Chapter 5 You can't kidnap a prince of Caspira

KEIRA

"That's not… Do you have any idea…" I tried, sorrow and grief getting the better of me, both of them coming for their pound of flesh.

The words got caught in my throat, my resolve to out myself shattering as the doors burst open.

Nathan strode in with Elena's Purple Guard soldiers flooding the room on his heels, weapons raised.

"Stand down!" one of them shouted.

Using the distraction to his advantage, Aiden took his shot and slammed his elbow into Kate's middle, forcing her to stagger backwards.

"Sorry I'm late to the party," said my brother Nathan, entering the room like he owned the place.

About fucking time.

Kate's eyes flickered to him with a smirk. Mine went to Aiden.

"You okay?" he asked a shaking Elena, giving her a once over.

Definitely the wrong place to look.

Fuck if I didn't wish I was my unhinged sister in that moment, ready to put a bullet in any inconvenience.

Just as Elena was throwing herself at Aiden, Kate backtracked and open fired at the guards.

Nathan ducked. Bullets buried themselves in the wall and furniture. By the time I looked back, Kate was fleeing the Purple Guard.

"See you again soon, Nate," Kate called back, her running boots echoing down the hall.

"Always good to see you, Katie," said Nathan, cheerful as ever, jerking his head at the soldiers to go after her.

They did his bidding, no questions asked.

Elena opened her mouth to say something, then promptly shut it again when Nathan tossed her a smirk.

There was a story I wanted no part in.

"FUCK!" I panicked.

Because no one was bringing Katherine Dormer in unless she wanted it that way.

I had her. She was fucking right there and I'd lost her, because I couldn't stop looking at the man across the room.

Unattainable. Never mine again.

Fucking making eyes at the damsel in distress he would soon call his girlfriend.

Or were they already official?

"What the fuck are you doing in my house?" a pissed off Elena rallied, stepping out of Aiden's arms to confront us head on.

She swayed on her feet and blinked hard, like the room had tilted.

I wasn't sure who the strawberry blonde would tear into first: her former fling or me.

I never got to find out. She lost my interest almost as quickly as she grabbed it.

Aiden had one hand on the table. The other was pressed to his stomach. He'd gone pale.

"What's wrong with me?" Aiden muttered, his legs refusing to cooperate as he tried to take a step forward. "What did you—" he began, accusation in his eyes as they found mine again.

"Already? Huh. And here I thought you'd put up more of a fight, Denny," said Nathan, rocking back on his heels. "Nap time," he said snidely.

My stomach dropped. I spun on Nathan and pinned him with a glare.

"What the fuck did you do?" I thundered, holstering my gun and rushing towards Aiden.

"You… drugged me?" Aiden slurred, slowly slumping against my body.

"Technically, yes," Nathan said, shrugging, before he turned to me and added, "What? I'm sick of you wasting time babysitting his ass instead of finding Madz's killer."

Aiden's knees gave out. I lowered him down onto the ground and watched his eyes close silently.

My blood ran cold. How many times had I pictured him dying in my arms in the last six months?

Nathan had no idea how Aiden passing out in my arms was fucking with my head.

"It's okay, Denny," I said, brushing the hair off his forehead, forcing my heart rate to even out. "If he dies—" I spat out at Nathan, watching for the rise and fall of Aiden's chest.

"Right, because that's what I need. You're pathetic enough away from him. How will I or The House of Assassins cope with you grieving his death?" Nathan cut me off with a scoff.

Elena gripped the edge of the table. My eyes searched the room, then fell on two empty wine glasses. Nathan must have spiked the wine.

"You can't do this," she said, eyes fighting to stay open, lips barely moving. "You can't just… Aiden..."

Then she was out cold. Nathan caught her before she hit the ground and laid her down.

"It's simpler this way. Are you really going to leave him here for Katie to kill? How confident are you that you'll get here in time to save him next time?" Nathan came over and whispered into my ear, playing me like a fiddle.

The worst part? Touching Aiden again made me weak. I was vulnerable. Easily manipulated.

So much for walking away again.

"Help me get him up," I said, already sliding my arms under Aiden's shoulders. "We're leaving."

Forgive me, Denny.

What choice do I have? I didn't give you up just to watch you die anyway. I'd do anything to save you.

We walked Aiden out through the kitchen without another word.

Aiden was still out cold when Nathan helped us board the Dormer jet.

Nathan stayed behind in Caspira at my insistence.

Did he like it? No.

Did I give two fucks? Also no.

How the fuck we were going to justify this shit to the royals of Caspira I had no clue, but I wanted boots on the ground.

With Stormhold's recent change in leadership, the last thing we needed right now was to make an enemy out of Caspira.

I sat beside Aiden and checked his pulse. Then checked it again. Even unconscious, he looked pissed at me. I smoothed the crease in his forehead out with my thumb before I could stop myself.

What the fuck was I going to say to him when he woke up?

Sorry I left? Sorry I kidnapped you? Still can't tell you why, but just go with it until I… Until I fucking what?

Madz's unsolved murder was a shitshow. Kate was more unpredictable than ever.

I had nothing. No plan.

The noble seatholders. Upcoming Table's Assembly. My siblings. Stormhold's crown. Everyone was looking to me for answers I couldn't give them.

In and out. Save Aiden. Get Katie. Go unnoticed.

That was the plan for today. Simple. Even that had gone to shit.

So now what, Killshot?

I can't fucking breathe, Denny.

At least I couldn't, until I saw you again.

A faint groan left him.

I leaned in, an eerie calm washing over me as I took him in up close.

"Easy," I said softly, as he began to stir.

AIDEN

"It's okay, Denny," she said, reaching out to touch me. "It's just me."

I felt her hand on my shoulder as I looked into her dark, sympathetic eyes.

Yup, those were definitely real. Definitely her eyes. Not even my memory could put her together this perfectly.

I looked for my mother's engagement ring anyway, just to be sure.

It still hung from her neck. I would have been lying if I said that didn't move me.

The denial lingered while my brain woke up.

She left. Walked away. One more time like it was nothing.

For six months, I wished, I hoped… but she never came back.

"This isn't real. You're not here. You can't be. It's just another dream," I rasped, squinting up at her.

"Don't try to sit up yet," she said, sliding her hand onto my chest, leaving goosebumps in her wake.

"You're not Kate, are you? No. She'd never let Kate have that ring," I said, trying to make my peace with what I was seeing, my eyes flickering back and forth between her face and the ring.

Swallowing a yawn, I took in my surroundings. Stared at her blankly. Gradually, I let reality set in. Not a dream. Vivid. Real. I was on a plane I didn't board myself.

With my ex.

Dread. Joy. Surrealism.

The emotions knocking around in my brain had me sitting upright as I contemplated next steps, watching her fist close possessively around that fucking ring.

Anger seeped in slowly, my eyes lingering on the movement.

"Of course I would never let Kate or anyone touch my ring. Aiden, you have to know…" she tried, then trailed off again, frustrated, biting her tongue again.

More fucking secrets. Just great.

Her ring? You know what? Fuck that.

Don't you dare let her confuse you.

She left. It was over. Done. We were finished.

"You can't kidnap a prince of Caspira," I told her the obvious, because fuck, I was at war with my own mind, fighting not to say dumb shit. "Do you even understand the implications of what you've done, Keira?"

My voice cracked on her name. Tender and raw, and I hated myself for it.

"Marry me," she blurted out, a second too late to hold herself back. "It's not kidnapping if you marry me."