Fated

Chapter 31

I woke up in Ash’s enormous, soft bed, and as the memories of last night’s events flooded my mind, I quickly checked my wrist to ensure it hadn’t been a dream. But there, etched into my skin, was his name— Sebastian Augustine.

“Regretting your choice of tattoo?” Ash’s voice startled me. He had just walked in from the sitting room, fully dressed in the black and gray camouflage military uniform I had seen Xanth, Greyson, and Shae wear the day before.

I smiled, tracing the name on my wrist. “I was just making sure it wasn’t all a dream.”

“It would’ve been one hell of a dream.”

“The very best,” I replied, grinning. “Where have you been?”

“I went to see my mother early this morning. She and Xanth invited us to have breakfast with them. I also got the location of Calyx’s bike from Tessa—it’s been parked in the same spot for the last three days.”

I sat up, giving him my full attention. “Where is he?”

“The outpost.”

My heart dropped into my stomach at the mention of the outpost. The last time I had been there, I was barely holding it together, consumed with grief over my mother’s death.

I just nodded, trying to keep my emotions in check.

Ash walked over and sat next to me on the bed, handing me a neatly folded set of clothes. I picked up the top item to find a black long-sleeved top made from the same material as the one he was wearing. Beneath that, I found black and gray camouflage pants that matched his.

“If you’re up for it, I’d like to go after Calyx today, right after breakfast. It will be you, Xanth, Greyson, and me. Your only job is to stay safe inside the charger while we quickly extract him.

“Of course. Do you think he will come willingly?”

Ash shook his head. “Probably not.”

“Then what will you do?”

“I’ll do whatever I have to do, even if it means knocking his ass out and dragging him to the charger.” His tone was serious, devoid of any humor.

I hesitated before asking, “Will Shae be joining us?” I dropped my gaze and picked at my fingernails.

“No, Xanth only brought her yesterday because she was with Tessa when the alert came in.”

I nodded, slightly relieved.

“You’re not worried about Shae, are you?” he asked, tilting his head. “Are you still questioning the way I feel about you?”

I met his gaze and gave him a small smile. “No, of course not. I just … don’t think she likes me very much.”

He scrunched his face. “Why would you think that?”

I hesitated for a moment. “It might have been the way she was waiting for me in the restroom yesterday, just to let me know I wasn’t good enough for you—and to tell me how perfectly suited she is for you.” I chewed on my lip and shifted my eyes away.

Ash’s eyes bulged, and he shot up from the bed. “She did what?” He started pacing, fists clenched. “I’m going to talk to her right now.”

“No.” I grabbed his arm, pulling him back. “It’s fine. I handled it.”

He stopped, looking down at me. “She was out of line, Areya.”

“I know. That’s why I told her she had three hundred years to win your heart and to get used to me, because I’m not going anywhere.”

Ash’s expression softened, a smile slowly spreading across his face.

He sat back down, his eyes trailing over my lips before leaning in to kiss me, but I quickly threw my hand over my mouth.

He stopped, giving me a confused look.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth,” I mumbled from under my hand.

Ash shook his head and smiled.

“Stay right there!” I ordered him.

I jumped up, grabbing a sheet to wrap around my body as I sprinted to the bathroom. I brushed my teeth in record time and then dashed back into the bedroom where Ash was sitting.

Climbing onto the bed, I straddled him with my legs, wrapping my arms around his neck. I gave him a quick kiss on the lips before pulling back with a playful smile.

He wrapped his arms around my waist. “You do know you’re making it really hard for me to want to make it down in time for breakfast with my mom and Xanth.”

My mouth formed an ‘O’ at the hardness between my legs, realizing what he meant.

My eyes trailed down to his lips and suddenly, staying in bed seemed much more appealing. I bit my lip, debating with myself.

“Do you know how crazy it drives me when you chew on your lip like that?” His voice dropped low.

I blushed and immediately released my lip from my teeth.

