My Celestial Twin mates - COMPLETE

CHAPTER 19 - WHO AM I? - AVERLY'S POV

''Here, I'll do it, turn around,'' I said, as I watched my sister attempt and fail to do up the back of her dress.

''Thanks,'' She turned, her face annoyed, ''If Nanny would let me wear one of my dresses, I wouldn't have to deal with this fancy ribbon cr.ap.''

''Do not swear!'' Nanny shouted at her, ''You're not too old to go over my knee!''

''Sorry, mam,'' She pouted and looked down, mumbling angrily to herself.

''Cas, we're going into the throne room for your apology from Prince Nolan, you have to dress appropriately,'' I reminded her.

''I don't even need an apology, I don't want to see him again!''

''Well I do,'' I glared at the back of her head, ''I wish Aiden had killed him.''

''AVERLY!'' Nanny shouted, from where she was making our bed, ''Talk like that again, and I will take away all your jewelry.''

I turned to her in horror. She'd punished me like this once before, for a whole month, and I cried every day. Dragons loved our gold and jewels. Well, normal ones did. Casey never cared for it, but I had long since realized my sister was weird.

''I'm sorry,'' I said quickly, ''I just don't understand why the King wouldn't kill him for hurting one of his mates.''

''Because he's a Prince, and he needs to be cautious,'' Nanny explained, ''If he'd attacked Casey head on, he'd be justified in killing Prince Nolan, but what he did last night could be brushed off as him being cruel and not an actual threat. Besides, the King already had to kill one brother, it must be hard for him to think about killing another.''

''We also don't want to set the precedent that Princes can just be killed, even by the King,'' Casey spoke up, ''Our sons would be in danger. Aiden handled it the only way he could. He punished his brother, and showed dominance, but didn't lower the Royal family.''

I gave a huff of annoyance, and smoke came out, ''Ahhh!'' I squealed excitedly, ''Did you see that? I smoked!''

''Really?'' Casey turned and looked at me, ''Do it again, show me.''

''NO!'' Nanny shouted, ''Don't you dare, you're a hatchling, your core is heating for a reason. If you release the heat, it'll make you sick.''

''Yes, Nanny,'' I said as she turned back to the bed, and I stepped closer to Casey, and whispered, ''I'll show you later.''

''I heard that!'' Nanny snapped, making me jump, ''Just get ready, you're leaving soon.''

Casey smiled and turned her back again. I finished doing up the ribbon, and chose some jewelry and pulled on our cloaks.

''Let's go.'' Nanny said, as she led the way to the throne room.

We rarely went there unless it was a special occasion, but I'd always loved going there just to see Aiden.

As we stepped into the throne room, my heart raced. The grand hall loomed before me, its walls and floor a mixture of marble and gold, with large golden pillars. Paintings and carved statues of previous Kings and Queens dawned the room, along with several open fireplaces, all ablazed with flames, warming the room.

My sister, walked beside me, hand in hand, and everyone looked at us, making me feel a little awkward.

''Girls, go stand beside Beta Ryker,'' Nanny ordered, before she sat down in one of the seats by the fire with some of the other elders.

The air was thick with tension. Council members stood in front of the platform where three large thrones sat, their eyes fixed on us. They looked like hawks, sharp and calculating. I took a deep breath, and continued to walk down the aisle where no one stood.

''Lady, Casidy, Averly,'' One of the men, Joaw bowed his head as we passed.

''Hello, my lord,'' Casey smiled back and touched his arm, ''You look well, how is Lynn?''

''My wife is well, thank you my lady,'' He answered, ''She is home today with our son.''

''Oh, your son has been born, congratulation,'' I said excitedly, ''We'll send a gift later today.''

''That is not necessary, my lady, but thank you.''

We continued walking and talking to the Thunder members and council members, before reaching Beta Ryker, his wife, Lenore and his cow of a daughter, Selene, who was looking at Casey with a annoyed expression.

''Ladies,'' Ryker greeted us and bowed his head.

''Daddy, why are you bowing? They're not the Queens yet.''

''Selene, keep your mouth shut,'' Lenore scolded her.

''But, mommy, I.''

Just then, a door creaked open again. ''KING AIDEN HAS ARRIVED!'' One of the guards announced, and the room fell silent, as all eyes turned toward him.

He strode in, cloaked in authority. He was so sexy. As he passed Thunder members, they bowed, but as Casey and I lowered ourselves, his gaze swept over us, and he touched our arms.

''I've told you before, you two do not bow.'' He said firmly, loud enough for everyone to hear, and we stood up again. ''Come sit by me.''

''What?'' Casey asked, looking at the two thrones beside his, and then at Nanny, who shook her head, but Aiden said.

''Now.'' And pulled us onto the platform.

We shouldn't be allowed on the thrones until after our wedding to the King and our crowning ceremony. This deliberate act by our mate was clearly a show of power by our mate. He obviously wanted everyone to know once and for all that we belonged to him and that we were not to be touched, but the troubled expression on Nanny's face made me nervous.

''Sit,'' The King ordered as he sat on his throne, and leaned back comfortably.

