Her Forever
(Book 3)- Chapter 40

Willa’s POV

There was a pounding in my head, like a hammer to a nail. It continued pounding until my semi-conscious state was reeling in anger to wake up and take care of the pain. Lifting my hand to my forehead, I could feel the constant racking of my brain. “Ouch,” I whined, feeling the tears reaching the corners of my eyes. Why was I feeling so terrible?

Groaning, I rolled over and landed into a hard chest. Squinting my eyes so the sunlight didn’t rip my brain half I saw Orion’s perfectly sculpted chest. I couldn’t believe how perfect his body was, not a single scar. Werewolves were known for their fighting and quick healing abilities, sometimes they healed so quickly it would leave tiny white scars on their bodies. That didn’t happen with the fae. Even though they didn’t have as quick of healing as the werewolves, their bodies would always heal themselves so their flesh was perfect.

It was so perfect it made me to want to take my tongue and run it through the creases of his abs. The pounding in my head reminded me nothing like that could happen now and possibly for a week if it didn’t let up soon. Is it possible to bruise your brain? I’m pretty sure it is after the splitting headache I have right now.

“Darling?” his voice was raspy, that beautiful silk voice wasn’t present as he scooted up to the headboard. “Darling, are you alright?” Giving him a small smile and nodded my head as I held my forehead. “Yeah, just a little headache.” I tried to open my eyes, but my eyes refused and now I had the ugliest face as one eye was completely shut and the other half open.

“Oh, Darling,” he chuckled. “I’ll have someone get you some bring some potions to help.” Throughout the morning, Orion tended to me like a mother would a child. He checks my forehead, he took a cold washcloth to my face to ease the pain. Being pampered wasn’t something I was used to but it was something I really enjoyed.

The pain was so fierce at times I hardly noticed I was completely naked. Orion didn’t dare look at my body and there wasn’t a hint of l**t, he just took care of me. Fed me, stroked my head, and even tickled my back while I slept with his nimble fingers. Could this man get any more perfect?

Somewhere between lunch and dinner, I started to feel my strength come back to me. The small naps that we took together helped enough to let me out of bed, but Orion was by my side the entire time. “I had planned our date for this evening, but you are still a bit weak, how about tomorrow?”

My heart had plummeted into my stomach. “No, I want to go today,” I whined like a baby. Orion chucked and stroked my hair. “Darling it’s alright, I would rather have you 100%” Placing a gentle k**s to my forehead he retreated to the closet where he pulled out a dress for me to wear.

“Unfortunately, there are some things we need to discuss. Will you get dressed for me and we will go talk in the living area?” Taking the dress he picked, it was as gorgeous as all the others. A baby pink sundress with small dots all over that gave such a U.S. 1950’s vibe.

While dressing I tried to remember the events of last night. How did I even get here? The pounding in my head was gone and the memories along with it. The last thing I remember was dancing with Orion, his hands all over my body as we kissed, touched, and our bodies rubbing all over each other. Thinking about it was getting me hot but that was all I could remember. Did we go to bed straight afterward?

Opening the bedroom door that led to the sitting area I see a very distraught Violet and Alexo on the love seat. Both of them looked at me with worry until Orion held out his hand to take me to sit with him. Annan sat carelessly in a nearby chair while Luke had his arms crossed giving them the evil eye.

“What’s going on?” I asked concerned. Luke unfolded his arms as came to me and gave me a k**s on the cheek.

“Why don’t you ask your ‘best friend,’” he spat out those last words.

“Violet? Is everything alright?” Violet looked to Alexo who only nodded for her to go on.

“Do you remember what happened last night? After I gave you your last drink?” A flash went through my mind of her handing me a green substance that did not taste like the rest of the alcohol I consumed. Tilting my head, trying to remember more, more flashes came to light. Me straddling Orion with his l**t-filled gaze, me grinding into his member, my breasts almost falling out of my dress.

