A/N: This chapter was a labor of love, but I couldn't bring myself to split it into multiple chapters. It's a long one so hold tight, and grab your sunchips. Read and Review!

-Chapter Six-

I woke to find that Reaver had already gotten out of bed, and I stretched, sore, but satisfied. I sat up, and I left the bed to relieve myself and rinse my hands. I quickly found a clean dressing gown. I moved toward the vanity to brush my hair, but found that it hardly needed any attention. I simply ran my fingers through the silken waves, thinking to myself that when the Shadow Court had something done, it was done thoroughly.

I let out a sigh, and I heard the door open behind me. Reaver was attempting to slide in unnoticed, but when he saw that I was awake, he closed the door normally.

"You look positively radiant," He remarked, coming up behind me to give me a soft kiss on the cheek.

"I know," I said, shooting him a small smirk.

"My, aren't we cocky." He slipped his arms around me to give my belly a soft touch. "Cocky, but feeling well, I hope?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Wonderful," he said. "Since you are still scheduled to have been in Aurora, our day is very open. We could do whatever you like."

"Hmmm," I said, thinking. "I think I would like something..."

"Yes?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"...To eat."

He looked slightly disappointed, but he nodded. "How did I know that the first thing out of your mouth would be a request for more food."

I blushed a little, recalling that I had sent him out in the middle of the night to fetch me something to nibble on.

"What is it you crave, my darling, lemons?" He raised a brow.

I thought for a good moment. As lovely as lemons sounded, I wanted something much more substantial. "Maybe eggs..."

"Yes..."

"And bacon..."

"Mmhmmm..."

"And cake."

That was when he looked absolutely bewildered. "Cake? With eggs and bacon? For breakfast?"
I pursed my lips together, thinking of what else might sound tasty, but nothing came to mind. "Yes."

"My dear, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but our little bargain doesn't cover staving off love-handles and flabby bottoms," Reaver told me. He wrapped his arms around me.

My feelings were hurt very suddenly, and I felt the tears build in my eyes. "You...think I'm disgusting, don't you?"

His eyes widened, and his face paled. "No...I...merely..." He rubbed the bridge of his nose, obviously trying to find the words to end the tears.

But it was too late, I was sobbing, and I couldn't control myself. I covered my eyes, and I felt Reaver's hand hesitantly pat my shoulder.

"There, there," he said. "I didn't mean it."

"There, there?" I asked when I took my hands from my eyes, and I looked up to him. As if that would be enough to make up for the hurtful thing he'd just said. I stood, and I crossed the room, away from him, tightly folding my arms over my chest.

"Darling, I'm sorry," he sighed, moving over toward me. "I...am not accustomed to...this sort of situation."

"And you think I am?" I wept, wiping my eyes once more. " I have no idea why I'm even crying anymore!"

"Well, love, it was probably because of the love-handle comment," Reaver admitted.

I dissolved into tears once more.

By the time we made it to the breakfast table, my tears had been conquered, and Reaver had managed to squeeze me into a dress from the tailor's. It barely fit. Even at this early stage in my pregnancy, I was having a hard time fitting into my clothes, and I almost had another meltdown, but Reaver insisted that we would call on the tailor's at once for some new things.

Logan and Angela were already seated and enjoying their breakfast. Reaver hurried off to the kitchen to place my bizarre order, and I was left in their company.

Angela smiled widely. "I am so glad to see that Reaver has returned."

"Yes," I said with a grin, nodding to her. "All is well."

"I'm glad," She replied.

Logan, obviously still in the dark regarding the reason for Reaver's trip to Aurora, cleared his throat. He looked over to me, and he pressed his lips together. "You are home rather early."

"Yes," I said with a nod. "That is probably something that we should discuss once Reaver's here."

Logan cocked a brow, but he nodded.

Shortly after, Reaver reentered the dining room with a plate full of bacon and eggs, and a large slice of cake. My stomach grumbled, and I gave him the broadest smile I could muster.

"Here you go, my dear," Reaver said. He made a face, followed by a small shudder.

