Chapter 0207


    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 Sinir,” the woman hisses, moving closer to the Prince, ring daggers into his face.


    “What the fuck are you two ying at!?”


    “I’ll exin 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 suddenlyes together.


    That woman – he’s seen her before, of course – seen her picture a thousand times in print and on


    television. E Sinir – 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 togetherst night!? It’s not like she was even being sneaky


    about it! A girl named Ari, living with her “cousins,” Rafe and Jesse Sinir!? Who the hell did he


    think she was!?


    “Are youing?”


    Jackson drops his hands from his face to look towards the door, where the Queen has stopped for a


    moment to re 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’te 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.


    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 Rafeys 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 res at him like it’s his fault.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    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,e 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 –


    “Rx,” Rafe murmurs, ncing 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 nce 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 thenughs a little, nodding to the side, silently asking him to take a


    step away. Jackson hesitates but then follows, ncing 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, ncing 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.