75. Tanaya

Silently, Armani cradled his mate into his arms and let her cry into the crook of his neck- or at least his chest, The Second Prince was a giant. Reya’s body trembled as she clung to him, desperately fisting his shirt in her hands to ease the pain in her chest. Everything hurt. She couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. She had lost a part of herself to the red dragons and now her dragon was gone. It took a lot of concentration for her to feel the mate bond.

“I can’t go on like this,” she wailed into his chest, her heart constricting with pain.

“I don’t know what to do- I don’t know how to feel better. It just keeps coming and coming- the pain. I can’t live it down. It’s there with every second that I breathe. I-“ she coughed, letting go of his finely tailored jacket.

She was not certain she wanted to ruin the Prince’s clothes with snot.

“Reya,” his voice was unnaturally calm- the dead quiet of a sea before a storm.

“What happened?”

Reya turned away and wiped her eyes. It was so hard to look into those beautiful eyes and not want to break again.

“Reya please,” he held unto her shoulders, voice tinged with worry.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with you. You were unconscious for a month and when you woke up... you changed. It’s like... you’re a shadow of yourself. What happened? Tell me what happened, please,”

“I can’t,” she sobbed into her hands, slightly aware of Kairo peeking at her from her peripheral vision.

“I am so many shameful things and I do not want to look any less than what I already am,”

“Why?” He turned her shoulders softly but swiftly.

“Your highness please don’t push this,” she started weakly.

“Let me fix you,” he challenged.

“Let me take the parts that you think are too broken, that are not worth care and put them back together. I’m so worried about you, “ his tone softened considerably.

“Your dragon is gone as well. Tell me Reya, what else did the red dragon clan do to you that you are willing to drag yourself out of bed to attack them head on? Tell me,” he beseeched.

Reya lowered her head, shame burning her cheeks. Castiel should be the one that was ashamed for what he did but the sick, ravenous smile on his face every time he pinned her underneath his bulking frame and plundered her told her otherwise. If given the chance, he would do it again. Castiel was a swine.

“I lost some of my memories of the past because of the dark magic they have been feeding me,” she whispered.

Armani stood still, silently willing her to explain more. This was something she was uncomfortable with explaining but then... Reya believed he had the faintest idea that Castiel was her rapist when she was murmuring his name in her sleep. For all she knew, The Prince was only looking for her confirmation.

“It was many years ago.... seven. Castiel... he forced himself on me and he,” tears plagued her eyes, pain clogged her throat.

“He succeeded. He did it.... in front- in front of his family. He made them watch so he could secure his birthright,”

The dead silence that followed after gnawed at Reya’s gut. When she looked at The Lord of The Sea, his face was placid and his eyelashes were lowered.

The calm that he was exerting was not normal, Reya would be a fool to believe he was simply breathing in and out.

“So what has been your plan?” He asked, his eyes still lowered, his voice still so quiet, like a child being scolded.

“I’m bringing them into The Great Parliament. I will make them give up their riches, their sane minds and their faces-“

“It is not enough,” Prince Armani suddenly declared, glancing up at her.

His eyes were a vibrant gold and his teeth had expanded into those deathly double fangs of a Royal Alpha.

“Castiel will die and the rest of his family with him. It will not be an easy death,” he declared.

“It is high time that family burns to the ground,” He seethed.

“Look,” Reya started weakly, inching towards him.

“I have so many plans. You cannot be arrogant and so quick to spell their judgements. King Erik-“

“My father is the reason that happened to you!” He suddenly thundered, the water basin slushing as his powers went haywire.

“Alpha Charles should have gone to hell with that snaky little bitch of a daughter he calls Charlotte! Yet, he let that bastard be pardoned for trying to murder our mother! If that man had been dead the moment he was supposed to go tell me Reya, will this ever had happened to you? Will you have to be so pale and so depressed that your bones are sticking out in every crevice of your body?”

“Killing them will not return everything I lost!” She screamed right back at him.

“What don’t you understand? They have stolen a part of me and dead or alive, I will always remember that! I will always remember what it is like to be raped while people cheer on my misery! Killing will never fix anything! When will you realize that everything is not about blood and war? That you can’t fix yourself and your emotions by hacking through the necks of your foes with your Sol Sword?”

The Lord of The Sea gritted his teeth and looked away, his jaw clenching so hard she was certain his teeth would ground into dust.

“Killing them will make sure you are safe and that it never happens again,” he insisted stubbornly.

“I want my revenge,” she whispered coldly, wiping her tears.

“And I will have it. I will make them bleed and suffer. You can kill them when I’m done. But do not interfere and ruin anything for me,”

His expression softened and his golden reptilian eyes faded back to the familiar hazel and brown pair she knew.

“I’ll do whatever you want. I just want you to feel better,” he conceded with a sigh, glancing cautiously at The Phoenix.

