CHAPTER 21 - GIFT - AVERLY'S POV
1683 Words
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the hot springs. My sister, and I sat side by side in the hot water, her head resting on my shoulder, while the water bubbled around us. The heat felt good against our skin, but after feeling the heat from the volcano yesterday, this somehow felt too cold.
''I'm so jealous!'' Candice, another hatchling pouted as she swam around us, ''I beg daddy all the time to take me to the volcano, but he keeps saying I can't until I shift.''
''I guess it's good to be mated to the King,'' Selene said, in a false sweetness from where she was sitting on the edge of the pool beside ours, wrapped in a large white towel, while her friend Kira leaned next to her.
''It is actually,'' Ava said just as sweetly, ''You should try it sometime... oh, wait, he doesn't want you.''
Selene rolled her eyes.
''Jealousy doesn't look good on you Lady Selene,'' Abby said from where she was leaning against the edge of the pool we were in, with her eyes closed.
''You know what does look good?'' Ava asked and held up her hand, ''My ring!''
I laughed and rolled my eyes, ''Settle down.'' We weren’t just here for relaxation. We were here to show off our engagement rings. They sparkled like stars, and all the girls were gushing over them with envy.
''Can you believe it?'' Shayla exclaimed. ''Two brides for one royal wedding! I checked it out, and there was only one other King mated to two women, and it was the first Dragon King.''
Some of the women lounging on the edge, wrapped in fluffy towels, looked over with interest, and started asking her questions. I didn't really listen, I just closed my eyes and enjoyed the warmth.
''I hope we're all getting invited to the wedding?'' One girl asked.
''Of course,'' Ava answered, ''The whole Thunder has to celebrate with us!''
The women squealed with delight, surrounding us with admiration. ''You both must be so lucky!'' One of them said, her eyes wide with envy, ''The wedding's going to be massive!'' Another exclaimed. ''I heard some of our allies are already invited. I can't wait to see a troll in person.''
''I think it's all a waste of time,'' Selene chimed in again, and everyone looked at her, ''I mean, we all know one or both of you could die during the ritual. The King should wait until after it's done, and take a chosen. You being mated to him could endanger us all. Even the King said so while he was disciplining his brother. If he lost one of you, he could die. If he were smart, he'd distance himself until after it was complete.''
Ava and I exchanged glances, or rage, and I threw my hand up. Selene fell back into the water, splashing hot water everywhere, and she jumped up sputtering and coughing up water.
''YOU B*TCH!'' She screamed.
''What did you say?'' One of our female guards stepped forward, her hand gripping her sword.
Selene looked panicked, and turned back to us, ''I'm sorry.'' She snarled and sat down in the water with her arms crossed.
One of the girls started talking about the wedding again to lift the mood once more, and as the afternoon wore on, the chatter grew louder.
I adjusted the towel around my body, feeling the warmth of the hot springs seep into my skin when one of my guards walked over. She was holding a large purple velvet case.
''Lady Casidy,'' She knelt and held it up, ''This arrived for you.''
''Oh, thank you,'' I frowned and took it.
I slowly lifted the lid, the soft glow of the necklace caught the light. It sparkled like the stars in a midnight sky. My fingers trembled as I reached out to touch it. The delicate chain shimmered, and the pendant, a deep blue stone surrounded by tiny diamonds.
''Hey, what the heck?!'' Ava complained, ''Why did Aiden give you a necklace and not me? I'm going to kill him!''
''I guess the King's got a favorite!'' Selene smirked, but I just frowned, passed Ava the case and picked up the note.
''It's not from the King,'' I announced, and read the letter, ''It's from Prince Nolan.''
''You're getting gifts from the Kings brother?'' Selen asked, her eyes twinkling with mischief, ''I wonder what the King would think of that. Maybe he didn't hurt you the other night afterall, maybe you were meeting in secret and got caught so you faked an injury.''
''Shut up Selene, or I'll drown you!'' I snarled.
''What does the note say?'' Ava asked and looked over my shoulder.
''I’m so sorry,'' I read the note out loud. ''I never meant to hurt you. Please forgive me.''
''He is such a suck up,'' Ava said angrily, ''He only sent this so you'd talk Aiden into taking off that collar, throw it away!''
