CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE

"I called Bastion and told him that Rory was here. He's on his way home, now."

"No! It's his first day there! What if they fire him?" I asked, horrified by his brash decision. Lysander shook his head, approaching the tub gracefully with the bottle of oil I requested. He added a few drops before lowering himself to lean against the enamel side.

I was still curled into a tight ball, even in the water.

Even though I knew he didn't mean to, Rory did hurt me when he changed positions, and my ass was burning and sore.

I had never felt more embarrassed and degraded in my life, and I hated that he kept surprising me with the terrible things he was capable of.

"I told him that, but he said, and I quote, 'fuck them, I'll be there in ten.'" I couldn't help but laugh at the obvious accuracy of his quote. Bastion never did care about what people thought of him. But if he lost this job, we would have no way to live. Rory didn't exactly leave his credit card with us.

Seeing the concern etched on my face, Lysander turned to kneel beside me, pressing a kiss to my temple to calm me. It felt heavenly every time his lips touched me.

"Here, turn a little so I can wash your hair." He requested politely, but I wasn't able to hide my wince as I shifted beneath the hot water. Lysander tensed, stilling my movement. "Aria."

"Hm?" I sucked in my bottom lip, feeling like I was a child about to get scolded, but Lysander spoke softly.

"Did he hurt you? Um, down there?" My face flushed at his obvious attempt to make me as comfortable as possible while asking a horrendous question.

"Yes." I answered simply, hoping he would move on.

He didn't and instead turned my face to look at him.

"Did he rape you?"

"No. Hell no." I shook my head frantically, but he stilled it, searching my eyes.

"Why did your heartrate spike? Are you lying to me?"

Damn vampires.

"He- He was just too rough. I don't think he realized I was trying to stop him." I admitted, feeling absolutely humiliated as I diverted my gaze to the water.

He sighed in frustration, running his hand into his hair and tugging at it.

"Was this before or after you called for me the first time?" He muttered, and I knew he was trying to see if he was to blame.

"Before." I assured him, but he didn't look any better.

"Aria, why didn't you call me sooner? I could've stopped him."

I hated that I was being painted as some sort of victim, because that meant Rory was the criminal. He didn't mean to. I knew he didn't. He wasn't capable of raping anyone, much less me.

Besides, there was no way in hell I would call for Lysander while being bent over the sink. The mere thought of it horrified me.

"He didn't do anything wrong, Lysander." I huffed, ignoring the ache so I could angle my hair to him.

He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to the top of my head before picking up my shampoo bottle.

"I'm sorry, Aria. I didn't mean to upset you. I was just really worried about you." He mumbled quietly.

"I'm not mad at you. I know you mean well. It's just... hard for me. Just, please don't tell Bastion. He'll kill him." I was certain of that.

Lysander clucked his tongue before relenting.

"Fine, but on one condition."

"What condition?"

"Drink my blood. I don't want you hurting." He answered quickly, rushing his words as if it would make me agree.

"Ly, last time-"

"Last time you drank straight from me. I, um, got some withdrawn for you. You know, in case you get sick again or get hurt. I put it in the fridge when I called Bastion."

I turned to him, sloshing water in the tub with my head covered in a mess of suds and hair.

"You really did that for me?" I asked, my voice showing my awe for the wonderful and caring man before me.

"Of course. I want you to be safe. It's just a little blood." He offered me a soft smirk, gesturing with his hand for me to turn back around so he could finish his work.

I surprised him by lunging forward and placing a quick kiss on the tip of his nose, but then turned just as I saw the blush creeping up his neck.

"Now you may finish." I waved a hand in the air like a pretentious royal.

He chuckled beside my ear, his hands massaging into my scalp.

"Yes, my Queen."

.

.

.

I was thankfully done with my bath by the time Bastion came barreling into the house. I was still wrapped in my robe, but was sitting opposite Lysander at the breakfast table, sipping on his delectable blood from a juice glass.

"Fuck, Aria, are you okay?"

He rushed, his body dripping in sweat. He was still dressed in his workout clothes from the gym and he looked unbelievably sexy with his athletic shorts hanging loosely from his hips. It almost made me jealous of the women he must be assigned to train. I bet they loved him helping them stretch and bend.

"What? What is that look for?" He asked, his brow furrowed in his confusion.

I didn't realize I was giving him a look, but I guess my thoughts were seeping through.

"Nothing, sorry. I've just had a rough morning..."

"Yea, I'd say. Please, tell me what happened. I'm stressed the fuck out right now. This is exactly why I didn't want to go back to work. We should've just taken Anthony up on his offer to support us. How am I supposed to leave for eight hours a day if there's a chance that Rory will come striding in here out of the blue? Lysander told me that you were alone when he got here. We shouldn't be leaving our Queen-"

I lifted my hand to cover his mouth, my lips curling up into a gentle half-smile.

"Sorry," He mumbled against my hand.

"Bastion, I'm fine. I promise. He came, asked me to come with him, got a little stressed over the twins' absence, then was forced to leave by Ly. It was nothing."

Bastion looked pained, and I had no idea why until he glanced up at Lysander hesitantly.

"I'll be across the street, Aria." Lysander said suddenly, giving me a slight bow before taking his leave in the blink of an eye.

Why was he leaving?

