“Those two are going to be so much fun to watch,” Helena whispered into his ear and Aldric couldn’t agree more. Neither would be giving an inch. The threat of violence and bloodshed alone between the two was worth watching.
“Sit up, baby. Let’s get some food into you. Then you can go back to sleep for the rest of the night.”
Helena struggled to push herself up into a seated position. Immediately, Aldric lifted her and placed her on his lap so she could lean her head back against his chest. “There you go, mate. You just lean back and relax. We’ll get you fed and tucked back in.”
“Thank you. I feel so weak. How long will this last?” Helena asked before she picked up her tea and just about dropped the hot liquid on her lap. Thanks to Aldric’s enhanced speed, he was able to grab it in time.
“Easy, my love. Let me help you.” Carefully, he held the tea to Helena’s lips so she could take a sip.
“Doc said you would be weak for a few hours after waking, Princess Helena. Perhaps it’s best if the rest of the family returns to their own rooms so they can rest and you can eat and go back to sleep,” Giselle suggested while arranging pillows behind Aldric and Helena.
He had noticed Giselle was the quiet one. She was happy to take care of everyone around her, which now included Aldric and his family. She bustled around with small covered plates of food for anyone who was hungry to take with them to their private rooms.
“Yes, it’s late. Please, everyone, go to bed. You have to be exhausted,” Helena told the room full of people. “I’ll be good as new come morning.”
One by one, everyone said their good-byes. Godric, finally using his sense of self-preservation, gave Aldric a wide berth before kissing Helena’s hand. “Thank you, little sister, for my father’s life.”
“Your father’s hurt?” Helena turned her head, frantically looking for Karl, who was standing off to the side with their mother and a still sleeping Cassandra. “Are you healed fully now?”
The rest of his beloved family approached. Aldric knew they would have lost their father today. His wounds were just too severe for his werewolf to heal alone, and several others had been just as close to death before being laid onto the ground. Many of those she had saved had inquired about the princess’s health since her collapse.
“Yes, daughter, just a scar’s left, and that’s fading quickly. Thank you for the gift of more time with my family. I swear not to waste a moment.” His father leaned over and kissed Helena’s cheek before leading Aldric’s weeping mother and sleeping sister from the room. His mother and father had happily begun calling Helena “daughter” since she had asked Aldric to be her mate.
Aldric watched as his brave mate’s omega jewel clouded blue with sadness at the thought of losing anyone. “How many have died, Aldric?”
“Eat first, my mate. After, I’ll explain everything that’s happened.” Aldric ordered, allowing no room for discussion by bringing the plate of meats and cheeses closer to Helena.
Two of his warriors walked by the exterior windows as they patrolled outside on Helena’s balcony. The remainder were either in the adjoining rooms or guarding the entrances and corridors. Helena wasn’t aware that Ceva had been able to delve into a few of the ogres’ minds before they died. It angered and terrified Aldric to learn that they had been ordered to capture the princess and as many omegas as they could grab. He’d kill anyone who tried to take or harm his princess; she meant everything to him. In a few short days, she had become the love and light in his life. His future lay in her tiny hands.
The entire palace remained on alert until the threat was removed. Royal guards were patrolling the grounds and the remaining alphas were calling in more of their own personal guards and warriors to protect the omegas on the property. Those alphas already in courtships had quickly moved their omegas into the alphas’ suites along with the omegas’ attendants and armed guards.
The overriding concern that plagued their thoughts was that that no one knew who had sent the ogres or how they came so close to Helena and the other omegas.
Ceva had tried to unlock that knowledge, but the ogres minds were strangely blank. Other than the order to take the princess and other omegas, there simply was nothing else.
Ceva believed it was a spell, and once the ogres had their captives, the next step in their orders would have been revealed bit by bit until they had delivered the omegas to the one controlling them.