I stared at the necklace, my heart torn. It was beautiful, but it felt heavy with meaning. I was engaged to the King, and here was his brother, daring to send me jewelry.
''We should go back,'' I told my sister and took the case back from her, ''It's getting late.''
We quickly changed and left the springs, as the sun was setting behind us, but Ava kept looking at me.
''What? Just get it out.''
''You're not actually going to keep that, are you?''
''I will speak to Aiden about it, and decide. I don't want to offend the Prince, we've already gotten off on the wrong wing. I don't want to add to it.''
''Aiden won't be happy,'' She told me, ''He'll probably hit his brother. Just throw it away and don't bring it up.''
''And if Nolan mentions it to Aiden?'' I asked, ''He'll think I kept this a secret for a reason. I don't want any misunderstandings, we're already dealing with the Selene vision. I don't want to add to it.''
''Fine, but he's such a manipulative jerk.''
Once we returned to the castle, we parted way, while I went to Aidens office, where his guards bowed and the Kings secretary buzzed me in.
Aiden was sitting at his large desk reading over some report with Beta Ryker, but they both paused and Aiden smiled at me.
''Hello, my moonlight, what are you doing here? I thought you were at the springs?''
''I was, but I needed to tell you something about Prince Nolan.'' I said as I approached and Aiden's smile vanished.
''What did he do now?'' Aiden asked angrily.
''He sent me this gift and note.'' I placed it down on his desk, ''I... I didn't know if I should accept it. I don't know if it's allowed now that we're together.''
Aiden opened the box and huffed smoke, ''No, you're not allowed. This necklace was a part of his inheritance from our parents. It was meant to go to his future wife.''
''I'm sure he was just being respectful,'' Ryker said quickly, ''He also inherited the jewelers in the city. Maybe he was showing how sorry he really is, and it is beautiful. It'll look lovely on her skin.''
Aiden growled softly, and Ryker stepped back, ''You know what, I feel this is a private matter. I'll go get those renovations underway.'' He said and quickly left.
''Coward,'' I whispered, but when I turned back to Aiden, he was glaring at me. ''What?''
''Don't speak about my Beta like that,'' He scolded me, and closed the velvet case, ''You are not allowed to wear this. If you want a necklace, I will give you one of my mothers that I inherited.''
''I'm sure he wasn't implying anything inappropriate,'' I told him, ''I think he sent it so I'd talk you into taking off the collar.''
''Perhaps,'' He said as he stood up.
Aiden moved closer to me, and trapped me between his body and desk ''Don't wear jewels or jewelry from other men, I don't care if mother had once owned them, is that understood?''
''Yes,''
Aiden placed his hand on the desk beside my hips and leaned closer until our lips were inches apart, and my heart was racing.
''You are mine,'' He said firmly before bridging the gap between us and kissed me.
He was gentle at first, but as the kiss wore on, he moved his hands from the desk, and moved under my bottom, before he lifted me onto the desk and moved between my legs, kissing me passionately. I swear, I forgot how to breath, and started gasping for air as he moved his lips along my jaw and down my throat.
I was moaning and gripping his arms tightly as he pressed into me, but just as he moved his lips back to mine, there was a buzzing sound.
Aiden growled and leaned back, his eyes were dark, and he exhaled smoke over me, sending chills over my skin. He caught his breath, staring into my eyes the whole time, before he lifted me down again, kissed my forehead, and walked over to the intercom on his desk and pressed the button.
''Yes?'' Aiden spoke as I straightened my dress.
''Elder Argo is here, your majesty.''
Aiden gave me one more look with desire, before he responded, ''Give me a moment.''
''Yes, sir.''
Aiden let go of the button and offered me his hand, ''I have a meeting, you should go.''
''But what are we going to do about the gift?''
''Don't worry about it, I will speak with my brother. Say hello to Ava for me,'' He said as he walked over to the door, kissed my cheek and opened the door for me, ''Rest early, I'll see you tomorrow.''
''Okay, don't work to hard,''
He smiled and ran his fingers through my still damp hair, ''I won't, and make sure you dry your hair, I don't want you to get sick.''
''Yes, your majesty,'' I said in a teasing tone, and rushed out.
- Writer
