Her Forever
(Book 3)- Chapter 33

Orion’s POV

I woke up with a massive e******n, one that I knew a cold shower would have a hard time to relieve. I had just visited Willa in a dream, I was shocked I was able to do so since she is a strong-minded woman but while she sleeps and being my mate, I was able to penetrate her walls. As she slept, I gently eased my mind into hers, most of her mind’s layers were of untrustworthiness, fear, and pain. Untrusting because of her fear and pain of being alone once again.

That was the last thing on my mind as I made her fly off into the sunset with the dragon, Horus that had pledged his allegiance to me. He would have been great during battle but protecting the one thing most precious to me was more important.

I willed us into the dream-like meadow, the one that was near the Warrior Pack house. You could easily distinguish the Moon and Light kingdoms there. However, I seem to find colors that do not exist while I gaze into her sleeping form. She is the magic of this dream.

This place brought her comfort and happiness and our very first k**s. Willa was still laying on the queen-sized bed that I had left there in the Land of Dragons on my last adventure with Horus. Many years ago, I had built the small cabin, promising myself I would bring my mate back with me. Unfortunately, she had to go alone to enjoy the small, pleasant life.

While in the dream, Willa’s eyes were often clasped shut, her hands fisting at the sheets as she tried to sleep peacefully. The hallucination I had created in her mind felt real to me as I moved the hair from her face. Touch was hard to create while in a dream but the strong pull I felt to her even now, it was easy to feel.

When she woke up into the dream, she was magnificent. It wasn’t just the hallucination that I had willed for both of us to be there but the distance that willed me to find her beauty more captivating. Her eyes looked into mine and her eyes were as blue as the Eastern Sea and I was drowning as I fell into her soul.

We couldn’t help each other as we rolled around in the bed, touching, feeling, sucking, nipping. Gods, she was perfect. The night ended all too quickly but both her and my mind was at ease where we stood together. Peace, longing, trust, patience.

This battle was about to be over, and she would be in my arms again. We would mate and rule over a new kingdom that she will help rebuild.

I let a large growl at the thought she may be out a few days after our initial mating. After so long, yes just a mere 36 hours without here had been terrible. My mood sour and my vengeance on those who have hurt subjects of our kingdom went with out mercy.

“Orion,” Annan spoke as he entered my private tent. I sat up, staring at his army regalia. Being my right hand and advisor, he was one of the high-ranking officials that could call major plays during battle. “We have caught an intruder that was heading straight to your tent, I suggest you come for questioning.” Annan’s eyes were fierce at the though someone was coming to harm me. I stood up, throwing my braided hair behind me, and shoved on my trousers.

“Give me a briefing,” I ordered as I put on my armor.

“It’s Sibille, she had no weapons but is determined to talk to you, saying it will swing the way of the war. It’s urgent and she is giving us surrender.” I scoffed, that woman won’t take no for an answer. Sibille is bartering with her life as well as her father’s. He’s the main reason of this battle and here she is doing his bidding, again.

I flung the tent flap open and headed to the general’s tent. Shifters were sparing, fairies in full form putting on their armor. They would only be able to last a few hours at a time in full form, so they have been working in shifts through the night.

“Your highness,” General Storm bowed. “We have caught the intruder, Sibille, Onyx’s daughter, head of the Fae Court.” Sibille was tied to a chair, unmoving. Her eyes were watering, yet not letting a tear fall.

“She came willing, Your Highness, in fact she had no weapons and held a white cloth waving over her head as she entered the camp.” A sign of surrender. I grunted in acknowledgement.

“What do you want, Sibille?” I crossed my arms over my chest, my armor making a clanging as each bicep met my breast plate. “I’ve come to bargain,” she said softly. I raised a brown in question.

“I know we haven’t gotten along the past few hundred years, Orion.” Annan growled out, “You do not disrespect your King!” Several soldiers come forward and stiffened as I put my hand up to halt them.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she lowered her head. “I mean no disrespect.” Sibille had been a tough woman the past few hundred years, trying to be a seductress and get back into my bed. In fact, she had been relentless but now I see the meek and mild Sibille I grew up with. The one that looked to please others and the hard exterior broken. Her aura was oozing regret as she sits in the chair with her head lowered.

