^^What inspired this chapter^^

"The quenchless stars,

so eloquently bright,

untroubled sentries of the shadow'y night."

       -James Montgomery

Chapter 27

River's POV

I gasped, sitting up with a speed that caused my head to spin. I felt a line of sweat run down my back as the sound of chirping crickets could be heard outside the window. I turned my head towards the window, expecting sunlight but being met with nothing but darkness.

I fell back with a sigh, rolling over until I was met with Alastair's sleeping face. He always appeared so peaceful as he slept, so different in comparison to the scowl-like demeanor he held in front of others. I closed my eyes, hoping to get some shut eye before the sun rose, but my body seemed to want none of it as it perked up like a blooming bud.

Like many of my other nightmares, it was always nothing but flashing images. Recurring images that had nothing to do with one other, just there, side by side, plaguing me like an incurable disease. Some were of dark, hairy creatures chasing me into the night and others of my father's looming face. Hard leather against soft flesh as his boot slammed harshly against my rib cage, spitting onto my broken form while spewing endless streams of profanities.

I wrapped my arms around my chest. It wasn't real and I knew that, but I couldn't help myself as my arms encircled the area as if fearful of the pain from my dreams. It wasn't there, but I couldn't help but check, to make sure.

I sighed, feeling as idiotic as ever for thinking there would be any pain in my ribs. It was a dream, an imagined occurrence, a reminiscing. Though, perhaps reminiscing would be too nice of a word for the past memories I was dreaming of.

My father hadn't beaten me on a daily basis as a kid, rather he was more verbal in his beatings. But once I reached the ripe age of twelve, he'd come to the conclusion that a beating was in order. Perhaps because he thought I could handle it now that I was older. It wasn't a common occurrence, but it would happen from time to time. Whether, I would forget to pick something up from the market or the house wasn't to his standards. He would somehow manage to come up with something if I hadn't been beaten in a period he considered too long.

He's gone now. He can't hurt you anymore.

Though, where he had gone was a mystery to me. Alastair had never told me where he had brought my father after that fateful ceremony and neither Michael nor Isaiah would say a word on the matter. I could complain, exclaim that he didn't trust me enough to tell me, that we shouldn't be keeping secrets from one another, but I would be but a hypocrite, would I not? For I was keeping a secret from him as well.

I should have told him. He was my mate after all, but I was afraid. I had seen enough public hangings to know what happened to those who shifted. It was illegal, an act punishable of death. We were given infusions at a young age to prevent shifting when older, a suppressant of a sort, and I, along with everyone else in the kingdom, had gotten that shot.

Though, even with the shot there were still those who had a slight connection with their wolves. Those who, even without shifting, could still feel slight shivers of emotions from their inner wolf. Alastair's wolf, like many other royals, had wolves that were far too powerful to be completely suppressed. The suppressant prevented them from shifting but the tie between them and their wolves couldn't be completely suppressed.

However I, on the other hand, didn't have a wolf of such a status. My wolf should have been suppressed like the rest of the general public.

I wasn't like the others who shifted. Those who were hung for shifting were those born into a rebel family. Those who brought their young into the world without gaining an injection like everyone else. It was an act of crime. One that resulted in a death of the entire family, even the young.

They would view me as a rebel. He would view me as a rebel.

No one wants a rebel as a mate.

No, I couldn't tell him. It had to remain a secret. A secret between Luna and I until I could figure out what was going on with me and fix it. Something went wrong. I don't know what, but somehow the medication hadn't done what it had been doing till now.

What changed?

I heard a stirring beside me as Alastair's body turned, moving ever so slightly so his head was leaning against my chest, nose nuzzling against my small form. Even in his sleep he seemed to find comfort in my heat. It wasn't just I who seeked his heat like a moth did to a flame. As mates, we couldn't help but feel a constant need to be by one another. We were two halves to a whole, two halves to one soul. Why, being without one another would be but as cold and painful as the crisp air on the other side of the closed window.

I don't want to lose this, to lose this connection.

My fingers swept lightly through his raven-like caresses, like what I had done time and time again. Each time the pads of my fingers met with his feather-soft hair, I was just as fascinated as I was the first time I had gotten the courage to touch him. He was like my Prince Charming and I was but one blubbering mess of a Cinderella.

I felt a small smile crawl onto my face.

It was like a Cinderella story wasn't it? A golden chariot with a beautiful prince. Except with no step sisters and evil stepmother. Not to mention my father was nothing like Cinderella's.

