Connected to the King

Nightmares

Marcus and I had excused ourselves from the dining hall, leaving Mariam and Maxwell in charge. There was too much to be said.

Marcus and my father stood as a buffer between Sebastian and I as we had made our way to the foyer. There was no telling what was bound to happen.

"I don't know why you're so pissed off about this, Aurora!" Sebastian shouted at me.

I rolled my eyes and turn to walk away. Ignoring his bickering.

Sebastian scoffed, "Theil was right about you f*****g this up for everyone."

A loud smack echoed through the foyer. I didn't bother to turn around to see what had happened as I made my way over to the fireplace. I knelt on the bearskin rug and let out a heavy sigh. "Sebastian, I don't care about what you guys want. There wasn't a need for me to die. Whatever deal mother made with the ancestors was not my problem…so what was it that I messed up?"

"You have no idea the damage control I've been doing. Mother has been infuriated with everything going on. The coven doesn’t trust her to put their needs above their own. She’s murdered half of the damn villagers between here and home.”

"That still doesn't tell me what the hell it was that I messed up." I glanced over my shoulder at him. "Unless you have something valid in regard to this situation I'd prefer if you weren't in my presence." I turned my attention back to the dancing flames.

"You know you were the one who released Nedget, right? You were the one who doomed us all, because you refused to give mother your power to keep his bindings on him in the void, he was able to escape." His voice cracked as he shouted.

"Oh, my dear brother, forty years old and your balls still haven't dropped." I shook my head. “Thiel told me everything I needed to know before I escaped from Nedget’s grasp.”

"And Nedget is none of your concern now. He's locked away." My father concluded.

"Mother is on her way to claim the power you received from the ancestors, what’s rightfully hers. She knows as does everyone else toward the south. Your pregnancy made you vulnerable." He sneered as he stomped back toward the main gate.

"What does that mean? What's rightfully hers?" Marcus asked.

My father sighed as footsteps approached me from behind.

"Do you know what he's saying?" I muttered.

"There was more to the deal than keeping Nedget locked away. It also involved the life of the children in her bloodline which means you, any female child you bear and so on and so forth." My father's voice rumbled.

My shoulders dropped, "That explains why you never had children of your own. She was going to take your children then, too.”

A pair of strong arms wrapped around me as Marcus took his place beside me. "Nothing is going to happen to you or our child."

"We've got you covered." My father chimed in.

I gave the boys a small smile. "I'll leave my care in your hands then."

What the hell did my mother get us into? Why was she so greedy? I closed my eyes and thought to myself as the soft crackles of the fireplace calmed my nerves.

Everything will be fine, if the child lives to see their birth. Everything else will be resolved. Cecilia’s voice chimed in my head.

I really wish you'd stop appearing in my mind.

Well, you're stuck with us. You gained the power that hasn't been passed on, even your sisters magic was transferred to you. She chuckled.

What about my mother? How much of her magic is still intact? Is it something I'm going to have to take from her? How do I get her binding magic off me? I don’t understand what I need to do.

You have the choice of taking it or giving it back to the ancestors and no matter which one you choose we will be behind you.

I don't want the power. Too much could kill me—

But too little will keep a target on your back. Think wisely about your decision, Aurora.

I shut out Cecilia’s voice in my head, unable to think properly about my decision ahead. Who could I give this power to? How can we make this out alive?

I slumped my shoulders and pouted as my heart throbbed into my ears. "Can we just go back and enjoy the rest of the feast? I'd hate to leave everyone wondering where we went." I whispered.

"Yea, we can go back. But I want to make sure you're alright." Marcus' voice soothed as he helped me to my feet.

Once we had made it back to the main dining hall, we discovered that most of the castle occupants had stuck around. My father joined Mariam as Marcus, and I stood in the center of the room.

I glanced around the room as all eyes were on us. Their expressions were giddy and secretive.

I spun around to where he was standing, "Marcus, do you know why-" My eyes fell to him as he knelt, a grin plastered on his face.