There was nothing more they could do tonight. And only Aldric, Amalia, Giselle, and Marcus were left in Helena’s bedroom. He had helped her eat—she had been so weak —and when she had finished more than enough to make him happy, he tucked her close, knowing she’d want to know what happened.
“Now tell me everything, please,” she asked, pushing her plate back then cuddling further into Aldric’s embrace.
He wished he could save her from the truth, but she would always be guaranteed his honesty, no matter the situation. “Two guards couldn’t be saved. There was nothing that could be done for them.”
He could feel the pain and sadness coming from his sensitive omega, and knew, once she learned the rest, she would take the blame instead of the praise for all the lives she’d saved.
“What else? I know there’s more. I can feel your tension.” Already, they could read each other’s emotions as if they were their own. They were connected now and would be from this day forward.
“They were sent to capture you, and as many omegas as they could grab. The ogres were to take all of you back to the person controlling them.”
Helena’s eyes filled with tears as waves of sadness and guilt washed through the room. Aldric held her closer, soothing her as she cried over the senseless deaths.
The pain of loss weighed heavy on Helena. Everyone who had fought had sacrificed their lives to protect her. The families of the fallen would be forced to live without them because someone decided to try to kidnap omegas. She would honor the brave warriors who sacrificed their lives, and she would provide for their families.
“They must be given a warrior’s burial. Where are their families?” she asked.
“The families have already been brought to the palace. Your uncle and aunt have taken care of the funeral arrangements. You don’t have to worry,” her alpha explained.
“Yes I do. They must be honored as heroes, their families cared for,” she insisted. She might not have been able to save them, but she could make sure their loved ones would survive and thrive.
“Of course you want to care for them, but not tonight, my love. Tonight you rest. We’ll deal with everything tomorrow, I promise.” Gently, he tucked her underneath the covers.
She knew he was worried about her, and to be honest, she hadn’t the strength to argue at the moment.
“I have to meet with your uncle. I’ll be back shortly. Our warriors are in and around this suite, and my people have been moved to the suite of rooms across the hall. I’ll be staying in here with you as well with Amalia and Giselle. You’ll not be left alone until the threat is found and removed. Probably even for a while after that until I calm down.” He growled. “It might take a while.” His beautiful blue eyes were understandably troubled, and she sent her calming powers out to comfort him.
“No, my love. Save your strength.” He stood and scanned the room as if something might actually jump out of the shadows to attack her. She knew he was having a hard time leaving.
Finally satisfied, he walked over to the balcony and informed his men, and after one final kiss, he was gone.
“Amalia, how bad is it?” Helena knew her best friends would provide her with all the details. Amalia, Giselle, and Marcus had grown up with her in these halls and would never keep information from her.
Amalia and Giselle climbed onto the bed with her, while Marcus sat in a nearby chair. The three girls settled into their normal cuddling position. Though Aldric would be staying in her suite, he wouldn’t be sleeping in her bed yet.
“Other than the two guards,
everyone else is either healed or on the road to recovery. After you fainted, your flowers began to weaken, but all major injuries were healed first and the minor ones will be healed with the person’s own werewolf’s abilities. They don’t know who sent the ogres to take you and the other omegas, but search parties have been sent out looking for any sign of how the ogres made it onto the estate grounds.”
After that rundown, Helena wanted one other thing. “And the guards’ families?”
“Geoffrey had only his parents. They along with Ewald’s wife have been brought from town. They’ve been given rooms on the north side of the palace,” Giselle explained, but Helena felt there was more she wasn’t being told.
“And?” Helena knew if she just waited them out, eventually someone would spill.
“Ewald was a friend of mine. We trained in the royal guard together,” Marcus admitted without raising his eyes from the floor.
“I’m so sorry, Marcus.” Her voice cracked.
“It’s Katrina, Ewald’s mate, I’m concerned over. She has no family. They’re all each other had, and Katrina’s four months pregnant. I don’t know what she’s going to do now. She is so sweet and shy. I worry someone will take advantage of her.” Marcus still hadn’t lifted his eyes from the floor. His pain was almost enough to take her breath away.