“Tomorrow, I’m clearing my schedule completely.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Why?”

“Because when I bring you back to this room tonight, I’m not letting you leave until I explore every inch of your body, even if it means we never leave this room again.” He leaned in and gently bit my lip with his teeth.

“Promise?” I whispered.

His only response was a devilish grin that made my heart race. Every part of me screamed to stay in bed with him, but I managed to gather just enough willpower to pull away. Groaning with regret, I stood up to get ready before we truly did miss breakfast.

Turning to walk away, a thought struck me. “Did anyone see the mark?”

He shook his head. “Of course not. I want you by my side when I introduce the new Queen of Ambrosia.”

My stomach twisted into a giant knot. Today, Ash’s family, friends, and whoever we happened to encounter would find out I was their new queen, whether they liked it or not. Although, a small, secret part of me hoped Shae would be one of those people.

“Everyone will love you, Areya,” Ash said, reading my mind. He took my hand. “But when we get back tonight, I want to talk to you about your introduction to the kingdom.”

A look of surprise crossed my face.

“Normally, when a king takes a wife, she receives the title of queen through marriage. She is crowned on the wedding day in title, and she stands by her husband as he rules the kingdom.

“But as we are fated, you are now a queen in every way that I am a king. We both have full and equal power in Ambrosia. You are as much of a queen here had you been born from the royal bloodline. Like I said last night, you now replace Xanth as the sole heir to my Heir power—that’s how strong the fated bond is.”

I just stared at Ash with wide eyes.

He squeezed my hand, pulling me closer until his forehead pressed against mine. “I want to crown you with every person in this kingdom watching,” he said, “and then I want to be the first to kneel before you—before the entire kingdom does.”

I swallowed hard, frozen in place. Shit. This was intense.

He pulled back slightly, running a hand through his hair, a sure sign he was nervous. I braced myself for whatever was about to come out of his mouth next.

“We don’t have to have a wedding … I mean, we’re fated, so it’s not necessary. But the news about us is going to spread fast. I would like to have some type of ceremony to crown you as soon as possible.” He ran his hand through his hair again.

I placed my hands on my hips, a wide grin spreading across my face. “Ash, are you asking me to marry you?”

For the first time, Ash was at a loss for words, staring at me with the biggest eyes.

I chuckled, stepping closer to him. “Of course, I want to marry you. I want the world to know we belong to each other in every way.” The way his face lit up made my heart skip a beat.

“Ok, yeah … We’ll talk about it more when we get back tonight,” he said, his eyes still wide.

I kissed him quickly, took the black clothes, and walked toward the bathroom.

Before shutting the door, I glanced back to see him still sitting in the same spot, still smiling as if he couldn’t believe his luck.

Showering quickly, I changed into the black and gray camouflage pants and the long-sleeved shirt. The material felt strange, lightweight and cool, even with the long sleeves, like a second skin. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail and added a bit of light makeup, glancing at myself in the mirror. Dressed in combat gear, I felt oddly cute.

Strutting out of the bathroom, I found Ash waiting for me in the sitting room. I pretended not to notice as his eyes scanned my body from head to toe.

“I’ll take you dressed like that over some fancy dress any day.”

I bit back the smile threatening to form and casually walked over to the desk where he was standing.

“Tessa is going to send for you in a few days to get your power fitted to one of these,” he said, gesturing to the sleek gun at his side.

“What do you mean?” I asked, curious.

“The ammunition for this gun—it’s your actual magic. Only the strongest of us can even use one. The gun pulls directly from your power and converts it into concentrated shots. A single shot can be lethal for most divine; a human stands no chance, and even the more powerful divine will stay down for a while.”

I stared at the glossy black weapon, a thrill pulsing through me.

“You’re drooling, Areya,” Ash teased, pulling me out of my trance.

My attention snapped back to him, suddenly realizing I had been staring at the gun as if it was some shiny new toy I couldn’t wait to get my hands on.