“You may speak freely, Sibille. However, I suggest you choose your words wisely and not let a lie leave your lips.” My words were harsh, she had still caused much pain to my mate just a few days ago and her own father I was currently fighting against. He had hidden himself away like the coward as well as some of his high-ranking officers. Having my own armies fighting blindly in their stead.

The fae army believed they were fighting for Onyx because I became unfit to be king, as well as putting magical charms of lies and deceit through the witch coven. They will be certain to pay later.

“My mother,” she sniffed. “I’ve been this way because of my mother.” Her eyes looked up to mine. I didn’t break my hardened looked as I nodded for her to continue. “Father wants the power; he wants control over the armies and create the perfect race of Fae and when I was born, he thought I could win you over and be queen. All the while he would be able to use me to go behind your back and mold the kingdom the way he wanted it. I didn’t want to do it, but he has my mother locked away at the Matless Institution. If I ever wanted to see her again, I had to become queen. He’s threated to even shut it down and let her die alone.” Sibille began to sob. “She can barely care for herself, she’s never met her mate, that’s all she ever wanted!”

I knew of Onyx and his marriage to Elaine, after his marriage I had forbade for choosing mates be brought into the court. It was a tough law to pass but luckily my parents were still available to sway some court members due to their long-standing history.

“I did those things for her, I had to listen to him. I’ve been playing his side letting him think I was working for her him, I swear!” Tears ran down her face and Annan looked to me for a decision. Her emotions were true, but I still couldn’t trust her.

“What are you wanting in return and what do you want to give me?”

“I want my mother safe; I want her protected so I can take care of her and find her true mate,” she breathed harshly.

“What will you give me Sibille, because right now I only want one thing,” I took a few steps forward, standing in front of her.

“I’ll give you my father’s hiding place as well as his nobles. However, I do have information of someone that says they are your friend but actually works for my father.” There were a few gasps in the room. Someone among us was a traitor.

“You better not be lying Sibille,” I growled. She continued to shake her head, “No, on my mother’s life I swear to you!”

“Name the traitor!” The General Storm spoke as he banged his fists against the stone table.

“Molly, Willa’s Fairy Attendant,” Sibille spoke quickly.

“You f*****g liar!!” Annan roared. “She would never do such a thing! Where is your proof!!” Annan started pacing in the tent, angered that his current fling would do such a thing. I often wondered if it was a fling or something more. They weren’t mates but they had grown close the past year. Many fae had their steady relationships until they found their mate, faes didn’t fare well being alone. Thank the gods I had Willa.

“Bring her in for questioning,” I ordered one of the soldiers. A swift nod from him and a few minutes later Molly came prancing in wearing her armor. “Annan!” She whispered while she seductively waved at him. Annan’s body went ridged and looked at her in longing. One of the soldiers told her to sit next to Sibille and Molly froze.

Sibille gave an apologetic look while Molly sat down. Her heart was racing, and her wings started to shutter. “What’s going on?” Molly tried to play it off. “What do you need me for? Eudora ran up to the tent, wondering where her friend was but stopped when she saw all the high-ranking soldiers and one angered Annan.

“Tell me Molly,” I gritted my teeth and felt the leather on my chest creak as I tightened my muscles in restraint. “When did you start working for Onyx?” A gasp left her lips as she looked from me and to Annan.

“I-I w-would never betray you, Your Highness!”

“Lies!” I roared. The betral was radiating off her like the light sources of our kingdom. Annan could sense my reading and his head immediately fell. A hand went up to his dagger as he pulled it from his side and pointed it at her throat. For the first time I saw his fangs as well as his claws emerge from his body. His eyes grew a bright red as he narrowed them at her.

His own power was going to be shown if he wasn’t careful.

