Chapter 71

Aiden took Sasha’s hand as they walked down the hallway. He had been more protective over her lately since Lily had come to the castle. They had done four more healing sessions on her over the last three weeks. All the physical issues had been corrected. Now, it was fully up to her to get stronger. She had to work those muscles until they were ready and caught up to where they should be for her age. It was going to be hard for her, but everybody knew she could do it. Sasha stumbled and Aiden caught her.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Baby, you have done too much too fast. I don’t like this. You are weak and exhausted. I can feel it. Please, let me take you back to our room so you can rest.”
Sasha sighed. “Lily needs us. She is still terrified and-”
“She’s your little sister. I know, but I still don’t like it. She is Lukas’s mate, you are mine. She is his concern, you are mine.”
She pulled away from him, glaring at him. “She is not a fucking ‘concern’, Aiden. Neither am I.”
He reached for her and she stepped back angrily. “That’s not what I meant, Ash. I am frustrated I can’t help you. I am angry that you are suffering, because you are using too much energy to help her. I know you love her and so do I, but, please, for Goddess’s sake, relax for a week.”
She melted inside at his worry for her. She touched his cheek. “I love you, My King.”
He tugged her in close to him again. “I love you, too, My Queen. Come on, let’s get some sustenance into you, since I already know you are going to exhaust yourself again today.”
“Alright. Take me away to food, then, Sire,” she teased.
He scooped her up and she giggled. She loved it when he carried her, not that she would ever admit that to him. She had a feeling he knew, but she also knew he would never say he did. It would ruin their little game of her pretending to fight him. He smirked down at her.
“Bout time you listened to something I said.”
She made a huge show of rolling her eyes, but when she leaned into his chest, she closed her eyes and let their electricity soothe her. He paused halfway to the dining hallway and Sasha gestured for him to put her down. Jo was shouting at someone and Sasha groaned, knowing exactly who it was.
“LEAVE ME, YOU FUCKING LITTLE BABY BITCH! YOU MAY BE GAMMA, BUT I AM BETA! MY WORD GOES! NOW MOVE THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!”
“You’re going to have to accept this at some point,” Ethan growled.
“I’ll accept it when Sasha climbs into my bed and fucks me, but until then go to hell.”
“At least talk to me. Obviously, you feel the bond, too. Otherwise, you would have rejected me already.”
“Goddess, are all men stupid like you? Oh, look at who the fuck I’m asking! A man!,” she sneered.
“JUST FUCKING TALK TO ME, YOU BATSHIT CRAZY WOMAN!”
“I’ll tell you what, when Sasha or Kalani or Ana kiss me, I’ll talk to you.”
“You are so ridiculous, Jo. They are never going to do that.”
“Exactly.”
Sasha glanced at Aiden who was fuming. She raised an eyebrow and he shook his head, already knowing what she was asking.
‘If she talks to him and agrees to be with him, he’ll leave me alone,’ she whispered in his mind.
He bared his teeth. ‘If he doesn’t leave you alone, I will kill him.’
‘That’s against the laws, Aiden. It’s a kiss. It’s not a big deal.’
‘To you maybe.’ He threw his hands up in frustration. ‘Fine, but I swear if this doesn’t work, I will kill him.’
Sasha pecked his lips and walked around the corner. Ethan and Jo fell silent. Sasha stopped in front of Jo. Before Jo could move, Sasha put her hand around the back of her neck and pulled her forward. Jo’s eyes widened and she went to speak. Sasha thrust her tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss. The longer the kiss went on, the angrier Aiden got. Sasha finally pulled away.
“Talk to the man, Jo.” She took Aiden’s hand and started walking away. “Oh, and stop using me like that to avoid dealing with your mate. He’s a good guy. Give him a chance.”
She wrapped her arms around Aiden’s neck and jumped up a little. He cupped her ass and pulled her up more. Her legs went around his waist.
“Next time you want to bring a male to our kingdom, just beware before you even think about it, it’s a no from me,” he growled in her ear.
“Come on, don’t even tell me you didn’t enjoy seeing me kiss her. Isn’t that every man’s dream?”
He pretended to drop her. She growled.
“No, my only dream is to live a long life with you and be happy. Maybe have a hundred kids.”
She gawked at him. “In your fucking dreams. Our egg hasn’t even hatched yet and you're already plotting more?”
“Always.”
He set her down outside the hall doors and opened them for her. Lily and Kalani stood at a table, obviously waiting for her. He sighed and pecked her cheek.
“Be safe, love. I guess this is my cue to leave.”
Kalani stepped back, so Lily didn’t see her mouth ‘Fuck you’ to Aiden. He chuckled.
“Love you, too, you little banshee.” He gave Lily a hug. “Have a good day, okay, sweetheart?”
“King Aiden?,” Lily called out to him as he started to walk away.
He came back immediately. “You can call me, Aiden,” he reminded her gently.
She blushed. “Aiden, did you want to come on our picnic with us?”
He hugged her. “I wish I could, honey, but I have a meeting in an hour.”