My face grew white as I realized I had done this in public, in front of his friends, his subjects, my brothers. Mouth agape and my hands flying to my mouth in shock a lone tear fell down my face. Being mortified was only the tip of the iceberg. Nothing else had gone wrong had it? Why did I do those things?

“Oh goddess,” I cried. “What did I do?” I looked to Orion with a somber look on his face. “Darling, it wasn’t your fault. The pad of his thumb brushed across my cheek catching a tear.

“I gave you a lap dance in front of the entire kingdom! How is that not my fault! I drank too much! They will think of me as some w***e!” I cried and Luke came up from behind me, turning me so he could ease my crying. My hand never left Orion’s as Luke started to whisper. “It isn’t your fault and the entire kingdom will know the truth.”

Gazing up at Luke, I looked at both of them in confusion. “Truth? What truth?” Orion pulled me back into his arms and patted my head as my head laid in his chest.

“Darling, Violet gave you a seduction potion. It was to inhibit your senses. They are not to be sold in our kingdom but somehow she retrieved some and spiked your drink.” My head darted to Violet, praying it was just a joke, a mistake, someone else had done it and she didn’t realize it.

“It’s true,” she whispered barely audible. “I just wanted you to let loose. You were so nervous and I was trying to help,” she cried. Violet tried to rush to me but Luke stood in front of me and growled.

“Get back, wolf,” he growled as his teeth descended into sharp points.

“How could you Violet, that was wrong,” I sucked in a breath. “You know I like to do things at my own pace why would you force this? This is my love story, not yours.”

Even though Violet was my best friend, she had always been the pushy one in the relationship we had. She would argue she was just the leader, which she was. I followed her around like a helpless puppy when my parents left because I had no one else, heck she even wanted it. She took me under her wing gladly, even had me be with her pack which I greatly appreciated. There were times though, she would push too hard for something.

Like the time at a birthday party when all the wolves were playing spin the bottle. I didn’t want to play, didn’t want to give away my first k**s to some random person. I remember running to her mother crying because she made me sit there and when the bottle landed on me I wouldn’t play the game. “Come on Willa, it’s just a k**s,” she taunted in front of her friends. I couldn’t handle it, so I ran. When my parents left I knew I couldn’t live with Willa because I still wanted my independence, but the small thought in my mind was also fear that Violet would push too far again.

Even with her mother’s pleading for me to stay in their house, I think she knew. She knew I loved her daughter like a sister but Violet just had too strong of a personality at times and I couldn’t say no until I was pushed to the edge.

Last night, that, was too far.

“You could have died, Willa,” Luke broke the silence. “If you were fully human the potion would have been too much. Hell, it was still too much and you are only half siren. It knocked you out cold and left you in pain, the only reason why you are standing now is that father sent some siren healing potions.”

Luke looked terrible; father had left this morning but he was still here. “Luke, why are you still here?” The light blue tint to his skin was now a dull grey, eyes were red-rimmed and dark circles under his eyes. “I wanted to make sure you were safe,” he breathed. He came and gave me a k**s on my cheek again.

“I do have to go through. I wanted to stay to see you wake up. I’ll be back for the binding and coronation ceremony. Don’t f**k up, Orion,” he glared and left the room with the door slamming shut behind him.

Annan stood up and straightened his tunic. “Now, we can’t have her go unpunished, so what is our next move?” Annan threw his hands behind his back and started pacing the room, no longer the funny friend but the advisor to the king.

I sat on the couch in silence as they went over options on how to handle the situation. Violet continued to sit on the couch with her hands clasping Alexo’s. It was brought up she could be a traitor working for the other side of another rebellion brewing since she found the potion in the marketplace. Violet screamed and cried that it wasn’t so but Annan had refused to let it go. “My own lover told me that and do you know where she is? The prison!” he shouted. My heart clenched hearing him speak those words.

Orion kept me on his lap and held me tightly, never wanting to let go; and I didn’t want him to either.

