Leighton

49. A rejection potion for two

Estelle

“Didn’t I tell you to release Ara?” My father thundered at me as I walked into his office for the swings time that morning.

“As I told you, I need to sort this mess out first.”

“You need her. For what’s to come you can’t afford to alienate her. Go and apologise now.” He was using his royal voice on me. While it didn’t affect me like a normal wolf it was very hard to resist.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Trying to control his temper.

“You do not need any more enemies. Ara will be out today whether you do so or not. I hope for your sake you see sense.”

His voice was laced with disappointment once again. I wished it didn’t bother me so much.

I silently left the room, wanting to find Leighton, knowing he could make me feel better. My father hadn’t mentioned anything about a Leighton returning and with the mood he was in I decided I wouldn’t be rushing back to see him.

“Everything okay?” Iris asked as I bumped into her, not noticing her passing.

“Yeah, em.. sure.” I shrugged.

“Leighton okay?” She asked cautiously.

I had forgotten they all made themselves scarce while we had our tet a tet.

“Yes, he is fine. Well battered and bruised but okay thanks.” I shrugged her off.

“Ookaaay…” She said watching me carefully. “You sure you are okay ?”

No I wasn’t I was tired. Tired of trying to win my father’s approval, worrying about Leighton and the trouble I caused him, and my kingdom by choosing not to reject him. Worried that obeying my father would push Greer and Iris away and I needed them. I didn’t know why but my wolf agreed that they had a part to play in all this.

“My father will release Ara. She won’t be punished because, well no one was harmed.” She didn’t respond. “Actually he wants me to release her because he says we need her help.”

I almost winced as I said this part as I expected Iris to be annoyed, angry even.

“I’m not saying that all Kings are wise, because to be honest I’ve not met many… but I suppose we should assume your father knows more about all this than we do.” She made a face. “As much as it pains me to admit it, if you think you need her Greer will understand.”

“Won’t Jackson make you all leave?”

She laughed in my face. “Jackson can’t make us do anything. He will probably have a strop but he is so worried about what Greer thinks of him right now he will give her anything. Even that.”

Surprisingly a weight had been lifted of my shoulders. Forgiveness wasn’t something I thought Iris would be into. Although, maybe having heard all the tales about their younger days and battles. I guessed she maybe now how to look at the bigger picture.

Thanking Iris I headed to the dungeon. First I would make sure Ara understood that I didn’t approve of what she did but that her previous history with that pack wasn’t may of my business and all her efforts here hadn’t gone unnoticed and didn’t count for something. One thing I did know about her was that she liked it here. She liked having a place she called home and I didn’t think she would really want to leave

“He won’t praise you you know.” Raine reminded me.

“I know, but at least he can’t be anymore disappointed and say I don’t take accountability.” I told her.

“Big words princess.” She was mocking me. “I smell mate.”

Leighton’s scent hung thick in the air. I hoped he wasn’t here to see Ara. I didn’t need her annoyed before I saw her, I didn’t want to have to apologise too much. He hadn’t mentioned any beef with her but after hearing their history he was totally going to be team Greer.

As I got closer I could hear raised voices, one of which was Leighton. I rushed forward, suddenly concerned. As I entered the dungeon there was a taste of blood in the air but I wasn’t expecting to see Leighton, entwined with the shewolf he brought. Blood was all over her face and his shirt like he had been comforting her.

The blood in my veins froze as I heard her say.

“Kiss me Leighton, awaken our bond again.”

I couldn’t drag my eyes from his face as he looked at her with concern. At that I heard Raine growl from within me. Leighton’s startled eyes meeting mine and he dropped the shewolf like she was a hot stone.

“Estelle.” He rushed towards me as I swung the cell door closed, recoiling from him. His clothes now soiled with her blood.

With as much ice in my voice as I could muster, I turned to Ara.

“Come with me.” I unlocked her door and watched as came out with a bemused look on her face.

“Estelle wait please I can explain.” Leighton sounded distraught from behind his cell door.

“I’m sure you can, however I find myself no longer interested in you.” Taking a deep shaky breath.

“I, Princess Estelle, future queen of Britannia… reject…”

“Nooo” Leighton shouted in anguish.

“Princess. I must stop you there. As much as this wolves life is of no concern, yours however is. Please let me prepare something for you.”

“Don’t take anything from her Estelle. You can’t trust her. She is in on this.” Leighton shouted from the cell.

“In on what exactly? All it looks like to me is you found your first mate and now have some grand illusions that you can have both. Well firstly I don’t share and secondly to disrespect the future queen in such a manner would be… treason.”

I barely got the word out before I could feel tears pricking. I wished I had my father’s gift he could probably turn them to ice.