He smiled, handing me a pair of clear glasses. “Put these on.”

I slid the glasses on as he instructed, and then he made me repeat certain words and phrases to sync my voice with the technology embedded in the lenses.

“Now press the button on the side of the glasses to turn them on,” he said.

I pressed the button, but nothing seemed to happen.

“Now say, ‘Activate camouflage.’”

“Activate camouflage,” I repeated, looking down to find my clothing blending in seamlessly with the surroundings. “Holy shit.”

I couldn’t help the grin spreading across my face, definitely geeking out.

Ash gave me an amused grin. “The glasses will automatically adjust to the sunlight, and there are a couple dozen other features, but I’ll teach you all that when I start your training.”

I nodded excitedly as Ash handed me a pair of black boots.

Once I had the boots on, he led me toward breakfast. I tried to keep track of the endless twists and turns through the castle’s hallways, but my nerves started to get the best of me.

I was lightheaded, my chest tightening with anxiety. As we rounded a corner, stopping in front of a dead end, Ash turned to face me, appearing concerned. “Areya, I can feel your panic. You’re about to hyperventilate,” he said, pulling me into his arms.

“Sorry!” I squeaked out.

“You have nothing to be afraid of.”

“Uh huh, nothing at all,” I said sarcastically. “We’re about to stroll into breakfast and drop a giant bomb on your family. ‘Hey Mom, hey Xanth. By the way, Areya is Queen now. Can you pass the butter?’

Ash chuckled, leaning his forehead against mine. “Breathe, Areya.”

I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the storm inside me.

“My family has been hoping I would find someone for a long time. They will be beyond happy that I finally have.”

“Even some random girl you brought home yesterday?” I asked.

“The girl who saved my life is not some random girl. Jesus, Areya, do you forget you hold royalty in almost every kingdom in Gardonia?”

“Ok.” I nodded, shaking my hands out in front of me. “Ok. I’m ready.”

Ash kissed my forehead and searched my face, lingering a moment as if deciding if I were truly ready. Finally, satisfied, he rolled up his black sleeve, revealing the white mark of the fated bond etched onto his forearm. Then he rolled up my sleeve, exposing the identical mark on my own arm. He grasped my hand firmly as he led me into an intimate dining room.

Seated beside each other at a large oak table were Nadia and Xanth. Xanth wore the same military attire as Ash and me. Nadia looked up first, her warm smile welcoming us.

“Areya, Sebastian,” she greeted us, her eyes softening as they met mine.

I smiled back, trying to calm the nervous fluttering in my stomach. Xanth looked up next, offering a welcoming nod and then Ash just stopped in front of the table, squeezing my hand.

Nadia paused, tilting her head as if sensing something. Her eyes scanned the two of us, her gaze making its way to our intertwined hands. The instant her eyes landed on the marks, her expression shifted, her breath caught, and her lips parted slightly as she pieced it all together.

Xanth, sensing the shift in his mother, gave her an odd look before following her gaze to our hands. His eyes widened as the realization hit him. “Fuck, Sebastian.”

Nadia smacked her son. “Xanth!”

Then, grinning from ear to ear, she stood up and hurried toward us, Xanth following close behind. Without hesitation, Nadia wrapped me in a warm embrace. “I knew it. I just knew it by the way you two looked at each other. Oh, Areya, you’ve made me a very happy mother.”

Her voice was full of joy, and she squeezed me tight before pulling back, stealing my hand from Ash’s grasp and holding both of mine in hers.

“Sebastian came to see me and Xanth this morning. He managed to keep that hidden.” She pointed to the mark on my hand. “But he told us more about what you two have been through. He told us about your mother.” A deep sadness fell over her eyes, and she touched my cheek lightly, a tear rolling down her face.

I fought my own emotions as my lip began to quiver.

“I am so sorry, Areya. I don’t have words to express how deeply sorry I am.”

I nodded, unable to speak as the lump in my throat grew larger.

