Ashley remained on the floor for an hour without any progress in trying to move, she ignored the maids and guards that walked past her, most asked what was wrong but she didn't give a response.She bowed her head and sniffed, she felt someone sit beside her and she looked up to see Hayden.“What? Still mad at me and planning to run away?” He asked and she sighed.“I am not here to apologize since you don't want me to, I ran into a maid in the royal chamber and she told me you were here crying, seems everyone knows how close we are or we were.” He explained and Ashley kept staring at him.“So, why are you crying? Who hit you this time? Was it because of me again?” “Apologize.” She mumbled and he gave her a questioning look.“Huh?”“Apologize to me.” “Am sorry Ashley.” He said and she moved closer to him, she placed her head on his shoulder and he sighed.“Someone will see us here, should we go to my chambers?” He asked and she sniffed.“Yeah.” She replied and he slowly stood up, he p
“Am sorry I did that, Hayden made me do it.” “Hey,” Hayden said and glared at him.“It's fine, I just felt like you should know what the Prince did to your mate.”“Yeah, thanks.” He sighed and Hayden wrapped his arms around Ashley as she ate.“Are you mad at me?” “Of course not.”“Good, it was Bryan that suggested we check your memories.” “If you say so.” She chuckled and continued eating.“So, how are you guys preparing for the Shazam Festival?” Ashley asked and they looked at her amazed.“Did you see that one too?” Bryan asked and she laughed.“What? No, a maid told me about it.”“Oh, that's better. I was starting to get terrified.” He sighed and she smiled.“It is just a fucking dumb festival they repeat every year, I am not attending it.” Hayden scoffed.“Wrong, you are attending it.” Ashley said.“And why is that?” “Because you will go with me, we are showing up as a couple.” Ashley said and Bryan frowned.“Why are you suddenly so cool with everything? I thought you are scare
“This Festival is so boring.” Hayden groaned and Ashley smiled.“I am enjoying it.” She said and she moved her head to the song being played.“Yeah, because you are listening to this dumb song for the first time and the perverted Kings and Prince keeps staring at you.” Bryan scoffed and she smiled happily.“What? Don't stare at them.” Hayden said angrily and held her hand tightly.“Am not, they are the ones staring at me.” She laughed and he rolled his eyes. The castle dancers display a show and the Kings watched happily, they were different activities done and Ashley found them fun. The Princess suddenly stood up from her throne and walked to Ashley, everyone was engrossed in the Festival activities they didn't notice her.“What are you doing sitting here?” The Princess asked Ashley and she bowed.“She can do anything she wants.” Bryan said and she rolled her eyes at him.“You are a maid, get up and go serve the Kings and the guest, other maids are working so do the same.”“Yes ma’
“Hayden, you need to calm down till the festival is over.” Bryan said as he leaned on the wall and panted.“Find Ashley.” He growled and Bryan sighed.“The festival will be over in hours and am sure she will be fine wherever she is.” Bryan told him trying to calm him but it wasn't working. He kept seeing images of him being restless and all he kept thinking about was Ashley. His heart started to hurt and he groaned in pain, he fell to his knees and Bryan rushed to him.“Are you okay?“Find Ashley.” He groaned and held Bryan’s hand tightly.“Hayden.” Bryan called and he suddenly passed out.*******THE NEXT DAY Hayden groaned in his sleep and slowly opened his eyes, the first person he saw was Ashley and he sat up immediately.“Ashley.” He sighed in relief and hugged her, she smiled and hugged him back.“Finally, he is awake.” Bryan said walking into Hayden’s chamber.“Where were you? I was worried sick, why did you leave the Festival?” He asked and she sighed.“Am sorry, the head ma
“Hayden.” Ashley called in tears and the Princess smiled happily.“Answer the question.” “I... Okay, fine. A maid came to call during the Festival and informed me the head maid demanded my presence and I followed her but I was knocked out in the hallway then I didn't wake up till dusk and when I did, I found myself in my room.” “Why didn't you tell me when I asked you?” “Because you would get mad and start a fight with the Royal family again and that will put me into more trouble. That was what happened I swear.” She cried and Hayden sighed, she wasn't lying this time and he knew it. “It's okay, stop crying.” He said and wiped her tears. “How did this necklace get to your room? It can't just walk there by itself.” The King said.“Your Majesty, I don't know what is going on but I believed I am being framed.” “Really? The Prince said he made love to you and he marked you, can you lift your hair and show us the mark? If there isn't any mark there then you are free to go and I will
“What? What the hell are you talking about?” Hayden asked and Bryan rolled his eyes.“You wanted the truth so bad and I told you.”“Really? How is it possible to mark someone I met like a month ago and I have never had sex with?” He asked and Bryan sighed.“I don't know how to explain that to you but all you need to know is that she is your mate, you were the one who marked her so stop yelling at her.” Hayden was about to say something else but he paused and stared at Ashley, she has cried a lot and her eyes were starting to get puffy and red. Her hands also trembled and he sighed, he really made her terrified. He should try to calm her for now and they could talk about all these later.“Am sorry Ashley.” He apologized and Bryan sighed in relief.“I guess I will leave you guys then.” Bryan sighed and turned to Ashley.“If he acts like a jerk again or if anything comes up you can call me, if you can't bear it again, I will take you home, you have had enough already.” Bryan said and s
