Xander's POV

"How...how are you here? Why are you here?" I ask, disbelief still lacing my tone as I look at the green-eyed woman standing at the end of the hallway.

Her voice is soft and kind and gentle when she says, "Because I missed you, Lex."

Lex. She is the only one who has ever called me Lex. I forgot how much I loved the sound of my name falling from her lips. She smiles and my heart flutters in my chest. She takes a few tentative steps toward me and even though I should, I don't stop my feet from walking toward her.

Her arms reach out for me and once I am close enough, I swiftly pick her up and spin her around. She laughs and I had forgotten how much I liked that sound too. I set her down and she wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a desperate hug, which I quickly return. But calling this just a hug doesn't quite do the gesture any justice.

This is way more than a hug; it's wrapped promise, a forgotten memory, an anticipated future.

This hug is home.

"Lex," she whispers, "How much longer?"

I sigh, "Not much longer. How is..."

"We're fine," her arms tighten around me and her voice shakes when she speaks next, "I've missed you so much."

My own voice breaks a little, "I know, my love. I know."

She raises her head and when her emotion-filled eyes meet mine, my walls break and my self-restraint falters. I know I shouldn't but I can't help myself. I slowly bend my head down to hers, her eyes flicking between mine and my lips. I pause for a second, guilt flooding my gut but as soon as her lips touch mine, the guilt is immediately replaced by a burning love. I kiss her and she eagerly kisses me back; each movement of our lips becoming a reminder of everything we both have sacrificed for this.

Her hands move to the nape of my neck and I groan as she plays with the now shortened strands. She pushes herself even closer to me, every inch of our bodies touching and I want...

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Aiden's POV

If I was unsure if what Rasmus told me was true, I am not now.

Alexander Canmore has a dirty little secret.

And I know what...well rather, who she is. I intend to use this newfound knowledge to get what I want. So, as much fun as it is to watch Canmore's dreams, I have seen all that I need to see. Now, he is going to have a very entertaining wake-up call. Well, entertaining for me at least.

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Xander's POV

"Wakey, wakey..." someone coos, their voice sounding dangerously close to my ear.

My head is pounding and my heart is racing but I am not sure if that is from that kiss or whatever is happening right now. I slowly open my eyes, only to be met with the harshness of light. My head pounds harder as my eyes blearily adjust to the room as my hands search for her on the bed.

And...there she is. I roll over to face her only to be met with...

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Aiden's POV

"Morning, sunshine," I smirk as he startles, jerking his hands away from my body with such force that he flails backwards, out of the bed and tumbles onto the hard floor.

I move to the edge of the bed, casually crossing my ankles while I stare down at a confused Canmore. He barely manages to keep the sheets from exposing himself to me and I smirk again as his whole face turns red before he's clutching his head in pain.

Hungover amateur.

But I can't have him in pain from his inability to handle his alcohol if we are going to have a chat because it is too distracting for both of us. So, I draw it out of him in waves, each black and blue ribbon a testament to his obviously low pain tolerance. I laugh as he watches in bewilderment as I pull the physical pain from his body and play with it, letting it run up and down my arms before absorbing it into myself.

Ashlee can numb pain.

I steal it.

Other people's pain temporarily heightens my powers and if Canmore here decides to be an idiot, I will need the additional strength.

"Where's Ashlee?" he asks, still blinking from the sudden relief that I gave him. Interesting first question. I choose not to answer it.

"Why are you here?"

I don't answer that one either and instead choose to let a strand of magic out to weave between my fingers.

"Why were you in my bed?"

Still letting my magic dance over my hand, I do respond, "Were you hoping I was someone else?"

A pause for dramatic effect.

"Someone...like Eleanor?"

His eyes flash with fear for only a split second, and his hands almost imperceptibly grip the sheets a little harder. If I was anyone else, I probably wouldn't have noticed. But I did. And I know I am right.

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Xander's POV

He can't possibly know. How could he know?

He's just messing with me.

He doesn't know.

He doesn't know.

I glance up at his face and he fakes a laugh, putting a mocking hand to his temple as if he was remembering some crucial detail.

