CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Her eyes immediately shot to my horrified expression. What the hell? She stayed with Anthony last night? I was all for her moving on, but with my royal's dad and best friend of her mate?

Rory seemed to have a similar reaction, his fists balling up under his chin and his eyes flickering between blue and red. "It's not what you're thinking, Ari. Anthony and I merely talked and drank last night. We both ended up falling asleep on the sofa after a few too many glasses of champagne."

How was I supposed to believe that when Anthony basically breathed sex? I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt, though, rubbing my temples furiously to get rid of the headache forming.

"Are you okay, baby?" Bastion asked, gripping my shoulder in a tender, loving way.

"Just a headache. Everything's going to hell right now."

Rory, seemingly broken from his anger for the sake of my health, gripped my wrist and pulled me to straddle his lap. He cocked his head to expose the velvety section of his neck before commanding, "Drink."

Seeing my hesitation, he continued. "It will cure your headache, love."

"Seriously? It can do that?"

He nodded proudly. "Our saliva and blood have the ability to heal. The blood is great for ailments in the body and the saliva for outward wounds, as you know."

Why did him knowing things turn me on? I wasn't sure why, but his whole spiel on healing made his neck that much more tempting. My eyes began to glow as my hands found firm grips on his pectorals, as if to hold him down. Then, I struck. My teeth bore into his artery, selfishly consuming every drop of his mouthwatering blood.

I could feel him growing hard beneath me, likely feeling the same pleasure and sensations I did when he latched onto me, but I couldn't focus on that when I was experiencing my own rollercoaster. Not only did my headache subside, but my body was imbued with strength and increased agility. I felt like I could stop a moving car with my bare hands all while walking a tightrope in heels.

Finally, Rory released a loud groan that pulled me from my internal musings. Embarrassment shot through me and I rushed to close the wound, licking any escaped droplets of blood from the corners of my mouth. I pushed off of him, but his hands on my hips held me to him.

"Feel better, love?" he asked almost drowsily.

"Yes, thank you. Did I take too much?"

He shook out his hair, chuckling sexily and bringing his eyes back to mine. "No, I think I'm okay. It should be rather difficult for you to drain your royal. I am a bit dizzy, though. I think I'll take a nap while you and Bastion collect your things."

I had completely forgotten about Bastion's moving as well. I gasped, turning to him quickly. He was leaned forward, his elbows on the table, watching Rory and I with unwavering curiosity. When my eyes met his, he flashed me his dimples. "Ready to go, baby?"

"Rory, where is Bastion going to stay?" I asked, turning back to meet his enchanting blue orbs.

He appeared confused by my question before answering. "With us, of course. The bed is plenty big enough, love."

I climbed off his lap, straightening my white V-neck in the process. "I don't know that he would want to sleep that close to a vampire," I mumbled, raising my glance to my mom and their parents who seemed way less concerned than they should after hearing about our bizarre harem forming.

"Don't worry, baby. He doesn't stink to me anymore. Not since he got his King seal. Same goes for the General," I blinked in surprise.

"Seriously?"

"It's part of building our own Kingdom and destroying the rift. When people swear loyalty, their natural repulsions vanish," James explained, matter-of-factly.

My mind was officially overflowing with new information and I needed to get back home ASAP. I needed to relax, maybe take Misa out for a ride, feel something familiar and comfortable. I concluded our meeting and was given an all too public goodbye kiss of near heated proportions from my royal. Then we swung back by the gas station to drop Bastion off at his truck and I had to smack his hand to keep it from traveling to my ass in front of my mother.

These men weren't acting very King-like, more like horny teenagers. I didn't mind it as much as I should have. It was a guilty pleasure to have my two loves fawning and clawing at me. I just had to teach them not to do it in front of our parents.

On our way back to the ranch, my mother broke the silence. "I know you said that you weren't okay with having both of them as lovers, but I want you to know that no one is judging you for it. The prophecy has made it clear that you would have two kings. I suppose you could still choose one as the only one you allow in your bed. But whatever you decide, I will support it."

She was right. Nothing was making me sleep with both of them. Ruling beside them could be totally platonic, and would certainly help me not to feel so awkward in front of others. But would my social comfort really be worth breaking one of their hearts and mine? Maybe I could get used to having two loves.

My thoughts were interrupted by the strong scent of smoke, making my stomach drop to my feet in dread. There was nothing else for miles besides, "The ranch!"

My mom didn't say a word as she slammed on the gas, flying down the cracked asphalt towards our home.

"Oh my goddess." The plumes of dark smoke climbed high into the darkening Nevada sky, tainting it with its fury.

"Mom, stop the car!" I shouted when something familiar caught the corner of my eye.

The tires skidded into the dirt beside the road and I hopped out, flying back towards where I saw Misa bucking wildly. She calmed slightly when I approached. "There, there, girl. It's just me." The tips of her mane were fringed and blackened and her fur was coated in soot. She huffed, taking a careful step towards me and I closed the rest of the distance. I pet her snout and she pushed it into me, rumbling in contentment.

In one smooth motion I pushed off of the ground, landing my body onto her back with grace. I gave her neck one last pat before gripping onto what was left of her mane and leading her back in the direction of the house. She fought me momentarily, but eventually caved and broke into a gallop towards the heat and flames. My mom followed in the Rover and within minutes we approached what was left of our lives. The entire ranch was burned to the ground to the point of being unrecognizable.

A strangled cry escaped my lips. "Aria, are you alright? I smell smoke!" I heard Bastion's panicked voice in my head.

Sella answered for me, since I couldn't bring myself to talk. "The ranch. Some fucker burned it down."

"What?! I'll be right there, baby, don't move."

I led Misa towards the front door, or what was left of it, gasping when I saw what smelled like cow blood spelling out the words, "Die, Blood-sucker!"