“We can wait for you.”
“I’ll tell you what, you go on this picnic with them and we can eat in my private garden tonight. It’ll be the five of us. Us and Gregory. How’s that sound?,” he asked.
She beamed. “Okay.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Have fun, little one.”
He gave Sasha a kiss on the cheek as he walked by. “Be safe. I mean it.”
Sasha clapped her hands together, excitedly. “Where to, ladies?”
“We don’t know. We were hoping you would know a place.”
Sasha thought for a second, before the perfect location hit her. “I do. There is a beautiful field of flowers just outside of the wall. We could go there.”
They nodded in agreement. Sasha led them down the path to the wall. The guard there stepped forward and she groaned. He stared at her.
“Where are you going, Your Majesty?”
She pointed to the field. “Just there.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “You said that last time, too.”
She sighed. “Ask Aiden then.”
He narrowed his eyes, before his eyes glazed over. Moments later, he gestured over his shoulder and the gate opened. Sasha smiled at him.
“Thank you.”
He bowed low to them as they walked past. “I will be watching you.”
She laughed. “I certainly hope so or else I would have to have Aiden remove you from your post,” she replied pleasantly, but she knew the guard understood her displeasure at the way he spoke to her.
The gates closed and Lily ran to the field. Kalani opened the basket and pulled out a traditional red and white picnic blanket. Lily helped her set out the containers of food. Kalani handed Lily a soda and grinned mischievously at Sasha. She pulled out a large bottle of wine and held it up. Sasha giggled and threw herself down on the blanket.
“You are so bad.”
Lani shifted her hand and let her talon open the bottle. “I know! Isn’t it great?”
Lily laid on the blanket to watch the clouds. Lani and Sasha both took swigs of the wine, before laying down next to her. Lily began to point to clouds and chatter. Sasha started to doze off.
*Lily giggled again. “Look, Sasha, it looks like a dragon.”*
*Sasha looked at the cloud she was pointing to. She hid her smile at the weird egg shaped cloud with what looked like wings. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and she frowned. She sat up and looked around slowly, trying her best not to frighten Lily.*
*‘Lani, do you feel that?,’ she asked silently, sitting up.*
*Kalani was already up and scanning the area. It was eerily quiet. Even the slight breeze had ceased to blow. Lily kept on happily chatting. Sasha stood up and was instantly knocked back down. A figure shimmered in front of her and she began to struggle.*
*“LET ME GO!,” she screamed, hoping to alert the guards at the wall.*
*Her mother laughed coldly. “Well, well, well. What do we have here? My two bastard daughters and my son’s little tramp of a mate. How exciting. Boys, look, fortune has smiled upon us at the moment.”*
*Men appeared behind her and Sasha’s mouth dropped open when the two guards from the gate were among them. One of them grabbed Lily up, while the other grabbed Lani. Lily’s fear was potent.*
*“Lily, it’s okay. We’re going to be, okay,” Sasha said, completely unsure if it was the truth.*
*Anastasia tossed the guard holding Lily a dagger. “Sorry to disappoint you, Lily, was it? Sasha was always a little liar.”*
*The guard cut Lily’s throat and her body fell to the ground while Sasha and Kalani screamed and tried to get to her.*
“LILY,” Sasha screamed, sitting straight up.
She looked around wildly. Lily was staring at her confused. Sasha pulled her into a hug, sobbing.
“Sasha? What is it?,” Kalani asked.
Sasha got up and pushed Lily into Lani’s arms. “You have to take her back to the castle. Take her straight to Aiden’s office. Stay there until I arrive. Do not stop at the wall. Go straight to the castle. Fly.”
“Aja, what’s-”
Sasha pushed Kalani, tears streaming down her face. “GO, LANI! NOW!”
Kalani’s wings came out and she wrapped her arms around Lily, whose terrified face made Sasha’s heartbreak a little.
“Go, Lani. Keep her safe.”
“Come back to us, Aja.”
Sasha nodded, swallowing a sob. Lani took off and Sasha reached for Gregory’s link.
‘Please, come get me. Don’t tell Aiden. Just to the field. Bring Ethan, please.’
‘What’s going on?’
‘Gregory, please. Just do what I’m asking.’
‘I’ll be right there.’
She quickly gathered everything in the basket and headed towards the wall. The guards watched her approach, but didn’t open the gate. A weight dropped into her stomach.
“Open the gate. I am ready to go back to the castle.”
“What’s the rush, Your Majesty?,” the head guard asked sarcastically.
She pushed her aura out. “I SAID OPEN THE FUCKING-”
Something hit her in the back of the head. She pitched forward. Liquid ran down her forehead and she touched it. She held her fingers up in front of her blurry eyes. Blood. She was rolled over and her mother laughed down at her.
“You think you’re so smart, but we still got you, didn’t we? I will come back for the other two. It is only a matter of time.”
She raised her boot and slammed it down on Sasha’s face. Sasha lost consciousness, grateful that at least her little sisters were safe.