In This Life And The Next

Dinner was a subdued affair, even the children were quiet and soft. When Laura rose her chair and left the room, all at the dais followed, with the knights just behind. They made a loose line in front of Laura’s chamber and Ben closed the door behind them. It took a moment for Aurora to realize Lady Jessica stood at Liam’s side. She gave her a small smile and Aurora returned it.

“Roman’s incursions into our lands will not go unpunished, nor will his theft of people and the arson of the border villages.” Laura said, without prompt. “He seeks the crown for his own.” She looked up at Alec. “He was content to stay beyond our lands because Alec had no use of the crown himself. But now that word of the warrior prince is ready to take the crown, his grow by the day.”

“A week from today, we will ride out.” Alec said and directed everyone to the table Laura and Aurora sat at, so long ago. “I will take Liam with me.” He let out a sigh before he raised his eyes to Caspian. “I wish for you to stay, brother.”

Caspian looked torn. To be left behind was a near insult for one trained as Caspian was.

“I wish to join you on the battlefield.” Caspian murmured. “I am older than you were during your first battle.”

“That father forced me to go to.” Alec began, softly. “I wish for you to never see the field. And if something were to happen- to both Liam and I- a male heir is less challenged.” Alec whispered.

Caspian looked away. “But I can fight.”

“I need someone here to protect mother and Hazel-”

“Aurora can.” Caspian huffed.

Liam pursed his lips and looked down. Hazel looked at the fire in the corner of the room. Caspian looked like he regretted his words.

“What do you mean?” Alec asked the room at large. Laura surveyed the room as well, looking from face to face. She seemed the be the only other one who was so far unaware of Aurora’s lessons. “Aurora?” Alec asked, turning his gaze to her.

“I asked Liam to train me. I found George to be a better teacher.” Aurora replied, head bowed.

“Why?” Alec asked, looking around. “Were you worried I would not be able to?”

“No, nothing like that.” Aurora assured, shaking her head. “Only for when an instance like this would occur. You would not be there and as the king’s consort, even I see my own worth as a hostage or-” Aurora cleared her throat, “Or as something worse.”

“No one can breach the castle. You are under watch.” Alec spluttered.

“What happens when you are called away?” She pressed. “Would you leave me without a way to defend myself?”

Alec shook his head. “So George taught you to fight with a sword?” He asked. “You told me once that you do not like the feel for them.”

“No.” Aurora said. “I am unable to hold a sword.”

Alec blinked and looked to Liam and then to Caspian. He turned to his mom and back to Aurora. “I don’t understand.”

“George gave her blades and she is near deadly. She’s brilliant, Alec. Every single soldier underestimates her and she has taken them all on.” Liam said gently.

Alec rubbed his forehead. “Why didn’t you ask me?”

“Because you aren’t the teacher I need.” Aurora murmured. “You would have been too gentle with me.”

“George is not.” Laura agreed.

Alec let out a long sigh and scrubbed at his face. “Mother, what are your thoughts?” He asked, seemingly putting the subject of Aurora’s lessons out of his mind for the present time.

Laura looked down at the map and picked up a cube and another, placed them on the borders south of them. “These are where we know their majority of their forces.” She said. “Three separate places. One division flanked by two brigades. If I were in his position, I would understand that the crown has to keep at least one son back. Clearly not Alec since he is the General. Liam is his right hand man, second only to Alec in experience. Caspian would stay back. But if Caspian goes, it causes chaos. No one would put all three male heirs in harm’s way. It leaves the throne too vulnerable, especially with an unwed Princess in the castle.” Laura huffed and tapped the areas between the three cubes. “Cut off their communications and slow their march to the city central. Each unit has a brigade of men. About four thousand. Roman has two brigades and one division of about twelve thousand.” She paused, her long fingers spread out on the map. “Each son takes a division of men. We could overwhelm them with the sheer number that you command.”

“You are using yourself as bait.” Jessica whispered.

“You are tempting them in close by sending all three sons out, knowing that the castle houses a princess, a queen, and the king’s betrothed.” Aurora added, following her line of thought.

Laura pressed her lips together but didn’t deny it. “It will make them reckless. That we are so unprepared.”

“I cannot leave you like this.” Alec said, stricken.

“Nor shall you.” Laura reassured and sat down with a sigh. “You will leave your best here. A squad of men that can stay out of sight. No more than twelve men. The castle should look like it’s populated by no one who can defend themselves.”

