Chapter 90

Lily trembled a little next to him and he looked down at her. Her fear filled eyes were focused on Sasha. He reached for her link.
‘Aja, you’re scaring Lily,’ he informed her.
Sasha’s aura was immediately pulled back into her and she dismissed Jo and Ethan, before turning around to look at Lily with a smile on her face.
“So, Lily, are you excited to be able to go home again?”
Lily’s eyes dropped to her plate and she nodded. “Of course. I.. miss being there.”
Lukas eyed her. Something was wrong. He reached out to tilt her face up. “Lily, sweetheart, do you really want to go home?”
She sighed. “I do,” she insisted. “I promise.”
She was lying and he didn’t like it, but he didn’t know how to address it without scaring her. He opened his mouth as Sasha sat on the bed, moving the almost empty plate off of her lap to pull her onto her lap. Sasha stroked her back and Lukas had no choice, but to sit back and watch. If he snatched Lily off of her lap, it might scare her. He bared his teeth at his sister behind Lily’s back. She made a face at him. Lukas rolled his eyes.
“So, I know about your bullies at school. Aiden has agreed to go talk to them, before you go back. Nobody should be mean to you. Also, when we take you home, Lukas is going to talk to your father. I promise, it will be better and if it’s not, whoever it is hurting you will answer to me.”
“And me,” Lukas growled.
Their sentiments were echoed all around the room.
“So, do you want to go home tomorrow? We can take you in the morning after breakfast,” Sasha said.
His heart started pounding and he wanted to yell that she wasn’t going anywhere. That she was his and he wanted to keep her.
“But aren’t you still looking for that bad man?,” Lily asked.
Sasha raised her eyebrow at Lily. “Yes, we are. Why?”
Lily glanced at Lukas. “What if he takes me?”
The whole room stilled as they stared at her, before Kalani’s laughter filled his head.
‘Look, brother. She doesn’t want to leave you either,’ she teased.
Sasha smirked. “You do have a point, little one. I suppose if Lukas is down for it, he can stay here with you while the rest of us find that asshole.”
Lily turned her gaze to him, expectantly. Lukas wanted to agree to this the day he was born, but he couldn’t be too eager with his response. He slowly nodded.
“Sure, but you will have to come with me to my castle. I have kingdom business to tend to over the next week.”
Lily looked back at Sasha. “Can I?”
She pretended to think about it and Lukas knew it was more to fuck with him then it was to actually consider the option. Goddess, he had never wanted to punch a woman more than he did right at the moment.
“I suppose so. I will send somebody I trust with you.”
“Who?”
“Her name is Raven and she will make sure you are never alone.”
Raven stepped forward and slightly bowed to her. “Lilianna. I do believe we have met before. It will be my honor to accompany you.”
“Okay,” she hastily agreed, beaming.
Lukas narrowed his eyes on his sister, knowing the whole ‘she’ll make sure you are never alone’ was a warning for him to keep his hands to himself. As if he would touch her like that while she was this young. Lily let out a big yawn and Lukas’s attention was yanked back to her.
“Sorry, I guess I’m still sleepy.”
Lukas got off the bed and held out his hand to her. “Come on. I’ll take you to bed.”
Aiden growled a little from behind him and his head snapped around to glare at his brother in law.
‘You may be my sister’s mate, but I would suggest you watch who you’re growling at when it comes to mine,’ he warned Aiden through their link.
Sparks exploded in his hand and raced up his arm when she took his hand. She went to stand up when his father called her name softly. She turned back to him and moved into his open arms. He folded her into them, holding her closely.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you,” he tells her and guilt filled Lukas, too, at his own failure.
“You almost died for us. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you.”
Her words stunned the whole room. She was the one that was only human and she wanted to protect a dragon? Lukas ran his fingers through his hair. This was his mate. This stunning, caring, intelligent girl was his mate. He sent up a prayer right then and there that the Goddess had ignored every single of his wishes for a mate. He held his father’s gaze as he tried to stare into Lukas’s soul. He set her back a little and tilted his head to Lukas.
“Go on, now. You will be safe with him. Sleep well, Lily, and I will see you in the morning.”
She nodded and scrambled off the bed. She took the hand that Lukas still held out for her and then she smiled. His world came to a stop and her smile faltered. She tried to pull her hand away, but he tightened his grip on hers.
“Let’s go to bed,” he murmured.
She followed him out and let him take her to her room. She shifted nervously in front of it. He turned the knob and gently pushed it open.
“Go on, Lily.”
She stepped inside and he eyed her. The Goddess knew he didn’t want to leave her. Not like this. Not when she had spent the last three days worried for him.
“Goodnight, Lils. If you need me, you know where I’m at.”
She nodded. “Goodnight, Lukas. Thank you.”
He shut the door and stood there for a minute arguing with Gideon. He finally sighed, turning away. She hadn’t moved inside of her room, but he needed to walk away, before he spent the night with her in his arms. He quickly went back to his room four doors down to shower. He pulled boxers on and started to towel his hair dry as he walked out. Her scent hit him hard and his knees wobbled.
His eyes shot to his bed where she lay snuggled into the blankets. He walked over to the dresser and pulled on sweats and a t- shirt, before climbing into bed next to her. She immediately nuzzled into him and he wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her forehead and a soft snore greeted his ears. He got comfortable and closed his eyes.
“I love you, Lilianna,” he confided as he started to drift off.
*He was watching his mate, his Lily being dragged up onto the stage. His hands tightened into fists and he wanted to charge out of his hiding spot to rescue her, but he couldn’t. Not yet. He was forced to watch Sasha be put into the stocks next to her and Kalani.*
*“You know, I had a different test planned for you.”*
*He turned his head and a woman stood next to him glowing. Every time he thought he had made out her features, they shifted. He narrowed his eyes on her.*
*“And who in the hell are you? And why are you testing me?”*
*She laughed and it was music to his ears. He growled. She raised what he thought was an eyebrow at him.*
*“Why, my son, I am the Goddess.”*