince, too.
It was never supposed to be the king of kings marrying the Mother of Dragons. You each will be stronger and more capable with the three of you together. You will be unstoppable and that is why that king of kings killed his cousins. He wanted all of the power. That’s why Odanya wanted me to kill you girls. She didn’t want to lose her title, but she ended up dying trying to keep it.”
A shudder passed through Sasha and she jumped up, ignoring her father’s continued speech. She glanced at her mate.
“Aiden? Do you feel that?”
His wings came out and he was taking off into the sky as Sasha sprinted towards the stairs. Feet pounded up the stairs behind her. Halfway up the stairs, Aiden came barreling down them. Anger poured off of him and he let out a roar that sent the castle trembling and dust fell from the ceiling. He glared at Gregory.
“FIND IT! NOW! I WANT WHOEVER DID IT TO LAY DEAD AT MY FEET!”
Sasha’s knees collapsed and Aiden lifted her into his arms. “Shhh, baby. It’s going to be ok. We’ll find them. I swear it. I will stop at nothing. I promise.”