Casey and I exchanged a glance, but quickly sat on either side of his.

''Your majesty,'' Lord Bracker stepped forward, while Ezra glared at us, ''I really must protest. The Celestials are not the Queen's yet, they should not be sitting on the thrones, you've gone too far.''

The King’s expression hardened, ''Ryker.'' Aiden looked at him, ''Deal with this disrespect.''

Without a word, Ryker walked over and punched Lord Bracker in the face, causing him to fall onto his knees. I gasped in surprise, and looked at Aiden, who seemed completely at ease.

''Again.'' He ordered, when Bracker gave a low growl.

Ryker punched him one more time, before he grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and dragged him in front of Aiden, and pushed him into a kneeling position.

''Bracker,'' Aiden said calmly, ''Who am I?''

''The King.''

''I can't hear you?'' Aiden said, his voice rising slightly.

''The King!'' He said loudly, and wiped off the blood from his lip.

''THAT IS CORRECT! I AM KING!'' Aiden shouted, and the Thunder members lowered their heads, ''WHO ARE YOU? WHO ARE ANY OF YOU TO TELL ME ANYTHING!? IF I WANT MY MATES TO SIT BY MY SIDE, THEN THEY WILL SIT BY MY SIDE! KNEEL!'' He continued as he got up and walked to the edge of the platform. Everyone quickly knelt down and lowered their heads, trembling. I'd never seen Aiden like this. So angry, so in command. I should have been afraid like everyone else, but I wasn't. It excited me all over again.''I HAVE CLEARLY BEEN TOO LENIENT THESE PAST FEW YEARS IF ANY OF YOU CAN THINK YOU CAN SPEAK SO FREELY TO ME! BUT I PROMISE YOU. THE OLD AIDEN IS BACK. SPEAK OUT OF TURN AGAIN AND I WILL RIP YOUR WINGS FROM YOUR BODY! UNLESS YOU WISH TO TAKE THE THRONE?'' He added, pointing at Bracker, and then the throne, ''IT'S RIGHT HERE BRACKER. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE IT?''

''No your majesty, forgive me, I misspoke.'' His voice shook, ''I'm sorry.''

''SORRY?'' He shouted louder, ''I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TOO FAR?''

''I was wrong, please forgive me.'' He pleaded, ''I'm sorry. I overstepped.''

''YES YOU DID!'' Aiden returned to his seat and sat back down, ''GET BACK IN LINE!''

Bracker quickly got up and moved back to his spot by his son, keeping his face down, and I noticed a small smirk on Casidy's face, but she quickly composed herself.

''BRING IN THE PRINCE!'' Aiden called out.

The doors opened again, and Prince Nolan walked in with two guards behind him. He was wearing the collar and hushed whispers started to fill the throne room, when it was noticed. Noland looked furious but didn't say anything as he stopped in front of his brother and bowed.

''We are here today, because Prince Nolan is making a public apology for harming my mate Casidy, one of our Celestials,'' Ryker called out.

''Aiden this is truly ridiculous!'' Nolan complained, ''I was just messing around with her. All hatchlings are dropped from the sky to teach them not to be afraid of falling or heights. I was just helping her overcome her fear. If you didn't wrap these girls up in cotton wool, then they would have been taught years ago!''

Aiden exhaled a stream of heat and Nolan tensed, ''Casidy come here.'' He ordered and held out his hand.

Casey looked a little uncomfortable being in the spotlight, but rose from her seat and stood beside our mate, who took her hand and kissed it.

''She's waiting, brother.'' Aiden told him.

Nolan looked furious, but knelt down, ''Celestial Casidy,'' He bowed his head, ''Please forgive me for my actions. I was wrong. While all hatchlings are taught this lesson, it was still not my place to teach it. You are my brothers, and I crossed a line. I should have stopped when I realized how afraid you were. Forgive me.''

''Casey?'' Aiden looked at her, when she didn't reply, and he kissed her hand in comfort again.

''I forgive you, Prince Nolan,'' She said, her voice low.

''Thank you, may I remove this collar now?'' Nolan said and went to stand, but Aiden gave a low roar.

''Did I tell you to stand?'' He asked his brother, who lowered himself again, ''My mate may forgive you, but I do not. You returned home without permission and did not come straight to me to announce yourself, and instead you harmed my mate. You endangered not only one of the celestials, which could result in all of our deaths, but also your King. If I lost one of my mates, it could cause my death from grief, and yet, you dropped my mate anyway. You will remain in that collar until I feel you've learned your lesson, and you will be on probation. If you ever harm my mate's again, I will remove your horns.''

Everyone in the room gasped. Removing a Dragons horns could kill them, and if they survived they'd be weaker. This was often done as a punishment, or you'd do that to yourself to show your sincerity while apologizing to someone.

''Is that clear?'' Aiden asked.

Nolans hand clenched into fists, but he nodded, ''Yes, your majesty.''

''Then rise, and leave my sight.'' Aiden ordered.

He brother stood up, bowed again, before turning on his heels and marching out of the throne room angrily.

''All of you leave.'' Aiden ordered, and the room cleared out, leaving us alone.