He grabbed my hand and caressed it as he waited for the chatter to die down. "Aurora, I've been meaning to ask you something."

I placed my hand on my chest as my heart fluttered, bouncing on my toes. Nodding, I brought my other hand to my lips as tears brimmed my eyes.

"From the day I met you, you've done nothing but support me in everything I've done. Kept me on my toes with your stubborn attitude but you've also shown me what the touch of a woman can do to a man like me." He started.

I sniffled as a stray tear streamed down my cheek. My grip on his hand tightened.

Marcus snickered, "You're also the biggest cry baby I know."

Marcus' statement caused the room to chuckle as I nodded in agreement.

"But you've done more for this kingdom than I have in my entire life, in a little more than a year." He sighed heavily. "I know, I haven't been the best man to you, but I promise you this…." Marcus reached into a small pouch on his belt, pulling out an opal stone in a gold setting, and held it up to me. "I will be the husband, father and king you deserve. Aurora, will you marry me?"

My heart swelled with love and adoration for this man. Without hesitation, I nodded frantically. "Marcus, dearest, of course!" I cried happy tears streamed down my cheeks.

Marcus slid the ring over my finger and rose, scooping me into his arms. He squeezed me tightly as we both cried. I inspected the newly placed ring on my finger and saw my grandmother's heirloom. My eyes widened as I pulled away from Marcus for a moment, my hands on his upper arm.

"Dearest, w-where did you get this?" My eyes volleyed from him to my father who wore the biggest grin his face would allow.

He smiled at me and cupped my face. "Your father gave it to me and gave me his blessing."

My heart bloomed as my father gave me a nod, confirming this to be true. "Oh my goodness." I wrapped my arms around Marcus and kissed him all over his face and then his lips.

"Oh my, you two get a room!" Mariam laughed as she ushered everyone out of the dining hall.

The two of us stood embracing one another, our foreheads pressed against each other as we caught our breaths. My hands rested on Marcus’ shoulders. My fear of forever being alone dissipated from my mind.

"Let's get you back and off your feet." Marcus huffed between breaths.

I groaned, pouting my lip. "That sounds wonderful. I could definitely use a good night's sleep.

Marcus and I walked hand in hand as we made our way back to our chamber. I didn't change it too much, but once I was able to find out the truth and set my mind at ease, I had made the necessary adjustments.

Even with the turn of events, I was truly happy and no one was going to take that from me. I glanced up at Marcus as every memory we had gone through from day one to now, played in the back of my mind. How can someone come to love a man whose servants hated every fiber of his being? How was I able to bring this man peace and yet he still proudly held his head high?

We ventured through the corridors in a comfortable silence. The warmth of his simple touch put my muscles at ease as we had arrived at our chambers.

I placed a hand on my swollen belly and smiled at the thought of a family. My family.

The rest of the evening was spent from a foot rub to our love making until we were both whisked off to a peaceful sleep.

Oh, was I wrong. Apparently too often these days.

I stared down at my blood-soaked hands on my knees in the main foyer. My trembling body had paled.

My eyes shifted in and out of focus as I held my breath.

"This child is now mine." My mother’s voice echoed in my head as I slowly gazed up at her.

My father's corpse laid beside her feet as Marcus’ dead body laid in my lap. A mixture of our blood beneath me.

I was speechless. I couldn't form a single word from my thoughts as they rummaged through my brain in an unorganized fashion.

Did she… kill… my… husband? My… father?

I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks like a broken dam to the fjord.

I was pulled from this nightmare after hearing myself scream and cry out, reaching for the body that held me close.

"Marcus, she's coming!" I screamed. "My mother is coming for Arina!" I sobbed. My lungs refused any bit of air I tried to breathe, causing me to hyperventilate.

Marcus pressed my head to his sweat riddled chest and cooed, "No one is going to take our baby. I promise." He gently rocked me.

We held one another for a few more hours before we managed to fall back to sleep.

We needed to prepare for her arrival. My only problem? She has blocked any foresight abilities I had, so I had no idea when she would arrive.