Connected to the King

Protection Magic

The foyer of the castle was filled with every handmaiden and servant there was. I stood with my arms crossed, fuming with anger as I huffed at the women before me. Ones I thought I could have trusted with my life. From what I could tell only a handful of my best caretakers were innocent since their faces were laced in confusion, but the others showed a great level of fear in the matters of pursuing my King.

"Mariam, are you sure they are all present? I don't see Beatrice nor Emily. But honestly I don't think Emily would have tried anything." I spat with venom.

Mariam shifted her gaze to the woman in the front. Her head was lowered so much that I was unable to recognize who she was. "So, all of you had the nerve… to approach what is rightfully mine." I smirked and shifted my gaze to a very confused looking Gavin as he sped walked from across the foyer.

"Aurora, what are you doing?" He asked in a hushed tone.

I raised a brow at him, "Oh, whatever do you mean? I'm here to teach them a lesson. Nothing you need to worry about."

"So, he told you?" His eyes lowered in guilt.

What? What the hell does that mean? I thought, "Told me what, exactly…" I asked through gritted teeth. Oh, this man couldn't have lied to save his wretched soul if he had to.

"Hold it right there, Aurora. You don't have the authority to speak to any of my people that way." Marcus shouted from behind me.

I brought my finger to my lip as it curled into a malicious smile. "Or else what dearest? You'll take one of these whores to bed?" I slowly turned, my gaze shifting to his.

We both stood glaring at one another. If it was a challenge he wanted, it's a challenge he's going to get.

"You and I both know that isn't true."

"It's so funny how he's coming to the aid of these hussies, isn't it, Mariam?"

"My King, you know truths will get you far more than any lie will." Mariam spoke with her head down.

Why did it seem as if everyone was keeping a secret from me? What does all this mean? Did everyone hate me? What really happened when I was gone.

I pursed my lips and tilted my head as I continued this stare down. "Anything you'd wish to tell me?" I raised my hand in the direction of the guiltiest looking female in the front row. "Clemesté, agùto lá halentia." I slowly twisted my hand at the wrist and closed my fist causing her insides to contort and eventually tear the longer I held my fist closed. The woman who I had found just a short time earlier, had been seen walking out of my chamber during the early hours of the morning the day after I was taken. "Rose, such a pretty name for a trifling little w***e. And Dominic called me the king's pet. Yet here we are."

Marcus ran a hand over his face as his expression changed into one of anger. "Aurora, it's not like that. I'm not going to tell you again." He shouted. A gush of wind flowed toward me with the harshness of his words.

I scoffed, completely ignoring the screeching harpy of a b***h behind me. "Then you won't mind if I kill her then."

"Your highness… if you start killing people you will lose your place with them." Mariam whispered.

"It doesn't matter what they think. None of you thought I was going to be returning and yet here I am. Pregnant with Marcus’ child. One he doesn't claim to be his own!" I screamed; my gaze scanned the room. I released my fist and watched as Rose collapsed to the floor in tears.

"If any of you dare try to touch what is rightfully mine. I will kill you." I pointed to them.

Where was all this possessive anger coming from? Usually, I would hold my emotions in long enough to piece together the puzzle, but I was truly upset. Was this my child? Was my child causing this rising anger in me? I was deep in thought when Marcus' hand gripped my wrist.

I nonchalantly flicked my hand at him, pushing him away from me. "You don't get to touch me. Not anymore, until I get the truth from you, I am sleeping in another chamber."

I turned and walked out of the main foyer. I needed to be away from him. Yes, my body yearned for him, but I couldn't let him get away with anything, not even this.

Are you still alive, Aurora? Sebastian's voice rang in the back of my mind.

Bash? My eyes filled with tears as my gait sped up. Is it really you?

Yeah, I'm sorry for what happened. I didn't mean to leave when did, but I had to get away, knowing our mother was on her way to Lyceiar. She was extremely upset when I didn’t deliver you to Luthor.

How did she find out you were there?

Theil, I tried to kill him, but I failed that was when he tucked tail and ran away from me. That bastard agreed to use you… as a tool or something like that.

What? My body is not meant for anyone…

Not even Marcus I presume.

Not even Marcus. And yet here I am sobbing over him because I'm pregnant with his child and yet he still doubts me. I cut our connection before he could respond.

I had finally made it to the garden and pushed the door wide open. It was just as I left it. Vibrant colors and the warming scent of the chamomile leaves and lavender rushed my senses.

I let out a sniffled sigh as I made my way over to the little pond in the furthest corner of the room. "Why…" I whispered to myself. "Why couldn't I just come home to him… "

I began to blame myself for the events that occurred over the last few months. I silently cried to myself as I fell to my knees beside the pond. My child began kicking within me. I rubbed my belly and smiled sadly down at it. "I am so sorry baby."

