Chapter 203

Jackson stares down at the tiny woman who is…god, she could be his mate’s identical twin, couldn’t she? Except, a little older…

“Rafe Henry Sinclair,” the woman hisses, moving closer to the Prince, glaring daggers into his face. “What the fuck are you two playing at!?”

“I’ll explain everything, mom,” Rafe growls softly through his teeth, turning away with Ari in his arms. “But right now, you need to heal her!”

Jackson stares, confused at Rafe, because…

Well, why is he calling this woman mom?

Didn’t Ari just…

And then, as the woman shoves Rafe hard on the shoulder and they start to stride towards a door built into the edge of the cliffside, everything suddenly comes together.

That woman – he’s seen her before, of course – seen her picture a thousand times in print and on television. Ella Sinclair – the Queen of the nation, Rafe’s mother.

And mother of three more children, including the eldest Princess, Ariel –

Ari –

Jackson groans, tilting his head back and covering his face in his hands, cursing himself for being such an idiot –

God, how could he have not put that together last night!? It’s not like she was even being sneaky about it! A girl named Ari, living with her “cousins,” Rafe and Jesse Sinclair!? Who the hell did he

think she was!?

“Are you coming?”

Jackson drops his hands from his face to look towards the door, where the Queen has stopped for a moment to glare at him while she holds it open, inviting him to follow where the crown Prince has carried his damn sister.

Jackson nods once and strides towards the door, obeying his summons – not because a Queen has given them, but because his mate is inside now. And he’s not leaving her alone for one damn second.

No, he didn’t come this far to let someone else take control now. No, Ari – Ariel – she’s his. His to carry, his to protect, and he’s not leaving her side again before he knows she’s okay. Maybe not even then – not for a long time. noveldrama

Jackson steps quickly through the door and follows the Queen down a short hall to a simple room. The Queen shuts the door behind him as Jackson turns to watch Rafe lays a bloody, unconscious Ariel onto a crisp white hospital bed. God, she looks so tiny, so delicate…

“Hey!” the Queen shouts, snapping her fingers up in Jackson’s face to draw his attention to her. “I don’t know who you are, but you need to fill me in on precisely what happened to my daughter!” She glares at him like it’s his fault.

Jackson stands awkwardly by the door, staring at the Queen, not knowing what to say.

“Go easy on him, mom,” Rafe snaps, standing up straight as the Queen rolls her eyes and moves to sit on the edge of the bed, taking Ariel’s hand. “He’s Ariel’s mate, he didn’t do this – he probably saved her –“

The Queen’s eyes go wide as she stares at Rafe and then turns that shocked gaze back on Jackson, who just stands by the door, trembling a little.

“Well, come on, then,” the Queen sighs, waving him over as she leans over Ariel and starts to look over the wounds. To Jackson’s shock, the Queen rather callously grasps the end of a crossbow bolt and just yanks it out.

Jackson gapes because – I mean, aren’t you supposed to not pull the bolt out? What kind of doctor is she –

“Relax,” Rafe murmurs, glancing at him. “Mom’s got…I mean, it’s her magic, all right? She’s going to heal her. Ariel’s going to be fine.”

The Queen sends another glance Jackson’s way before she starts to snap out questions about what happened, and when, and how long Ariel’s been semi-conscious. Jackson answers them all as fast as he can before the Queen takes a deep breath, settling herself on the side of the bed and taking both of Ariel’s hands in hers.

Then, to Jackson’s shock, the queen just exhales slowly and closes her eyes, looking of all bizarre things like she’s just…meditating.

Rafe exhales a long breath of relief and Jackson turns to him, gesturing towards the Queen, silently asking if they’re all crazy.

Rafe just stares at Jackson and then laughs a little, nodding to the side, silently asking him to take a step away. Jackson hesitates but then follows, glancing towards the door, wondering if he should run and get a real doctor or something –

“Look, Ari’s going to be fine, okay?” Rafe whispers, glancing back towards his mom and his sister, “Mom’s…very powerful. So just calm down, yeah?”

Jackson just stares at the Prince’s face, wondering how the hell he’s supposed to do that.