And then I feel the blood drain from my face as he casually says, "Sorry, I think you call her Ellie instead."

He knows.

He speaks again, "Isn't that right...Lex?"

This can't be happening. How could he possibly know? I have been so careful. I have been a loving husband to Ashlee. I have followed the King's instructions to the letter. Lord Locklynn wasn't even at the dinner yesterday; how could he know that my Ellie was there?

"Your Ellie?"

I glare at his opened hands and swear.

"Get out of my head," I demand, my voice not quite as commanding as I had hoped it would sound.

Lord Locklynn smirks and closes his hand, "Happily. I have seen and heard enough of your vivid dreaming already this morning."

My face flushes from embarrassment and he rolls his eyes, "Relax...I'm not telling my dear sister."

Confusion replaces the embarrassment, "You're not?"

He folds his hands neatly in his lap, "Of course not. Because you are going to do exactly as I tell you until I get what I want."

I sigh and ask a question I really don't want to know the answer to, "And why would I do that?"

He smirks again, "Because your brother had some very interesting things to say about you and "Ellie." I know all about your secret little rendezvous."

"What did he tell you?"

His smirk grows, "Everything."

"What do you know?"

He sighs dramatically, brushing his hair back from his face and chooses not to answer me again.

"Leave her alone or I will..."

He laughs, the sound harsh and cold, "You will what? Tattle to your wife? Ashlee would kill you without hesitation for your infidelity. Ellie would run if she found out you took your job as my sister's husband so seriously. The King would exile you for disobeying him."

I want to be angry but I know he is right.

"I'll kill you."

He half-laughs, "I would like to see you try. I will give you your instructions at a later time. And when I do, you will follow them."

"And if I don't?"

"If you attempt to hurt me, ignore my directions, or break off your marriage to my sister, I will go after your daughter."

My heart lurches as memories of my best kept secret flood my brain, "You wouldn't."

"I would. She's what? Five or six now?" His eyes flash with delight as he leans forward, resting his arms on his thighs, "And I like the way children experience pain."

My magic flares in time with my anger and bursts out of my hands in a fiery explosion of red.

Lord Locklynn chuckles before opening his hand, sending a wave of his magic over to my hands. As soon as it touches my hands, my magic is stifled and squashed. I feel the power drain out of my hands as he takes my magic and wraps it in his own before pulling it back to his body. I watch my red turn black as he sucks the life right out of it.

He watches me in amusement, "That was cute. Don't do it again." And then he smiles, "Or do and see what happens."

Standing up, he brushes off his pants and looks down at me with complete disgust, "Rasmus was right about you. You pretend to be this hero that everyone loves but deep down you know you are not good enough for anyone so you put on facets until you find one that someone pays attention to. You're weak."

His words sting more than I want to admit but I force my voice to stay even, "If I am the hero, then what does that make you?"

He smiles, "The villain."

And then he disappears in a swirl of purple and black, leaving me to grapple with the horrific understanding that Lord Locklynn knows. But at least he isn't going to tell Ashlee right now. I can still salvage this. I can keep my end of the arrangement with the King and then everything will be fine.

It will be fine.

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Aiden's POV

The unfortunate side effect of stealing someone else's pain is that after a few hours, if I don't use the additional strength, it forces itself out of my body.

As I hurl my entire stomach contents into the bushes, I feel my sister's power envelop my senses before I hear her footsteps. She waits patiently until I stand up and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. I lean against the wall for support, my stomach still rolling.

"I told you to quit doing that," she remarks.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion."

"You didn't. But it is bad for you to keep doing this to yourself, Aiden. Taking other people's power has consequences. It goes against our nature."

"You sound like dad."

Her eyes flash, "I am nothing like the King."

I try to come up with some other retort but a new wave of nausea forces me to bend back over as stomach acid burns my throat.

She sighs and softens her voice, "Aiden..."

I spit on the ground and turn to face her, "What? Can't you see I don't exactly feel like talking right now?"

She remains silent but I feel her magic poke into my mind. Begrudgingly, I let her in.

"The Queen needs us."

I swear under my breath and nod my head in understanding. I flicker myself and extend my hand out to my sister, clutching my stomach with my other hand.