Queen Marion & Her Band of Witches (The Hybrid Series) Book 9

Chapter 27: Bubble

Nola

I had been running things along with advice from Laurel for over three months now, the King and Queen are still asleep after losing their daughter. Alpha Aidan had ordered no one to go into the room, they would awake when they were ready to face their loss, losing Princess Drucilla was a blow to the Kingdom, and once the news spread, we all went into mourning. King Roman attended the funeral, he was shocked that Lady Ashlyn was Marion's daughter, he even looked panicked for a while but offered his condolences and help which I refused, of course. His Beta, Axel, stayed back looking for a weakness inside the Kingdom, he figured we wouldn't know he was snooping, trying to find a way to bend Marion to King Roman's will. Ty drops in now and then to check on Marion and Dru, he practices his magic at the school which is improving, we feel his power as he gradually gets stronger.

Luc returned from his business trip and kissed me stating, "It was a rough week, how are the Royals doing?" I smiled and said, "They are still in their magical bubble, hopefully, they awake soon." We kissed again, I was about to tell him about Lexi being here when she opened the door saying, "Mom, I will be heading back to Frogger Forest, Keep me posted on Marion and Dragu." Luc looked at her with so much love, he missed her and he walked over to her as she smiled at him and said, "Hi, Dad....," he picked her up, cut her off, spinning her around and hugging her so tightly, I saw tears, he missed her so much. He said, "I miss you, baby girl, she said, I miss you too," I knew she was ready to bury the hatchet with us. Honestly, I was too, I wanted her around and apologized to her a few days ago when she first came.

Lenora and Phillip were helping out with the school, Alma was one of the head teachers here, and she was good at what she did. Erik and Addison were here, he appeared to be a supportive husband, but I didn't trust him and we believe he had something to do with Ashlyn's death although Ty killed the culprit he saw in her blood. Addison was here to prepare for her father's funeral, Mason didn't take losing his mate well, he started drinking heavily, he was the one who found her after feeling her die driving home. The neighbors heard him scream and yet no one heard when Ashlyn was being killed, we believed magic was involved. No one could go near her body because Dragu had a protective barrier around her unknown to him when he passed out, it was a protective mechanism from his magic.

Eventually, the barrier was released once Dragu was in a deep sleep, Mason went into a deep depression, he finally killed himself, and Aidan saw him jump from the Wicker Bridge when he read his blood. I left the room so Luc could talk to Alexis, she was his firstborn, and loved her from the first time he saw her, we were overprotective parents that eventually drove a wedge between us. I went to check on Dragu and Marion, they were side by side and had guards outside their door and on the corridor 24/7, no unauthorized persons are allowed on this wing period. I pushed the door and saw Dragu sitting on the bed, his eyes were solid white, I didn't disturb him but called for Ty and he came into the room a few moments later. We waited until his eyes returned to normal and he said, "Take me to her resting place, please."

*****

Dragu

I opened my eyes in the darkness, I saw this bright light and followed it out to a garden, seeing Ashlyn smiling and waiting for me, I hugged her and we sat next to the lake. She looked happy and I knew she was dead, I kept my composure so I could spend this time with her, she wouldn't tell me who killed her saying, "It's fate, Dad, my killer will get his punishment eventually, just let it play out." I held her hand and we waited, Marion eventually joined us, and we stayed with our baby talking and laughing until she saw Mason and I knew he was dead too. I hugged him and so did Marion, we talked a long time, and Mason explained he couldn't live without Ashlyn, we talked about things private to us until it was time for them to cross over. I watched them hold hands and walk into the light, it was the saddest thing I had to endure, watching Marion break down not wanting to leave. The screams my wife gave when Ashley was gone will haunt me forever, I vowed then, no more Mr. Nice Guy.

I woke up still dazed and confused, I saw the war that would be upon us in a few years, everyone would be involved and I knew we couldn't stay out of it. Ty helped me up, making sure I could stand after being out for so long, my stomach growled and I smiled as I was led out to the kitchen, everyone bowed. I knew I had asked to see my daughter's resting place but I needed a shower and food, I also wanted to wait until Marion woke up. I ended up waiting for two more days before Marion woke up, she was cleaned up and fed but she was not ready to face that our daughter was dead. Addison had been our rock but I hated Erik, he had something to do with my daughter's death, I could feel it but there was no proof. I couldn't be in the same room as him and he knew it, he tried to be the loving supportive husband since finding out Addison's biggest secret. He was a Prince by default and that power was getting to him.

I went into the bedroom to be with Marion, she was looking out the window, I hugged her from behind when she leaned into me, and I kissed her head. I mind-linked her and said, "Let's visit them today," she said, "I can't because then it would be true," I turned to her and said, "Yes and they are at peace, we have Drucilla's memories, and her kids to protect." She held my hand and I opened a portal to their tomb, Mason was next to her, he was placed in here yesterday and we needed to be strong for our granddaughters. We need to show we are more united than ever, Marion kissed me and we touched the tomb, it had a picture of her on the top and I cried with Marion. My only daughter was dead, and now I know what it felt like to lose a child, the pain can be crippling and Marion had lost two sons prior, I was going to find a way to open that nothingness to give her the closure she needs.

*****

Addison

I was devastated when I learned of my mother's death, I felt it when it happened and I knew Allison did too, I was in Ty's penthouse suite waiting for him to finish his meeting. Aidan had notified me about my grandparents' present state, they were in a magical bubble dealing with the loss of my mother. Ty had come for me as I broke down crying, I wanted to go to her but he wanted to protect me, I didn't care, I needed to see her. He drove me over to her house as everyone was waiting to go inside, there was this magical barrier around it as my father sat there in a grief-stricken state. I walked over to him and he said, "She is gone, Addy, Ashlyn is gone," and I hugged him as we both cried. Allison was home with Cayden as he comforted her, and Erik was nowhere to be found, I had a bad feeling about this until Ty linked me as he went through the back so no one could see him.

Ty said, "It's bad Addy, it was a rogue but something is off about this vision from her blood, it seems like someone went to great lengths to change the truth in her blood." Erik showed up at the same time and my father went into a rage yelling, "You did this, you son-of-a-b***h, you killed her." Guards held him back, he was beginning to wolf out as he shouted, "You found out we were leaving here to go to Volterra so we could be with her mother and you killed her." Roman silences him and says, "Enough, no one knows you were leaving, this is news to me," looking at Erik. I knew then Erik had something to do with this, Roman wouldn't have come here unless it was to clean up Erik's mess, I just needed to prove it.

Ty was listening in, invisibly watching everyone to get a read off them, Roman asked, "Who are your grandparents, Addy? We need to notify them of their loss." Ty stood behind me and whispered in my ear, "Tell them, love, let me see their reactions," I said, "Queen Marion and King Dragu are my grandparents and whoever killed their daughter will die a painful death." The look on Roman's face was priceless, you could hear a pin drop among everyone, the long-lost daughter living right under Roman's nose, he didn't know what to say and Erik swallowed but held his composure. Ty said, "It seems another crime to add to Erik's long line of atrocities, I will him kill for you when the time is right," and I believed him.