Ezra's Second Chance

A Problem Mate

Ezra had seen Aria at breakfast that morning. He didn't feel anything like the mate pull. He had held out a little hope that she might be his second chance mate. With Bridgit no longer tied to him, he hoped he'd feel something. He didn't feel even a flicker... maybe because she was still mated. However, he'd heard plenty of times that a mate could feel their other half, even if she or he were mated already. The mated one woudn't, but the unmated half of the pair could. He decided to give up hope on that venture. He did feel a little gross for wanting to be mated to the princess, with her still reeling from her betrayal. She didn't need another mate, she needed a secure environment to heal in.

He'd placed a man to watch Bridgit, without her knowing about it. Everything she did was tracked and watched. He'd report at the next meeting unless something urgent came up and he needed to call an emergency meeting.

That evening, when Ezra was off duty, he wandered the grounds just to clear his head. He stopped short when he heard the sounds of weeping. The sound penetrated his soul. The complete sadness, emptiness that came through that simple sound broke him. He went in search of the person in distress. When he saw Aria crumpled on the ground, her fist clutching the grass, he ran to her and kelt down. Pulling her into his lap he looked her over for injuries, but he was sure it was the mate bond torturing her. She curled up and kept screaming, she had balled her fists so tight her nails drew blood. Ezra could do nothing to ease her pain, so he just held her, helpless and hating it. Her whole body shook and suddenly she pulled herself away from him and vomited onto the grass.

"I'm sorry..." she choked out.

"Don't be," he replied. He held her hair and stroked her back. "You just do what you need to and I'll be right here."

Finally, she sat back, wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and looked up at him. Her breathing was ragged and her face was swollen from crying.

"Is it over?"

She nodded.

"Would you like to get back to your room unseen?"

She nodded again.

He let her lean on him as he led her around the back of the palace. There, he took her into a secret door that led straight to a back staircase that led upstairs to all the royal suites. It was a passage to be used if the palace was under siege and the King needed to get his family out in secret. There, he could take Aria up and no one would see her. No questions would be asked and no rumors started. He got her to her room and shut the door. He took her to the bed and began unlacing her boots.

"What are you doing?" she asked, almost sounding scared.

"I'm just going to help you out of your shoes and get you comfortable. I'm not going to make any moves."

She flushed deeply, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."

"Ssshhh, don't worry about it." He tried to smile at her to reassure her. But honestly, he was angry and disturbed. This reaction to the mate bond was violent. So much worse than anything he'd felt. He was worried she wouldn't be able to make it through a long ordeal of this. Her mate needed to be found. This couldn't go on. "Can I ask you something?"

She looked wary. "I know what you're going to ask..." she said. "Yes, I did sleep with my mate. And what's more..." she pulled the collar of her dress down enough to reveal a mark. "I let him mark me," her voice hitched.

"Oh Aria..." he said softly. "No wonder it's so bad."

"I'm not just wasting away because I'm heartbroken. I am definitely heartbroken, but this... I can't do this," she put her head in her hands and began to weep.

Ezra crossed over to her vanity and picked up a hair brush as well as poured her a glass of water. He gave her the water and then sat behind her. He began to gently brush her hair. "Does your mother know?" he asked.

"No, and she can't ever know. What I did was not very princess-like and definitely not fitting for a royal. She would be devastated. I loved my mate and I wanted nothing but to be tied to him forever as quickly as possible. I don't know why he betrayed me. I was naive maybe... but he was my mate. Why wouldn't I trust him?"

"I understand Aria. You don't have to explain yourself. I understand more than you know," he assured her. "What is your mate's name?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because, Aria, I vow to you to find him and bring him to you. So you can reject him and be free. If it's the last thing I do, I'll set you free."

Aria turned to look at him, her eyes looked weary beyond her years. "His name is Braydon Brentwell. I have no idea where he went. He did take a maid with him."

"I have some resources at my disposal. I'll use them all to find him. Now, you rest. Where is your security man?"

"I sent him off. I didn't want witnesses to... you know..."

"I understand. I'll get him posted at your door, but you need anything you don't want him for you call me directly. Okay?"

She nodded. She'd laid down and Ezra pulled the blanket over her. She was asleep within minutes. Ezra left her room as discretely as possible. He had a mission to begin.