Chapter 14 : That Wasn't Just A Nightmare

Vika's POV I met Asher's tongue with mine, deepening the kiss. He ran his hands down my sides. I moaned and nipped at Asher's lower lip. Asher gasped and grabbed my butt, pulling me closer. Our bodies pressed together. A shudder ran down my spine, and I clung to Asher tighter. His lips moved to my neck, kissing and nipping down my throat. My thighs clenched together. My stomach dropped and twisted, heat pooling between my legs. I moaned when Asher started sucking on my neck. I shivered, panting. Asher returned his lips to mine and crushed down harder. My heart hammered in my chest as I kissed him back. When I thought my lungs would burst from lack of air, I pulled away, panting and gasping. Asher ran his hands through my hair, still standing so close that my breasts were pressed against his chest. I panted, trying to catch my breath. I scanned my eyes over Asher, looking at his handsome face and strong body. "Just talking to you the past couple of nights, I feel like I can really be myself with you," I admitted. I'd never felt so comfortable around anyone. Asher smiled, taking my hand in his. We walked back through the gardens together. My heart fluttered, and I skipped a little with each step. "I feel like I've known you my whole life. I know that's impossible, but it is what I feel in my heart," Asher said, squeezing my hand. Asher knew exactly what to say to get my heart rate up. I never wanted the night to end. The starlight set the perfect mood, and it felt like Asher and I were the only two people in the world. I wished it could have stayed that way. This was exactly how I had always envisioned spending time with my mate. I couldn't believe how perfect it all was. I felt what Asher felt too. It was like we'd known each other our whole lives. "I don't want to leave you tonight," Asher said when we stopped near my house. "I don't want the night to end either," I admitted bashfully. I watched as Asher licked his lips, and I thought about our kiss. Oh, how I wanted to kiss him again. I looked away quickly. If I wasn't careful, I would just grab Asher and kiss him right on the lips. 'Get it together, Vika. You're acting like a love-struck puppy. Don't overdo it.' Asher lifted my hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. My toes wriggled in my shoes, and my heart jumped with delight. His lips were hot on my hand, sending tingles up my arm. What a gentleman. I felt like a princess the way he was treating me. "Good night, Vika." Asher squeezed my hand again. When he walked away, our fingers lingered together. I waited until I couldn't see him anymore before I went inside. I snuck up the stairs, taking light steps so they wouldn't creak. Henry was sitting on my bed waiting for me. "So, how did it go?" he whispered. I rolled my eyes. "That is none of your business," I said. I touched my lips. They still felt hot from Asher's kiss. "Get out of here. I want to sleep." "Sure, sure," Henry said, laughing. I flopped down on my bed, spreading myself out. My mind raced with the memories of my night. That kiss. Wow. There was nothing else I could say about it. I hadn't been sure that what I felt for Asher was more than the mate bond. Now I knew. That kiss had been so hot. It couldn't have just been the mate bond. Devi's POV I couldn't believe Asher. He had picked a maid over me? What was wrong with him? Snarling, I paced around my bedroom. I shook my head. I had beat the snot out of that stupid Omega, and still, Asher took her side. She'd been weak and worthless. No, she hadn't been weak. After I had whipped her, she had scared me. For a moment, I'd almost thought she would take a swing at me. Why did that scare me? She was an Omega. She was nothing. I growled under my breath and kicked a chair. "D*amnit!" I snapped. "What is Asher thinking?" I'd seen it happen, but I still couldn't force myself to believe it. Prince Regent Asher, my fiancé, had pushed me out of the way to defend a maid. Why? How? What? I couldn't make sense of it. Asher was supposed to be mine. I sighed and sat on my bed. I was a princess. My mother and father had been the Luna Queen and Alpha King. Any he-wolf that married me would be lucky. I was the whole package. I had silky sheets, all the finest dresses and jewelry, I was beautiful, and I came with the title of Alpha King for my husband. How could Asher not want me !? We were supposed to be mates. I'd known that Asher wasn't my mate since I was 18 and shifted for the first time. We'd never talked about it, so I just pretended I didn't know. Of course, now that was suddenly a problem for Asher. Could that lame maid be Asher's mate? Why else would he help her? "Oh no," I muttered, jumping up. "No, no, no, no!" I shook my head and paced back and forth. "No!" I shouted. Rage shaking me from head to toe, I punched my fist into the pillows on my bed. That wasn't possible. Why would the Moon Goddess make the Prince Regent, who could become future Alpha, mate with a dumb Omega maid? I pulled out my phone and called Shian. She would answer no matter how late it was. "Princess, what can I do for you?" Shian asked. "I'm going to bed to get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow morning, I want you to bring that stupid maid to my room," I demanded. "Yes, of course, your highness. I'll make it happen," Shian said. I hung up quickly and threw my phone across the room. "Arrgh!" I cried, flopping down on my bed. I was going to teach her a lesson or two! Asher's POV [Nightmare] "I'm not leaving, Magnus! You promised me you would be with me forever!" It was the late Luna Queen Krisha's voice. I had heard her same saying before. Uh! Here it came, that annoying and horrible nightmare. Even though I realized I was stuck in a nightmare, I still couldn't force myself to wake up, which I didn't know the reason. It was so terrible. I was standing behind the curtain in the king's and queens' bedroom. Again, someone had forced my back there and covered my mouth. I grabbed the curtain with my little fingers and pulled it back. The one who I didn't know had shoved me back there told me I wasn't supposed to look. But I didn't follow his order because I knew what would happen next. I wondered who killed King Magnus and Queen Krisha. "Wh-what… You!" Magnus's voice gasped from his bed. I was close to the king's bed, so I could see the Alpha King Magnus. He could hardly breathe, his lips black and shriveled, but he was pointing at someone at the end of the bed, someone I couldn't see. I tried to look at the one, but I was still stuck in place, unable to see the one's face due to the heavy white smoke. What the hell was this strange smoke? It didn't choke me but just blurred my vision. "How… could… you...." the king gasped. I looked at him again. His eyes were wide and glassy. He recognized the person he was pointing at, his face pale and stricken with fear. What was happening? Did the king know who the assassin that had come in was? It looked like he knew the one at the end of the bed. As soon as I found out I was released, I rushed out again. But I was lost in the strange smoke. It suddenly went silent, without any sound or words. "Krisha!" I heard someone shout to the queen. They sounded angry. The voice was familiar. I followed that voice. "Krisha!" the voice called again. It wasn't just anger. It was sadness. I stopped because I recognized that voice. It belonged to my father. [End Nightmare] I sat bolt upright in bed. My brow and chest were soaked with sweat. I reached for the cup of water beside me and guzzled it down. My throat cooled, and the burning memory of smoke in my lungs faded. My bones were shaking and sweat had formed on my forehead. What the h*ll was that? That wasn't just a nightmare.