My fingers brushed through his hair, watching as they fell like elegant, black silk, landing on his olive skin like shadows against light bark.

I was surprised he hadn't woken up as my fingers roamed past his soft caresses and down his well structured face. I didn't want to wake him but I couldn't help but want to memorize his face with my fingers, to lightly brush my tips against his slight stubble so prickly in comparison to his soft hair.

He had been working himself hard lately. I'd come to the realization that Alastair didn't know how to balance work and relaxing. He worked until he collapsed, no breaks, no pauses just endless streams of all-nighters. It was not healthy.

I brushed a finger against his darkened bags under his eyes.

He needs to rest more often. He's going to work himself to death.

A sigh escaped his mouth as his body turned slightly under my careful fingertips. I lifted my fingers from his face in haste.

I keep saying how he needs more rest, yet here I am almost waking him.

I carefully lifted myself from the bed, watching his body slip from my small frame with a soft thump. He turned in his sleep, arms wrapping around a nearby pillow.

I reached for a silk robe, wrapping it around my body before pushing the door of the terrace open and stepping out into the chilling cold. I shook slightly, crossing my arms against my chest as I leaned against the terrace sides, peering down at the garden beneath me.

I was tempted to go out to the garden, but I didn't have the patience to change if I were to get myself dirty.

As I surveyed the beautiful serenity that came with nighttime, a darkened figure from behind a nearby rose bush caught my eye, causing my eyes to narrow.

Who is that...? A maidservant?

The figure moved slightly, showing a second figure leaning forward. Their mouths moved quickly, as if screaming.

My curiosity peaked as I leaned slightly over the terrace, hoping to get close enough to hear.

"-lastair!" Was all I could make out. It sounded like a woman's voice.

Lastair...?

"-ou expect!" my brows furrowed, "he has a mate!" This time it was clearer than the previous sentence as the voice, of what sounded like a man, rose.

Who...?

"-our any better!" the girl's voice rose, "leading him on!"

It was like a shrieking owl had been let loose in my head as a series of 'who's filled my mind.

There was absolute silence as their lips stilled, nothing could be heard but chirping crickets and blowing wind as they stood motionless, one's arms crossed as the other stood, fists at side.

I leaned more forward, eyes as narrowed as my visioned allowed, hands pressed harshly against the smoothed stone as I held myself from falling.

Why were they outside when they could be inside discussing this?

I leaned a bit more, slightly making out a color. One was wearing a mint green nightgown.

Why green...?

I felt my hand slip as a shriek escaped my mouth and I felt my body lose balance before falling off the ledge.

My first reaction was to close my eyes as my hands pressed against my face in a protective shielding against whatever I was about land on.

"Oof!"

I felt my body hit a prickly landing as I sucked in a pain-filled breath.

I hissed, removing my hands from my face. I peered down, eyes taking in sharp thorns and red buds as they pressed harshly against my thin nightgown. I'd landed in a rose bush.

I guess that's what happens to snoopers.

The padding of feet filled my ears as a figure came from beside me.

"River?!"

I turned my head.

My eyes widened as I took in the familiar, goofy brunet.

"Derek...?"

He took in a breath as he took in my form, lying amongst the thorns and flowers.

"Did you just fall from the freakin' sky?!" He laughed.

Typical Derek, laughing at my expense.

He must have seen something on my face because his laughter immediately cut short. He cleared his throat, "Where did you come from?" He asked as his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me carefully from the bush as let out a whimpered sound.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

I gave him a blank look.

Laughter rang in my ears as he almost dropped me, "Sorry, sorry," he laughed, "you just came from absolutely nowhere, falling like a swimming turtle," I pouted, "I mean-", he never finished his sentence as he bursted into laughter.

I pouted as he opened the nearest door with his foot, slamming it open as he pranced in still laughing like a dying hyena.

A door by the entrance swung open, revealing a droopy eyed Isaiah. His nightgown was falling slightly from his shoulder, his eyes blinking several times before widening.

"River?" His voice sounded just as droopy as his eyes.

"Hey," I lifted a hand, trying to play nonchalance.

"He landed in a rose bush," Derek laughed.

"...Rose bush?" Isaiah woke up then.

"Yeah! You should have seen it, Izzy; it was freakin' hilarious!"

He acted like a child, jumping slightly as he told the story to Isaiah with a wide grin.

