Chapter 87

*They started walking down the hallway again and it slowly shifted into another scene. Odanya was hanging off of their father’s arm, smiling as she excitedly talked about the ball they were headed to. Their father laughed at her jokes as they walked towards the castle. Suddenly, he stopped and put his nose into the air. His head turned to the left and he took a step off of the stone pathway. Odanya’s hand fell away from his arm as he ordered her to stay put and he walked away from her.*
*He snuck through the forest until he came to a stop outside of a small clearing with a bench and a small fountain. He stood almost as if he was in trance, watching their mother feed Tiffany. Her mother cradled Tiffany to her breast while she watched her with all of the love that Sasha wished she had gotten to experience. Odanya came up behind him and touched his arm.*
*“Who is she, Sterling?”*
*He pulled away from her and her face fell. “She’s my mate,” he whispered, still watching Anastasia.*
*She reached for him again and he sidestepped her outstretched hand. “What about me?”*
*“What about you?,” he snapped.*
*Odanya’s body jerked as if he had slapped her. Her back straightened and she gnashed her teeth.*
*“I’m your chosen mate and your queen! That woman isn’t even a dragon.”*
*He turned to look at her and he blinked slowly. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He held out his hand. “I’m just surprised.”*
*She narrowed her eyes, but took his hand. He led her away and she watched him repeatedly glance back at the woman. She curled her fingers around his.*
*“You must swear to me that you won’t pursue her, Sterling.”*
*He pulled his eyes away from the trees hiding the clearing to look at her. “Odanya, she’s-”*
*She stopped and turned towards him. “Please. I have been a good wife to you. I have been a good mate to you. Please, do this for me,” she begged.*
*He sighed and kissed her softly. “I can’t tell you that, Odanya. You have failed to provide me an heir and she can obviously have children.”*
*Odanya pulled away with tears in her eyes. “Don’t you care how I feel about any of this?”*
*“I do, but-”*
*She slapped him. “But she’s your mate,” she sneered. “I’m just the woman who was good enough to occupy your bed and be your queen while you waited for ‘your mate’.”*
*She pulled her gown down to reveal his mark on her skin. She ran her finger over it. “Over 800 years I have been loyal to you. I have rubbed your back and fed you. I have bathed you when you were too tired to do it yourself. I made sure you took time for yourself and I for damn sure guaranteed that you were satisfied everyday. And this is how you treat me? And for what? Some woman you don’t know who has a child that is not yours? How dare you?!”*
*She stomped off, her heels clacking on the stone. He shook his head and ran to catch up with her. He tried to take her hand, but she moved closer to a man that looked like her and put her hand on his arm as she started up a conversation. Her father trailed behind her and everyone could see the war he was having with himself. They got inside and were led to the front. He leaned close to Odanya.*
*“I’m sorry. I really am. If it makes you unhappy I will not pursue her.”*
*She looked at him. “Swear it.”*
*“I swear. You are the only woman I want.”*
*She pressed her lips against his and touched his cheek. “Thank you.”*
*He leaned back, obviously relieved. He took her hand and the air between them relaxed. The door opened and her father glanced at it, before turning to face Odanya.*
*“Announcing King Lionel of the Lotus Clan with his witch, Anastasia Soma.”*
*His finger rubbed Odanya’s hand as he ignored their mother. Irina pushed forward.*
*‘Sasha, look at that man there.’*
*Sasha turned her head to stare at the man who was watching her father. His mouth began to move silently and energy surged around him. Her father stood up and everyone knelt on the floor. He quickly got to their mother where he began to circle her. Sasha had already seen this so she kept her eyes on the man.*
*‘Look at Dad’s eyes,’ Irina whispered.*
*Sasha turned and was shocked to find his eyes glazed over. She leaned towards him. What was that? Was he spelled? She glanced at Odanya and she saw the tears glistening in her eyes. She could feel her hurt and betrayal. She wanted to hug the woman and tell her that this wasn’t his fault. It was that man’s fault. Her father was an honest man. A good man. The others followed their father out while Sasha stayed behind. A hand touched her shoulder and she glanced over her shoulder. The Goddess stood behind her.*
*“Come, child, let me show you what happened here.”*
*Odanya got up and began to laugh off her father’s disappearance saying that he was considering obtaining a new witch to help with kingdom affairs. She danced with a few men and listened to the women gossip. When she walked over to the punch bowl, the man who had been mouthing words approached. He bowed low.*
*“My queen, you look sad tonight.”*
*She smiled at him, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I am fine. I do appreciate your concern. Thank you.”*
*He got himself a cup of punch. “I know that she is his mate and he will leave you for her. I have seen it.”*
*“He will never leave me. I am his mate,” she hissed.*
*He smirked at her. “When you are ready to be rid of her, let me know. I can assist you with it.”*
*He turned to walk away.*
*“And what would it cost me?,” she asked.*
*“Oh, nothing much. Just the Lotus clan for my brother to rule.”*
*She sighed. “Remove her and I will see to it.”*
*He bowed his head. “Done.”*
*Sasha followed the man to a room where Tiffany laid asleep in a crib with her babysitter passed out on the couch. Sasha wondered if he had spelled them, too. He took some of her blood and left. He went into another room and began to add the blood to a cauldron already full of stuff. The liquid inside bubbled and turned blue. He filled a vial up and corked it. He went back down to the grand hall. He ordered two drinks and poured the contents of the vial into one of them. He went over to Eis and offered it to him. Eis frowned, but took it as he watched Anastasia glide around the room in her father’s arms.*
*“Thanks, Donald.”*
*Wait, Donald? Sasha peered closer at the young man.*
*“You’ve got to be shitting me,” she growled. “Councilman Slonsky, you little asshole.”*
*Eis gulped the entire glass down and his eyes glazed over. The longer he watched her mother, the angrier he got as Donald whispered in his ear. As the ball was winding down, Odanya hurried over to Donald.*
*“I changed my mind. I don’t want to hurt anybody. Your brother can still have Lotus. Just please, leave them alone.”*
*He smirked at her. “Oh, you are way too late, my queen. I am sure by now, he is with her. She will be dead soon enough.”*
*“NO!”*
*Odanya gathered her skirts in her hands and dashed out of the hall. He chuckled.*
*“Oh no you don’t.” He whispered a quick spell and a pale yellow light hit her in the back. Her eyes glazed over and her movements became jerky. “Go and taunt her. I need her to do my bidding. Break her.”*
*Sasha’s stomach churned as she stared at him. “This was all your fault. YOU DID THIS!,” she screamed and tried to lunge for him.*
*She fell through his body and she scrambled up. The Goddess stepped in her way.*
*“Your father is showing your siblings more. You should join them.”*
*Sasha wrapped her arms around her own waist. “I don’t know if I can take anymore. My whole life has been bad, because of him.”*
*The Goddess touched her shoulder. “Go, my dear, and watch. There is much more to learn.”*