Chapter 7

Aro

I was a little hurt when Miriam hadn't answered the door when I knocked. I knew she would need time to realize the rumors about me were just rumors and opted to give her space rather than force her to be around me. I couldn't help coming back to the door adjoining our rooms ever so often though. I needed to be near her.

I could hear her laughing with Kira, it eased the ache of longing I felt for her to know that I had chosen the right person to care for her. Kira was a sweet girl. I knew she could comfort Miriam in her grief and would go above and beyond her duty to ensure her happiness. I couldn't help but hope that she would also dispel some of the rumors surrounding my personality.

When the need to be near Miriam began to press against the edge of my self-control, I left my room to check on the status of the summit arrangements. Miriam had sent one of her men to the Water kingdom this morning, the guard that escorted her to the cells assured me she seemed confident he would get the fire king here. I couldn't help but to chuckle as I saw Fredrick running around the banquet hall in his night clothes and a sleeping cap. He was fast for his advanced age and giving the servants a run for their money, moving this and that to make a more satisfying appearance.

"Aro! Good, you're here!" He smiled, causing the wrinkles around his eyes to stand out more than normal. "I expect the group from the Air clan will be here tomorrow and I want to make sure we have everything in order for their arrival."

I rolled my eyes. The Air clan was our closest ally, both in terms of location and trust. My father had arranged for me to be married to their youngest Princess in the hope that our kingdoms would both be under his rule when their aging King passed. He only had daughters to pass his throne too, the older two had married commoners leaving the throne to his youngest as he would never allow a commoner to sit on the throne.

"There is the matter of breaking your betrothal", Fredrick's voice broke through my thoughts. "You have found your Fated mate, by the laws of all the kingdoms you no longer have to hold up your end. I am not certain how the Princess and her mother are going to take that news though."

"Let's play it by ear, Fredrick. Miriam hasn't accepted me yet. She's still fighting against it. I'm not sure if she will accept me at all and there's no reason to put a strain on our relationship with the Air clan unless she does." A hint of the pain I felt crept into my voice.

"Aro," Fredrick turned to me, looking me over as if he were my loving father, "I have no doubt she will. You are a good man. Give her time and she will see the rumors about you are just that.".

I wanted to be comforted by his words, but I couldn't help feeling the empty longing that only got worse the longer I was away from Miriam. Fredrick sighed, seeing the look on my face. He had been there for me as long as I could remember. Always treating me as his son where my own father ignored my existence until he needed someone to release his anger onto. I could tell by his expression that he wanted to say more, but he opted not to push the matter further.

"I expect with the murder of her father and prominent royal figures across the other kingdoms, the Princess and her mother will be bringing a large number of soldiers and guards?" I asked, returning the discussion to accommodations for their arrival.

"Yes, we expect they will bring at least fifty men and have made arrangements for them to have a wing to themselves, on the opposite side of the castle from your suites." Fredrick raised his eyebrow at me. "I expect you want your privacy with Princess Miriam."

"Fredrick." I started; warning laced through my voice.

The cell phone in my pocket started ringing, interrupting me. I quickly glanced at the screen. It was the Lycan Alpha I had maintained close ties with over the years.

"Tyler," I answered, "Thanks for returning my call."

"No problem man, I'm just glad you appreciate the necessity of technology, unlike the rest of your kind. Imagine having to send a bird to respond to your message." He laughed.

"You know we don't send messages by bird, Tyler. We send an actual messenger." I rolled my eyes. These wolves had ideas about us almost as wild as the humans. "What took so long for you to return my call anyway?'

"We had a vamp attack at the pack border," Tyler's voice became serious.

"A vamp? They haven't been active in centuries!"

"I know man, but something has them stirring. The one we managed to capture alive had the emblem from our neighboring pack on them."

Alarm bells started going off in my head. There weren't any territory disputes between the packs as far as I knew, but the vamp having another packs emblem was suspiciously close to what was happening in the Fae kingdoms.

"Tyler, did your Beta fill you in on what happened to my Father? I left the message containing all the details with him when I called."

"Yeah man, and I know exactly what you're thinking. Whatever has the vamps stirring is trying to cause a war."

"Fuck! Tyler, I've called a summit for two weeks from now, giving everyone time to arrive. You think someone from your pack can attend, present the information you have to the summit? If someone is stirring shit between Lycan and Fae alike, we all need to work together."