Crunching footsteps made my head jolt up, my eyes landed on Marcus, "What are you doing here?" I sneered.

"This is my castle, my garden. I go where I please, when I please." He calmly stated.

"What do you want?" I asked, moving back over to the pond.

Marcus let out a heavy sigh, "I need to tell you something. Well, more like I need to show you something." He spoke with a softened tone.

I honestly didn't know what to think of him wanting to talk suddenly. Especially after what I did. But these women needed to know their place since they are keeping his secret. I might as well give him the time to talk. Maybe he'll shut up and leave me alone after.

"What do you want?" I asked, clasping my hands together in front of me.

"Are you going to cooperate? Or are we going to just stomp around being angry at one another?" He yelled; his fist clenched.

I raised a brow at him for a moment before waving my hand at him, "I can't stay angry with you. But what I said earlier still stands. I am not sleeping in the same bed let alone the same room as you." I huffed at him.

Marcus reached down and gently rubbed my stomach. "After this you'll change your mind."

"Here." He gently grabbed my hand causing me to flinch away from him.

"What?" I asked, not turning to him.

"Just give me your hand. It'll be easier to show you than it would be to explain." He grabbed my hand again and pressed my palm to his cheek.

The both of us closed our eyes and watched his memories of the last few months unfold.

What happened? What do you mean someone took her? She was just behind me!

I'm sorry my King but she was last seen in the arms of a very odd fellow. His eyes held no life, but his skin… Oh his skin was so pale, but I-I did see that he had a scar across his lip.

I watched as Marcus went into our chamber and destroyed every bit of it in a fit of rage. Ordering everyone to go out and search for me. His frantic heartbeat caused my tears to pool in the corner of my eyes as the memories played.

A knock appeared at the door to the destroyed chamber as Marcus sat in front of the fireplace staring into its flames as the realization of my disappearance had hit him full force.

"My King. I have news from Mariam that I must share."

I frowned at the sight of Rose. Is this the night? Is this what he wanted to tell me?

"What is it?" His tone was cold.

"Mariam suspects milady Aurora will be pregnant."

Marcus didn't respond immediately. It wasn't until after Rose had dismissed herself that she was caught wandering out from our chamber by Gavin who was then confronted by Marcus as he stalked off to find Mariam.

"You saw nothing." He sneered at Gavin as he passed him by.

Gavin had no choice but to bow his head as Marcus strode past him.

The scene pushed through time, as Marcus and Mariam came into view. I could not help but hold my breath at the drawings of what looked to be a nursery that Mariam had made by hand.

I pulled my hand from his cheek and severed the connection to his memories. The tears that had pooled in the corner of my eyes had spilled as I brought my hand to my mouth and cried. That's what he had to tell me? Mariam knew I was pregnant from day one?

Marcus let out a heavy sigh as he cupped my cheek with his hand. I leaned into his touch and continued my silent cries. How could I have missed that? Why did I do all of those things? Those girls are never going to trust me again.

"Do you see what I've been trying to tell you this entire time?" He whispered to me.

I nodded and turned to face him. "Then why did you accuse me? Why did you try to make me seem as if I was not loyal to you?”

“When Rose said that you may be pregnant, I was unsure if it was something in regard to Luthor or whomever or if it was mine. A play on words can mean something different.”

“Marcus. No one could have predicted that Theil would have come back to take me. My visions don’t always warn me of things like this, just as Mariam’s vision didn’t tell her who the father of my child is.” Wiping the tears from my cheeks I sniffled and lowered my gaze.

A hand appeared under my chin, tilting it upward as Marcus brought his lips to mine in a tender kiss. His hands snaked around my waist, pulling me closer to him as I whimpered and cried into his lips.

I pulled away from him and tucked my head into his chest, my face covered by my hands. I was embarrassed to say the least and I had broken the trust between my girls and I over something I didn't understand.

I sniffled, wiping my tears I shifted my gaze up at him, "Marcus, I—"

He quickly pressed his finger to my lips, silencing me. "Don't… don't you dare apologize for something you didn't understand."

The low-pitched squawk of a bird pulled us from one another, causing me to look up in search of the source. Once my eyes landed on their target, I couldn't help but smile. "Tige… where have you been?"

The red-tailed hawk nonchalantly hopped down from its perch and hobbled over to me. His eyes were filled with tears. I opened my arms and welcomed him. "Come here, Tige." I sniffled.

“Is that the bird your father mentioned?” Marcus asked.

