Crystal Lyson Point of View – Two Weeks Later

Chase and Stella dance beautifully in front of us at their reception. Both of them chose to have a small wedding with the people of the castle after their adventure, and my near-death experience. Vincent has been attempting to stay calm and not become the overbearing, protective mate, but in some ways he has failed. However, the effort that I see in him negates any of the moments that I want to strangle him.

Three of us, Sunni choosing to step back, these past weeks have been training with the guards, our mates standing on the sidelines keeping each other in check as our strength and abilities have grown. While we appreciate their support, their constant growls from a man knocking us down can get distracting.

We watch Stella spin by us again, leaving her mate to greet others in the party, by herself. Once the three of them had the chance to walk and take care of themselves, it was too much to try to shove anyone back into that box. So, for right now, as long as we are on castle grounds, we are able to take ourselves places and handle our own business. It's a small win to the big war, but these men can only handle so much at once, insert sarcastic laugh.

Sunni still chooses to be carried by her mate and follow a more traditional lifestyle, none of us judge her for it, but it does surprise us. A sit on my chair craning my neck to see Sunni sitting on Mark's lap. Mark looks pissed staring at Vincent's crown with an intent that I'm not able to place. Without having the time to process, Mark catches my wandering eyes standing up from his place to approach Vincent who looks back over his chair with a bland expression. Those two have been butting heads since we got back and none of us can pin-point the reason why.

Vincent Lyson Point of View

I watch as Mark puffs out his chest meeting my bored gaze with his power hungry one. 

"Vincent Lyson, I challenge you to the death for the crown." His words resonate through the room and silence all the people. At a wedding? I stand up from my chair, my height standing well above him. Turning my head down, my metallic crown casting a shadow over his face, I give a smirk.

"You truly think you have the ability to beat me? Is this more of that stupid ideology that Sunni has been feeding you?"

Ideology?

"You are no longer fit to lead. Changing the traditions of our people, wreaking havoc between the sacred mate bonds. How can you look in the mirror when your mate can just carry herself wherever she wants to go? Some protector of this future."

Crystal moves to stand as well, her heated gaze about to put him in his place, but I hold up my hand and she quiets herself but continues to stand next to me ready for anything. So, so beautiful.

I take off my crown and set it down on the table. No need for such materialistic representations when I could rip his head off with a snap of my thumb and pointer. The room is eerily silent, and I sense the room guards awaiting orders, no one has challenged me in a long time, the last having his throat ripped out just for speaking to me, "You speak as though you know anything you imbecile. Do you wish to handle this now or after I change every single law that limits the strength of my beautiful mate and other women that deserve more quality out of their life?"

"Tomorrow, it will give us enough time to say goodbye to our mates. Strongest blessed by the stars to rule."

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Crystal walk over to Sunni who sits with a straight back and a challenging gaze. She act's as though my mate won't kill her where she stands.

"I accept your terms. I hope you are ready to lose everything you have ever loved. Are you truly ready to kill her as well?" My voice is a whisper, Mark finally showing a small amount of fear. It is well known through the people when one of the mates die, the other dies as well the break of the bond too debilitating.

Mark raises his chin; a smile sent my way as he walks back over to Sunni. Crystal stands over her, a hand shoved into her hair as she hold her head forcing her to meet her eyes, "Some fucking friend you are. Now I know you are just a rotting sack of meat that knows nothing but betrayal. Suck in the fame sweetheart, because I promise that your mongrel of a mate is nothing against Vincent."

"You speak to me in fear, I think you know it's the end for you."

"I have the sense to rip your tongue out." Crystal tugs against her, a light yelp coming from Sunni as Crystal wraps her hand around her throat pulling her from the chair.

The bond between us has sent Crystal into a more primal brain, her thoughts wanting to protect me and handle anything that could lead to my loss. I walk towards them, laying my hand on her lower back as Sunni pulls at her fingers, "Can't you teleport or something weakling? Or is the lack of air making it hard to focus?"

