Zion

“Are you okay?” Zion asks as I enter the bedroom, my gaze meeting his as he stands up from the bed. “You’ve been gone for about three hours.”

Was it really that long?

I remember getting the news and just sliding down the wall, just looking out upon the white walls as I think the next however months through.

“Sybil?”

“I’m good,” I practically blurt out, watching as Zion places his suit jacket upon the bed and approaches me.

He nods, his hands upon my shoulders as he moves to my arms. “You seem off.” Resting his forehead against mine, I take in a deep breath. “Was Penelope weird today?” I shake my head ‘no.’

“When do we meet with Lord Kane for dinner?” I question, pulling back from his touch as I slip off my heels.

Zion shrugs, pulling me into a warming embrace, resting his chin upon my head as I think of the child. The child I am carrying. How far along am I? I don’t have a bump at all yet. Penelope estimates at least four months along.

“In an hour Lord Kane will be here.”

Zion pulls away, meeting my gaze, his face lowering towards mine.

His lips press against mine with a soft touch, his fingers gently brushing my cheeks. My arms wrap around his neck as I hoist myself up onto my toes.

How will I tell him? Will I tell him before he leaves tomorrow? If I don’t it will eat me up alive. If I do, how would Zion respond. I have no doubt in my mind that Zion wouldn’t be happy. Zion would be happy, he should be, and I bet he will be beyond happy.

He needs to know.

“Zio-

His lips press firmer against mine, more passionate as he leads me back, falling back into the bed as I follow along. “Please tell me you are happy to be back in the palace,” Zion whispers, his lips grazing his mark as I arch my back.

“I am.”

Zion pulls away, a lopsided smile upon his face as I reflect the emotion. “I’m sorry I’m leaving tomorrow. I swear, Sybil, when this whole war is done, I swear I’ll always be by your side when you wake up and fall asleep.” My heart pounds within my chest at his words. “Just promise me you will be here when I return.”

His lips meet mine as I’m lost in words, both sadness and happiness in the mix. Tangled within the sheets I find my muse, Zion’s body encompassing mine as times flies bye.

“I love you,” I whisper, finding myself breathless as Zion lays beside me, his fingers weaving through my hair. “It has taken me so long to see that.” Tears begin to bring my eyes as I think of the secret that I hold.

I have to tell him.

But when?

Before he leaves or when he gets back?

Zion shifts into his side, looking out upon my face as he takes in my appearance. “The second I spotted you I was damned to hell, Sybil Monquieff, damned to suffer the eternal flames because the second I saw you, I knew I would do anything to have you by my side.”

A brief smile crosses across my lips before Zion can end it with a soft kiss.

“We’d better get ready,” he informs, putting an end to the time we have left in isolation.

In a matter of thirty minutes I’m taking a towel, drying my hair as I watch Zion in the closet, grabbing a navy suit. “Zion, are you sure the war should be over before Christmas?” I ask, grabbing a hair blowdryer as he turns to face me.

“That’s the estimation.”

Nodding, I decide to end the conversation there as I finish getting ready. By the time I’m dressed and my hair is pinned back, Zion holds out his hand for me to take.

And I take it, walking out with him as Lord Kane should be showing up soon for the meal.

One of the first things I find different is not the maids in massive numbers cleaning the palace nor the new wooden flooring in one of the study rooms, but a new feature to the palace: an increase in the number of guards here.

“Zion, why the increase?” I ask, motioning him to look at the extra guards. There has to be at least three times the usual number. “Are you-

“I want to take all precautions necessary to ensure your safety.” Rolling my eyes, I stop in my tracks, turning around to face the King as his eyes display defense. He’s expecting someone to attack. How he stands all tense, his hands moving quite frequently, his eyes scanning every corner of the palace. “Trust me, Sybil, Nixon is not a force to be simply overlooked.” I nod.

“But is the extra guard necessary?”

I already know his answer as Zion cocks his head to the side. “I love you. I would kill for you. Do anything for you. Die for you. Sybil, do not simply disregard the fact that you are the woman I love with every bit of this heart, body, and soul, and that I’ll do everything I can to ensure your safety.”

My heart flutters, skipping a beat at the very gentle words he says. Sure, him saying he would kill for me sounds a bit too harsh, but just the sheer love he has for me makes me wonder how I ever got a man like him.

Taking my hand, Zion leads me down the hall, through different hallways and grand rooms that I explored for hours after Zion would leave for war.

“Do you think Nixon will try to get back in? To get to you?”

“Nixon is not one to give up,” Zion replies, vaulting our steps as we stand before the tall, double doors to the dinning room. “I have no doubt he will come for me one day, but until then, I will prepare to face him and let justice take its role in finding him guilty...he killed his own mate, Sybil....” Zion’s voice becomes a whisper. “Only the true monsters would kill someone whom they love.”

Zion’s angry. I can sense it. He’s completely angered by the fact that Nixon killed Lillian, that he thought if he could not have her, not even the world could. The world was not enough.

The doors open and we step in, watching as Lord Kane rises to his feet, his pale eyes meeting mine as a smirk appears across his lips. No doubt he’s thinking of the first time we met. When I acted my age.

“King Zion. Queen Sybil. I am glad to see you have arrived back safely.”

We take our seats, Zion welcoming Lord Kane as I look around to see no guards here. Usually guards are by the door, making sure we are protected.

As Zion sits down beside me, Lord Kane takes from the seat beside him a small file.

“You called for a meeting. I am here to listen,” Zion states, watching Lord Kane just as I do, watching as Kane opens up the file.

There’s a picture. A blond with icy blue eyes.

“What does Lillian have to do with this meeting?”

Lillian. His mate. His true mate that the Moon Goddess paired him with. The mate that left him in the end, who went for Nixon. The mate who had an affair with Zion, and then, was murdered by another mate.

“My King, I came across something that spiked my interest. I am not here to accuse or to put words into anyone’s mouth. I am here for a simple story.”

“A story of what?” Zion asks, aggravated as Lord Kane is asking him about personal information.

“It is tradition that every part of a King’s history be written down within the marble tablets.”

I know what Lord Kane is talking about.

Tradition calls that one Lord, after a new King takes the throne, is sent to ask and listen to the sorry of the King, writing it down. As the years pass, the story will lengthen, and then, once the King is dead, his history will be placed among a famous cave within the Werewolf realm where past histories are written into marble.

“I would like to know the story of Lillian.”

“The story of Lillian Rice is nothing t-

“He’s asking for a brief story. No details,” I interrupt Zion, trying to get him to calm down. He needs to remain calm.

Zion cocks his head to the side, looking at me as he opens his mouth to speak.

“She was one hell of a woman, that’s for sure.”