Page 27 of Her Royal Blood

“May I please get these off?” I asked in a small meek voice so that they didn’t consider me a threat.

“No,” the intake guard said without any further explanation.

I was hoping they’d unchain me, but my restraints weren’t removed and I was brought to a cell in the main building and left there. I was too tired to shift or use magic so I laid down on the bed. I knew that I’d be shipped to Polonius in the morning and morning was fast approaching. All I had to do was get enough magic to become invisible.

So I rested and felt Lex’s energy. I focused on restoring my magic and seeing his face again. I dozed for a little while, long enough for there to be a guard change, however the guard watching me wasn’t that interested in actually making sure I was there. He himself was dozing in a chair. When I awoke from my nap, I felt better. I was not at one hundred percent but much better. It had already been a grueling few days to get to Navarrah City then the island.

I took advantage of the guard’s nap and glamored the thin blanket I’d been given into the form of a sleeping body. Having taxed my magic, but not too greatly, I willed the lock on the bars of my cell to open and I became invisible. I hurried past the dozing guard and sprinted toward where my wolf sensed Lex. Though I was invisible, I still had to dodge guards and make my way through unfamiliar territory. If any of their wolveswere attuned to my smell they would know I was around them, so I moved swiftly and smartly through the camp filled with prisoners and guards.

After an arduous trek, I made it out of the camp and into the jungle. When it was safe, I shifted into my wolf and covered ground with long leaps and strides. I made it to the other side of the island and there I found an outcropping of rocks. I sensed Lex there, he was weak but recovering from something. I shifted back into my mortal form, still magically strong which meant I had rested enough for my powers to work again.

Lex was leaning against a rock, with another prisoner, both weren’t looking too good. Lex had fresh cuts and bruises on his face as did the other brute of a man beside him. As soon as I entered the cave-like structure, their eyes flung open and they moved into a defensive position.

“Lex, it’s me,” I said quietly, unsure of who the man beside him was.

“Aria?” He looked at me as if he were watching a phantom or an apparition.

“Yes,” I kneeled down beside him to inspect his wounds. “What happened to you?” I touched the gash on his arm.

“Is it really you?” He was still a little delirious.

I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get him on the boat in that condition, but I remembered Amadeus healing the Royal Guards of their injuries. I could try to do the same for Lex and his companion.

“Who is this?” the man’s eyes narrowed with scrutiny. “Didn’t I see you marry Polonius?”

“How did you escape him?” Lex was finally coming to his senses.

“It wasn’t me. I glamored Gabrielle to take my place, but we don’t have time to talk about it. I have a boat waiting to takeus off the island. I need to heal your wounds and get you out of here.” Urgency and fear bubbled under my skin.

My magic wouldn’t last long enough to get caught again and escape.

“Yes. Of course. You need to heal Hawk too. He’s coming with us.” I wasn’t sure who this man was to Lex, but I’d heal them both.

I focused on the injuries I could see and felt the pain radiating off them. Lex and his friend were starving, depleted of energy, and in an excruciating amount of discomfort. Even though our wolves could heal us quickly, these injuries had been life threatening. I was happy to have found Lex still alive. As my magic snaked over their bodies and into their cells, I saw that Lex had also been envenomated by a snake. The venom had weakened his immune system and natural healing.

It took a lot of time and energy but I was able to heal Lex and Hawk enough so that they had the strength to make the swim across several miles of water to the boat. As soon as Lex felt better he was able to process that I was standing before him.

“I know you have a lot of questions, but we have to get onto the boat and get you off the island. We are in the middle of a war, I’m not sure if it’s wise to bring your friend along. Can we trust him?” I wasn’t sure if bringing a random prisoner home was the best choice during a time when we didn’t know where our alliances fell.

The man Lex had called Hawk, stepped to me, obviously feeling better after his wounds had been healed.

“I’m not going back. I’m coming with you and there is no negotiating that point. Lex promised that I would be given my freedom if I helped you fight against Polonius. You have my word and my service, Your Majesty, I am honor bound to protect you. My wolf senses yours and knows that his place is as your guardian. I refuse to leave your side for the bond to you my wolffeels and for the promise Lex has already made.” Hawk stood tall and proud.

“Then we need to figure out how the three of us are going to get off this island.”

Chapter 10

Lex

I was still in shock. I’d seen Aria get married and watched when Polonius took her away. I had so many questions, so much I needed to know, but at that moment what I had to tell her was more pressing.

“I love you,” I said and threw my arms around her. “I’m not leaving you again. We will fight together and I will marry you as soon as possible. I don’t care if I never take the crown for myself, you deserve to be a queen. Your people need you. I will gladly stand by your side and when the time comes for my father to step down Cheynne can succeed the throne.” I stood tall and was resolved.

I needed her to understand that our being together was more important to me than anything else. Now that we were reunited, I wasn’t going to ever let her go and beyond that I wanted her to understand that our marriage was the most important next step for us.

I reached out and took her hands in mine.

“We need to get off the island Lex,” I could see the amorous look in her eyes, she was feeling the pull to me as hard as I was being drawn to her.

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