“And I do not look at you any less for being a survivor of those Barbarians. I only have a worse opinion for the lowest men I know,”

Reya’s throat bobbed as she swallowed back a whimper.

“Good night, Prince Armani,”

“Armani. Just Armani, I insist,” he replied before closing the space between themselves and hugging her.

“Goodnight,” he whispered with a kiss to her forehead.

Reya’s eyes followed him until he left the room.

Kairo came rushing to her afterwards.

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

“Wake up sweetheart,” a familiar voice said calmly, gently nudging Reya by her side.

Reya groaned, already feeling the headache pounding at her head from her incessant crying in the night. But then, all her nights had been like this ever since she was out of her...coma.

Kairo somewhat understood that she was sleeping horribly and had slept right beside her, covering her head with his beautifully flamed wings. It helped a great deal when he was by her side and she promised herself to always hunt down the Phoenix before bed to help with her nightmares.

“Hey,” Reya said with a small smile, blinking at her talented and fashionable friend Tanaya.

Tanaya’s brown eyes softened as she took in Reya’s face, the sweet orbs setting with sympathy.

Reya had been unable to tell her friend what happened to her when she had been unconscious so all Tanaya knew was that Reya had been sick for a month and was now struggling with sleep.

“Sleep well? All I can perceive on you are tears. Honey, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Reya nodded, averting her gaze from Tanaya’s.

“Convalescing is horrible. My entire body hurts tremendously,”

“Is that so?” Her face fell.

“Do you think you will be able to receive company soon? The King has asked for you to join his breakfast table this morning,”

“What?” She croaked, her spirits deflating.

“Yes,” Tanaya nodded, lifting up a beautiful baby pink dress with a shimmery material.

“I stayed up all night putting this together. It seemed important,” she trailed off.

“Reya,” Tanaya said, putting down the dress.

“I’ve been banished from the red dragon clan,”

A look of surprise flickered across Reya’s face.

“What? How?”

But then she suddenly fathomed why. There was a rat in the meeting house yesterday. Alpha Charles had spies in The Great Parliament and They had most likely told the man that Reya had denounced his clan and exposed the truth behind his bountiful riches.

Now, he was retaliating. She had been foolish for assuming he would not lay low like a chicken.

*’Oh God,’* Reya quickly thought with dismay.

If Alpha Charles had already banished Tanaya from the red dragon clan, then what would happen to Daria, her mate and her children?

“The rumors say you denounced his clan. Now he is striking right back. All my money in the clan,” her voice broke.

“My clothes, materials I had imported- they seized everything,” her eyes brimmed with tears.

“But that’s not fair,” Reya scowled.

“Never mind. I will fix everything. You will get everything back and I will ensure that I can secure a place for you in this clan. Imagine being the best modiste in the Royal clan. It’s more wealth than the Red dragons would ever offer,” Reya said optimistically.

“And how would you do all of that?” Tanaya whispered, her head hanging.

“The princes are my mates,” she said with a determined twist of her mouth.

“I will go to hell and back fighting for your protection,” she announced.

“Reya,” Tanaya’s voice was still dull and lack luster.

“I had a family in The Red dragon clan. Everyone must have made them outcasts in the clan by now. I want them to get out of there too. It cannot be about me. I don’t care about the money, about being the best and wealthiest modiste. I just want to be with them. And Daria, you have to know it is only a matter of time before he banishes them too. And- I’m so worried Reya. What on earth is going on? You’ll tell me if there’s a problem between you and the red dragon clan, will you not?” She rose her head, revealing her spilled tears.

Reya’s heart broke even more in her chest. There would have to be a massive exodus of the people she loved in that clan- Thank Helios they were but a few.

“I’m going through a lot right now,” Reya whispered, wiping her eyes.

“But I promise, I’ll save everyone. I’ll strike deals with the ruling royals to protect everyone,”

“It’s not just about protecting us,” Tanaya wiped The tears from her cheeks.

“I want to know that you’re also fine. And I want to help. You’re the only woman who identified and cared for me in our home. I want to be able to do the same,”

“You’ve assisted me so much,” Reya insisted.

“You were meant to stay only a month here and it’s past three months now. What will I ever do without you?”

“Nothing,” Tanaya said with a bashful smile.

“No one makes you as pretty as I do. Now come on! Let’s see how good you look in this dress! Oh and, can I be in charge of making your new dresses when you will become a Princess? It will be an honor!”

Reya simply smiled and let Tanaya's sudden giddiness to sweep her away. Still, the question hung heavy over her head. Why did the king want her to come to his breakfast table?

His breakfast table certainly included his closest family. His mother, The Queen and The Two Princes. Certainly, he wanted to discuss something. What could it be?

*********

*This chapter shows a bit of insight into Reya's friends lives and how her problems extend to other people. Be prepared for more drama as usual! Do not forget to leave a comment*