She remained quiet as Orion racked his brain on what to do. In all honesty, I didn’t want to see her get punished but my father knew and had already threatened Orion with a note that was delivered right after he arrived home. He wanted the girl punished that made his little girl lose part of her mind for an hour.

I don’t think I would regain the other memories that were told me about the night. I had used my voice to sing to Orion and called upon so many unmated wolves. Embarrassment flooded through me as I tried to conceal my tears. I never knew my voice had an effect on people, had it always been there?

If it had, I can remember singing around my cabin when I would plant flowers but I always made sure no one was there. I hated the thought of someone hearing me sing because I didn’t know if I was good enough to sing out loud. There could have been so much more damage if I had sung around people and I wouldn’t have even understood it.

My head leaned back on the couch as I pondered my thoughts of Violet, what would could I do? It had to be announced that she had poisoned my drink to save my reputation as queen. Orion had been drunk himself and with my singing, it only made it worse. Letting out a heavy sigh, Annan spoke of the master plan.

“We make an announcement, tomorrow,” he grabbed a glass of ambrosia from the desk filled with our dinner. “That the future queen was slipped a seduction potion and was under its spell. The culprit has been captured and will receive 20 lashings and one month in the prison with no contact with their mate.”

Living without Orion for just a few days was torture and I wasn’t marked, I couldn’t imagine how that would feel once you are mated. “Isn’t that a little harsh?” I spoke up.

“It isn’t, for poisoning the queen it should be death,” Orin’s voice was firm and determined he wouldn’t be moved. “You are lucky you are her best friend, Violet. Otherwise, your actions would have cost your life as well as your mates.” Alexo held onto Violet and hugged her tightly.

“I will not announce your name to shame you unless they beg for a name,” Annan spoke solmnly. If the people ask, I must give it. This was the worst time to do this since we are starting over on our government. We have to give the people what they want so they can trust in the system again.” Violet nodded and held onto Alexo.

“Guards,” Orion spoke loudly so they would enter our room. “Take Violet to the level 1 prison cells.” Looking up in question Orion answered. “It is one of the nicer cells. It has a bed, desk, and a small window.” Giving him a small smile, I saw Violet stand up and choke back a sob.

“I’m sorry,” she choked again looking back at me. I nodded my head at her, I don’t know if I had the courage to forgive her. Violet had been there in many times of need but she knew I didn’t want to give myself up wholly to Orion while my father was there, yet she drugged me, hoping I would ‘seal the deal.’

Alexo stood in the same place Violet left her. His fists were balled up in anger and he let out a low growl. “You couldn’t do anything, Willa? You just sat there?!” I didn’t look at Alexo, I didn’t even know him. Just that he was my best friends’ mate. I knew her better than he did, I’ve known her since I was three.

“Orion, can you at least take away the twenty lashings.” The thought of her being whipped turned my stomach in knots. She may have slipped me a bit of a drug in my drink but she didn’t mean for it to be out of control, it was series of unfortunate events.

“Your father will have my head, he specifically requested it,” Orion pleaded into my eyes.

“I’ll take care of dad. Just keep her a month away from her mate. I’ll figure out a replacement punishment,” I gave him a small smile while he sighed heavily. Annan shook his head in disagreement.

“You know I can’t say no to you, Darling.” I buried my face into his chest at his understanding.

Once everyone left, Orion led me to our room. I had slept all day but the thought of us being alone together soothed me. I needed him, and not just to cuddle. No, I needed so much more. Orion shut the door behind him and when he turned to look up at me my arms immediately went around his neck as I pulled myself up to his lips. Orion’s arms wrapped around impulsively and pulled me to his toned chest.

It wasn’t a k**s of love, it was l**t. He took care of me all day, he peppered me with love and affection now I needed something more. Something we haven’t had in too long since my departure to the Dragon’s Island.

“I want you,” I said breaking the k**s while both of us panted, my mouth hovered over him as I continued to nip his bottom l*p.

“Darling, I don’t want you,” my kissing stopped, and looked up in his golden eyes darkening into a deep whisky brown. “I f*****g need you.”