CHAPTER ONE OH SEVEN

"Are you sure you don't want me to hang around for just a little bit longer?"

"Mom, it's been three months already. I'm sure Anthony misses you." She swiped at the air, brushing off my concerns.

"He's fine, he can take care of himself." I rolled my eyes, tightening my grip on her hands.

"Mom, I'm fine. I can also take care of myself. It's not like I have to work with the checks everyone keeps sending me." I said with a hint of irritation.

I made three times as much money as Bas ever did a month through various supporters, even though I insisted against it. Every time I checked mail, it was filled with letters and checks to cash. Not that I was ungrateful, I just wanted my people to focus their funds on recruitment.

Not long after Bastion's death, I decided that we would begin gathering our forces. I witnessed firsthand the strength of King Lorec's men, and even Lysander testified to the power of his dark angels. We needed to start finding supporters of our cause.

Of course, this was easier said than done. We had run into our fair share of problems, specifically with hunters. We had no way of distinguishing them from other humans, which made firsthand recruitment extremely dangerous. That's why we had given Dylan the strenuous task of discovering a better means of reaching the masses, all while still flying under Lorec's radar.

My mother eyed me warily, but I offered her a reassuring smile.

"Okay, fine. But you'd better visit often! You don't have an excuse. Don't let her make any excuses!" She shouted over my shoulder. Lysander's responding chuckle made her smile.

"You have my word, Kim." He responded, and her eyes fell on James who was trotting across the foyer, reaching his arms out for her to pick him up. She complied, hoisting his squirming body above her head before bringing him to rest against her chest.

"Grammy is going back home, now, Jam Jam." I cringed at her nickname for my son, but only on the inside. He smiled so brightly when she called him that, so I didn't dare protest it.

He leaned back in her arms, babbling incoherently while she pretended to listen to his concerns with the utmost respect.

"Should I make her a plate?" Lysander muttered amusedly into my ear, making me giggle.

His whole house was filled with the delicious smell of a Spanish meal, and my mouth was salivating in anticipation.

"No, she's leaving. Right?" I directed at her. She smiled apologetically, shrugging her shoulders.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry."

"Do you want me to take her or do you want to?" He asked me, wiping his hands on his white chef's apron. I shook my head.

"That's okay, I'll take her. I'll be back in five." She gave James a big kiss, hunting down the roaming Lilly to give her the same before meeting me back by her luggage.

The trip was swift, and I was glad for the positive memories during the use of power. I had nothing but painful ones for weeks after losing my mate, and though I learned how to better handle the sorrow, it still hurt.

We approached the steps to the beach house, but before reaching the door, she stopped suddenly. I skidded to place behind her, nearly colliding with her back.

"Mom?"

She let out a long sigh, turning to me with a glint of pity in her eyes.

"Aria, everybody heals from these things at different rates." Okay? I cocked my head, blinking slowly. What was her point? "It took me three years to accept Anthony's affections after losing your father." She added for clarity.

Wait, what? Only three?

"Wait, so you two were... together... when I was a kid?!" She sucked in her bottom lip, nodding slowly. "How did I not know this?"

"Well, we usually met up after you were in bed. James would come over to watch you while we went back to the ARIA and-"

"Okay, okay. I don't need details." I grimaced at the disturbing picture it painted. "But, why are you telling me this?"

She crossed her arms over her chest, shivering with the chill the ocean brought to shore.

"I just wanted you to know that wanting love doesn't make you weak. And moving on doesn't mean you love Bastion any less." My face flushed, my eyes darting to the worn wood of the deck. She was talking about Lysander, and I knew it.

When we returned from Atlantis, we decided to move into Lysander's home for safety purposes, but I had my own room. I hadn't touched him. I hadn't even spoken to him about our relationship before Bastion's death. I never felt pressed to do so.

He respected me, always giving me an appropriate amount of space and support when needed. As much as my mother's presence helped me, Lysander's helped me even more.

I had spent countless nights pouring out my memories and my tears while sitting on his couch over a glass of brandy. He always listened attentively, offering words of comfort and wisdom along the way. Never too much, never too little. He was the perfect friend to me.

But was I ready for him to be 'more' again? Did he even want that?

"Thanks, mom, but I don't think he's interested." She snorted in response, making my eyes shoot up in surprise.