"Sure thing man. I'll set everything up with my Gamma to run the pack and Alex and I will be head your way. You want me to invite members from the Shadow pack? It was their emblem we found on the pack."

"Whomever you think it is necessary to bring, do it. Just shoot me a text with numbers so I can let Fredrick know the details for preparations." I answered hanging up the phone.

I shot a glance at Fredrick, knowing he had been listening to my side of the conversation. He nodded in acknowledgement and I found myself walking back towards my rooms. The phone call with Tyler was disturbing and I wanted nothing more than to be near Miriam. Her mere presence comforted me. With the worrying news that Vamps were active again, I was in desperate need of comfort.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts of getting back to my rooms, I didn't notice when I nearly steam rolled over Kira.

"Shit, Kira! I am so sorry. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going!"

"She's sleeping your Majesty." Kira responded with a sly smile on her face. "You need to let her rest. I stayed and chatted with her half the night, she's exhausted, confused, and grieving for her brother."

I sighed, raking my hands through my hair. I knew Kira was right even though she hadn't spoken the exact words. Miriam needed time and space, but I needed Miriam.

"She will come around your Majesty. They always do." Kira gave me a reassuring squeeze on my shoulder and continued on her way.

Even knowing that Kira was right about giving Miriam time and space, I couldn't keep myself from walking directly to the door adjoining our rooms as soon as I entered my suite. I could feel the electricity that filled the air when we were near vibrating through me as I placed my hands and forehead against the door. I stayed like that for a few minutes, allowing the electric feeling between us to provide me as much comfort as it could without me being able to actually hold her before moving to change for bed.

I had only had time to strip down and pull pajama pants on when I heard her scream.

"MIKAH NO!" her voice came through the door full of terror.

Before I could consider what I was doing, I barged through the door connecting our rooms and was in the bed reaching for her. She was thrashing violently. A nightmare, my inner voice said. She was having a nightmare about her brother. I snatched her to my chest, holding her tightly to me, wanting desperately to comfort her.

"Aro", her voice quivered with grief.

"Shhhh, it's ok." I said, gently stroking her hair, "It was only a nightmare."

She nestled into me as sobs began to escape her. I gently held her closer, wanting to pour every ounce of me into replacing her grief with comfort and love. I felt helpless as I held her sobbing. I knew I couldn't bring her brother back to her, but I was going to rip whoever had broken her heart into pieces.

Slowly, her sobbing subsided and she seemed to become more aware of me holding her. I felt her stiffen and stopped stroking her hair. I didn't want to let go of her, but I could feel her internal struggle against her mind and the pull of our bond. I removed my arms from around her, allowing her the chance to put some distance between us if she wanted. I expected she would put as much space as she could between us and felt my heart swell when she only scooted as far as the opposite side of the bed.

I watched her as she played with her hands. She was clearly trying to make some sort of decision.

"Aro," she whispered.

I didn't move, I didn't even breathe. I was preparing for her to send me away and internally chiding myself for acting so brashly. I shouldn't have come in her room, let alone got in her bed and held her.

"Will you," she hesitated, twisting her fingers together like she wasn't certain she wanted to say what she was about to say. "Will you stay?"

Of all the things she could have said, I was not expecting that. I was so stunned that I couldn't respond.

"You don't have to if you don't want to, but your presence calms me for some reason. I just want to sleep without seeing his murder replay in my head" she whispered meekly, her shoulders slumping forward.

I was overjoyed. She wanted me to stay. I didn't care that it was just so she could sleep without nightmares. She had taken a step towards accepting me. Whatever Kira had said to her earlier must have had some impact. I had to be sure to send that woman a massive thank you gift.

"I don't mean in the bed though." Miriam stated, as if just realizing that we were both in her bed.

I gingerly took one of her hands, bringing it to my lips and kissing it. I heard her gasp as the electric sparks shot through us both. "Anything for you", I whispered.

I practically ran back to my room and gathered bedding to make myself a pallet on the floor beside her bed. Once I was all set, I laid down on the makeshift pallet. A night of discomfort on the floor was worth everything when it came with being this close to her. I let the steady rhythm of her breathing lull me to sleep, my heart filling with hope that this meant she would eventually accept me.