I had no idea what had gotten into me earlier with Zion. My body wanted him, that was very clear. My heart? It was still deciding if it could get over the heartbreak of Silas. I knew I couldn’t be with him. I knew the moment I walked into that church and we locked eyes. He’d been my best friend for as long as I could remember and always joked that whoever he married would be jealous of our relationship. I couldn’t imagine Lena being jealous of me. She had him, I didn’t.
You have something better. It was a voice I heard every once in a while, I never knew where it came from. My inner-self? My heart? Who knew. It was right though. Zion was better than Silas. I couldn’t shake the thought of how my father would react if I told him I wanted to marry Z. He was my father’s favorite, maybe that would be of help.
I leaned my head back against his chest and closed my eyes, letting out a soft sigh. I felt him slowly wrap one arm around my waist, holding me close. He was warm and he smelt so good. “You think father will object?” I asked so softly that if we weren’t shifters he would never have heard me. I heard the rumble before I felt his chest move. Was he laughing at my concern over my father accepting us?
“Your father is going to be delighted. He won’t be losing me as your guard either. That will make him happy. “ He said resting his head on my shoulder. “He wants you to be happy, Aspen. He isn’t like a normal King.”
I knew that. My father always broke traditions of kings. He married a peasant. My mother came from a nothing family. I wouldn’t change that for the world, but it was so uncommon. It created a lot of tension in our kingdom for a few years. By the time my older brother was born, everything was perfect harmony. The same for the rest of my brothers. All six of them. When I was born, the kingdom lost their everloving minds. I can’t go anywhere without being fussed over. I’m the gem of my kingdom. I was never supposed to happen, hence the odd hair coloring and my purple eyes.
“You don’t think I’m a freak?” I suddenly blurted out, thinking of all the times the royal kids would make fun of me for how different I looked. The horses came to a halt and I could tell Zion wasn’t happy. His breathing had become so deep, like he was calming himself before he spoke. I knew what he was going to say. The same thing everyone from home said. “How can you think that? “ “You’re gorgeous.” “You’re blessed.”
I never liked any of the responses. That’s what they thought because I was the golden child of the King and Queen. I always tried to hide behind my brothers, but they were the same. None of them held any resentment towards the fact that the kingdom would lay down their lives for me and not for them. Well, they would to a point, but not in the same way. I felt Zion tighten his grip on my waist and I turned my head slightly to be able to look up at him.
“No, Aspen. I don’t think you’re a freak. I think that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. I think you’re smart, funny, kind. You have a heart bigger than Nharda and you...” He seemed to be struggling with his wolf at the moment. His words sank deep into my heart as he tried to figure out what else he was going to say. I pulled on his hand so he would loosen his grip and skillfully turned around to face him. Well, not skillfully. It was actually harder than I thought it would be.
His arm found itself around my waist again, pulling me closer. “You make me crazy.” He said softly before lowering his lips to mine. It started as an innocent kiss, and then it turned so needy so fast. I looped my arms around his neck, pulling myself up against him. He groaned into the kiss and pulled away. “We’re almost home.” He whispered and I just nodded. I didn’t want to move from this position. He pulled my horse closer and pulled off one of the blankets before draping it over me. I smiled and snuggled into his chest, my hands dropping from his neck to snake around his waist. He kissed the top of my head and then we started moving again.
He’s ours. There was that voice again. I wished I knew where it came from, but in this moment, I didn’t care. It was right. He was ours. Maybe if Silas accepted my rejection, Zion would be my second chance. It was rare for fated mates to find each other, it was even more rare to have a second chance at a fated. I didn’t care though. He would be mine, fated or not. The sooner the better. I didn’t need Silas to come find me and try to change my mind or try to convince me to be his mistress. That would never happen. I would be second to no one.
We will be Queen. Just you wait and see dear Aspen. Just you wait and see.