CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

It took Bastion all of two seconds to shift, his massive black wolf bounding out of the open bathroom door.

"Shit!" I cursed. I could stop him faster as I was, but I couldn't run the halls naked. I had to shift, too. I lunged from the tub, but Rory caught my arm.

"What the hell were you thinking, Aria? How could you let a traitor serve the kingdom?" He shouted. I broke his grasp, shifting before I could think about the fact that Rory had actually yelled at me.

I never imagined he would do that. He must've really been pissed.

I heard him calling after me, but I had to go. I pushed my legs as fast as I could, tracking Bastion by his scent towards the hall where Brett's office was located. The people along the way looked troubled and panicked, telling me I was on target.

By the time I reached the room, both men were shifted, circling each other with bared teeth. I slid in between them, facing Dorian with an echoing growl, demanding he back down.

I had only ever used my mate or maternal mind link, and I wasn't sure if a pack link would work since we weren't technically a pack, but I had to try. It was my only hope in de-escalating the situation.

I opened up my passageway, flinching when hundreds of wolves' conversations flooded my head.

Was this the ability of the Alpha? I could just eavesdrop on anyone's link?

No, I had to focus. I searched the voices until I found theirs, tuning into it like a satellite.

"It was my dad, Bastion!"

"I don't give a fuck! You killed my mate, you bastard! We fucking trusted you!"

"Bastion, stop!" I finally jumped in.

He growled and nipped at me.

"Stay out of this, Aria. You lied to me, so I don't want to hear it. Brett, consider this your termination notice!"

"What?!"

"Stop it! You can't do that! You don't have that authority!" I shrieked.

He raised himself, towering over my wolf, who was barely half his size, as if to challenge me.

"Like hell I don't. I'm allowed to dismiss a traitor from serving in our court." He declared, his voice dripping with authority.

"No, I've already pardoned him!" I clarified.

Dorian stumbled back as if I'd shoved him, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"You what?!" He finally barked, outraged.

"I pardoned him, Bastion. Officially. We filed the paperwork with Jesse as a witness."

I had no idea where Brett was at that moment, and I couldn't check, because Bastion lunged at me, knocking me to the ground and holding me there by the neck with his powerful claws.

"Why the hell would you do something so stupid?! Do you have any idea how fucked up that is?!" He shouted into my face, his jaws dripping foam onto my whimpering form.

At that moment, the door burst open and Rory entered the room.

"Bastion, get off of her!" He shouted, darting to Bastion and gripping his hind leg, attempting to pull him off, but Bastion just clung to me all the more, not realizing that his claws were extending further into my throat, piercing it.

I howled out in pain, catching his attention.

"Shit, I'm sorry." He swore, retracting his claws, but it was too late.

My fur was aglow and whisking around as if a strong wind were blowing throughout the room, and before I knew it, Bastion and Rory were propelled into the back wall with a loud clatter as all of the hung frames shattered on the floor.

Bastion shifted immediately, his unconscious form crumpling into a heap amongst the glass, while Rory collapsed to his knees, cradling the back of his bleeding head with his hands.

"What the hell?" Brett's voice rang out from behind me, and I noticed that he was also shifted back to his human form with a lap blanket wrapped around his shoulders to hide his nudity.

Damn it. I didn't mean to hurt them.

I took careful steps towards Rory, and he glanced up with knitted brows.

I whimpered, nuzzling him with my snout, but he stood, brushing broken shards from his pants and walking to the sofa without a word. He yanked a flannel throw from the cushions, crossing back to me and opening it to block Brett's view.

"Shift," he commanded, and I immediately obeyed, my small form stepping into the blanket timidly.

"Rory, I—"

"Aria, we will discuss this once Bastion is awake. Please, heal my head so I stop tracking blood everywhere."

I nodded, sealing his open wound with a lick. Thankfully, it was minor. It looked like he just happened to get snagged by a piece of glass.

I then padded over to Bas, trying to avoid cutting my feet as I lifted him to my lap. He was already coming to, telling me that his injury probably wasn't that bad.

"Aria? What the hell... Shit, your neck!"

I flinched, reaching up to feel where Bastion's claws had pierced me, before turning with a glare to Rory. "Why didn't you heal it?"

He gave me a pointed look in return, crossing his arms.

"I wanted him to see what his temper did," he responded curtly.

I glanced back at Bastion, who was eyeing my wound with shame and remorse.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you," he mumbled, reaching up to stroke my cheek. I leaned into his touch, thankful that he wasn't yelling at me anymore. Actually, thankful that nobody was yelling at me anymore.

"I'm sorry I lied to you. To both of you." I nodded towards Rory.

"I was only trying to protect Brett and Rose. I wouldn't have pardoned him if I wasn't completely sure that it was a one-time mistake. He's the best damn Advisor we could ask for. It's not like he knew I would die. Terminating him would just be a waste of a loyal court member."

Rory sighed, crossing to the couch with long strides. He had managed to slip on some clothes before coming, but his hair was still dripping onto his shoulders. "Aria, you don't understand. It's not just about that."

Bastion winced as he sat up, meeting my eyes before adding to Rory's statement. "He's right. You don't know the hell we went through after losing you that night. Fuck, after losing the twins. His decision, no matter the reason, killed the woman we love. So it's hard to just forgive and forget."

All three of our gazes were captured by the sound and realization that Brett was crossing towards us.

His heart was going a mile a minute, and I could see him trembling as he kneeled to the floor, hugging the blanket around himself and squeezing his eyes shut as he lowered his head.

"Please forgive me, Kings. My decision was foolish, and I know that you suffered greatly because of it.

At the time, I had hoped that I might be able to talk my dad into surrender without death, but now I know that his life was forfeit from the moment he tried to stand against our kingdom.

Bas... You've always been my best friend. And that's why... I'll understand if you still want to terminate me from your court. I can't pretend to understand the betrayal you feel, and I acknowledge that what I did was unforgivable.

We can be gone by nightfall, King."

As he said this, silent tears began to flow down his cheeks, fogging the inside of his glasses ever so slightly with the condensation.

"Bastion?"

His eyes flickered down, then back up with newfound sympathy for his best friend.

"We'll stick by the Queen's pardon. I trust my mate, Brett, but you're another story. That will need to be earned back for you."

Brett looked like he had witnessed a miracle before his very eyes, his hands dropping in surprise.

"Wait, really? You're letting me stay?"

I gave Bastion's leg an approving squeeze, and he nodded, trying to hide the smile on his lips.

"Holy shit. I mean, thank you! King Rory, you too?"

Rory nodded kindly.

"I support my Queen," he added, his blue orbs sneaking a peek at me.

They were supporting my decision as Queen. I could hardly believe it. I stood, helping Bastion to his feet as well.

"I'm, um, sorry for breaking your office," I said shyly, tugging a wild strand of my damp hair behind my head.

"Oh, no problem, Queen. That was badass. I just hope they're not too hurt." He chuckled, gesturing to my two loves.

"We're fine. Nothing a little blood can't fix. Now, why don't you all go get changed while I call some people to clean this up?" Rory offered, eyeing the naked trio before him.

We laughed, agreeing with his suggestion.

Bastion ended up following me back in wolf form, so he didn't have to wander the halls naked, earning us some interesting looks from our people. I bet they all thought we were nuts.

At least Rory had sealed my claw wounds, or else they would probably have even more to whisper about.

Once we arrived, I directed Bastion to the bathroom instead of the dressing room.

"What're you doing?" He asked as I rummaged through the drawers of the vanity, finally locating a pair of hair cutting shears I used to trim my split ends.

"Giving you a haircut!"