Sins Among Royals

“Do you know what I think?” Poppy questioned Indie with a tone to her voice as the pair lay in bed staring out at the landscape around the lake

Some strength had seeped back into Indie but she still felt weak.

“What do you think Poppy?” She smiled a small, knowing smile. Her best friend had been making g pot shots about Noah the whole time he’d been gone. At first Indie found it amusing and had a giggle at his expense but now things were getting strange.

“Seduce him but right before you’re about to do it cut his schlong off so he can’t reproduce and make more crazy Blackwoods.” She laughed at the thought, “I mean come on! His family is loopy to say the least.”

“Poppy,” Indie groaned as she pushed herself up to a sitting position. “I’m only saying this because I love you,” she smiled as she placed both hands on Poppy’s shoulders, “no one in this world is as crazy as you are. You would give that whole family a run for their money.” Indie had seen many sides to Poppy through the years they’d known each other and for Poppy calling her crazy was sometimes a nice way to describe her.

“Yeah well they better know that because if he does anything else to hurt you I will skin him alive. I hope you know that.” The crazy maniacal look on Poppy’s face left no doubt in Indies mind that she would do it.

“Alright,” Indie smiled gently, “Let’s put the crazy Poppy back in the box okay?”

The girls locked eyes and Indie was more than relieved to see the friendly smile return to her friends face. “Sorry,” Poppy mumbled apologetically. “He just really burns me up you know? I mean the nerve of the guy! If I’d have been here I would have made him suffer, or drowned him.” Poppy looked at Indie and saw a knowing look pressed against her friends face, “Yeah ok I’m sorry I’ll stop but Indie,” she smiled sweetly at her best friend, “you deserve so much better.”

The girls has often talked about qualities they’d want in their mates, they daydreamed about how they would find them and what they would say and Indie knew that as soon as Noah came into her life she would never have the mate she envisioned. Her dreams would never come true.

“Well,” Indie started as a frown crossed her features, “I think I can say for certain that nothing worth having comes easy and Noah is a perfect example.” She sighed heavily, “He is rude, arrogant, hasty and doesn’t think about how what he does affects others.” if he were not her mate Indie would have run a long time ago. “I’ve seen a few sides to him in the time I’ve been with him and he can go from caring to spiteful in the blink of an eye,” though she had seen glimpses of a passive Noah she hoped it would surface more as they got to know each other. “despite his faults I think he would be a great mate. He just needs to get over Medea.” The name alone annoyed Indie. She had been reminded by Noah that no matter what she wasn’t as good as Medea was. Or so it felt.

“Is that the other one?” Poppy asked quickly as she sat at attention looking at Indie.

“Yeah,” Sighed Indie quickly. She felt a lump form in her throat at the thought of it. She wanted Noah to notice her for who she was but in light of what had happened a part of her realised see could be waiting some time for that to happen.

“Indie look at me,” Poppy demanded as she moved to sit in front of her best friend. “You may not be the prettiest girl in any pack and the way you dress sucks but you are the most caring, loyal person I have ever met!” Indie had heard it before. It was the default pep talk Poppy used whenever she tried to cheer Indie up. “One day Noah is going to need that care and that loyalty and as much as I want you to kick him in the balls, flick him the middle finger and walk out the door I know you won’t.”

“Is there a point to your pep talk?” Indie questioned her as Poppy again broke out in a thousand watt smile.

“Will you shut up! I’m getting to it.” giggled Poppy as she poked Indies shoulder playfully. “Point is that one day he’s going to look at you and she only you. He’s gonna forget all the troubles he has and see that standing before him is the most beautiful and wonderful person he knows.” The words Poppy spoke caused an unknown feeling to course through Indie, she didn’t know what it was but it made her skin prickle in anticipation. “And when that day comes and he takes you to his bed, lays you down and...”

Indie interrupted Poppy’s train of thought by waving her hands, “Okay stop there. That’s enough.”