I extended my hand out to Tige and urged him forward, “It is, this is Tige. My familiar.”

He gracefully hopped into my lap and nuzzled his beak into my tummy. “And where have you been?" His voice chided in my head.

"It's a long story."

"Well, now that I have finally found you. I've got all the time in the world."

Tige and I sat in the garden for hours as Marcus and I caught him up to recent events. He managed to tell me that he was captured by my mother and held at Plancier until she decided to leave to meet with me. Only then was he able to track me down.

"Princess, I didn't know… I lost sight of you when we ran away from the coven. Those trees were too thick for me to dive into and keep pace, but I'm glad to have found you."

"I'm so glad you're here." I sniffled and ran my hand across his soft feathers.

"Aurora, there's something you need to know." Tige said, looking up at me. "Promise me you won't tell your mother." He c****d his head at me.

I couldn't help but wonder what Tige needed to tell me. My heart began to beat rapidly as he hopped out of my lap and hobbled away from me. "Wait, where are you going?" I reached for him only for his animal form to shift.

A man stood in his place, wearing a royal blue tunic and black brais. A calm, warming yet powerful aura radiated off him. Why did he seem so familiar?

"Tige?" I whispered as I rose to my feet. "Father?" I asked as he turned around. "Wh-what is the meaning of this?"

My father smiled down at me and wrapped his arms around me, "Aurora, I couldn't tell you. I needed to know you were safe and when I sent you all back, I had to come."

I buried my head into his chest as my eyes began to water, "Is that why you were gone all the time, but in reality, you weren't? You've been by my side this entire time?"

"That is exactly why. But I really did lose track of you when you ran away." He whispered. "We need to go. Luthor’s body went missing, I went back to check the remnants of the castle and he was not there. Nedget is on his way. Theil is missing as well. So, we can only assume that Nedget took over his body."

"Oh no… you can't be serious? I thought Theil returned home after he left me with Nedget…Luthor… gah whoever he was.” I shifted my gaze up at him and fear and anxiety poured into me.

"That's the thing, Aurora he hasn't. He's been missing." He grumbled.

"My King." A voice sounded from the doorway.

The both of us responded and turned to face the door, Ulysses stood with his head bowed. "Your presence is being requested in the war room."

Marcus let out a heavy sigh before rising from the bench. "Go lay down and rest. Your father can keep you company until I finish explaining everything that's going on to the guys." He extended his hand to me.

I nodded and placed my hand in his as he gently pulled me to my feet. "Ulysses, you will escort them back to our chamber and then report back to the war room."

"Yes, my king.” He slightly bowed his head, waiting for us to approach him and follow him back.

I grabbed the tassel on my sleeve and fiddled with it as my nerves stood on edge. A small flutter in my stomach put my mind at ease for a moment as I rubbed my tummy. Marcus turned to face me as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his warming embrace. The only issue at this point was the fact that I was much warmer than usual and being this close to Marcus made it difficult.

“Dearest, you are making me sweat, and I don't like that.” I pouted.

“You have been really warm lately, are you sure you’re not catching a cold?” He pressed his hand to my forehead and cheeks.

“It's a pregnancy thing. I’ve been warm for quite some time now.” I pulled away from him.

“Well, let me finish this up with the boys and get you back to our chamber.” He extended his arm to me.

I smiled and looped my arm around his as we slowly walked out of the garden. “Maybe I’ll be able to get some rest. It truly has been a long day.” I glanced out of the window to see that the sun had set not too long ago as the skies were painted in beautiful shades of blues and purples and a dash of orange.

Once we reached the door Roluth, my father had extended his arm to me after exchanging a look and a nod with Marcus.

“Your highness, I will be escorting you to your chamber now. And I’m sorry, I didn't quite catch your name sir.” Ulysses directed his question toward my father.

“Roluth, husband to the High Witch of Plancier.” he smirked.

Ulysses’ color drained from his face as he shifted his gaze to me and gulped in fear. I batted my hand at Ulysses and smiled. “Don’t worry, you’re not in his sights, and I’d suggest staying out of it,” I whispered.

He nodded and turned around as we all began walking down the corridors back to my chamber. The echoes of our footsteps were the only source of sound as we continued through the hallways.

Once we arrived at my chamber I gave Ulysses a nod, "Thank you. You're dismissed."

Ulysses turned on his heel and rushed out of sight. I knew the poor boy was afraid of my father and even me now since I decided to showcase my abilities. I sighed heavily and pushed the doors to my chamber open and stepped inside. The warmth of the room quickly enveloped me.

"It's too hot… " I fanned myself as I stepped over to the wardrobe and sifted through the gowns. "It's going to be a long night."