"Is he hurt?!" Isaiah rushed to me, eyes searching my body.

I squeaked as he lifted my nightgown, "Izzy!"

Derek arms seemed to tense around me.

"River this is not the time to be modest!" Isaiah went in protective-mother mode as he scanned my body. I felt my face heating up as I looked away.

"I'm going to take him to Michael."

"I'm coming," Isaiah pushed his nightgown up his shoulder as he began walking, not even waiting for Derek's reply.

Derek sighed and began following after him, "You should go back to our room, Izzy. You haven't been getting enough sleep. Michael said-"

Isaiah sent a glare that shut him up, "I'm fine."

I kept silent as I eyed Derek. He watching Isaiah with a look I couldn't quite identify.

Isaiah stopped in front a familiar door as he knocked briefly, waiting as we heard stomping footsteps. The door swung open with a harsh push, almost hitting Isaiah square in the face as a fuming Michael appeared by the doorpost.

"For god's fucking sake," he began before his eyes widened, taking in my limp figure in Derek's arms, "Oh!" His eyes narrowed, "again...?"

Derek bursted out laughing as I huffed, "I fell."

His brow raised before waving us in, "River you have to start being more aware of your surroundings. There's only so many times you can injure yourself before I nail you to your bed."

"It was by accident," I huffed.

"As opposed to...?"

I didn't answer.

Derek placed me on a nearby chair as Michael sat on his knees by the chair and began assessing my injuries.

"Well, you seem to be fine. Just a couple scrapes."

He dabbed a disinfectant on my cuts and scratches, "So, how exactly did you end up in a rose bush?" He laughed.

I pouted.

Why was everyone laughing at me?

"I fell off the balcony," I huffed.

Silence and widened eyes was all that filled the room before Keith made his existence apparent by breaking the silence with a snicker.

"Lucky fall."

Michael send him a narrowed gaze before finishing and standing up.

"Walk him back to his room," he looked at Derek and Isaiah, "we don't want him injuring himself on the way there."

"Yes sir!" Derek laughed as Isaiah gave a short nod and took my hand in his, helping me from the chair.

I held Isaiah's hand the entire time, limping slightly. Derek offered to hold me again, but I was too embarrassed to say yes so I merely shook my head. When we reached the golden room we exchanged bye's and waves before as I quietly slipped back in.

I sighed with relief when I saw the lights still off. I wasn't sure what I was going to say if he were up to ask about my disappearance.

But my relief lasted only so long as I hopped onto the bed and caught sight of Alastair laying upright with his arms crossed, watching me silently.

I wasn't sure what to do so I just remained silent, watching him as he did I. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence Alastair took a breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

"Care to tell me where you disappeared to?" I watched his eyes, expecting anger but instead he just looked tired, worn out.

I wasn't sure where to start so I was silent for a few moments as I collected my thoughts. He watched, allowing me time.

"I woke up and couldn't fall back asleep so I went to the terrace to get some fresh air and...umm... I sort of fell off..." my voice trailed off.

So much for planning what to say.

"Sort of?!" His voice rose slightly, only falling when he saw me flinch.

He sighed before beckoning me with a finger, "Come closer, love. Let me lick your wounds."

I know he didn't mean it in a sexual way but I couldn't help but blush brightly beneath his words, growing a bit tight in an area I shouldn't.

I crawled up to him, resting against his thigh as he eyed my legs and arms before lifting my nightgown completely.

I didn't even bother protesting as his fingers pulled the threads from my skin. I'd grown quite comfortable with Alastair after all the time we've spent together. His eyes never judged, just appreciated. His eyes roamed my body as an artist did an expensive painting. He admired and felt, fingers gliding lightly against my pale skin. Olive roaming against pale white.

"You fell off the terrace yet came out of it with nothing but a few cuts and bruises," he mused.

I didn't say anything. I wasn't sure what to say. Surely it was strange, wasn't it?

"The bush caught my fall." It was meant to be a statement but it came out as more of a question.

"Hmm." He continued running his fingers up my leg.

Perhaps he wasn't sure what to think of it either.

He bent over, pressing his lips softly against mine, "As long as you're okay."

His fingers brushed softly against my cheek with a smile that I could only classify as breath-taking.

He's so beautiful.

I pressed my face against his palm, kissing it lightly as I peered up through my lashes with a returning smile.

What a strange, strange night.

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