Chapter 85

Sasha
The light touch down on the ground woke her up and she raised her head. She blinked as she tried to take in her surroundings. She blinked blearily up at Aiden. He kissed her temple.
“Baby, we are home. Did you want to rest before you go to see your father?”
“No. Just take me there, please,” she whispered.
The rest of their team landed and Lukas set Lily down. He cupped her face and leaned his forehead against hers. Sasha stood, watching for a moment. She could see his struggle not to pick her back up and keep her with him at all times. Sasha reached for their link as Jo put her hand on his shoulder.
‘Luka, come on. Let’s go see dad. We won’t take Lily home yet. You can see her later.’
He opened his eyes and Jo gently pulled him away.
“Gideon, I promise I will keep her safe.”
He bared his teeth at her. “You better.”
Jo swallowed nervously as he paced away from her. Sasha took his hand and Kalani took his other one. He squeezed their hands, sighing.
“I can’t do this,” he whispered and they both knew that he was going to need a lot of help to get through the next few years.
Sasha laid her head on his shoulder as they walked side by side up the stairs to their father’s room.
“You got this, Luka. We promise not to let you fail.”
“You don’t understand. You have your mates,” he spat angrily as he pulled away and spun around to face them.
Sasha raised an eyebrow at him. “You know, brother, I had seriously considered killing mine, because Anastasia had asked me to. At least you know where yours is so that you can protect her. Not everyone gets that. Her biggest threat is gone. She will be safe now. So, just breathe. 7 years is nothing. I dreamed of Aiden for 4 before I ever met him. I knew he was mine, but I didn’t. I knew how he made me feel, but I wasn’t sure if it was really me he was lavishing all that affection on.”
She poked him in the chest. “You could take her away and hide her in your castle if you wanted and nobody would say a damn thing to you. The way she looks at you and the way she wants to be next to you all the time is way more than I ever got before I met Aiden. At least you know, it’s all for you.” She jabbed him again. “And for another thing asshole, even after I met him, he accused me of cheating and I ran away and had he not shown up when he did, I would be dead. So, save your fucking pity party for someone else. I don’t want that fucking cake.”
He stared at her. “I’m sorry, Aja. I just-”
“It’s fine, Lukas. I get it. I went crazy, too, when I thought I was going to lose Aiden. Fear makes you do stupid things, but don’t bring it here.”
“Yeah, she will match your stupid and top it. Sasha never was for the woe is me shit.” She looped her arm through his. “When I was thrown off a cliff, all she told me was I shouldn’t have stolen Tiffany’s lip gloss. Then she kissed Ethan. Shoulda seen the look on Tiff’s face. Fucking priceless, I tell you.”
“Lukas?”
They fell silent at Lily’s soft voice. Jo sighed.
“Sorry, Luke, I thought you all had cleared out already.”
Lily ran over and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Can I stay with you?”
He looked around at them helplessly. His arm went around her shoulders.
“I’ll tell you what, Lily,” Kalani said as she pulled her away. “Why don’t you go shower and change your clothes and then Jo will bring you to the dining hall for food.” She brushed her hair back and lowered her voice as Gregory, Ethan and Aiden came into the hallway. “I think they need a babysitter. They are always getting into trouble.”
They frowned at her and Kalani smirked.
“Will Lukas be at dinner?”
“If he can. We have to go to see our father, Lily, and you shouldn’t see him like that.”
Lily looked up at Lukas. “He tried to save my life. I want to thank him, even if he can’t hear me.”
Again, Lukas looked helplessly up at them. Aiden pushed Lily gently towards her room.
“You go shower and we will let you visit with Sterling before dinner. Do you want mac and cheese? I can have the chef make it for you.”
“Can I have french toast with blueberries and strawberries on top?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “Sure and we’ll call it nighttime breakfast.”
She giggled. “Okay.”
She cast Lukas a shy smile, before letting Jo take her into her room. Sasha glared at her mate.
“What the hell, Aiden?”
He shrugged. “Happy wife, happy life. Better he learn that now. Also, do we want her sneaking out on Jo and getting lost without one of us with her? There’s a lot of castle. She’d end up in the hidden tunnels or trapped behind one of the thousands of pictures hanging.”
Sasha threw her hands up in frustration. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
They walked in and Sasha’s legs wobbled. Lukas picked her up and carried her to the bed. She sat beside her father, running her fingers over his sunken face. He looked so peaceful, but she could feel his anguish hovering just below the surface. She looked at Chrys sitting next to a strange man.
“Who are you?,” she asked him.
He bowed his head. “Queen Sasha, my name is Javier. I am the witch that works directly for King Lukas.”
She touched her father’s cheek. “What did you do to him?”
“He was put into a spell induced coma. A few hours ago he stopped fighting.”
“What do you mean? Fighting what?”
“Your mother’s ice crystals. He fought them off.”
“How?”
Javier laughed. “I do apologize for my daughter. She really wants to roll her eyes and tell you you are stupid.”
Kalani giggled. “We’re not going to bite you for that.”
“Anyways, it’s the same for witches that it is for dragons. A spell may take hold of a witch’s mate, but it will not have the desired effect. The mate will fight it off and recover fully.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning that a witch’s magic will not harm their mate even if it does at first. It will reverse itself.”
Kalani sat on the bed. “So, why is he still asleep?”
“He is in his mind. He is stuck there. Someone will have to go get him.”
All eyes went to Kalani. “You’re the only one who can. I deal with physical ailments, not mental. You seem to have a knack for brain stuff.”
Kalani pointed at Lukas. “Why can’t he?”
He shrugged with a smile on his face. “I don’t do life. I only know how to take it.”
She sighed and put one hand on his forehead and the other on his chest. She opened both Sasha’s and Lukas’s links.
“Fine, but you’re coming with me.”