Promised To The King

This Means War

BLAKELY'S POV

    It had all happened so fast. No one made a move, no one knew what to do. No one seemed to know what to say. Except for Silas. My silver lining. He let me sink to my knees, but didn't let me stay that way. Before I knew it, he was carrying me to the couch. I didn't know how to handle this news. Obviously, I wasn't handling it well. Silas motioned for everyone to stay out of my little circle so I could breathe. But all movements seemed so slow, and all voices seemed so hard to hear. Silas knelt in front of me to come to eye level. He touched the side of my face so gently. 

    "Why? Why...didn't you tell me?" My voice came out so broken that I could see the sympathy written on every single face in the room. 

    He looked at me, a broken expression on his face. "Baby girl. I felt this was news better dealt with through family." 

    I stared at him, well, I stared through him I suppose. My eyes refused to focus on any one thing. If they did, they may betray me by letting all of the tears I felt raging behind them fall. I knew it wasn't right to blame him. I knew he was probably right. But, it still hurt that he felt I was so fragile he couldn't tell me himself. I started to feel anger grow. 

    "Did you know she was going to die?" I asked trying so desperately to keep my voice even. 

    He looked at me trying to choose his words carefully. "Baby, when a royal execution is decided, the king of that country is supposed to notify all royals of it beforehand..." He began before I cut him off. 

    My voice betrayed me and cracked. "Did you know?!" 

    He looked at me shocked at my outrage. His eyes softened after a minute. After some thought, I suppose he knew this might happen. "Yes, baby. I did but..." I cut him off again. 

    "How could you not do anything?!" I screamed. 

    Axton was immediately on his feet. He was always my voice of reason. But I refused reason this time. "Blakely, you need to calm down." He said sitting next to me. "Please let the man speak. I know you are hurt, I know this is hard. You need him, don't push him away." Nope. No reasoning. Not today. 

    I pushed away from them both and stood quickly. "If you knew...you should have said something! You should have done something! What did the rest of you do? Just stand and f*****g watch?!" I watched the pain on everyone's faces. I knew what I said hurt, and I knew I went too far. 

    My f*****g eyes betrayed me. Tears began to fall like a damned river. I hid my eyes with one hand and crossed my other arm over my stomach. I shouldn't have f*****g said that. None of this was their fault. The casualties would have been a great loss. Their hands were tied. I knew that. I always knew that. God, why am I such a b***h! I should be happy they made it here safely. Instead, I am upset about the one life lost. 

    "I...fuck. I am so sorry. I should not have said that." I said, my voice a broken whisper. "I know...there was nothing that could be done. I...am so sorry." The second the words left my lips I felt Silas and Axton wrap their arms around me as I sunk into the couch again. 

    "We know baby. We know." Was all Silas said as he played with my hair. Why was he so f*****g perfect? Why are they all so f*****g forgiving? 

    I felt Axton return to his seat as quickly as he had come. I took a few deep quivering breaths and wiped my eyes slowly. God, I must look like a mess right now. 

    "You were angry. We get it. We are here for you." Amias said, speaking for the first time since they had arrived. He offered me a kind smile as I glanced at him. 

    "I am so happy that you all made it here safely. I suppose you can't go home?" I said watching each of their expressions. 

    "No, they can't. They are wanted for treason to the crown. I have offered them asylum here, in the palace. The boys will join my army in the upcoming war. Elanor will join Harlow's coven." 

    I nodded listening to him. "Thank you, my love. For all of your kindness to me and my family." As annoying as they all were at times, I was raised with them. They were my family. Amias and Axton even played on the playground with me. They were like my sweet fierce older brothers. 

    Silas grabbed my hand gently. "The family of my beloved is mine to care for as well." 

    I smiled and leaned my tear-soaked face into his chest. Mom would have been so happy here. She always liked Silas. She would have loved the man he had become. 

                                                                       --------SILAS' POV: 

    I watched her breakdown in front of me and I could not feel more helpless. I felt as if there were nothing I could do to make the pain go away. I knew what she said was true, while she didn't mean it and was just angry, I knew it was true nonetheless. I knew the next steps we needed to take though. It was obvious Everett wanted to send a message through Cora's death. We wouldn't have much time now. He was coming. There wouldn't be much time for her to grieve. 

    I would need to discuss with her on her becoming my official queen. Then we would need reinforcements if we were to succeed. She would need to train in battle. I caught Harlow's eyes as she watched me. I knew she and I were on the same page. She nodded silently. Tonight, we would let her grieve. Tomorrow, we would discuss the upcoming war. I kissed her head softly as she held her face in her hands. 

    She looked up at me as tears stained her face. "I think I am going to go lay down. I want to be alone tonight." 

    I kissed her tears away. "Of course my love. Why don't you go lay in my bed, and I will be there in a while to hold you?" 

    She nodded slowly. "That sounds good. Thank you. Can you get Thana to make me a cup of hot cocoa?" 

    I smiled. "Of course my love. Go rest, I will send her with it shortly." 

    She tried her best to offer a smile to everyone, but I saw her lips quivering trying so hard to keep control of the sadness she felt. I was just thankful she had her power under control, for the moment anyway. I nodded to Harlow to go let Thana know her request as she walked away. 

    I waited until she was out of earshot before speaking. "I know you all haven't had much time to rest, but we need to discuss our next steps." 

    Axton smirked at me. "Rest is for the dead. What do you have in mind?" 

   I laugh a little. Of course. A true soldier all ready to get back into the battle again. "We know that Everett means to start a war with the death of a fallen queen. We need to think about our next move. There is no doubt he has already begun his." I start and watch every single face with a dead-serious expression. "There is no doubt he will not approach our gates alone. This situation is escalating fast and we need to stay ahead of him." 

