4. Aries

4

ARIES

W e talk and eat for another hour. As much as I want to discuss battle strategy and next steps in this war, I allow Leo and Mag to dominate much of the conversation, which means it's more lighthearted than informative. My mother talks to Paige as much as she does me, but none of those from the library mention where we came from, and we aren't asked any more about how we came to be together.

I don't wish to lie, exactly, but the stress in both Leo and my mother is evident. I won't burden them with news of more war and battle than they're already dealing with.

"Are you a princess in your homeland?" my mother asks Paige over dessert.

Paige stifles a laugh. "Ah, no."

"She had a leadership position," I cut in.

"Very good." This pleases my mother, although if she were to stop and wonder if that means Paige had been employed, she might not be quite so happy. "And you do want children?"

"Mother, please. The war is our focus now," I remind her.

"I do want children one day, yes," Paige says.

I'm surprised she doesn't blush again, but instead, she seems self-assured, which satisfies my dragon greatly. Especially thinking about the undertaking of impregnating her.

Paige squirms slightly, squeezing her legs together, and I can't stop smiling to myself at her arousal.

Thankfully, my mother being a fae means she most likely can't also smell that. However, Leo and Blossom both can, and I hope they are too distracted to notice.

"Is your family back in your world?" my mother continues.

I tense, wondering if I should interrupt the conversation, but Paige answers before I can figure out what to say.

"My father passed away recently. The rest of my family is here," she says, gesturing to everyone present with a wave of her hand.

My mother smiles at them all. "In that case, you are our family too."

Conversation shifts as the gnomes are caught feeding Kitty under the table. Blossom fusses while Leo laughs. Bingo growls, probably out of jealousy, so Mag tosses him a large bone from the center platter.

Amid the hum of voices, my mother stands.

"Walk with me?" she asks, gesturing toward the doors that lead to the small balcony outside.

I nod and touch Paige's shoulder. "I'll be right back."

She pats my hand. "I'll be fine here," she assures me.

I offer my mother my arm and escort her outside into the night. It's a relief, the fresh air on my face. We can't see much beyond the castle walls from our vantage point, and my dragon yearns to be set free to fly high above the clouds.

My mother says nothing, her hands gripping the banister.

"I know she isn't who you would have picked—" I begin.

"Aries." She clucks her tongue. "Claiming your mate was never about finding someone that I approve of or not." She turns to me with approval in her eyes. "The choice has always been yours, and she's more than enough."

"Then what's wrong? And don't tell me it's nothing. I can see it all over your face tonight."

She sighs. "While your father lived, we had peace. After that, I gave everything I could to hold onto that peace. It is my greatest disappointment that I could not…" She swallows hard before going on. "While I hope that you and Paige will restore that peace, for now, Astronia needs a much different queen than I can offer them. It does my heart well to hear she is a warrior."

I warm at the compliment, but it's not enough to distract me from whatever she's holding back. "But," I prompt.

"But the council may feel differently."

The council.

I should have guessed.

My father was the most democratic king of his line, and while the people loved him for it, the egotistical, privileged people he elevated to power cling to their titles and their tradition with an ever-tightening vise grip.

"What have they said?" I ask.

"Leo's arrangement with Esma was their idea," she admits, exhaustion creeping in now that we're alone and she's confiding. "And it wasn't a suggestion, either."

I frown. "You make it sound like they're the ones giving the orders now?"

She sighs, and in that sound is exhaustion—and defeat. "I couldn't hold them off any longer without risking the throne itself."

Shock then anger simmers in my blood. These men are meant to advise and advocate—not dictate to the crown. "Paige is my mate. I have already claimed her. They have no authority to oppose a rightful king and queen."

She looks ready to argue, but in the end, she merely says, "If there's anyone who can get through to them, it's you."

"Tomorrow," I say, thinking of Paige. "Tonight, my friends and I need rest. Our journey has not been an easy one."

"Of course, darling. I'm so glad you're here."

"As am I."

I press a kiss to her cheek and return to the others. Paige looks exhausted. Blossom has her head propped on her hand, elbow on the table, and Mag is outright yawning.

"I think it's time for us to be shown to our rooms," I announce.

"I suppose you are right." My brother stands and nods to a maid lingering near the wall. "We need… How many rooms?"

"The gnomes might get into mischief if they are in a room by themselves," Paige says.

"Hey," Ned protests.

"Mag and I will take them," Blossom says. "And Bingo if he wants to come."

"You don't have to do that," Paige tells her, stifling another yawn.

"If they get out of hand, I'll find a dungeon to lock them in." The gnomes protest, but Blossom ignores them, winking at Paige. "Just go enjoy some time with your dragon prince. And try to get some sleep."

Bingo brushes against Leo's legs on his way to the door.

"Until morning, then?" Leo asks.

I nod and clap his back before ushering Paige out of the room, confident that the maid can handle securing the others a guest room.

Paige leans against me as I lead her through the castle to my chambers. My body relaxes as we step over the threshold. The worries will still be there tomorrow. Tonight, Paige is home with me where she belongs.

The room is as I left it, and the familiarity is a balm, giving me a sense of home I didn't know I needed.

"Wow." Paige walks over to my canopy bed, spins around, holds out her arms, and flops back onto it. "So soft," she murmurs.

I laugh, even as my dragon roars at me to take her here—in my bed.

I cross over to stand before her reclined form, noting her closed lids. So much for a christening of this mattress tonight.

"Do you want to at least change your clothes?" I ask.

She groans, peeling her lids open as she lifts onto her elbows to peer up at me. "A shower would be even better."

"That part I can do," I say, heading for the connected washroom. I start the hot water running and toss some oils and salts into it before returning to the bedroom.