Poppy kept going as Indie placed the palm of her hand over her friends mouth but she felt Poppy’s lips moving before she broke out laughing, “I was going to say that he’ll lay you down and make you all these promises about giving you the world and junk.” Crossing her arms over her chest Poppy looked at Indie with a curious smile, “so your mind is already in the gutter is it?”

Indie threw herself back against the bed and sighed heavily, “it’s been in the gutter since I met him.” With everything going on Indie worried that she would die a virgin.

“Well maybe after all the crazy stuff settles down he’ll be more receptive to your feminine charms?” There was only so much Poppy could say to make her friend feel better but she knew with that statement Indie was losing hope and in a sense so too was Poppy.

The girls lay back on the bed unaware that the security standing outside their door heard every word and felt strongly for Indie. They too had seen the decline in Noah’s behaviour since Medea and he had become more temperamental and unhinged because of it. Many of them knew that should they say anything it would mean losing their jobs, or their heads.

By the time Noah returned with Leo and his nephews the girls were sleeping soundly.

Both Leo and Eliora snuck into the room and woke the girls gently.

“Poppy could you lend us a hand?” Leo whispered as his mate opened her eyes slowly, blinked a few times and stretched.

“What?” She groaned annoyed at being woken up, “I was just having a dream about this really hot guy,” she opened her eyes and saw the angry look on Leo’s face, “Well what do you know,” she grinned a mischievous grin, “dreams do come true.” The look on Leo’s face lightened as he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“That is the cheesiest line I have ever heard Poppy,” laughed Indie as she too woke from her slumber upon hearing Poppy and Leo’s exchange.

“Sorry Indie I wasn’t meant to wake you,” Leo looked down at her apologetically, “Noah wants you to sleep.” He smiled warmly at her as Poppy hopped out of bed enthusiastically.

“I’m awake now,” Indie growled, “I may as well get up and do something.” Pulling the covers back and threw her legs over the side of the bed. She felt a chill run through her as she recoiled slightly but forced herself up to a standing position. Feeling a little faint she put her hand to her head as the room spun slightly. Both Poppy and Leo hurried to help her when Indie stopped them, “I’m fine!” She growled stubbornly. “No need to baby me guys I’m fine.”

“Come and have some soup then Indie,” Eliora motioned as she took Indies hand and lead her gently from the room.

Indie didn’t know what to expect from Noah as the small group headed towards the kitchen. When finally Indie lay eyes on him it broke her heart. He sat on the sofa with his nephews, Timothy cried as his uncle comforted him. She heard Noah reassuring him that they would find their mother, that they would find her safe and well. Indie sensed some uncertainty and it made her worry.

“Sit sweetie and I’ll get you some soup,” as soon as Indie sat at the table she felt small hands tugging at her shirt.

Indie looked down and saw Heidi holding her arms up, “I can have some?” She asked as Indie scooped her up easily.

“Oh Heidi you little piggy!” Eliora laughed as she placed a large bowl of soup in front of the pair. “You wait little lady and I’ll get you your own.” Eliora disappeared again.

“Aunty Indie we go to the lake tomorrow?” She asked quietly as she dug into the bowl of soup Eliora placed in front of her.

“Heidi I thought I said no?” Eliora sighed. The little girl was a handful at the best of times. “Aunt Indie isn’t feeling well sweetheart. You have to leave her to rest.”

Heidi pouted heavily, “but Nanna I want to swim!”

Indie laughed, “Trust me Heidi you do not want to go swimming. It is very cold and you might catch a cold.”

Feeling a burning sensation Indie turned her head and saw Noah looking at her. The look on his face showed his displeasure at what she said. All Indie could do was shrug and smile sweetly at him.

Part of her wanted to annoy him any chance she got but when she saw Timothy turn and look at her as well she noticed the tired, weary look on his face when she realised the boys must have been through a lot. She found herself wondering where Ebony was but she also knew that now wasn’t the time to ask questions if Timothy looked as fragile as he did.