"Please. I've seen the way he looks at you, sweetie. It's like you're his whole damn world. And just like Anthony, I bet he's waiting patiently for you to see it, for you to be ready. Don't get me wrong, Aria. I'm not saying that you need to rush into anything. I only wanted to give you something to consider." She lifted her hand, pressing it against the back of my head so she could place a kiss on my forehead.

Could she be right? Was Lysander still in love with me?

"There's my darling Kimberly." Anthony's voice called out and I glanced over to see him leaning against the doorframe, his warm eyes and smile admiring my mother. "I thought you were leaving half an hour ago?" She giggled, rolling her eyes.

"Yea, yea. I don't want to hear it. You can't rush me."

"Oh believe me, I know." He quipped in return, before meeting my eyes. His gaze softened into a paternal display of love. "How are you doing, Queen?"

"I told you to call me Aria, Anthony. You aren't on duty right now." He nodded respectfully, collecting my mother's suitcases into his arms.

"As you wish, Aria." After a brief pause, I took a deep breath, clapping my hands together.

"Well, I'm going to head home, well, back to Ly's. I don't want my dinner to get cold. I love you, mom."

I kissed her cheek, waiting for her to say she loves me too before reappearing in Lysander's entryway.

I removed my shoes before heading down the hall to the dining room. It looked far different than it had when I first visited him. All of the fine China had been locked away in a cabinet, and two high chairs crowded the head of the table. My babies were already locked in place, easy to eat raviolis placed in plastic bowls on their trays.

They were chewing through them hungrily as Lysander stepped through the doorframe balancing two ceramic plates and a bottle of wine in his hands. I giggled at the corkscrew that he held between his teeth, sitting in my normal spot beside James and offering to take my portion.

He set everything down, pulling out his chair and sitting gracefully with a warm smile on his face.

"It's weird not having her here already." I mused, taking a bite of the spiced strips of steak on the plate. It was just as delicious as it smelled, the flavors bursting to life on my tastebuds as the tender meat melted against my tongue.

He chuckled, following suit.

 "It's quieter." He added.

He wasn't lying. My mom hated silence, and always felt the need to have background noise of some sort, so we usually had music or the TV running at all hours of the day. Without her, it was just... calm.

"Yea." He set down his fork, popping the cork and pouring us each a glass of sparkling champagne.

"Lysander?" My eyes peeked up as I wiped my mouth on a napkin.

His bright blue eyes were addressing me without distraction, his lips forming a gentle smile. He was still as stunning as the day I met him, maybe even more so. But I didn't call on him so I could admire him, but rather to test my mother's theory.

I blushed pink, my eyes connecting with his fully for the first time in three months. He was looking at me with the same adoration, the same love that Anthony had when watching my mother. Maybe she was right.

His smile grew the longer I stared at him, and he finally broke the silence.

"What is it? You're blushing."

I shook my head, biting my cheek.

 "I just... I was thinking about how beautiful you are."

His heart skipped, and he picked up his glass, bringing it to his lips and taking a long sip. He stopped hiding the sound of it from me awhile ago, and I had never been more appreciative.

"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" He retorted, his first flirty remark in what felt like ages.

It was odd, but not in a bad way. It was as if we were both testing the waters, afraid to dive in.

"I don't know. You didn't say it."

"Just because I don't say it, doesn't mean I'm not thinking it." I pulled in my bottom lip, chewing on it bashfully. I could ask. All it would take was a teeny bit of courage, and I would know. Then I could make a decision.

"Do you-?" I paused, willing myself to finish, but fear gripped me and I couldn't get out the words.

"Still love you?" My jaw went slack in surprise, and I nodded my head slowly. How did he know what I was going to ask? Was he thinking about it, too? Shit, what if he said no?

I braced myself for the worst, closing my eyes and taking long deep breaths. The warmth of his hand on mine startled me, and I jumped, my eyes flying back to his.

"Yes. Of course I do." My breath caught in my throat. He still loved me? "But I don't expect you to want anything like that from me. A lot has happened, sweetheart. I just want you to be okay again." He added, his voice quiet and reassuring. My eyes watered at his selfless words.

My mom was right. He had been waiting, caring for me, loving me while I healed.

"Thank you, Lysander. I... I'm glad you're here."