“It’s not what you think sweetheart.”

The knife twisted with his term of endearment, but I forced myself not to cave in. The bond between us was so strong even now it pulled me to him. I needed to try and disconnect.

“I was just trying to stop her ..”

I held up my hand to silence him before leaving the dungeon with Ara on my heel. Once I was outside I faltered for a moment before I felt her hand at my elbow, steering me . She guided me into one of her spell rooms before sitting me on a stool.

I watched as she mixed some ingredients together, stirring continuously occasionally muttering something.

“Ah, you are here.” She said when she clocked me watching. I couldn’t be sure she wasn’t enjoying my pain.

“I’m not.” She said as she knew adding a little of this and that.

Was she reading my mind ?

“I’m not happy this has happened to you. Actually you I was rooting for. Leighton I accepted because he seemed to love you so much that he had forgotten all about Greer. That’s why I was happy to help him.” She rambled on as she sniffed the potion.

“It’s nearly ready are you ?” She asked.

Before I could answer the door slammed open and a wide eyed Leighton stood before us.

“Don’t … don’t do this.” He said, not moving from the door.

I found my anger evaporating. I didn’t even think I could summon the energy to be angry because to do so meant feeling all the hurt and humiliation I was trying so hard to keep at bay.

I just simply stared at him, taking a final moment to process what I would never have again.

“I won’t accept it.” He said, moving towards me, his focus solely on me.

I turned away to look at Ara for confirmation that he needed too. The look she gave suggested he did.

“To defile a royal mate bond is treason.” Raine must have been helping me out as I was surprised how strong my voice sounded as I said those words. Even Ara looked impressed.

“I haven’t deluded our bond, I.was tricked Estelle. I would never betray you. Please let me explain.”

I turned my gaze to Ara, to see if I had time to entertain him. My heart sank when she didn’t insist he leave. I wasn’t ready to hear him out. I didn’t want to feel and even just his presence was affecting me.

“Stay strong Estelle. I’m with you.”

“Why do I feel a but coming on ?”

“He is our mate. He deserves to try and explain. But I will let you decide if you can forgive him.”

“Do you forgive Titan?”

Her silence spoke more than she ever could.

“Okay. Explain beloved mate.”

“Really Estelle ?”

I ignored my wolf and focussed on Leighton. He stepped inside the door but had the sense to stop before he as much closer to me.

“What you saw there was nothing. I was simply trying to stop her from hurting herself. If you can walked in any moment before you would have seen.”

“Why were you even there.”

He couldn’t look me in the eye and paused before saying. “I went to get the medallion so we could take it to see your father. I promised Rhiannon that if she could get it I would get her safe passage out of Abaddon. She framed it one I found out it was a fake.”

“It’s fake”

“According to Ara.” I looked up for confirmation and Ara nodded.

“Why would she give how a fake?”

“Sorry to interrupt but I would be more concerned about how the King knew you might want it and had fake prepared.” Ara interjected.

Leighton stepped closer. “I love you Estelle only you. There is nothing between me and Rhiannon, anything that happened was all fake.”

“What happened?”

“Why are you asking Estelle, you don’t need to hurt anymore.”

Leighton signed and his head hung. “Rhiannon came to my room, before the challenge. Clearly sent by te prince and king to damage our bond. They did something to her to make me feel a mate bond with her. We kissed and…”

“And…” I wanted him to say it.

“Please Estelle. I was confused. I stopped it when I realised it felt wrong. She wasn’t you.”

I felt vomit enter my mouth but I refused to him the satisfaction of seeing my distress.

“I didn’t mate with her. I couldn’t, even when I could feel the fake mate bond. Which is gone now.” He looked at Ara. “Your antidote works.”

“You can say it.” She said to him.

When he was silent she muttered. “Stupid proud wolves.”

I turned to her not looking at him.

“Was he spelled ?” I asked her.

“Yes, I think they used a perfume enhance her scent and try to re tie the strings of their bind. It’s a tricky potion, and wouldn’t be affected by the protection spell as it’s not a spell.”

Was this just me being desperate that I wanted to believe that the real Leighton wouldn’t cheat on me?

“It’s ready.” Ara had filled a goblet with a potion. It looked just like red wine but the scents wasn’t as pleasurable.

“Expect it to taste even worse. There is enough for two if you want to share.” I was surprised she wanted to save him and my surprise must have shown on my face.

“To be fair he did overcome their tricks on his own. Maybe he deserves a second chance. Come find me when you are done. Even with this you will still want my help.” She stopped as she walked by. Placing a hand on my shoulder she spoke quietly. “I knew you would be a great queen.”