“Do you know the penalty of treason, Molly?” He growled. “Death, that is what you have earned!” I pulled Annan’s hand with the dagger away from Molly as she began to sob. “Why?” Annan’s voice cracked. Did you just use me to get what you wanted?” Molly nodded her head as her tears started to fall again.

“Did you ever care for me? We aren’t mates but I did care for you,” Annan whispered and put his dagger back in his belt. The room was silent, watching the altercation unfold, it was a damn drama all before our eyes.

“I did care for you, but then I found my mate a week ago. Onyx has him in the cells and said he would kill him if I didn’t do what he asked. I do care about this kingdom, but he has my mate!”

“You could have come to me, Molly!” Annan yelled. “I would have helped you! You know I would have!” A large cry left Molly’s lips. “I just, I just, I was so scared.” Sibille let a tear roll down her cheek, the hardened soul of the last few hundred years let her true emotions escape.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Sibille said. “I would have brought it up later if I had known he was threatening your mate.” Now I have two sobbing women in my midst. Great. Can I just kill someone already?

“What did you do, Molly?” trying to bring back the awkward tention.

“I sprinkled the bathroom door with the alternant dimension portal so Alanso could take Willa.” I growled out in anger as my fangs descended. Molly may had done this to save her mate but put mine in danger.

My hands went around Molly’s neck as I began to choke her with one hand. My inner fae was screaming to kill her, to end her for trying to take my mate away from me. I had waited much longer than she had to find her mate and now I wanted her to pay.

“Your Highness, please,” I heard Annan as he touched my shoulder. I whipped my head around to let him know to back off. He bowed out and I continued to strangle the traitor. “You will be locked in the dungeons until I know what to do with you,” I spat.

Molly dropped to the ground, and they took her to the make-shift prison we made on the northern part of our camp. Eudora had her hands over her mouth in surprise. Tears in her eyes, her wings had drooped downward showing her utter grief.

“Sibille, tell me where the hidden nobles are so we can end this!” I snarled. “I’m done playing games, I want my mate and I want her f*****g now so tell me where they are, and I can’t promise you they will be alive when I get my claws into them!”

Even though Sibille gave me the information I wanted, I couldn’t trust her. She was put in a cell away from the other prisoners, just like Molly. My anger rose with in me, thinking my closest fairy giving up all the information on my Willa. Not only did Molly help put the enchantment on the water closet but she also gave Willa’s where abouts to Onyx as she traveled through the city. They knew what we had done in the bedroom, watching to make sure I didn’t mark her. f*****g sick.

Once everything was over, I would find Alanso and Molly’s mate and figure out what to do with them at another time. Too much s**t to deal with in such a short amount of time.

My heart hurts, knowing that we could have lost everything a lot sooner if I had not kept her by my side or had my own trusted guards watch her. Along with being betrayed by a close fairy and the pain it caused I could feel how dejected Annan was. A mate bond is stronger than any force, but Annan had fallen for Molly. Their rendezvous were hot and passionate, and it was the first time in many years he had settled for just one fairy. I pray to the gods he finds his mate soon; I don’t think he will ever be the same until he does.

The fae Court Cowards as the soldiers had called them found the miserable scum hiding in a dug out not far from the palace. It had running water, food, electricity to help them hide for decades. They had planned to be safe while thousands of fae did their bidding.

The Court was now dissolved and running on just my power alone. As much as any king would like to have that supremacy, I felt it extremely unnecessary. The Court will be the representatives of the different races of fae and my say will be the final law. How could a king rule and not listen to the hearts of his people?

I sat down on my bed, in the palace. It is dark, no light to light the room. Even the moon is resting this night as I take off my armor. With out Willa here, it feels completely empty. The shifters will stay for three days as we prepare celebration feast, one that Willa should enjoy. I’ll have the finest dress made and we will finally be together again. Afterwards, she will become my mate.

Now that the day is done, the prisoners are locked away, I can visit my mate one last time before I fetch her in the morning. For once my reality is better than a dream but for tonight, I’ll take the second best.