Helena sat up, noticing that she did have a bit more energy since eating, but knew better than to try and leave this room. Aldric would throw a fit if she went running around the palace. “Well, I know what you’re going to do right now. You’re going over to the north wing, collecting Katrina, and you’re bringing her back here. She shouldn’t be alone, and since she doesn’t have family, we’ll be stepping in.”
When Marcus just continued to sit there, staring stunned at Helena, she stated it a little more forcefully. “I can make it an order, Marcus, but you’re my friend and I’d prefer not to.”
That seemed to drag Marcus out of whatever had him stuck. “No, it’s not that I don’t want to go get her, it’s just that you’re going to open up your suite to Katrina?”
“We are, and then after the funerals and my bonding ceremony, we’ll figure out where it will be safe and healthy for Katrina and her pup to live. Since you were close friends with her mate and are familiar to Katrina, I’ll expect you to guard her and see to her care when I’m not around. She’ll need a guardian.”
“Yes, my princess, I’ll be back as soon as Katrina can pack her things.” Marcus stood but paused a few feet from the door. “What if she’s sleeping?”
“She won’t be, my friend. Her mate died today,” Helena answered sadly. She had no idea the pain this poor woman was going through, but Katrina wasn’t going to grieve alone. If Aldric had died, Helena would be devastated. Thankfully, Katrina had her unborn pup to live for, and Helena would make sure they had a good life.
Within the next twenty minutes, a second double bed was rolled into the room, along with a couch, which she assumed would be for Aldric. Then a sheet was hung over the broken doorway to give them some sense of privacy from the warriors in the front sitting room.
Her aunt had returned and was talking with Helena when Marcus arrived with a clearly distraught and overwhelmed Katrina. Her red, swollen eyes and pale complexion spoke volumes. Amalia and Giselle quickly gathered the young widow into their arms and brought the poor woman over to Helena’s bedside.
“Your majesties.” Katrina curtsied to Helena and her aunt, seeming unsure as to why she was here.
“No sense standing on formalities when we’re in private, sweet child. Now that my niece has chosen you as one of her own, we will be seeing much more of one another.” Queen Alexandra stood and pulled Katrina into a gentle hug. “I’m so sorry you lost your mate. He was a brave and honorable man.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Helena could feel the pain and exhaustion weighing down on the young woman. “Come sit and rest, Katrina. Are you hungry? You have to eat.” Before Helena could issue the order, Marcus was out the door surely to be in search of food.
“Ma’am?” Katrina looked at Helena as if she had just asked her to stand on her head and recite poetry.
Instead of trying to explain further to the obviously exhausted woman, Helena took Katrina’s hand and gently tugged her down onto the bed beside her. Aunt Alexandra, always compassionate, went one step further and raised Katrina’s legs up onto the bed so that she now sat with her back against the headboard alongside Helena.
Katrina looked about ready to pass out, but Helena wasn’t sure if it was from being distraught and tired or lying in bed beside the princess, or perhaps it was the queen’s behavior. All of it had to be overwhelming.
Mercifully, Marcus came back in carrying a plate of food and a bottle of fruit juice. “Marcus, I don’t understand.” Katrina spoke hesitantly, obviously not wishing to offend anyone.
He set everything down on the table beside Katrina before going to his knees in front of her. Helena was pleased at the care he was using with his friend’s widow. “It’s going to be okay, Trina. You’re safe here with my family. Ewald would want you with friends now.”
“But they’re the royal family, Marcus. I know you and your father protect the princess, and Amalia is the princess’s attendant, but how does that include us?” Katrina asked while caressing her belly. She quickly ducked her head as if just realizing she was speaking so plainly about the people beside her.
“The royal family are just like normal people, Trina. The queen and princess, they’re family to me. Helena would like you to stay with us for now. I’m here with you and so is my entire family.”