    "How do you suppose we do this if we no longer have ears on the inside for intel?" Elanor asked. 

    "Typically I would say Harlow would see all that he was planning. But it seems the witch he found has found ways around her vision." I explained as I thought of ways to gain control of the situation. "I have thought very long and hard about our next steps, even before news of Cora's death had spread. I still come to the same conclusion, we just need to move faster to get it done in time." 

    Amias watched my every move as if he were dissecting it. "Alright, then what do you propose?" 

    "I had to try to put myself in Everett's shoes before I could understand what our course of action must be. It seems to me that his logical next move would be to gain the trust of rogues across the kingdoms. Witches that would want Aradia dead. Wolves that Leo had banished for damn good reasons. And Vampires that would love to see me dethroned." I watched their faces as each of them realized that I was right. Everett was building an army of his enemies to fight one they had in common. 

    "Are you proposing we do the same? Combine the three kingdoms as one to fight a common threat?' Axton said finally breaking the silence. 

    "Yes, I am. The kingdom of Ambrogio is an ally to the witches and the wolves. All thanks to my father. Should I ask for their aide, we should receive it. Nonetheless, there are specific traditions we need to take when asking for the help of surrounding kingdoms." I sighed leaning back into my seat. "Leo is a very stubborn old wolf. He is all about tradition. He will be the most difficult to approach as we would need to drive to see him. He believes teleportation to be a weak shortcut. He will not even consider helping us if we did so.

    I and Blakely would need to leave as soon as possible to see him. As tradition states, it must be the royals who come to ask for aid. Not messengers. Given that I will be on leave, I would normally put Harlow in charge of the royal affairs, but that is out of the option. I will be sending Harlow and Elanor to Akasha to request Aradia's audience." 

    "We would be honored to do so for you," Harlow stated as she entered the room. "Is there any specific thing you need us to say?" 

    "All she needs to know is I request her presence to discuss a matter of the utmost importance. She will listen. You need to tell her nothing more nothing less." I ordered. 

    She nodded in agreement. "Of course. We will leave in the morning." 

    I held up my hand to stop her haste. "No. You will leave in two days. I and Blakely will leave tomorrow. We need a whole day to make the trip. You and Elanor will be teleporting to Aradia. She has never been one for tradition, and it is far too dangerous to drive through Eudaimonia. You would never reach her." I explained as she nodded in compliance. "By the time you return with her, I should be returning as well. As for you boys. I will entrust my kingdom to you both as well as Alaric and Lilith. I trust the four of you can keep my people safe in my absence." 

    Axton nodded. "Of course. You can count on us." 

    I smile. "I know I can." 

    "Oh, and when did you plan on telling me that we would be visiting the wolves?" I heard Blakely's sweet voice in the doorway. 

    I tensed up. I could feel her aggravation. f**k. "Baby, I didn't want to overwhelm you just yet. I thought it best to talk to you when I came to bed." 

    She scoffed. "With a few hours to prepare me? How thoughtful." 

    "I didn't know how well you would be able to handle it, considering the situation of the day," I explained as softly as I could. 

    "Handle it? You didn't think I could handle it?" She said, her aggravation only growing. 

    "I see that I was wrong. I just wanted to give you time to grieve." I stood slowly. Here we go. "Please my love. Come sit with us." I was trying desperately to deescalate the situation before she got angrier. 

    She looked at me. "If it involves me, I would like to be here instead of being treated like a damned china doll." 

    I nodded quickly feeling all eyes on us. "Yes, of course. Forgive me, baby. It won't happen again. Please, have a seat." 

    She nodded. She seemed like she was trying to keep her anger from making her say things she didn't mean. It was like she was trying to choose her words very carefully. She walked over and sat down next to me as I sank back down. "So, I have to go with you? Even though I am not a royal of this land?" She said looking at me. At that question, everyone in the room tensed up waiting for my response. 

    f**k. I hadn't even asked her. Had she been eavesdropping this whole time? Enough to hear about the traditions anyway. What better time to ask than now I suppose. "Can you wait here a second my love?" I asked standing. 

    She looked at me, her irritation growing again. "What? More secrets? Fine. Just go." 

    I got up quickly and walked into the kitchen where a smiling Thana waited. "Need this?" She asked handing me a small black box. 

    I nodded nervously. "I...don't know what to say to her. She has only been here for a short time. We are just now rekindling our relationship. What if she says no?"    

    She smiled. "She won't. Asking her at this point is just for romance and formality. Say what is on your heart. Like your father, you always speak better when unscripted. Caught up in the moment is the only way to go. That is how he landed your mother. Now go." 

    I laughed and walked back into the parlor. "My love, I am not keeping secrets from you. I am so sorry I made you think I was. Please forgive me. Now, about your royal status here. I need you to answer a simple question." I smiled. My heart had felt as if it were beating out of my chest. I was positive she could hear it. I knelt on one knee and pulled out the little black box. "Will you make me the happiest man alive and be not only my wife but my queen?" I said offering her my mother's ring. 

    I could feel all eyes on us. My heart thudded faster as I waited for her answer. "Silas...I don't know what to say." I heard her voice break as she spoke. 

    "You could say yes before I have a heart attack." I laughed nervously. 

    She smiled. "Of course I will." Her lips crashed into mine as she wrapped her arms around me. 

    For the first time in a long time, I felt...happy. Too bad we would have to resume business in the morning. Everett had made the first move. You know what that meant. Despite our current break for happiness...this meant war.