"My love, the challenge is between Mark and I, you are demonstrating amazing strength, but I need to ask you to drop her." I kiss the side of her head, Mark forcing himself to stay in place. He knows Sunni did this to herself, she challenged the queen, and Crystal has full rights to rip her heart out. However, I know my mate, and she would regret this much later down the line. She isn't a killer.

"She caused Mark to challenge you. She must be put in her place." Sunni's face starts to turn a light blue, her struggles starting to become less and less.

"This is the mate bond acting, love, you wouldn't normally do something like this, and I don't want you to regret this later. I promise that Sunni will feel the consequences of her actions. I love you, Crys, you need to put her down, but I won't force you."

Stella and Chase move to stand near us, Stella covering her mouth in pure fear watching her queen becoming this deadly woman. I watch Crystal's fingers twitch against Sunni's now bruised neck, the next moment her body dropping to the floor, "Blood doesn't go with a wedding."

~

Crystal stands behind me, her naked body pressed against my back after her morning shower. Her birthing season hasn't shown, it being a trauma response. When Aurelius took her from me, it caused her body to shut down and now, per the royal doctor it will show when it wants to, and most likely will be soon indications including her need to touch me more often or be near me.

"I am scared for you. Mark isn't strong, but I am still worried you will get hurt." Her melodic voice is paired with light kisses on my back that send electric pulses through me.

"You should have no worries, love. You will be there the whole time, and the last thing I plan to do is die. You have yet to fall in love with me, I still have some work to do." My response is meant to comfort her, but she leaves my back to sit down on the bed, me following her in light fighting gear.

"Vince..." She lays her wet hair on me; I throw my arm around her laying it on her opposite hip, "I... I think I love you. And I don't know what I would do if something was to..."

"You think?" I place my hand on her cheek rubbing my thumb back and forth over her letting myself lean back to look at her properly.

"I didn't know how to tell you, but Vincent you really have proven to me how much you care and... fuck I am not good at this.... I just," She takes another deep breath, pressing herself into me to move her lips against mine the emotion felt when she moves slowly against me. Her kiss is deep, passionate, a begging for more, but too soon she pulls away pushing a wet strand of hair behind her ear, "I love you. I am sorry it took me this long to say it."

"Love, it could have taken a thousand years and I wouldn't mind the wait. You are everything to me, and knowing that you feel the same way... I can't express the excitement."

"Oh, but I can tell." She laughs, laying her hand on my crouch, something that leads me to join her in laughter.

"Too bad we don't have the time or can't be late. I have had some fruit sent up for us," I motion to the table near the windows, "Why don't you go eat a little bit and then get dressed. Mark and Sunni will meet at us at the training field."

She nods standing up with a peck on my cheek her beautiful ass coming into view as she walks to the window. I have to force my eyes away from her when the sunlight lays over her skin giving such a glow that I would have to be dragged from this room to stop loving her.

Moving to grab shoes, I hear the running feet of Crys as she barrels into the bathroom a familiar sound of gagging over the toilet coming from the cracked doorway. Dropping the shoes, I run into the bathroom to see her strung over the toilet, the small amount of fruit she just ate now a swirl of colors in the bowl.

"Mate, are you alright?" I knell next to her grabbing a wet towel to clean her face, her body slumping against the wall.

"I think I need to see the doctor again." She groans holding her belly, her face slowly losing the nauseous look it had when I first ran in.

"What could be wrong, why are puking?"

"I just need to see Ms. Perkins again. Nothing serious, okay? I think I might have a stomach bug."

"A what kind of bug? Are these found in gardens?" What bug could she be speaking of that like to go into peoples' stomachs and cause a ruckus? Should I burn the grounds for her?

"No- Vincent, like a sickness. I don't feel good." Oh. Much more earthy.

"Well then, we must go to her at once, I will discuss with Mark-"

"No, no. I am fine. Please. Let's get this over with and then we will go. I promise. I won't die between now and then." She tries to convince me, every instinct I have telling me to carry her to the infirmary and get her looked at head to toe, but her determined look corrects me, and confirms that she will indeed be safe until we can handle the thorn in our sides. I have to trust her if this is going to work.

"Alright fine, but not a moment later? I will drag you."

She smiles, getting up to brush her teeth, "I wouldn't expect anything less, my love."