70__The Return

The air in the room grew dark and heavy.

A muscle ticked in Raiden’s jaw as he clenched it, struggling to maintain his composure.

Natalia slowly stood up from the bed and stood by his side, looking between him and Devil. “What’s… what’s the meaning of that?”

She’d never heard the words before in her life. It seemed it was something displeasing, considering how furious Raiden currently looked. Fearing for Devil, she gently wrapped a hand around Raiden’s arm to calm him.

At her gentle question, Raiden’s expression grew even tighter, but Devil’s softened.

With a sigh, he lowered his gaze.

What was he doing? Princess Natalia was someone who Raiden had nearly died to protect. She was someone he was currently willing to go back to Zaire and wreak havoc in his own house for. Besides that…

He looked at her hand around Raiden’s arm.

He was someone she clearly loved. They weren’t just mated, they were indescribably in love with each other. Devil had witnessed it with his own eyes.

That, alone, made him stop. What right did he have to ruin what they had? What right did he have to hurt her by breaking her away from Raiden with the truth? He lowered his head.

He refused to hurt Natalia just to selfishly feed the sadistic desires of his inner monster. She deserved better.

With a sigh, he shook his head. “Never mind. It isn’t important.” He met Raiden’s gaze, seeing slight confusion there. “Raiden’s past is the past. After all… he’s cured.”

When Natalia only looked more confused, Devil gave her a quick smile before avoiding her gaze again.

“Are you okay?” she asked?

He nodded. “Of course, Princess, I’m alright.”

She smiled fondly, nodding at him. So what if he hadn’t told her he was Shadow’s brother. She would forgive him. After all, he was still the sweet alley giant. Even if Shadow turned out to be the wolf she was after, as she knew he was, Natalia was determined to not drag Devil into it.

Meeting Raiden’s gaze, he sighed. “I’ll bring you both a change of clothes. Once you’ve changed you will eat. You must eat. And then I will take you home.” Raiden said nothing so Devil glanced quickly at Natalia. “My Princess is currently healthier, please ensure that the Alpha King dresses without bringing further injury to his body. I’m sorry I cannot offer you servants to assist.”

Natalia shook her head. “No, no, it’s alright, you’ve done more than enough for us. I’ll help him. And, as for leaving, it’s late. Let’s be on our way tomorrow morning.”

Devil nodded, lowering his gaze again. “Understood. I’ll… be downstairs.”

Natalia watched him leave with a raised brow of speculation. Something wasn’t right. Looking up at Raiden, she saw his gaze was dark, still focused where Devil had stood.

Her heart grew heavy. Something wasn’t right at all.

******************

The morning came quickly.

Once Natalia had bathed herself and Raiden and they had changed and eaten, they’d gone to bed in his room and he’d immediately engulfed her in his arms. She hadn’t thought she could fall asleep while being so tightly crushed in his hug and had amusedly told him so.

He’d only responded by asking her if she could breathe. When she said yes, he nodded and didn’t loosen his arms any further.

There had been desperation in the hug and Natalia couldn’t complain. After what they’d gone through, she’d actually wanted nothing more than to be swallowed up in a hug with his arms wrapped tightly around her.

Needless to say, she’d fallen asleep and had slept even better than if she’d had the entire bed to herself.

Since then, Raiden hadn’t let go of her, his hand always holding hers. Natalia thought the accident must have changed her because, instead of scoffing and accusing him of being clingy as she would have done months ago, she’d held his hand just as tightly. To be honest, she’d been grateful he’d held hers first because she’d been dying to hold him that tightly but had been slightly too shy to seem needy.

How perfect it was that Raiden was just as needy as her?!

With a sigh, she leaned her head against his shoulder now. They were nearly home.

The carriage they rode in was large and dark, its structure being made of black and gold jewels with strange symbols carved into its sides. It had such a sinister feel.

Devil had apologized for it and said it belonged to Shadow. That had made perfect sense.

Glancing up at Raiden’s face, she noticed that he had his eyes closed, his brows drawn together so deeply there had appeared a line between them. Natalia wanted to ask him about the Fallen alpha thing, but had kept quiet.

It seemed like a very serious thing and perhaps he wasn’t ready to talk about it. Once they settled everything at home, she would seek out Devil and make him tell her all about it.

Nodding to herself, she glanced out of the window.

With a start, Natalia realized they were riding through Raiden’s property.

“Oh,” she said softly. “We’re here.”

At the sight of the passing land and all the familiar buildings, she breathed a sigh of relief.

The realization that she’d really nearly died sunk in and she swallowed hard, looking around the place. All because of Evelynn.

By the gods, if Raiden didn’t get his hands on her first, Natalia would take a sword to her throat.

Her teeth clenched and she felt rage simmer in her blood for the first time since it happened. She’d make her pay for it.

When they reached the main entrance to Raiden’s castle, he threw the doors open and then slowly led her out of the vehicle.

Devil jumped down from the driver’s bench as they came out and he nodded at them. “You’re home.”

Natalia smiled at him. “Thank you, Devil.”

