Eternal Kingdom
Chapter Fifteen

**Rory's POV**

Within an hour I was on a private jet headed straight to Michigan.

This wasn't going to be an easy mission.

I had to somehow persuade the Moon Goddess, who I was sure was already aware of my treachery, that I come in peace. Distract her enough for my backup to attack. That was my goal.

As soon as we landed I was given a Black Ferrari with a GPS already programmed to bring me to her house. I didn't even know if she'd be there. I could be wasting my time.

I glanced in my rearview mirror as I followed the winding roads along the great lake, making sure my men weren't within eyesight.

They were all equipped with special pendants that were meant to shield them from Luna's mind reading abilities. I didn't know how well they would work, since they basically radiated dark magic, but we had no other options. If I could restrain her first...

I glanced down at my phone for the hundredth time since landing back in the states. I texted Aria to let her know I was here, though she hadn't responded. Not that it meant much, considering I was pretty sure her pet dog had blocked my number. I considered getting a new one to contact her on, but my flight left me little time to do anything except pack and drive to the airport.

My tires hitting the rumbles pulled me out of my daze and I gripped the steering wheel with both hands, diverting my attention back to the task at hand.

Once I finished this mission I could see my beautiful girl again. Damn, I missed her.

I pulled up to the glass cube that looked more like a modern art museum than a home. I needed to focus on only showing my sorrow regarding my bride. I couldn't think about the mission or my men at all.

I could do this.

I saw a light flick on inside as soon as I stepped out of the car, telling me she was home. I breathed a sigh of relief before climbing the sleek concrete steps to the front door.

I could see my breath. It was much colder here than in London and my coat was barely holding back the biting wind. The sun had already begun to rise over the lake and I took a moment to admire the stunning beauty of nature surrounding the hyper-engineered building before me.

Before I got the chance to knock, the door creaked open.

Luna's black eyes were just as unsettling as her fathers, making me flinch in discomfort.

At least she was pretty otherwise. She reminded me of Aria in some ways, particularly her petit frame and tan skin.

"Rory." She said curtly, glancing behind me and focusing, likely trying to determine if I came alone. I knew her ability only went as far as a mile in any general direction, which made it far less impressive in the wide expanse of nothing surrounding her home.

"Moon Goddess. I need to speak with you." I said sadly, allowing my emotions regarding Aria to flow freely from my mind. Her face softened at my dejected expression and she nodded, opening the door the rest of the way for me to enter. Despite the nipping weather outside she was wearing black skintight shorts that barely covered her ass and a white crop tank top that hardly covered her breasts. I eyed her exposed skin with detached lust. I was still a man, susceptible to the feminine charms of a beautiful woman. At least my eyes were. I would never actually touch her.

She cleared her throat and I remembered that she could hear every bit of perversion flitting through my head. Fuck.

I shook my head of the thoughts, following her into the open layout of the primary sitting room. It was glamorous, much like the ARIA, but more modern with control panels littering the walls.

"You have a beautiful home." I said honestly, admiring the all glass wall displaying the sun rising over the lake. She sat herself casually on the gray sofa, crossing her legs and picking up a cup of tea from the coffee table.

I guess she liked tea.

"Why are you here, Rory? Surely not to appreciate the view?" I turned to her, crossing to sit a respectable distance beside her.

"I guess Aria told you." I said solemnly, not expecting the sting of her answer.

"Actually, no. My brother did. He sat with her every day for a week after you left." My eyes flashed a quick red, but I willed myself to behave.

"So I guess she really doesn't need me." I mumbled, collapsing my face into my hands.

"Rory, it's your own fault you left. What were you thinking? What did my dad promise you, because you should know that he's a damn liar." She growled, shifting in her seat and making her shorts ride up even more. Damn it, woman. "Sorry." She groaned, pulling them down again.

"I know the truth, Luna. I saw James' drawing of the eternal kingdom, and I know it can only be one of us."