Katrina turned to Helena. “Marcus is your family?” she asked quickly, as if trying to confirm that perhaps this was a safe place for her.
“Yes, I consider Marcus, Amalia, Giselle, General Jensgar, and the others who work with me to be part of my family,” Helena confirmed. She was blessed to be surrounded by the people she truly loved. “Now you must eat something for the pup. Then you’ll rest. Tomorrow we’ll take everything one moment at a time, and you’ll have friends with you every step.”
“But… but you’re the… and she’s…” Katrina turned to point at Helena’s now smiling aunt who was quietly sitting at the foot of the bed.
“The queen, yes she is. She’s also my aunt and a card shark. Don’t play against her. You’ve been warned.” Helena was desperately trying to calm Katrina. It would take a while before this poor distraught woman felt comfortable around them, but eventually she would, and more importantly, she would be safer with them than on her own.
“Pfft, you just don’t know how to bluff properly, niece,” Alexandra chided.
Marcus placed the plate of food into Katrina’s hands before backing away into the corner and guarding the room. Helena knew he was the right choice to care for his friend’s mate.
Katrina ate slowly, but at least she ate something, though they would have to keep an eye on her and make sure she had a ready supply of healthy food.
Helena’s thoughts were suddenly consumed by images of carrying Aldric’s pup. She would feel truly complete if the gods blessed her and her mate with children.
They all chatted quietly until her aunt left for her bed. Helena learned that Katrina and Ewald had been mated just over eight months, and he’d been excited when he found out they were expecting their first pup. Helena thought a visit to Dr. Cosmas was in order come morning just to check that all was good with the pregnancy, considering the stress Katrina was under.
“Why don’t you help Katrina get ready for bed, Amalia, while we get everything set out here?” Helena asked as she placed her teacup on her bedside table.
“I’m staying in here?” Katrina asked, as if she honestly expected to be kicked out after she ate. Hell, this poor woman had just lost everything, and if she allowed it, Helena would help Katrina rebuild her life.
“Yes, it’s safer for you while the guards search the estate. Amalia, Giselle, you, and I will be sleep
ing in here tonight, while Marcus is staying in the front room with my other warriors. Oh, and if you wake up to find a massive man with long black hair lying on the couch on my side of the bed, don’t worry. It’s my mate, Aldric. He’s a tad protective, especially now after the attacks.” Helena knew she was rambling, but she wanted to put Katrina at ease, which seemed to be working along with the sense of peace her omega powers were pumping into the air. “So you’ll be staying here with us for the foreseeable future, okay?”
Katrina didn’t look entirely convinced, but after an encouraging smile from Marcus, she nodded her agreement. Amalia grabbed the bag Marcus had brought and joined Katrina.
Once the two women had entered the en suite, Marcus approached, his emotions clearly near the surface. “Thank you. This means the world to me. Ewald can rest knowing Trina and his pup are being taken care of.”
“Of course. We’ll make sure they have everything they need, even if that means coming with us to our new pack. You did say she didn’t have family here. Perhaps she’ll join us when we leave, but let’s see what the next few days bring.”
“You should be resting,” Giselle lightly scolded, which was saying something considering she never scolded anyone.
Imagining what Aldric would do if he found her awake, Helena did the only thing advisable; she fell asleep.
Chapter Seven
The following morning a heavy pall blanketed the estate as Geoffrey and Ewald were laid to rest in a place of honor amongst their fellow fallen warriors. Although Geoffrey’s parents and Katrina were showered with love and support, the circles under their eyes and the tight lines around their mouths were evidence enough of the tough weeks and months they faced.
Katrina stood tall and proud beside her mate’s coffin, showing an inner strength Ewald would have been proud of. Marcus never left her side and had been officially named as her guardian by King Leonidas. By lunchtime, Helena had Marcus take an exhausted Katrina back to the suite, which, thankfully, had new bedroom doors installed, so she could eat and rest in privacy.
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