Not All Heroes Are Guiltless

Chapter 72(Part 1)

Chapter 72

Aela’s POV

“The Queen wants to remind you; tonight is the Summer Solstice ball, and you are expected.” Andrew taunts while reading a few reports. I chuckled as I finished the last of my written orders. I was already trying to finish up early to spend a few extra minutes on my attire for tonight.

My laughter is lighthearted, “She’s just angry I’m not getting primped and pruned by her ladies in waiting.”

The rebuilding has been successful for nearly five years now. The port has expanded, and the palace has the basics built. The Queen vouched to only concentrate on the parts needed for running the country. Let us focus on more important constructions.

Andrew walks over to a cabinet and pours a wine into two goblets. He offers me one with a tease, “Alright General, I’d like to start you on festivities. Since you will probably be spending the entire night at the door.”

I grabbed the goblet a giant smile, “We thought using the event as an open invitation would be a good way to celebrate a year of hard work. I'm never doing that again.”

“Indeed.” He smiles and his eyes filled with lust, and I shift uncomfortably in his gaze. I try to distract him by making our goblets ring with a toast.

“So, what are we-“

“Another successful year and all the wonders you have given us. You have built us back stronger than ever before. Our defense is impenetrable. Thank you, my princess.” Andrew's face doesn’t fall from me, and I have been avoiding his approaches because he’s not the one I’m attracted to. He is not my mate, no will her ever be.

The Queen did end up forcing us into situations where he had to act like he was courting me. We did one to many feasts and celebrations with nobles not as generals but as the Marquis and Princess than I care to admit.

I just nod and tip my drink back, letting the taste warm me to the core and heal my wolf’s silent whimper from her own separation and disappointment from being away from our mate. As years draw by her sorrow, she is wearing on me. I’ve had to suppress her more since transforming is still frowned upon by Redford society. Thankfully, I still have my mountain top mediation to be refreshed.

I head towards my room to prepare for the ball. The longhouse has now been fully furnished as the port masters office and my residence. It's still hard for me to return to the palace even with the amount of reconstruction that has been completed.

I dress in Redford red color ball gown. The fabric is stiff and structured. It has a deep plunging neckline. A maid walks in and asks if I need any help. We place the final additions. I open the polished jewelry box, and I hear the maid gasp in delight. Laying in presentation in the center of the padded shelf an intricate necklace with inlaid pearls and rubies. “That’s exquisite. Who gave you that?”

“Someone I think is afraid I’ll forget about him.” I say dreamily. Every few months, a new gift emerges from the box. At some point, he must have enchanted the box to be able to transport items to it from his own cloak. Yet never a letter or any communication. I placed the necklace on my neck. I am not even surprised it goes with my dress perfectly.

I pause in front of my floor-length mirror and see the maid leave my room. I smile back at my expression when a black tendril sprouts from the necklace and wraps around my waist. I close my eyes and can almost feel my phantom pulling me closer to him. I shiver when it feels like he’s whispering in my ear, “Delia, my Nadar, you are in danger. She is attempting to block me from you. She is doing something. I think she’s poisoning you.”

“Thank you for the warning.” I respond as his presence fades away. I could feel his fear, and I’ve never known anything could frighten him. I think back on all my encounters and can not imagine an opportunity anyone could have poisoned me. I will heed his warning, though, and keep my magic detection up. I step away from the mirror and head for the port stables to meet up with my carriage.

As I approach, I see Andrew speaking with the driver of the Queen’s royal carriage. I roll my eyes because he’s dressed in his formal wear and seems to be waiting on me. “Andrew, I don’t need that thing.”

“The Queen insisted.” He smirks as he opens the door. I step up with his help, making sure my dress is secured inside safely. He rides his horse beside my carriage as we make our way to the palace. The entire way people clear the path, and I’m already annoyed.

When we reach the palace, everyone breaks out into cheer and well wishes, and I’m instantly embarrassed. I never wanted to be treated differently than anyone else, and now I’m their war hero princess. I feel the urge to cover my face when Andrew helps me out of the carriage. I looped my hand into his elbow and let him guide me into the palace.

Walking into the palace, I see Queen Lana smiling at me brightly. But there’s a shade around her, and it confuses me. My gut reminds me of my warning just a moment before I left. I clinch my hands. I feel Andrew shift and pry my hands open and put something on my finger, pulling me closer to him. He whispers into my ear the way a lover would do, “You are now engaged to me. Seek the Queen’s blessing and be happy about it.”

A slimy, disgusting feeling wraps around me, and I want to push back and find myself unable to stop from getting closer to Queen Lana. My heart rate starts to increase, and Andrew subtly shoves me closer to my aunt. I have no control over my own body, and I try to mediate to be closer to my wolf, but something is amiss. I feel a tinge and burn across my chest. No, not my chest. Something deeper and far rooted into me is severed.I start to panic and breathe because labored when the Queen’s gaze goes from proud to authoritative, and I shudder internally.