“Artemise here.” I demanded.


    “I don’t want to.”


    I groaned, “I just want to hold you.”


    She poked her head out of the hall leading to my room. “And get sted out the wind?”


    Ever since the blood bond kicked it’s been getting stronger and stronger. Most times it does nothing but when I want to touch her I’m hit with electricity. It’s been at its worst today.


    “Pleasee here.” I said softly, but she wasn’t buying it.


    She hurried back into my room. I doubted I was sleeping there tonight. I pursued.Content is ? by N?velDrama.Org.


    “Stop.” She said when I got to the door.


    “Artemis my love.”


    “I don’t want to see you.” Her voice cracked.


    “Why not?”


    “What’s the point when I can’t be near you? I’ll have to go to him soon, won’t I?”


    I hated what this curse was doing to us, to her. I crossed the distance between us. I took her into my arms bracing to be separated with light, but nothing happened. When nothing did she melted into me and I heard her release a shaky breath.


    “I’m sorry.” I stroked her curly hair and she griped the front of my shirt.


    “We tried Daylen.” She said.


    “Sounds like you’re giving up.”


    “What else do we have left?” I brushed her cheek with my thumb and it came back to me damp.


    “Don’t cry.” I whispered. “We should go see my mother. She’s got to know more.”


    “Are you sure she won’t just send me home?”


    “Then we’ll leave.”


    She wriggled out of my hold. I thought she was so defeated she just wanted to get away from me. Instead she pulled on my cheek and pressed her lips against mine. I grabbed the opportunity and wrapped my arms around her waist. Tracing my tongue along her lip I requested ess to enter. She willingly gave it to me. I met her tongue and my fingers found her hair. I needed her so badly. Each passing day I considered my n, yet I hadn’t found the courage to ask her yet.


    My fear didn’t stop me from pining her to the bed and running my hands inside her shirt and seeking out her bra. She moaned and suddenly my pants were too tight.


    “I want you.” She moaned against my lips.


    “Not here.” I said, but I couldn’t stop grinding against her and by the life of me I couldn’t pull myself away from her.


    She pushed my face back and held me still. “I don’t get it. What’s wrong?”


    I nestled my face into her neck. This wasn’t the way I wanted to exin my n.


    “If I have to spend the rest of my life with Alpheus I at least want you to be my first.”


    I rolled onto my back and dragged her to my chest. “You’re not going to spend the rest of your life with him. I am going to be your first, but it won’t be here.”


    As she sighed against me in frustration I felt dangering. I sat up.


    “What’s wrong?”


    I shook my head. This didn’t happen often, but there was something dark in the building. “Nothing, we should get to my mother.”


    “Now? You seem on edge.”


    “Of course I am. I need this bond broken as soon as possible. You don’t even need to change just hold onto me.”


    “Daylen.”


    It was getting closer. I didn’t like not knowing what it was. My suspicions were it was a dark wing, but that was impossible. They couldn’t live up here. I grabbed Artemis and opened the portal to Paradis just as the creature broke through my front door.


    ***


    “Daylen what was that?”


    We manifested in the secret room. Sris wasn’t here. I needed to get her.


    I ran a hand through my hair. “I’m not sure what it was, but I didn’t like the feel of it. I don’t like ambushes.”


    She nted her hands on her hips. “We could take it.”


    I chuckled, “I know, but thest thing I wanted was to put you at risk.”


    She sighed and settled on the wooden chair. I half thought she would fall through it.


    “What now?” She asked.


    “I call my mother. I need to get her. Stay here please.”


    “And if-”


    “I mean it Artemis stay here. Last thing I need is Storm capturing you.”


    She puffed out her cheeks. I smiled. At least I knew if something were to happen to me Artemis woulde after me. She’d search the ends of the worlds until she found me. I left her in the secret room.  I should find Sris in the war room if she wasn’t there she would be in the queen’s court myst option would be the gardens. I couldn’t go to the royal part of the castle. It was forbidden to everyone else.


    I heard her voiceing from the queen’s court. Shit she was in a meeting. She was yelling at someone. I had to retreat but before I could the sense of danger came back. Dark wing, no doubt about it.


    “It can’t be.”


    Dark fire almost took my head off instead it took out the window. Leaving the edges of the wall burned.


    “Alpheus! What the hell are you doing here?” I barked.


    He smirked and rolled up his sleeves. “Came to tie up a few loose ends. Where did you leave my prize? I’ll need to collect her once I take care of you.”


    “Keep dreaming.”


    He bobbed his head to the side and hurled another ball of ck fire at me. I waved it to the wall. It went through the concrete, turning the white paint ck. Sris would be pissed. Secondster she and her court came rushing out. The king, trying to act relevant pushed her behind him. She rolled her eyes.


    “Daylen, what is the meaning of this!” Storm demanded.


    “Honestly? Do you not see Alpheus standing right there?”


    Even Alpheus had to agree with me.


    “What are you doing here Alpheus?” Sris pushed her husband aside. “How did you get here?”


    “Mother, lovely to see you. I thought I might pop in and say hi to you and my brother.”


    Everyone thought of Jason, but Alpheus looked at me.


    “Bastard.” I muttered.


    “No Daylen, I believe you’re the bastard or did Sris tell you who your father was?” Alpheus smirked.


    Sris’ smooth clear face turned red as hell. She gripped her golden gown and hurled a ball of fire at Alpheus he dunked and the st nearly killed me. It hit me on the side, scorching my clothes.


    Sris gasped and hurried towards me. Avon and Storm remained frozen at their spot.


    “Daylen.” She whispered.


    “Stop.”


    “I wasn’t aiming for you.” Her hands trembled.


    “Daylen!” Artemis cried.


    “Fuck. I told you to stay hidden.” I grunted.


    She rushed and took me on herp. Her eyes scanned the chaos until itnded on the source of all chaos. She ced her palm on my wound and I felt her power seep from her hand to the opening.


    “What are you doing?” I asked.


    “Shh…”


    “This… is your great secret Sris.” Storm said, circling her like a hawk.


    “I will burn you.” She seethed.


    “An illegitimate son. How could you?” Avon asked, hurt shed in his eyes.


    “Daylen is the rightful heir to the throne.” Sris spat.


    The heat I’d been feeling was gone. Artemis’ power had healed mepletely, but shit my cover was blown.


    Alpheus was enjoying the chaos he caused. How the heal did he even get in?


    “I think we need to get out of here.” She whispered.


    “I’m not leaving her.”


    She stood. She wasn’t going to let them talk down to her. Storm called for his guards. Sris smirked. I got to my feet. What the hell was Storm nning?


    “Daylen?” Artemis gripped my arm as guards surrounded us.


    “That boy will never touch the throne of Paradis. You disgrace this kingdom Sris.”


    Sheughed. “You will eat your words Storm.”


    “Arrest her.” Avon ordered.


    “You can’t do that!” I yelled at the same time a spark formed between Artemis and I sending her stumbling a few feet.


    Sris turned to me, “Get out of here.”


    “I can’t leave you.”


    She raised an orb of light and through it at my feet. Thest thing I saw was my mother being seized by a dozen men.