Page 48 of Her Royal Blood

Together, victorious!

The image remained until it bled out into the night sky and disappeared. As soon as we were done Lex and Amadeus smiled. King Helix did as well, but there was still worry in his expression. I slumped into the chair too exhausted to even look at Lex.

“Do you think it will work?” King Helix asked looking out the window down to the streets below where people had stopped to watch the projection.

There were sounds of talking in the streets, but we couldn't make out the words.

“Only time will tell,” Lex said, still feeling hopeful.

Suddenly there was a bang on the door below and a loud commotion that flooded into the main part of the building a floor below us.

We all rushed down the stairs to see what the commotion was about. Just as we reached the main room Hawk walked in with dozens of prisoners in shoddy clothes looking rough and tired. Hawked bowed to me and as soon as the others saw me they did the same.

“I have come back to you, Your Majesty with an army ready to swear their allegiance to their Queen.” I look at the throng of men and women gathered and my heart beat.

“Welcome and thank you.” I nodded my head, feeling the heaviness of fatigue and exhaustion.

“Make sure these soldiers are fed and housed,” King Helix seemed energized and happy to see so many new recruits.

“These are just the first to come,” Hawk stood upright with a proud smirk. “We will defeat Polonius and march on Onyx Rah after we liberate Navarrah City. May we be free.” He raised his fist in the air. “May we find home.”

Lex and I raised our fists in return and the soldiers sat down and were given food, and lodging in the king’s stronghold.

“You look exhausted,” Lex said quietly in my ear.

“I’m going to be okay,” I said, falling asleep on my feet.

“I’m taking queen Aria to bed,” Lex nodded to King Helix and Amadeus, as he lifted me into his arms.

“Are you now?” Hawk said with a smirk. “I can smell the bond on you, nice work brother. You’ve mated a beautiful queen, ya ugly rat.” Hawk gave Lex a wink who went wide eyed cautioning his tongue.

“That’s her father standing there,” Lex said under his breath as I laid my heavy head on Lex’s chest.

“And make sure she sleeps well, Your Majesty,” Hawk said louder, giving us a playful bow. “That is if you sleep,” he whispered as he passed me to go and get his plate of food.

“Oh she’s going to have to tonight,” Lex returned with a smirk that King Helix and Amadeus didn’t see. “Cause we didn't do much last night.”

“Now there you go making me proud,” Hawk slapped his back as King Helix and Amadeus nodded to us.

“Both of you get your rest,” King Helix commanded, more like a father than a king.

“My magic is much stronger and I’m able to control better,” I mumbled as Lex walked me into our room and laid me on the bed.

“I’m sure it is, but you’re getting a bath, some dinner, and a long night of rest.” He told me as he started peeling clothes off of my body.

I could have sunk into the mattress and slept for days, but I remember Lex’s soft warm naked skin as he brought us both into a warm bath filled to the brim with water.

“Ah this is nice,” I cooed as he meticulously washed every inch of me.

The bath brought a little bit of life back after my magic had wiped me out. Lex wrapped me in a warm toweling cloth and carried me to a table where we sat together on one chair with me in his lap.

“I am capable of sitting on my own,” I grumbled as he spiked a piece of roasted meat on a fork and placed the perfectly cut cube into my mouth. “And of eating on my own,” I said with a mouth full of food.

“All of these things I know you are perfectly capable of, but as your mate, I can bathe and feed you when you’re too tired to even hold your head up,” he said as he lifted my chin that had dipped down while I chewed.

I didn’t say anything to that, just ate the food he offered me and when I couldn’t eat another bite, I fell asleep in his lap. I didn’t even remember him taking me to bed, but I did recall falling into a deep sleep. In my dreams I’d taken Lex’s stiffness into my hand and was pumping him, readying his cock so that I could mount and ride him. My skin heated and my breathing became shallow.

“Hey love,” Lex’s soft raspy voice heated my ear. “You need to sleep,” he said as I opened my eyes to find that I was naked and grinding on his thick erection.

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