Leighton

41. Sleeping draughts

Estelle

I tried to keep busy so I didn’t have to think about Leighton. I had made Peter promise to keep him safe before they left, which was probably an impossible promise to make but he did it anyway.

I thought things might be awkward between us but he seemed just like normal. I didn’t need any additional drama in my life. The witches were working on something to defeat King Adalfudis, father was holed up in his office and I it dawned on my that I hadn’t seen my mother since I arrived.

Knocking on the door I asked my father where she was.

“Close the door.”

He put down his paperwork and stared out the window.

“She is sick.”

Werewolves rarely got sick.

“Sick?”

“I think she was poisoned, slowly over a long time.” He gripped the pencil in his hand so hard it snapped.

“She started just being tired, then she got forgetful and wandered. Now she can’t even get out of bed.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t know, she hasn’t been the same since … I thought she was depressed until I started to suspect a spy. When they left she had already taken to bed. If only I had worked it out earlier.”

The distress in his voice was too deep to hide.

“Can’t the witches help her?”

“They have been trying to work out what it is so they can. Ara suggested we give her a sleeping daught while we try and find an antidote, it should slow the poison down.”

“When will she wake up ?”

“Unless we find an antidote or my some miracle she can fight of the poison, then…”

He couldn’t say it. I didn’t press any further even though I was burning with questions.

He took me to her room and she just looked like she was sleeping.

I sat with her, thinking about how strained things had been between us for the last few years. Even so it didn’t seem to matter that we hadn’t been close. The thought that she might not wake up was one I didn’t like.

I hadn’t been under any illusion that when I was married, to whomever that ended up being that we would suddenly have this close relationship but I guess I had hoped that when the descion was made, maybe they would try and get a bit closer to me.

I had conversed more with my father in the last few weeks that I felt like I had in the last few years, and those previous conversations had been mainly him giving me instructions that I knew I best try to follow.

While I stood her in room, lost in my

thoughts I hadn’t noticed him leave. I continued to just stand and stare at the sleeping wolf and found part of me didn’t want to stay either. I felt like I should talk to her but I didn’t know what to say

“She will wake up. Tell her then.” Raine said confidently.

I wasn’t quite as sure but at least she looked peaceful.

It was getting late and having not slept for what felt like ever I decided to go and try and get some sleep. I thought that worrying about Leighton, and now my mother might keep me awake all but I could barely keep my eye open when I lay down in the bed.

I must have been out cold as I was woken by a banging at my door. Stumbling towards it I saw Seamus, my father’s royal beta.

“You blocked your father out, he is not impressed. Your friends have arrived.” He told me sternly, having never appeared to hold much time for me growing up it appeared nothing at changed.

“Leighton can’t be back already ?” My heart hammered in hope, that maybe he was okay.

“Lover boy is still MIA, if the Prince has any sense he will delay the challenge until morning. His problems probably haven’t even started yet. Some shewolfs flew in, looking for you and the alpha.”

It must be Greer and Iris. I was proved correct when I reached the hall to find them along with Piper waiting for me.

“You guys are in so much trouble.” I told them giving both hugs to both Iris and Greer. Piper stood a little further back and was regarding me warily. “Good to see you, all.” I looked at her and she nodded. Her eyes looked red from crying and her face was pale and drawn, like she hadn’t slept.

“Is Jackson here, I thought I could feel him but he has a block up and I can’t contact him, even Iris can’t get through.” Greer asked.

“He is here, I haven’t seen him since Leighton left.” I looked away. “He has gone to challenge the Prince.”

I saw her stare at the red ugly mark on my neck.

“What’s going on ? Why didn’t he take Jackson?” She asked.

“Jackson was worried where you had gone so was waiting here until they located your plane.” Looking at Iris. “Oliver is coming after you.”

Seeing the smirk she tired to hide I had an inclining she wanted him to follow her here.

“Do you care to fill me in on what you three know?” I asked, feeling somewhat out of the loop.

“Greer could tell Jackson was hiding something, and that something usually is that he needs her help but is to worried about her to consider it. Allura was pretty convinced that we needed to be here so here we are!” Iris waved her arms in a dramatic fashion.

I was watching Piper.

“Leighton took Peter as his second, I haven’t heard from them, I don’t expect we will until they can get away from Abaddon Castle.” I told her. “I’m sorry we ran away without telling you, there was just no time and we needed to go.”

“What happened?” Iris asked.

“Izzy is the Princes fated mate, she tricked us into thinking he had my parents but it was just a ploy to get me there so the could mark me.”

I could tell from their shocked faces they hadn’t seen that coming.

“Peter didn’t really have a choice, he is the royal advisor. Please forgive him. Once you guys are marked you might understand what he feels a little better.” I told Piper.

