Aria's Revenge

CHAPTER EIGHT

KAEL’S POV

“Aria said she can’t come for the training”

One of the guards I had sent to call for her report.

I heaved a sigh as I held the sword in my hands. Today was the third day she had refused to come out for training since that night.

The night, for the first time in years, I had mentioned her name. Reine.

I dismissed the guard and kept practising when Thane’s voice interrupted me. “You are too gentle on her. You sent for her, and she refused to come; that’s disrespectful to you, and you let her off the hook,” he voiced out his concerns.

“She is still getting used to her new territory,” I defended her.

“Why in the moon goddess name did you even bring a rogue to Eldrid? I heard you brought another one not long ago,” he lamented.

I know Thane is my trusted advisor, but he worries too much about me; it can be overbearing.

“They are not rogues,” I corrected him.

“If you keep bringing in people to Eldrid, this sacred place will become a ground for evil things,” he emphasized before he continued, “ Remember the last time you brought in…” he said before I quickly interrupted him.

“Thane, these ones are different,” I said, hoping he didn’t bring up the past.

“Well, you will never know. Remember what happened afterwards,” he added before leaving.

After my training, I went to oversee the army of guards and watched them train. Aside from the big sanctuary built around Eldrid. We also have an army of guards, which is one of the reasons Eldrid is like a fortress. My mind went to when Vega had almost entered the territory and caused havoc but due to the swiftness of my armies, he could not prevail.

Thane talking about rogues reminded me of Vega whom I never want to think about.

I rubbed my temple in frustration as my mind seemed to be far away from watching the army's training.

I looked around when my eye caught Aria and the new maid I had sent to her holding a basket of flowers and laughing together. My lips curled into a smile as I saw her laugh. I am not sure but this should be the first time I would see her laugh with excitement.

When I had saved the new maid while going for a hunt in the early hours of dawn. She had told me she was from Raven’s Peak, and I figured Aria would use a friendly face from home. Now, I am glad I was able to bring liveliness to her.

“Lycan King, are we messing up?” The head of the army asked.

It was then I realised that I had been smiling. I thought I was doing it in my head.

“Excuse me,” I said, walking in the direction I had seen Aria going.

I reached the end of the road that split into left and right, but I wasn’t sure where they went, so I used my hearing abilities to hear them and knew they were by the stream.

The sound of her laughter could be heard clearly from where I stood even though she was miles away. I turned right, which was by the direction of the stream, and stopped behind a tree a little far from where they were, but I could hear them louder.

“Will you find another mate here?” The maid asked.

Immediately after that question, her laughter stopped.

“I need answers to some questions plaguing my mind before I can think of another mate,” she replied a hint of sadness in her voice.

“Well, Eldrid is much better than Raven’s peak, so forget about Alpha Ryder if he is still on your mind,” the maid replied.

I turned to leave when I realised the conversation was getting too serious and didn't want to eavesdrop when my leg broke a twig.

“Sorry, I thought I could come and relax here, didn’t know I would meet others,” I said, coming out of hiding and looking at them.

The maid revered me, and surprisingly, Aria did too. It was something she had not done since she got to Eldrid.

Her eyes were turned away from me and when I opened my mouth to speak, she beat me to it.

“We should let the Lycan have his privacy,” she said, taking their basket to leave.

“Aria, stop. I need to talk to you,” I said, using my authority.

Without argument, she stopped while the maid went on her way. I walked to her, and she looked up at me and asked, “Where is Lila?”

“The maid's name is Lila?”

“You used your power to stop me?” She asked, realising what had happened.

“If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have stopped. You have been avoiding me for days,” I let out my frustration.

“I don’t think there is anything to talk about,” she said, taking her leave.

I grabbed her by the wrist, “ That night,” I said slowly.

I didn’t even realise what had come over me that night. It was Reine’s name that made me realise what had gone down between us. I immediately knew what had happened.

When Aria asked, “Who is Reine?” I took a few seconds to get off her, but before I could sit properly to explain, she had bolted out of the door. I definitely caught the tears glistening on her face before she dashed out.

“Reine was my first mate,” I began to explain slowly. “ I went out to war before our mating ceremony and I met her lifeless body.”

Aria looked at me intently and opened her mouth to speak when I continued. “ I am sorry, I didn’t know what came over me that night, I shouldn’t have forced you to do anything,” I said.

“I wasn’t forced,” she muttered.

I looked up at her as I remembered that she had stayed still after I had asked her if I should stop.

My hand reached to remove the strands of hair glistening to her face when I paused. My heart quickened in fast paces. Then, without hesitation, I pulled her to me and kissed her.

I paused for any reaction from her, but instead, she leaned in towards me, and I claimed her lips. I savoured the way she tasted, like a fruit but yet with a pinch of cinnamon.

A growl grumbled in my chest as I pressed her against one of the trees. Suddenly, her hands shot up, her fingers wrapped against my throat, her grip tightened against my throat.

“Aria,” I managed to call as I fought her off.

She charged at me, but I held her back, trying to restrain myself from hurting her.

“Aria,” I tried to call her back to her senses.

“You’ve gone soft, Lycan,” she said, pulling my dagger that hung from my hood in swift movement and slashing my back.