“But I want you to understand you are a part of this family. As much as Sebastian is my son, you are now my daughter.”

A tear finally slipped down my cheek.

“We will love you and protect you as one of our own. Do you understand?”

I nodded, crying freely now as if I might never stop.

“You are so brave, Areya, and I know your mother would be so proud of you.” Nadia smiled at me through her own tears. “You are home, Areya. This is your home.”

That was it. The dam broke, and I crumbled, tears spilling down my face uncontrollably. Nadia pulled me back into her arms, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back as I cried into her shoulder. I stayed there, letting myself fall apart in her comforting embrace for a few minutes.

Finally managing to pull myself together, I wiped my face and whispered, “Thank you.”

Xanth was beside her, offering me tissues with a small, reassuring smile. I took the tissues gratefully, wiping my eyes as he said, “It’s true—you are one of us now.”

I could only nod through my tears, and Xanth pulled me into a quick, tight hug before handing me back to Ash.

He wrapped his strong arms around me, pulling me close to his chest, where I buried my face and let the last few sobs dissolve. He whispered, “I told you there was nothing to worry about.”

Nadia returned to her seat, a warm smile on her face as she gestured to the table. “Come eat with us, Queen Areya.”

Ash looked at me with eyes full of love and pride as he pulled out a chair for me across from Nadia and Xanth. I sat down, my heart lighter than it had been in days.

“Reize is going to flip when she finds out she has a sister.” Xanth chuckled.

Nadia and Ash both smiled at the mention of Reize.

I reached for some eggs, bacon, and fruit, nearly squealing when Ash poured me a cup of coffee. As I watched Nadia and her two sons chat together, laughing like any other family, something settled deep inside me.

For the first time in a long time, I felt a sense of belonging—as if I was truly home.

“I’m so looking forward to having Calyx back home,” Nadia said.

“Mom loves Calyx more than us,” Ash teased.

“Oh, shush. Calyx is just such a joy to be around, and he’s always so polite. I never hear him swearing the way you and your brother do.”

Ash snorted, and Xanth burst out laughing.

“Shit, Mom, are we talking about the same Calyx?” Xanth’s face was full of amusement as he dodged the napkin Nadia playfully swatted at him.

I couldn’t help but laugh too.

“You’ll see, Areya; Calyx is a good boy. Don’t listen to these two. They’re positively rotten.”

“She’s met Calyx, Mom,” Ash said.

“Oh, that’s right.” Nadia paused. “But she only met him under that nasty curse.”

“Even under the curse, Calyx was the nicer of the two.” I pointed to Ash.

Ash shrugged. “She’s not wrong; Calyx kept that damn grin plastered to his face even as a ripper.”

We all laughed at that.

Nadia leaned forward. “Do you two know when you plan to announce your new status to the kingdom?”

My cheeks flushed slightly, and I glanced shyly toward Ash, letting him take the lead.

“Once I bring Calyx home,” Ash began, “I want to head to Astern as soon as he’s able. I only plan to be gone a week at most. Then, when I bring Reize home, she’ll be thrilled to have a wedding to help plan.”

Nadia’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with delight. “A wedding!”

Ash grinned, looking over at me with a tenderness that made my heart swell. “I left the decision completely up to Areya, even if I secretly hoped she’d say yes.”

The warmth rose to my cheeks again as I smiled.

Nadia beamed, her eyes misting over as she glanced around the table. “Between the arrival of Ash and Areya, the return of Calyx and Reize, a new queen and a wedding, our family has so much to be thankful for. I am so proud of everyone here at this table.”

She placed a hand over her heart, her voice filled with love.

“Mom cries at breakfast at least once a week,” Xanth teased.

Nadia just smiled at her son. The rest of breakfast was spent with Ash and Xanth discussing his plan to return to Astern while Nadia offered to show me around the city while he was gone.

As we finished and got ready to leave, Nadia gave me another warm hug before Ash, Xanth, and I headed to the charger, ready to bring Calyx home.