“Please, help me!” She cried.“Please help me.” She mumbled and sighed, she suddenly heard leaves rustling behind her and she turned to see two boys running towards her, they were going to collide with her and she screamed in fear. They passed through her and she froze, she looked at her body and her eyes widen in shock.“What the fuck? Am I a ghost? Am I dead?” She asked and turned to see the boys fighting a distance from her, she sighed and walked towards them to stop them.“Hey, stop fighting.” She said and tried to separate them but her hands passed through them.“Boys, stop fighting.” She yelled but they couldn't hear her.One of the boys suddenly pushed the other roughly and he fell.“You will never be part of our family, I can't wait for you to be exiled so you can stop bringing shame to our family.” He said and ran away leaving the boy on the floor. Ashley stared at the boy as he cried loudly, his age range should be about 5-8, and he look cute and kind of familiar too. Ash
“Bryan, get her to wake up. She has been this way for hours, it's midnight already.” Hayden said worriedly and he held Ashley’s hand as she cried in her unconsciousness.“I really have no idea of what is going on or what to do.” Bryan sighed staring at her.“But she keeps crying in her sleep and sometimes she whimpers, what is going on?” “I think whatever she is or whatever she is seeing is sad, since she passed out while holding you then it must be related to you, let go of her hand or it might get worse,” Bryan said and he hurriedly let go of her. “Oh, God.” Hayden sighed and ran his hands through his hair.“If she is seeing anything that deals with me then it is torture, I had a rough life and Ashley is so emotional and weak, she will keep breaking every time, and look at her, she isn't looking like an unconscious human.”“I think I should ask Etheldreda.” Bryan said and stood up.“Please get her to come with you.” “Hmm, I don't think that will work or it is a good idea. She ha
“What?” Hayden asked and Bryan sighed.“Yes, she might not wake up.”“How many percent possibilities is that it will be successful?” Ashley asked and Hayden turned to her.“Oh, it's 50-50.”“Okay, I will do it.” “What? No.” Hayden yelled and walked to her.“Yes, I will.”“No, you are not, what if you don't wake up?”“What if I die anytime? Huh? Then we won't get to be with each other.”“But you might not wake up.”“Might Hayden, it's not certain that I won't wake up.”“I don't care, you are not doing it. I own you so I have every right over you.”“You can't tell me what to do and not do, I am not a child.” She yelled and he scoffed.“I don't think you know what being a mate is, you have to be submissive to me which means you will do everything I ask you to do.”“I am not some kind of an item or property you can control, I can do whatever I want. So what if I don't listen to you?”“I want you to listen to me.” He yelled.“Okay, this is getting worse. My bad.” Bryan muttered and watche
“Good morning beautiful.” Ashley heard in her sleep and felt soft kisses all over her face, she giggled as she slowly opened her eyes. She saw Hayden smiling at her and she chuckled before sitting up, he pecked her lips and she sighed.“Morning.” She replied and he nodded.“Go and get ready and come down for breakfast, I bet my baby is hungry already.” “Yeah, yeah.” Ashley laughed and he helped her up, she walked into the bathroom and he waited for her in the room. She walked out of the closet minutes later dressed in her clothes and Hayden smiled at her.“You aren't dressed in my clothes today.” He said as he stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Well, that is because I am back in my room which is filled with my clothes and not yours. I can't enter your room in this mansion because you never let me.” “Oh, do you want to see it?” “Seriously?”“Yes, I mean, it's not really that bad.” “Why don't you want me to see it exactly?”“You will find out but that will be after b
Bryan stared at the Princess as she walked angrily away from the throne room, he followed her and she glanced at him as she walked.“Stop following me.” She said with her voice starting to break and he ignored her.“Slow down Ariadne.” He said and she ignored him, she got to her room and tried to close the door but he got in forcefully.“What do you want Bryan?” She asked with her eyes starting to get clouded with tears.“You don't have to cry, I get the fact that you are upset but you really don't have to cry.” He said and she rolled her eyes which made a tear roll down her eyes.“I never knew you could cry.” Bryan chuckled and she glared at him.“Yeah, sorry. My bad.”“Please leave.”“No.” He replied with a frown and moved closer to her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and sighed.“Don't cry over something your selfish mother did.”“Yeah, you are right.” She muttered and wiped her tears, Bryan chuckled and creased her waist.“So, you hate me.” Bryan said and she smiled.“And yo