“He had a choice, and he made it. I’m not mad at you Princess. Well maybe I am but I’m trying hard to understand it’s not your fault. I’m here to reject him. I’ve never been a priority for anyone, I need that from my mate, and I know it will always be you so I’m not even going to try and compete with you.” She sniffed as she said the last words.

“I understand.” I wanted to say more but she looked to upset. “I’ll take you guys to your rooms.

I had linked Seamus, to be grumpily told Jackson hadn’t been seen since he retired to his room.

“Jackson’s is along here. Follow me.”

In no time at all we were outside his room. Not wanting to witness the lovers reunion I left Greer at the door to show the others to some of the empty rooms.

“Is you need anything just get Iris to link me and I’ll send a maid. I hoped you might turn up so I had a few rooms prepared.” I told them as we left Greer.

Bang bang bang. “JACKSON” Greer shouted from down the hall.

“It’s locked.” She said sheepishly, when I retraced my steps. I unlocked it with the master key but the door wouldn’t open.

“They are old give it a push.” I told her, frowning when it didn’t budge.

Iris arrived by this point. “Need a hand?”

I shook my head and blacked a jet of air, swinging the door wide open.

Greer took one step inside the room before she stopped. Looking past her I could see what stopped her.

A topless Jackson was sitting up in bed, with a very naked Ara scrambling away from his side.

“This isn’t what it looks like,” Ara said as she tried to pull her clothes on while covering herself with the cover.

Jackson stared at Greer unblinking, before he went to move. “Greer?” He mumbled. “Are you here?”

Pushing himself from the bed I was slightly relived to see he was wearing shorts but behind me Greer had turned and fled from the room.

Piper ran after her and Iris stormed into the room.

“What the hell is going on?” She screamed at Jackson.

He blinked in confusion and followed her gaze to Ara.

“Please Iris. Let me explain ?” Ara was dressed of sorts now as she sharnk away from Iris’s rage.

Jackson’s confusion turned to anger when he saw Ara in his room.

“What are you doing here ?” He snarled, his anger seeming to fuel him and as he pulled on a t shirt and went in the direction of his mate not waiting for her answer.

“I swear it ain’t what it looks like.” Ara wrung her hands.

“Please care to elaborate as what it looks like is you have drugged Jackson to sleep with you.” Iris spat at her.

Jackson’s block, not opening the door and confusion made sense now.

“Ara?” I questioned when she didn’t respond.

“I just wanted to be close to him one last time. No one was meant to know. It was only a sleeping draught. I would have left before he woke.”

I couldn’t believe she would do that, their distrust of her understandable now. I didn’t understand her logic.

“He isn’t your mate ? Why would you want …”

“I love him.” She whispered. “He hates me so I just wanted one night, where I could be close to him and pretend he didn’t.”

She sniffed, her emotions back in check. “I’ll explain to Greer. I only gave him a sleeping draught, it will wear of soon and he will be back to normal.”

“I wouldn’t suggest you do. I’m not sure you would survive the outcome.”

“Oh she will.” Iris grabbed Ara and dragged her with her, obviously in the direction of Greer and Jackson.

We heard them before we saw them, Jackson pleading with Greer that he didn’t know what was going on.

Seeing us Jackson immediately flew at Ara.

“What the f*** did you do to me?” His hands gripped around her throat so tightly she couldn’t answer.

“She gave you a sleeping draught so she could spend the night with you.”

He looked at me, his hold on her releasing enough that she could breathe and she muttered something that pushed him away from her.

Sputtering she moved herself further away.

“I meant to be gone before you left, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to cause any trouble for you.”

Jackson went for her again, whatever magic she was using not strong enough to stop him.

“I’m going to kill you like I should have done the first time you dared come between me and my mate.” He growled his wolf fighting him for control.

“Don’t let him, Leighton’s potion, I used my blood. It won’t work if I die.”

I heard Ara voice in my head.

“STOP” I bellowed my voice sounding oddly like Raines.

At my command Jackson couldn’t help but release Ara and she scrambled away before he could grab her again.

“You can’t kill her, not yet. Leighton needs her.” I looked Ara who was looking at me with a mixture of relief and gratitude. “Once he has returned, you can do what you like.”

I told Jackson looking at Greer, who had a look of anguish on her face.

I linked Seamus and he arrived immediately.

“Assign a guard to Ara. She is not to be left alone. I need to speak to my father.”

“I will guard her personally, your highness.”

I didn’t have time to be surprised by his response because Jackson was glaring at me, while Iris looked very confused.

Greer placed her hand on Jackson’s chest and I saw him relax slightly. He went to pull her into her arms but she shook her head sadly.

Turning to me she spoke softly. “Tell us what’s going on. Everything.”