Page 57 of Her Royal Blood

“We are in the middle of a war, Lara,” I heard Lex’s voice and I flew down the stairs.

“I thought it was you,” I ran past Lara and straight to Lex, throwing my arms around his neck.

The gesture was probably too grand for the moment since I’d seen Lex a few days before yet watching Polonius murder Gabrielle, coupled with our harrowing escape from Brahman's Peak had me unraveling. I needed Lex’s arms to help me make my world make sense again.

“Hey there,” Lex wasn’t surprised to see me. “Are you okay?”

“He killed her,” I whispered into his chest as hot tears silently rolled down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry he kissed my head. I know how much you loved Gabrielle. She didn’t die in vain, Aria. I promise she will be remembered as a hero.” Lex’s words comforted, but hearing him say them finally brought home the fact that I’d never see Gabrielle again.

I softly cried, weeping into his chest while Lara and Cheyenne stood there. I felt Chenyenne’s comforting hand on my back and Lara, though gruff and was also loving.

“It’s hard when we lose those we love. We don’t really get over grief, it gets easier, but it never gets better. I’ll make you something to eat.”

And that was it. I cried and Lex held me, then we took a shower together. I still didn't really have the ability to speak my feelings. I just needed to be near him. He carefully washed my body and I let him. It felt good to be caressed and taken care of. I was usually so comfortable being a warrior on the front lines fighting for my people, but I really did need my king. At that moment only my mate could bring me to a place where my mind felt safe.

He kissed my neck as his hands gently roved over my body. “I want to fill the parts of you that ache with love,” he whispered in my ear as he held me close. “May I?”

“Please,” I gently begged.

While sprays of warm water washed over us, he entered me from behind, his tall body covering mine with strength. His leanmuscular arms held me up as he entered me, gently rolling in and out of the ache and pain grief had laid over my entire body.

“You are not to blame for this,” Lex said as his cock made languid strokes pushing in and pulling out of me.

“She trusted me, gave her life for me,” I said as guilt overwhelmed my thoughts.

“As you would have done for her, or me. This is war.” He pressed in a little harder. “And regretfully there are casualties in conflict. She died so that a kingdom could live, you will never forget that. She’ll be a hero and an example of bravery and sacrifice,” he said as he thrusted in deeper, but still gentle, still with great care for my needs and wellbeing. “I love you.” His words trailed over my tears and all I could feel was him.

With his body enveloping mine, his words, his heart, his very being, holding me to this life, keeping me safe, loved, he thrusted and pumped making me feel alive again. My wolf bowed to his and they comforted each other as Lex brought his hand between my thighs and stroked me, giving me pleasure to erase the pain until I came with tiny quakes of ecstasy as did he with a warm burst that filled me with him, easing the emptiness.

After we washed and dressed and as we prepared for dinner Lex quietly brought me to the table and sat next to me on a chair. Night had fallen and we’d been silent for hours. Halo had woken up a few hours earlier, but was as shell shocked as me. Luckily she had Lara to help her. Cheyenne was grateful to be reunited with his family and sat quietly at the table while Lex and I talked.

“I know you’re grieving,” he started. “And I want you to take the time to grieve. Gabrielle deserved your love and tears, but there is something I want to discuss with you and as we are still in a war against Polonius it is a matter of some urgency.” He stroked his hands along my arm.

Lex and I were bonded, so he understood that joining with me as we had in the shower would help me heal. So when hetouched my arm after so tenderly making love, it made me want to settle into his arms and forget the world, but we didn’t have that luxury.

I nodded to him, ready to hear whatever he had to say.

“I think we should get married in the next few days. Since Polonius has already broken the treaties he has nothing more to threaten us with, he’s doing his worst already. Since you didn’t marry him, he’ll still seek to entrap you and force marriage upon you if he captures you again. We can’t take that risk. Our mating will keep him from ever claiming you or having children with you, but it also puts you at great risk if he takes you and decides to keep you because he can’t have you. So…” He was about to go on explaining why we should marry and I had no reason to object.

“Yes,” I said, quietly. “I think we should get married as soon as possible.”

“Great. It can be small, just our families and friends. Also I want to project it like Polonius did. We’ll say that he married a decoy and we can memorialize Gabrielle and honor her before we show our wedding to all of Tobran,” Lex said looking happy and resolved.

“I agree. I would love to show the world what she sacrificed and marry you.” I smiled for the first time since Gabrielle’s death.

At night we listened to Cheyenne talk about the warships that Navarrah City would be flying. Halo and I listened as Lex and Cheyenne discussed their military strategies and hopes to include the Obsidian Valley in their fight against Brahman's peak.

“Now that we have Halo, I’m sure our troops will join forces with yours. And as far as your wedding goes, perhaps Angeline Falls will sponsor the event,” Lara suggested. “You want to project the wedding, but it takes a very powerful mage to dothat. With Amadeus still recovering and Sire Vanoire allied with Polonius, the only other powerful mage in Tobran is Bastien Salts from Angeline Falls, so we should reach out to Queen Nadine and Bastien and see if they won’t help us unify the kingdoms of Tobran with a wedding ceremony and a call to arms.” Lara was being so helpful and strategic and I watched Halo smile with pride.

“I really wish you would join us in Onyx Rah,” Halo said to her sister and Lara just laughed.

“Honey, it’s best we leave our brother Xavier to deal with me and my people. Onyx Rah is a sanctuary and a safe haven of magic and peace. I will not bring my ilk upon you little sister, but instead be your fiercest advocate and ally.” Lara’s smile was sweet and genuine.

“Thank you,” Halo said and understood that her sister Lara wasn’t going to change.

She liked being the head of the illegal things that brought her wealth and power and while they loved one another, they were completely different people. Like Cheyenne and Lex.

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