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Silence followed and I knew she was trying to read my thoughts on my confession. I didn't have to mask them, though. I didn't care if she saw my fear. It almost felt good to have someone else privy to my insanity. That information killed me. When I raised my head I saw her eyes focused on me, silent tears flowing down to her lips.

"I'm sorry, Rory." Was all she said, and it pissed me off. Sorry? What the hell did that mean? "I mean, I'm sorry that you saw that. But you should know that not even we know who she was standing beside in that vision. I wish I could give you some reassurance, but-" Suddenly her eyes grew wide and I immediately knew she felt a shift in energy.

"Fuck." I spat out, lunging for her, but she was too fast. She dodged me, flipping herself back over the couch and sprinting to the back door. I managed to just catch her by her waist length hair, yanking her back towards me and lifting her from the ground.

Her claws extended into my arms and she let out a howl so loud that it shattered the plethora of windows encasing her home.

My ears were ringing and I fought to focus. She managed to slip out of my grasp just long enough to shift into her massive wolf, but by the time she tried to escape through the same path, it was blocked by my familiar comrade. She took several slow steps backwards across the glass and I could smell the blood she tracked across the tile.

I grappled her from behind, planting my fangs against her smooth skin as she reverted back to her human form in surrender.

"Quick, before she calls her brother!" He shouted and two more vampires appeared from the shadows, chaining her in silver cuffs and a silver beaded necklace laced with dark magic runes that would hopefully cut her ability to communicate with her pesky twin.

"How could you? We gave you a seal!" She asked, her pained voice pleading for answers.

Cory stepped forward, his dark eyes just as creepy as hers. I turned away as he leaned down to press his lips on hers. She struggled against me as he forced himself on her, but I held her still as commanded.

"You had nothing better to offer than a shitty marking, Princess. But don't worry, you can make it up to me when we get back to London." He whispered suggestively against her neck, running his hands down her naked body. Sick fucker.

"Heal her, then take her to the van. We have to get out of here." He instructed, exiting the house swiftly.

I lifted the Princess into my arms, walking her slowly to the van so she wouldn't get too nauseous with my haste.

As soon as I set her down I reached for her bleeding feet, but she pulled away from me.

"Are you happy now, Rory? Is this what he promised would happen if you chose him?" She spat her venomous words from her tongue with disdain, but I pretended not to hear her, clasping her ankles firmly in my hands.

I ran my tongue up the soles and she tensed. I knew she didn't want my help, but she was getting it. If we brought back an injured Princess, the King would have our asses. He made it very clear in our briefing that the goddess was to be returned unscathed.

Once I finished with her feet I moved to her bound hands, flipping them palm up. She curled her fingers in, flipping me the bird with both hands.

"Stop being so damn difficult." I scolded, hissing at her.

"No, I don't think I will." She snapped, before continuing with a hint of amusement in her sing-song voice. "It's a shame my brother chose such a shitty royal for our Queen. Oh well, I know he'll take real good care of her. He's already been doing a great job of that. In fact, I believe she confessed her love for him just the other day."

My red eyes darted up to her grinning face.

"You're lying." I gritted, flashing her my fangs, but she didn't even flinch.

"Ask her yourself." She smirked.

No, Aria promised that she didn't have feelings for Lysander. She promised.

Her voice got menacingly low as she eyed me from beneath her lids and added, "Of course, it could've just been because he was giving her one hell of an orgasm at the time."

"Bitch!" I screeched, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her out of the vehicle, high above my head. She couldn't breathe, but she never stopped glaring at me with that look of pure hatred in her eyes.

"Rory, you're going to kill her. Put her the fuck down and go visit your bride, already." Cory growled. Luna's eyes widened at the mention of the word 'bride', giving me back my confidence.

"You're right. Don't worry, Luna. Aria will be joining me in London, soon. Maybe she'll come visit you in your cell." With that, I tossed her into the backseat, slamming the door behind her. She was lying. She was trying to get a rise out of me.

Aria would never betray me like that.