I flicked my attention back to Bastion who was scanning my face intently, his heart hammering against his ribs. After a few seconds of focus, he glanced down, taking my hands in his as he knelt beside me.

"Aria, the room still smells like sex and blood."

That's why he looked so hurt. I sucked in my trembling lip, trying to control my emotions well enough to not completely unravel in front of my mate.

"Hey, don't cry. I'm not mad at you. I just want to make sure he didn't hurt you."

I tried to loosen his grip, but he wouldn't allow it, running his thumbs over the back of my hands.

"I'm sorry." I choked out.

"Don't be. Not for that, baby. But why did you lie to me? Do you not trust me?"

I shook my head insistently, rearranging our hands so our fingers were interlaced.

"Of course I trust you. That's not why!" The shame of keeping anything from my King was eating me alive. I couldn't tell him what happened on the beach, but I could at least tell him about Rory's visit and pray he didn't hunt him down.

"Okay. So tell me what happened."

"All of it?"

"All of it. Please."

I swallowed the lump in my throat, wincing at the pain that followed. I had cried too much in the last week. Even the blood I got wasn't keeping me from going raw after each session.

Deciding I couldn't stand to be apart from him anymore, I released his hands, moving to the floor and pushing him to his rear so I could sit on his lap. He accepted graciously, burying his nose in my hair and taking a deep breath of my scent as his arms held me close.

"Rory. Something was off about him, I knew that. I just missed him so much. When he first walked in, I was really scared. I didn't know what to say and when I slapped him, I-"

"Hold on. You slapped him?" Bas asked, his eyes alight with amusement and a hint of cruel satisfaction. It almost made me laugh, breaking the tension in my chest and causing me to relax enough to continue without bursting into tears.

"Yes, you seem surprised." I glared, making him flash his dimples.

"Just pleased, and a little disappointed."

"How could you be both?"

"I wish I were here to see it." He confessed, suppressing his laugh so I could continue. I lifted his hand so I could play with his fingers. They were twice the size of mine and made for a good distraction.

"Well, I thought it would feel good, but it didn't. Then he started to kiss me and... well, it started off fine."

"Started?"

"Yea. About halfway through, he got angry." I could feel Bastion tense beneath me, his free hand curling into a tight fist. "I don't think he meant to-"

"Don't, Aria."

"What?"

"Don't defend him. Just tell me what happened." He said tersely, but I knew his anger wasn't directed at me. I nodded, clearing my throat to proceed.

"He, um, entered me differently and it hurt. But he didn't stop."

"Did you ask him to stop?"

"No. I tried to pull away, but I never said the words." I answered, and he gestured for me to continue, his eyes screwed shut. "He started asking me strange questions and once I answered he finished and let me go. I was really scared so I called for Lysander to make him leave. He argued with him, but as soon as Lysander mentioned Luna's kidnapping, he left."

"Wait, hold on. That's a lot. What questions was he asking?" Damn it. I hoped he wouldn't ask me that. My conscience was already yelling at me.

"He asked if I was sleeping with Lysander." I mumbled, squeezing onto his hand.

"What did you say?" He whispered back, almost inaudibly.

"You know the answer to that, Bastion. You would know if I had sex with him." I growled, ignoring the voice in my head calling me out for my bullshit. I wasn't technically lying, which was the only reason I was able to tell Rory no without him picking up the spike in my pulse. It was terrible, but I couldn't risk losing either of them. I loved them too much.

"I know. I'm sorry, baby. So Luna. She was taken? Do you think Rory actually had something to do with it?"

"Lysander seems to think so. He said if he wasn't my royal, he would've killed him." I huffed, shaking my head. Bastion chuckled, husky and deep, pressing his lips to the spot just below my ear.

"I get that. I'm kind of in the same boat." I gasped, turning to face him.

"You would kill Rory?" His eyes turned black, a low growl escaping between his clenched teeth.

"Aria, he not only hurt you emotionally, but physically. It's your decision to forgive him or not, but I sure as hell won't be." My face fell and I could feel my heart cracking all over again.

Bastion's words only confirmed one thing: We would never share the same peaceful relationship we once did. My royal and mate were at odds, and that would never change. I just had to accept the new reality, or else I would never be happy. Bastion didn't deserve me sulking over Rory all the time, especially when he had always been there to love and support me.

"Can we go to bed now?" The melancholy in my voice was evident regardless of my attempts to subdue it.

"It's only ten in the morning." He chuckled, pressing kisses to my neck in an attempt to lift my spirits.

"I could use a nap." I admitted, rotating myself so I could kiss his lips more directly.

"Sure, baby. Up you go." He helped me to my feet before carrying me to the bedroom. I don't know why I ever complained about him doing this. It healed my spirit to be held so close to his heart.

Once there, he shut the blinds, blocking out the rays of sunlight that threatened to keep me awake.

"Do you want me to lay with you until you fall asleep?" He offered, but I could tell that he wanted me to say yes.

"Please." He smiled, his white teeth shining in the darkened room as he climbed beneath the covers on my left side. He pulled me in by my waist, pressing the warmth of his body against my back.

"Hey, Bastion." I spoke with closed eyes and a groggy voice, suddenly realizing how exhausted I actually was. He ran his hand up and down my arm, burying his face in the back of my hair as he held me.

"Yes, baby?"

"I'll always love you." Then, I drifted off to sleep, knowing that was a promise I could keep.