Page 24

The day I was free I was so excited. Cain told me to act a little weak, so no one asks too many questions, it was the hardest thing I ever had to do.

"Sister, you are well" Rinus comes to wrap me in a hug.

"I feared the worst" he says staring into my eyes.

"It's an earth thing just needed rest" I smile at him.

I wondered if he was really worried or acting.

"Nova!" Alara hugged me so tight. "Tell me you will never catch this illness again" she grabs my face scanning it like she is trying to memorize it.

"I can not promise that Alara" I laugh. "We are all happy you are healthy again" Vato comes to hug me.

"Alara barely slept in the past seven days" he whispers.

I looked at Alara she seemed a little tired.

"Alara..." I say softly. "I am giving you three days off, to do as you please" I smile at her.

"I don't understand, my Queen". I decide to say it a way she would understand "I forbid you to work for the next three days".

"My Queen I noo I need to.." she protests.

"I agree with Nova, Alara" Cain enforces my demand.

I needed to figure out how to get people to listen to me without his help.

"Daughter-in-law" Eve hugs me. "We can finally spend time together all three of us" she pulls Alara into the group hug. "Mother" Cain protests. "You would not allow visitors when Nova was ill, I will have my time with her now" she exclaims.

Eve leads us out of the dining hall and to the garden where she has set up a lavish tea party.

"Tell me Alara, do you truly love my Vato?

" she asks. "I do your majesty" Alara blushes.

"And you Nova, do you love my Cain?" she turns toward me.

"Um, my relationship with Cain is new, I didn't know his feelings until after he chose me to be his queen.

Everything has been an adjustment; we have only started courting. " I respond.

"No matter, you will fall in love in no time, you may not see it but I know for sure." Eve smiles at me. We spend the rest of the afternoon learning what it is to be a wife to a prince. There were so many things we had to do with the community and organizing social events it sounded exhausting.

"Alara Water elves can bare about one child per year yes?

" she asks. "In my family we usually bare twins, the wait for the little one to arrive is about a year.

" She says. "Pregnant for a year?! That's crazy" I gasp.

"Nova I am not sure about hue-mans, do you know?

" she looks excited to know how many I can pop out but that's a dangerous secret.

I pretend to be thoughtful and will Cain to come save me.

Instead, Orson and Ares appear good enough.

"Your majesty" Orson bows, the Queen looks shocked and almost smitten.

Alara and I look at each other with curiosity.

"You two know each other?" I blurt out. "In our youth yes.

.."Orson seems fond of the memory. "Were you friends?

" I press. They both instantly blush oh my gawd they were lovers, that's wild.

"I nearly married Orson, but I was betrothed to the King mere days before we were to elope" Eve admits.

"Ah so I guess it runs in the family" Ares laughs.

We all turn to look at him in shock. Eve looks between Ares, Me and Alara ,"Explain" Eve demands.

"The Queen to be, has stolen my heart" Ares says winking at me.

"Nova, a were-wolf I would have never guess.

But I suppose White wolves are irresistible" she laughs softly. "Does Cain know?" she turns to me.

"Does Cain know what?" my future husband asks. Great now he chooses to come, I wonder if he was spying on us. "Orson's pup and nova were involved." Eve says. "Okay so to clarify we were not involved, its more like the shortest entanglement ever" I say. "My queen you wound me" Ares teases.

"Surely it was more than just lust?" he boldly asks.

I glare at him because he was playing with fire.

"Ares do not bait my Queen, though she forgives your transgressions I am still furious" Cain says pulling me into his lap.

"Transgressions?" Ares asks surprised. "You kissed her mere days after I announced she was your Queen" Cain states.

"It was a delicious kiss,if she hadn't pulled away and slapped me. .." Ares says dreamily.

Cain growls pulling me even tighter against him.

"Ares do you have a death wish?" I ask. " My only wish is your happiness" he smiles at me before taking my hand and kissing it.

"Touch her again and see what happens mutt" Cain snarls.

Ares lets out an amused laugh "No disrespect my King but if you really wanted me dead you would have done it already".

"Ares" his father warns. "I have not killed you because it would upset my Nova" he put emphasis on the my.

Ares laughs again "You know what I think?

" he then quickly grabs me away from Cain and searches my face as he pulls me against him.

"Let her go now" Cain stands up. "Ares what are you doing?

" I say trying to free myself, I really didn't want to see his heart in Cains hand.

"Proving a theory I had" he smiles. Ares snugs into my neck I stiffen as he places a gentle kiss right under my jaw. Then looks up at a very livid Cain, pushing me into his arms. "Go on your majesty rip my heart from my chest" he takes off his shirt and points where Cain should aim.

"Ares have you lost your mind?" his father yells.

We all stare at him waiting on an answer.

Cain stares at Ares with a funny look on his face.

"Brother, I thought you would have ripped his heart out by now" Rinus whines.

When had he joined? "Rinus not helpful" I glare at him making him smile.

"What is your theory mutt" Cain growls. "I thought you would never ask. " Ares puts his shirt on and sits.

"My theory is that you will not harm me, not now, not ever.

That you will allow me to have stolen kisses with Nova if she wishes.

"I will kill you slowly Ares" Cain growls.

"No, you won't because you know I love Nova as much as you do and that I would do anything for her.

You need someone with pure intentions to look after her when you cannot" Ares takes a scone taking a giant bite.

"What?" Cain mumbles. "You haven't appointed Nova a protector, I am offering my services" Ares says.

"Why would I allow someone who wants to bed my wife to be her protector?

" Cain snaps. "I was the only one not bothered that you chose a hue-man to be your Queen, I understand why you did.

We want the same thing to make sure Nova is always safe" he shrugs.

"You are a carpenter not a warrior" Cain states.

Ares lets out an amused laugh "I am my packs war general; I am merely taking time away from bloodshed".

"Orson is it true?" Cain turns to a pale Orson.

"Yes, my idiotic son is a war general he has been training for the role since he was in the womb, his mother is Luna Astrid". I hear people gasp at the news.

"Who is Luna Astrid?" I ask. "The realms most accomplished female war general of all time" Rinus informs me.

"To kill her son is an act of war, so I think Ares has the upper hand both ways.

His love for you and his mother's name makes him untouchable.

" he continues. "Oh" I was surprised. Of course, Ares was bold and reckless his mother was a famous war general.

"Do you want to be my Queens protector or lover?" Cain asks annoyed that he was stuck. "Well you stole that option from me when you announced her as Queen, so I will have to settle as just a protector unless she wishes me to warm her bed." Ares says winking at me.

"The drama" Rinus claps happily. "Silence child of the siren" Eve says. "Mother you wound me" Rinus laughs. "Just because I raised you as my own and allowed you to have a relationship with your brothers doesn't mean I like you" Eve says annoyed. "That's fair" Rinus laughs.

Cain and Ares were locked in a staring competition, "well I am certainly exhausted, shall we go rest before lunch my King?" I say sweetly. "Yes" Cain stands up and kisses me passionately making sure Ares was watching before scooping me up in his arms and running into the castle.