“Women, children, teachers, soldiers too old to fight.” Caspian began. “The thought is too much. He would try to march on the castle.”

“No.” Liam murmured. “No, he would send in a small group, probably his own best. He favors assassins and kidnappers.”

“Destroy his supply line, his communications, and the war is yours.” Laura said.

“Mother-” Alec started.

“You know I am right.”

“I will not.” Alec whispered.

“You will.” Laura replied calmly.

“I will force your abdication and this will not happen.” Alec growled through clenched teeth.

“The crown has always been yours.” Laura replied. “All you have to do is ask for it.”

“I cannot.” Alec hissed. “It is too much, what you ask of me.”

“And to leave us here while you go off to fight yet another war? That is not too much to ask of us?” Laura demanded, rising from her seat. “I have seen my oldest off to war more times than I can count, who has come back scarred and beaten and quiet and angry but never once have I said to seek another way.”

“I never wanted those wars!” Alec bellowed. Everyone took a step back but Laura. She stood straighter, her eyes flashing.

“Nor have I.” She murmured. “Nor do I want this one but I ask this of you because it is the surest way to grant your safety! Yours and your brothers! Those men out there that follow you onto that killing field and come back just as torn as you do, those men that I have seen raised from boys!” She screamed. “You will do as I say because I am your Queen!”

Alec turned and threw the door open, pushed past the line of men there and left everyone speechless.

“I will go.” Aurora whispered after a silent moment.

She found Alec in their room, pacing. When Aurora leaned against the door to close it, Alec looked up at her.

“She asks too much.” Alec hissed.

Aurora didn’t reply.

“Do you think she’s right?” Alec asked, coming to a halt in front of their bed.

“Will it keep you safe?” Alec shot her a look. “Well, as much as you can be, considering.” Aurora amended.

“Yes.” Alec muttered.

“Then you must do it.” Aurora replied easily. She walked over to Alec and put her hands on Alec’s wrists, slid them down, and rested her fingers against Alec’s. “Even if you don’t think you can bear it, you must.”

“Aurora, you are my life.”

“And I would give my soul for this not to be your task.” Aurora chuckled and was alarmed when she felt a lump in her throat. “Why couldn’t you have been a poor farmer?”

“Cows and chickens alike hate me. We would have starved to death.” Alec murmured. He kissed Aurora. “I only march to this war to ensure your life. No one else’s.”

Aurora had no promise to offer him, only her body and her words. She slowly undressed Alec until they were both naked and Alec lay stretched out on the bed like a wicked offering to a god of debauchery. Aurora leaned over him, kissed his scars, his unmarked skin, worked her way down until she could take Alec in her mouth, worshiped him with her tongue and her hand.

“Aurora.” Alec whispered and tugged at Aurora until she let Alec’s cock slide from her mouth.

“I was thoroughly enjoying myself.” Aurora huffed.

“I want you. I want to feel you.” Alec murmured.

Aurora nodded, ridding herself of her clothes as Alec watched. Before flipping her over onto her back.

Alec began to catalogue all the ways Aurora could fall apart in his hands. In short order, she was clinging to him, pulling at him.

“Please, now.” Aurora murmured, her eyes wild. Alec nodded and lined himself up with Aurora’s entrance. He pushed in, and held still for a moment before pushing in further. Aurora reached up for him and kissed him messily, looking for every single point of contact.

Alec could not describe what he was feeling. It was what heaven must have been like. It was what his dreams were made of and Aurora only begged for him.

Aurora flipped them over surprising Alec, she climbed on top of him and sank down, and set a punishing pace, searching Alec’s face like she was looking for the answer to her life.

“You, this, us, is all I have ever needed.” Alec whispered.

“Alec.” Aurora hissed, pushed down onto the welcome heat of him and Alec tried to pull herself back from the edge.

“No, give it to me.” She whispered. “Give me what is mine.” Aurora demanded, mouth open in a silent moan as she reached her peak.

An echo of their first night and Alec did not argue. He belonged to Aurora in every single manner, in every single way one person could belong to another.

Alec grasped Aurora’s hips, pulled her down and pushed up with his hips. Aurora stilled when she felt Alec spill inside of her. She waited until Alec slipped out of her before laying down next to him, her head falling on Alec chest . “I love you.” She murmured.

“I love you too.” Alec whispered.

Sleep claimed them easily