"Your bath is running," I tell her. "As for the night clothes, I'll have to call for a maid."

"Why?"

"I'm afraid the wardrobe in this room doesn't have a proper lady's nightclothes."

"Good thing I'm not a proper lady," she snorts.

I shake my head. "You need something to sleep in," I counter.

She manages to arch a brow. "So my clothes were good enough for you, but I can't wear yours?"

I chuckle, recalling the gray sweatpants she sewed for me the night we met. They had been rather snug, and they never did hide my erections around her, which I think she approved of greatly.

With two long strides, I cross over to the wardrobe and remove one of my extra tunics. She doesn't need pants, and they wouldn't fit her anyway.

"I think this will make us even," I say. "Come on."

I lead her into the bathroom where she stares hungrily at the large tub already filled with hot water. "This bathroom puts mine to shame."

I smirk. "Finally, you're impressed."

She runs her gaze over my body. "Oh, I was already impressed, believe me."

I smirk. As much as her teasing turns me on, I know she'll appreciate a moment to clean up. "In that case, enjoy."

I leave the tunic next to her towel and return to the bedroom to wait.

A few minutes later, Paige re-emerges in nothing but a towel. My body reacts instantly, and she doesn't miss the evidence, her gaze dipping to where my erection presses against my pants.

"Bath is all yours," she says.

With a groan, I stride into the bathroom and run fresh water—cold.

When I emerge a few minutes later, Paige has tossed the towel aside and is sliding the tunic over her head. I pause in the doorway, my gaze roving over her body. The lush curves of her breasts, the perfect shape of her hips. Thighs that clench when I send her soaring. She shrugs into the clothing and turns, noticing me at last.

Before my thoughts can betray me, I tear my gaze away and cross to my armoire to pull on clothes of my own. Finally, I climb into bed with her. Immediately, she curls beside me, resting her head on my chest.

"Paige, I can't thank you enough for bringing me home."

"That was our original plan," she reminds me, lifting her head so she can grin down at me. "Before you-know-who ruined it."

The mood plummets at the reminder.

She's quiet, and I wonder if she's thinking of Hoc. His death is the reason she was promoted to Head Librarian and forced to stay in the library instead of returning here with me sooner. I don't blame her, though. I chose to stay too. And I wouldn't change it. She needed me. But I can't deny the relief I feel at being back here—together.

"We're safe here," I say though that's not exactly true with the horde at our borders.

"Yes," she murmurs. "For now…"

"I will handle the orcs. Now that we're here?—"

"We will win the war. I'm certain of it," she agrees sleepily. "But…"

I wait, trying to understand why I sense so much fear through our bond.

Fear and anger.

"We'll have to go back and face Constantine eventually," she reminds me.

"Will we?" I ask, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

"Aries." Paige sits up, frowning down at me. "You can't be serious."

"Think about it," I say earnestly. "We have my book, which means he can't get to us. To you. What if we just left it at that?"

She sits up, her hair tumbling over her shoulders. "He's violating the library's most sacred purpose," she argues, her voice rising. "He's taking what he wants from each world those books contain and destroying lives in the process. Just like he did to my world all those years ago."

Her voice cracks, nearly breaking.

"Tell me what happened," I say. "When you were gone with Oliver."

She hesitates, her fear written across her expression now.

"Paige, whatever it is, we can face it. Together."

She finally nods. "In that portal, I saw my home. The world I was born in," she adds before I can ask the question. "I saw my parents. Our village. It was a whole life, and it was beautiful. Filled with love. And hope. And then Constantine came."

"You saw his destruction," I say grimly.

"Yes, but not just that. When he was finished destroying, I watched myself… recreate it."

"What do you mean?"

"Constantine said my magic was the stardust of creation itself. I didn't understand at first, but in that memory, I watched myself recreate everything about my world—everything but the people I loved within it."

I soften at the way her voice cracks with grief.

"I replaced every single home and hearth and blade of grass that had been there before. But I can't bring back people." Her grief turns to frustration as she says, "What good is all this power if I can't save anyone with it?"

"You've saved us all," I remind her. "You found a way to get us out before he could hurt anyone else."

"I couldn't save Hoc," she says sadly.

"Hoc did what he did to save you ."

"Yeah," she whispers half-heartedly. "Maybe you're right." She looks up at me, eyes shining. "I still can't believe Constantine was always there. In the library. That he's been feeding on my magic all these years." Anguish contorts her expression. "It's my fault he's this strong now. It's my fault he?—"

"Whoa, hold on. If you hadn't conjured me, I might never have found my way to you." Her glistening eyes find mine, hope shining in them like desperation. "I don't regret a single second of being with you, Paige. Constantine's actions are his responsibility, not yours. Don't lay blame where it's not deserved."

"I don't regret you either," she tells me. "But don't you understand why I have to go back and finish this?"

"Yes." I reach for her, pulling her into my arms and holding her tight—as if this moment of closeness might somehow protect her from the danger that waits for us down the line. "I do understand. I just want to protect you from being hurt again."

She nestles closer, but she doesn't give in. "I appreciate that, but we can't hide. Eventually, he'll become powerful enough that he won't need the book to portal here." She pauses and then says, "He'll come for me, Aries. I can't explain how I know it, but I do. He won't stop until he's drained me for good."

She's right, of course.

Doesn't mean I like it.

"I would never let that happen," I snarl, tightening my grip on her and shoving aside the thought of her being harmed. Exhaling, I add, "You're right. He must be stopped, and the library must be restored. But let's focus on one war at a time. If we don't, we risk yet another lost world and nothing left in either one to save."