In This Life And The Next
Chapter Two

“You could’ve brought her home, mother wouldn’t of minded,” Hazel commented, she looked everything like the fierce princess she is. The candlelight looking like a golden halo, his little sister has grown up dangerously beautiful, but also dangerous.

Alec smiled into his cup, but he didn’t meet her eyes when she continued to stare at him from across the table. Caspian was already asleep, his head resting on his arms, Liam sat quietly next to him, cutting neatly into the veal in front of him.

“Hmm,” Alec sighed, taking a sip from his cup, the wine was one of his favourites. “Big brother, I seen the way you were looking at her. And you took your gloves off to touch her, you never take them off. Not outside the castle anyway,” Hazel stated, sighing. “She had beautiful eyes, the color of the ocean in summer.”

“You’re such a romantic,” Alec teased, “I can put a call out for a suitor for you. If you’d like?”

Hazel pouted, “You’re standers are too high.”

“I wasn’t the one who sent them.” Alec pointed out, tipping his cup in Hazel’s direction.

“I would lower them, then they wouldn’t have to beat all three of my brothers in battle...” Hazel sighed.

“How about, if they could actually keep up with them?” Alec chuckled, “That might be more realistic”

“Why didn’t you bring her back?” Liam pipped up, sitting back and grabbing his own cup. He was the only one who could look Alec in the eye, besides their mother with any kind of ease.

Alec shrugged, “We’re going hunting tomorrow.”

“That’s never stopped you before.” Liam pointed out, smirking.

Alec sighed, “She’s not the type you’d leave in bed alone in the morning.”

“She was skittish as a beaten, drowned cat. You didn’t think she would’ve come back with you. Didn’t you?” Liam questioned.

“Yes, she resembled a drowned cat. That much is true.” Alec replied, “But-” He shook his head, “She has an iron will that one. She argued to make sure Haz didn’t get into trouble.”

Alec arched his brow at Liam, “God knows what a woman like that is in bed.”

Liam laughed shaking his head. “I’m sure you’d like to replace out.”

“I have her name, Liam. I will replace out, sooner, rather than later,” Alec promised. “But tomorrow’s hunt will be a long one, we might be busy for some time. And I would like to spend more than just one night with this one.”

“At some point, sweetheart. You’ll have to settle down with someone,” Laura spoke up from her spot near the door. She was in her sleeping gown, her long hair cascading down her back, the light falling just as lovingly on her as it did Hazel.

She signaled for someone to come in and Chloe strode in, two guards following behind her. She woke Caspian as the two guards guided him out, after he mumbled a sleepy goodnight to everyone.

Laura sat on the bench next to Hazel, who wrapped her arms around her mothers waist, leaning into her neck.

“I would like to say, in my own defense. That the castle no longer has a revolving door.” Alec quipped.

“Be that as it may. The kingdom is growing more and more restless,” Her voice grew high and mocking, she put her hand to her throat and with the other fanned her face. “When will Prince Alexander take a wife? How will we ever be stable with just a woman on the throne?”

Liam snorted into his cup.

“I hate to break this to you mother. But you are the stable one.” Alec grinned, “You may have the throne for as long as you want it mom.”

“As fun as that sounds. No thank you darling.” She said, her fingers working through Hazel’s hair, undoing the braids and curls that held her golden crown in place. Laura pulled it off, placing it next to Hazel’s cup.

Hazel’s eyes closed as Laura worked her fingers gently through her heavy hair, massaging her head. He could hear Chloe’s astonished gasp at the fact the crown was being treated like common jewelry. “I’d like you to bring this young woman to the castle so that Chloe and I might meet her. Especially if it’s someone you’d like to spend time with.”

Alec nodded, “Her father was lost in the last battle against David,” He murmured. “She’s scarred, skittish and very untouched mother.”

Liam regarded his brother, Alec eyes looked much darker than normal. “Someone like that isn’t the kind of person you’d leave at all.”

“Liam and I could go visit her, at her home?” Laura suggested, pausing. “Ben can come as well.”

“Can I go?” Hazel asked.

“And Haz.” Laura added, smiling softy at her daughter.

“In that case,” Alec said with a sigh, “You’d need to take Victor. And Sam too.” He could ask them no to, could ask them to wait until he had his own time with Aurora His word is as good as law. Even though he hasn’t officially ascended the throne. Yet.

“You may go,” He said, with a wave of his cup. “But be kind to her, and those in her home.”

Liam scoffed, “Are you sure we should be?”

Hazel opened one brown eye to peer at her brothers.

Alec thought for a moment. “Use your own judgment. I trust you.”

“How long will you be gone?” Laura asked, gazing at her eldest sons.

“A week, at the most,” Alec replied, smiling reassuringly at his mom.

Laura nodded thoughtfully, “I’ll have a new dress made for Haz, a new cloak for Liam. And tell Ben, Victor and Sam to shine their amour.”

Alec groaned, rolling his eyes. “It’s a visit mother. Not a proposal.”

Laura smiled knowingly at Alec, “We’re going to bed, don’t stay up too late boy’s. You have an early start in the morning.”

“Goodnight mother,” Liam said, standing up and giving them both a kiss goodnight.

They were silent, Alec staring at the fire, Liam looking down at his glass.

“You’re Highness?” Blake came in through the door, Alec looked up from the fire to look at him. “They’re asleep.”

“Thank you,” Alec said.

“Your horses are at the front gate,” Blake said, before leaving.

Alec quickly drained his cup, looking at Liam he said. “Are you ready?”

“As ever,” Liam replied as they stood.

Blake met them at the stables, they shed every piece of clothing that made them look like the princes they were and both mounted their horses, Blake leading them out. But stopped.

Laura stood there, looking impatient if a little bit angry.

“Mom,” Alec murmured.

Laura sighed, “Your bow.” She said, reaching up to hand him his bow and arrows, the most faithful weapon Alec had.

“And your knife.” She said to Liam who had the decency to look sheepish.

“Be careful,” She whispered.

“We will.” Alec promised as Blake continued to lead them away.

“Boys?” Laura called out, they both turned to look over their shoulders, Laura marveled at how much they looked alike, at how well they worked together and how she knew Liam would always be there for Alec as Alec would always be here for Liam.

“Kill every single one of them.” She told them.

Their grins were a mirror image of each other as Blake escorted her back inside.

Alec and Liam headed to an orphanage where a young girl had just came from. The girl, Liza had reported that the couple who ran the orphanage were cruel and Hazel had testified to the fact and the scars on Liza’s back were reason enough for her brothers to go hunting, to defend those that couldn’t defend themselves.