“Where’s Shadow?” Raiden demanded.

Devil looked at him and looked away. “He’s probably taken Evelynn away by now. I’ll go and get him. We must discuss our reclaiming her like mature adults.”

A flurry of guards suddenly exploded from all directions and ran towards them with loudly running boots and wide eyes of surprise.

Natalia watch them rapidly stand in lines to greet them. Why hadn’t anybody known the Alpha King and Princess Natalia were on their way home, they wondered? What a sudden panic they were being thrown into.

Devil grew uncomfortable as the entire household of the royal house started pouring out to greet them. He wasn’t used to being seen by people, having lived in the shadows for so long. He glanced at Raiden. “I’ll return soon.”

With that, he got onto the driver’s seat and rode towards the gates. Natalia was watching him leave when a loud voice broke through her thoughts.

“Oh, my gods!!” came the loud screech.

Turning back, she looked up at the doors to see Veronica running at full speed down the stairs, her face lit up in joy. “Yaaay!! You guys are back!”

Milana followed happily behind her, more calm and collected.

With no brakes on her legs, Milana rammed full speed into them, grabbing both Raiden and Natalia in her arms. Both of them groaned in pain, being squeezed by the excited girl before them.

The impact was torturous, but they welcomed it.

“How are you, pup?” Raiden asked, gritting his teeth against the pain and smiling at his sister.

Her silver-green eyes twinkled brightly. “I’m great!” Suddenly, she grew dull, her smile withering. “Oh, wait… I’m not great. Evelynn was taken away by a huge, scary guy. Cyrus said its okay, but I’m worried.”

Milana finally reached them and threw herself into her sister’s arms. “You took forever.”

Natalia scoffed, patting her head like she would a little baby. “Something came up, I’m sorry.”

“Everyone okay?”

Pursing her lips at the question, Natalia hesitated. Pushing aside her thoughts, she nodded. “Yeah.”

Lana curtsied at Raiden and he accepted her greeting with a smile and a nod.

Veronica didn’t notice that her brother hadn’t responded to what she said about Evelynn because she’d already moved on to the next topic in her head. “Are you guys okay?!” With a gasp, she pointed at the red bruising on Raiden’s forehead.

Natalia winced. With her blood for Raiden and Devil’s help for both of them, they’d been healing fast. Just not fast enough to erase all evidence of the accident.

“It’s okay,” Raiden said. “It’s just a scratch.”

Milana frowned, looking closely at them. Natalia tensed. Her sister had a sixth sense like a sorceress, she could quite literally pinpoint exactly what had happened to them just from her gut feeling.

“Hm,” said Lana. “You two weren’t in an accident, were you?”

Natalia held her breath. Shit. Was this girl really a Vampire Viking or actually a ghost? How did she know everything?

“What?!” gasped Nicki. “An… an accident?!”

“I assure you, no such thing happened,” Raiden told them both calmly. “Now… where is Cyrus?”

Natalia tensed. Oh, no. She looked at Raiden. “Let me! Let me talk to him.”

“Natalia,” he said, his tone warning.

She bit her lip.

Blinking, Nicki shrugged. “He’s locked himself in your office since yesterday.”

Raiden nodded. “Call Brian. Tell him to summon the alphas for a meeting.”

When he turned for the entrance, Natalia pulled her hand out of his and ran ahead of him, transporting herself out of his vision.

Raiden watched her vanish as he calmly walked. He didn’t care if she stood in his way. Once he got to Cyrus, there would be no stopping him.

**************

Natalia reached Raiden’s office breathless and in mild pain. Looking behind her, she saw no sign of him and thanked the heavens. If he got his hands on Cyrus right now, who knew what he would do?

Rushing to the door, she tried the handle, only to find it locked. She raised a fist and pounded on the door.

“Oy, Cyrus! Let me in, man!” Silence followed her words and Natalia pounded on the door again, knowing Raiden wasn’t far behind now. “Let me in before Raiden gets here and kicks your ass—”

The door was wrenched open.

Cyrus stood there, his blonde hair a mess and the circles around his wide eyes even darker. Parting his dried lips, he breathed out a weak exhale. “Natalia! You’re alive!”

Shoving into the room, she slammed the door closed and locked it. “Of course I am, d’you think I was dead?!”

She spun around to face him and he could do nothing but stare at her. Was he dreaming? Was it possible? Had the gods been merciful enough to give back his soul? He’d surely lost it when he’d thought she and Raiden were dead. He’d lost his soul along with his damn mind.

But they were alive? Another breath of disbelief parted his lips, his eyes growing teary as he stared at her.

“Listen to me. Your brother’s on his way up here, as we speak!”

His eyes widened. “Raiden? Raiden’s…” He trailed off, his tears spilling over. “He’s okay?!”

Natalia paused. She sighed and glared at him. “He is. He nearly wasn’t. We both nearly weren’t. But we’re okay, so don’t cry.”

A loud pounding shook the entire door, making Natalia jolt. She looked back at the door with wide eyes.

“Natalia,” Raiden called with a frighteningly calm voice. “Open the fucking door.”