CHAPTER NINETY SEVEN

Lysander rushed to get me dressed and cleaned up as I stared, unmoving, at the Bugatti coming to a halt outside of our house. He stepped out of the car, taking one step towards our porch before freezing.

Shit.

He turned, looking up at the window I was staring out of. I didn't think I would be able to move, being pierced by his gaze. That was until I noticed our front door open, and Bastion barreling towards him.

Fuck!

I had to get down there before Bastion hurt him!

Using my haste, I bolted towards Bas, not even bothering with the fact that my dress wasn't fully zipped. I had to stop him. His eyes were black and his growl was ripping through his gritted teeth.

I collided with him, ignoring the slight pain as a result of smacking into his hard frame, and placed my hands against his chest gently.

"Bas, no."

He looked shocked to see me, his eyes softening a fraction as he took me in, only to pull me behind him in a protective gesture.

"Get in the house, Aria." He demanded, sternly. I peeked around him to catch a better glimpse of my royal, who was standing confidently, his eyes meeting mine with longing, as if he had missed me terribly. He was so beautiful that it nearly choked me. He hadn't changed one bit.

"Absolutely not, Bastion." I said as firmly as I could manage with my trembling voice. I could hear Lysander asking in my mind if I needed help, but I shook my head, knowing he was watching. I had a feeling that his presence would only provoke Rory more, and after what we had just done, I wouldn't feel right standing beside Bas and him.

"Love, I'm sorry."

Bas growled louder, on the brink of losing control. "Don't fucking call her that."

Rory ignored him, looking me in the eyes in the most apologetic and defeated way. It was completely tearing me apart. I just wanted to hold him.

That's when he really surprised me.

At first, I wasn't sure what he was doing when he bowed his head, but pretty soon it became clear. He was kneeling. His slacks were flattened against the concrete, his hands doing the same in front of him. He kept his head down, his blonde locks shielding his face from view. I couldn't breathe.

"Aria, I know it was wrong of me not to contact you sooner. But you have to understand, it wasn't my fault. I wasn't allowed. I've missed you so incredibly much, love. I missed our babies."

"Fuck off! Those aren't your babies!" Bastion shouted, but I placed a calming hand on his shoulder, stepping forward.

"Please, just let me see them. Let me hold you again. I swear, I'll never hurt you again. I'll be the royal I was meant to be. I'll be someone you admire, not fear. Give me one more chance to prove it, I'm begging you."

I couldn't hear his heart over the pounding of mine and Bastion's, but I had never heard Rory sound more sincere in all the time I'd known him. His voice was cracking, as if on the verge of tears, and his arms were struggling to hold him up.

I wanted so badly to forgive him. To trust him. But what did he mean he wasn't allowed? And he said that he apologized for not contacting me, not for leaving in the first place. Did that mean that he hadn't really changed at all?

No matter my suspicions, I couldn't rightly keep him from his son. He at least took the effort to come see him, and damn, he was literally bowing to me. What kind of heartless bitch would I be to turn this broken man away?

"Come, Rory." I took another step towards him, but Bastion caught my arm.

"Aria, I don't-"

"It's okay, baby." I said reassuringly, offering him a bright smile, even though my eyes were filled with tears. "Could you please give us some privacy? Wait on the back deck?" He furrowed his brow in frustration, but agreed begrudgingly.

"If you need me, howl and I'll be there." Then he left, stepping onto the deck and rounding to the back.

Good, at least a fight wouldn't break out.

I glanced back over at Rory who was watching me with tears and hope in his enchanting blue eyes, but he still hadn't gotten off the ground. I crossed to him quickly, offering him a hand to stand, which he accepted graciously.

"Aria." He muttered, in awe. His arms rose to hug me, but when I flinched, he stilled. "I'm sorry." He mumbled, dropping his arms back to his side. "I understand if you want nothing to do with me now. I really have been a shitty royal, haven't I?"

I nodded, giving a halfhearted laugh.

"Yes, but I still love you," I admitted honestly. Even though I knew it could bite me in the ass, I wanted nothing more than to hold him again. I lifted my arms, snaking them around his slender waist and pulling myself flush against him. Resting my head against his heartbeat was unreal. I wished I could stay there forever.

He sucked in a harsh breath, pausing for just a beat before throwing his arms around me and pulling me in even closer.

"Aria, I love you, too. More than anything in this world." I thought my heart would combust hearing those words tumble from his lips. Maybe he came in peace after all.

I leaned back, standing on the tips of my toes to press my lips to his. He kissed me gently, almost timidly, rubbing small circles on my back with his thumbs. This was the Rory I missed. This was the Rory I longed for.

I broke the kiss before it could get heated anymore due to our bond, looking into his loving eyes.

"Let's go see your baby," I said excitedly.

"Babies," he corrected, a slight hint of hurt and annoyance in his voice.

"Sorry, babies." I shrugged apologetically, taking his hand in mine and guiding him into the house. I could feel Lysander's burning gaze following us closely, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was following us in, but hiding his presence. As a precautionary measure, I said a quick prayer kindly requesting he respect my privacy as well.

If I asked Bastion to do it, it was only fair to hold Lysander to the same standard.

I could hear their little giggles coming from their bedroom, and figured that they had been placed in their cribs when Bastion got a hint of Rory's scent.

I was right.

I threw open their door, stepping back to allow Rory to have his time with them. As soon as he saw his baby boy standing, he halted, his eyes filling back with tears.

"James. And Lilly." He glanced at our beautiful baby girl beside her brother. "You've grown so much." He approached them, but the closer he got, the more their bottom lips started to tremble. They were going to cry.

"There, there." I cooed, stepping forward to calm them. The hurt on Rory's face was evident and it killed me. "It's just because they haven't seen you in a while. They just got object permanence. They don't remember."

His eyes turned from solemn to angry, but he turned his head to keep me from seeing. "Fucking Luna." He cursed, so quietly that I barely caught it. Why was he angry at Luna?

"Rory?" I asked hesitantly, placing a hand on his arm. He flinched, turning abruptly on his heels and heading towards the twin's closet.

He grabbed the first bag he could find and began shoving their clothes inside, not paying the slightest attention to keeping them folded or organized.

"Rory, what the hell are you doing?" My voice was higher, more urgent, but I didn't want to shout and scare the children.

"Go pack a bag. We're going to London." He answered simply, and before I could protest, he shoved a note into my hand.

"What-?"

He looked back and forth from the note to me, clearly urging me to read it. I gulped, my hands trembling as I opened the folded cardstock. On it was Rory's excellent penmanship, spelling out a simple message.

"I know about you and Lysander. You have two options: come with me and have happiness and protection, or don't and I'll tell Bastion about what you've done."