“Oh my God, you guys pulled it off really well, I never expected it.” Ashley said as Hayden held her tightly from behind. They were still in the garden and everyone was still celebrating the successful proposal.“Yeah, we did. All thanks to Ariande.” Hayden said and the Princess smiled happily.“I played my role right.” She said proudly and Ashley nodded.“Yes, you did. Thank you so much.” Ashley said and pulled away from Hayden, she walked to the Princess and hugged her.“I want a hug now.” Bryan said walking to her as she pulled away from the Princess. Ashley chuckled and hugged.“Now I get the reason why you don't want me to hug you, you don't want me to read your memories.” “Yeah.” He chuckled and hugged her again.“Hey, that’s enough.” Hayden said and pulled her to himself, Ashley laughed and hugged him.“I am so happy.” She giggled and he smiled at her.“Yeah, me too.” Hayden replied and kissed her.“Yes! Let's celebrate this!” The Princess yelled and the maids around smiled ha
After they both got their hair treated and styled, they did their nails and they both walked out of the saloon. They entered the chariot and Princess Ariande heard Ashley’s stomach grumble.“Hey, are you hungry?” She asked and Ashley nodded in response. “Okay, there is a restaurant close to this place, let’s head there.” The Princess said and she nodded. They got to the restaurant and Ashley smiled knowing it was familiar.“What's with the smile?” The Princess asked as they walked in.“Oh, Hayden has brought me here before but it was like a month ago.”“That's nice.” She replied and smiled, the people in the restaurant bowed as usual and the waiter and waitress treated Ashley and the Princess well. People left the restaurant for them and Ashley turned to the Princess and she shrugged with a smile.They both sat down and ordered for what they wanted, Ashley ordered a lot of things which surprised the princess.“Are you sure you want to eat all of these?” The Princess asked as they st
Ashley slowly opened her eyes and sighed, she frowned when she couldn't find Hayden beside her and she slowly sat up.“Great, you are finally awake.” She heard a familiar voice and she flinched when she saw the Princess walking out of her closet.“Princess Ariadne.” She called surprised and stood up immediately, she bowed and the Princess smiled.“Oh, please. Stop that.” She said and Ashley looked up at her.“Hmm, is... Is everything okay? Why are you here?” Ashley asked nervously and the Princess smiled at her.“Yes, dear. Come on, hurry into the bathroom, we have to get ready and why are you up so late?” She asked and Ashley stared at her surprised, she has never been this confused in her life.‘What the hell is going on? And where the fuck is Hayden?’ She thought and the Princess smiled.“I know you are confused but don't worry, am not going to hurt you. See? No claws, no fangs, just me in my human form.”“Okay. Am sorry, please where is Hayden?” She asked.“Oh, he put me in charge
“Open up.” Hayden said to Ashley and she slowly opened her mouth, he fed her brown soup and she frowned.“I don't want this Hayden, I really don't want it.” Ashley said and made an irritated expression.“But Lucas said you have to take it that it will help.” Hayden replied as he fed her another spoonful of the soup.“It's just brown soup, it's not helping.” She argued and he smiled at her.“Relax baby, as long as Lucas said it will help, I believe it will and besides, you were the one that wanted Lucas’s meal.”“Ugh, I thought he would prepare his normal delicious meals, I didn't know he was going to give me this recommendation.” She scoffed and he chuckled.The sorcerer walked to them and smiled at them, Ashley smiled back at him.“How are you feeling madam Ashley?”“Am feeling good, thanks.” She replied and he nodded.“Are you feeling any pain anywhere?” He asked and she shook her head in response.“Okay then, you are free to go to your room but if you feel any pain or you need anyt
“The Queen?” Bryan asked and she nodded.“Why the hell does the Queen wants you?” Bryan asked and she sighed.“Can you help me up?” She asked Hayden who remained quiet but kept staring at her.“Yeah.” He muttered and helped her up, she leaned on him and sighed.“She is mad at me because I am with her daughter’s supposed mate to and I also caught her son’s attention and much other stuff.” She explained and Hayden sighed.“Why aren't you saying anything?” Ashley asked Hayden and he turned to her, he stared at her for a while before wrapping his arms around her. “I really have nothing to say, I am just glad you are okay.” He said and kissed her. “So you are just going to let the Queen go?”“Hell no.” Hayden replied and pulled away from Ashley.“She is going to pay for making my beautiful babies go through hell.” He said and kissed Ashley’s forehead. “Oh, that reminds me. She knows am pregnant and she was planning on using my baby as a sacrifice by midnight.” “What? How did she know t
“Hayden, we have been searching for hours, the guards are starting to get tired, we need to go back.” Bryan said but Hayden ignored him and kept walking deeper into the woods.“The guards can go back, you are with me.” Hayden ordered and Bryan turned to the exhausted guards.“You can go back now.” He said and they all bowed.“Thank you, Sir Bryan.” They chorused and they all walked away, Bryan sighed and ran to Hayden.They kept walking but Hayden stopped when he saw an old house from a distance.“Hey, did you know there is a house in the deepest part of the woods?” Hayden asked and Bryan looked at it.“Yeah, kind of but only a few people know about it.”“Who does it belong to?” Hayden asked as they walked towards it.“It is abandoned now, it belonged to a poor family but they got moved into the city and that happened hundreds of years ago.” “Does the Royal family know about this place?”“I don't know but they should.” Bryan replied with a shrug.“Let's take a closer look.” Hayden sa