I took a bite of the cake first, and I sighed softly. "Thank you."

Logan looked rather confused "Eggs and bacon? With ca-"

Reaver cleared his throat loudly, and he shook his head swiftly, as if I wouldn't be able to see. I shot him a dirty look, and he shrugged innocently. "What my dear?"

I took a bite of eggs, swiftly followed by a bite of cake, and I sighed with satisfaction.

Reaver's mouth pursed tightly, and he glanced away.

"So, Reaver," Logan said, changing the subject, also averting his eyes from me. "Why have you and Lilyana returned...in such a hurry?"

"I was trying to come to you to explain the situation, but you were...ah...otherwise engaged," Reaver said with a small smile.

Logan's face reddened. "Well, I am listening now. Proceed."

"An attempt on Lilyana's life was made," Reaver explained. "It was the work of mercenaries, I believe."

Logan's eyes widened. "Surely you could have...er...interrupted me last night for news like that."

"It wasn't serious," I sighed. "We won't have word from Ben for a few days. Until then, we should focus on what's going on here in Albion."

"It is serious," Reaver interjected. He grasped my thigh under the table, and his eyes slashed over to me.

I nodded, not wanting to fight at the table in front of my brother and his fiancé.

"Ben Finn is already looking for sources of the threat," Reaver explained. "I would like, however, more men to be assigned to squashing this unpleasantness while it is still young."

Logan nodded in agreement.

"Perhaps," Angela said. "Lilyana and I could send for the tailor today. I've been meaning to get Lilyana's measurements for her dress for the wedding."

"I daresay she will grow before that day," Reaver said, but he looked as if he immediately regretted it.

I said nothing, just nodding. "Hopefully, there will be something suitable that will fit me months down the road."

"You'll look lovely, no matter the dress," Reaver put in, probably trying to make up for his past comment.

I looked at him, taking a deliberate bite of bacon and cake, and he took a long sip of his water.

As the tailor was taking my measurements and murmuring to himself about taking my growing belly into account, I watched Reaver. He was lost in thought, completely oblivious to my attention. He looked almost like a statue, slowly breathing, barely blinking. Worry was set deep in his eyes. I glanced away, as the tailor asked me a question.

"Do you want to...er...accentuate or disguise...?" He gestured to my belly without finishing, raising his eyebrows.

"Accentuate, I suppose," I said. "It's sure to be known by the time the wedding comes along."

The tailor nodded, and he continued his measurements.

I chanced another look at Reaver, who still had not retreated from his thoughts. He moved, though, leaning back further into his chair. His eyes turned toward me, and he saw that I was looking.

"You're worried," I said simply.

Reaver glanced over to the tailor and Angela who was sitting on the opposite couch. "Now is not the time for such discussion."

"You don't have to be worried, love," I said, wishing that I could cup his face, hold him, distract him.

"Have I ever been one to pay attention to the word 'don't'?" He asked, curling a brow. He stood, and he crossed the room to make himself a drink.

"Oh don't worry," Angela piped in. "I'll be keeping her busy with all of the fine details of the wedding. I don't know how you got it done single-handedly in such a short amount of time, Reaver."

"I have certain...skills when it comes to talking to people," He told her with a more characteristic grin.

I lounged on the sofa in our bedroom, while Reaver saw to some letters from the factories. I sipped at my tea, utterly bored, unable to take my mind off of Reaver's worry.

"You know," I said after a few minutes of gathering my courage. I was sure I already knew what his answer would be, but I didn't believe it would hurt to suggest it. "If I teleported back to Aurora, I would be able to get back with the information that much sooner."

"That is not an option," Reaver said, looking over his shoulder with striking azure eyes. "You will stay put, and we will get the information as we get it. As desperate as I am to keep you safe, I will not chance putting you in danger again just to hear Ben's report a little earlier."

I licked my lips, having received the answer I expected. "It would only be for a few hours. I could take you with me-"

"You are not going-with me, without me. It isn't happening," He said, putting his pen down.

I set my tea down on he table, and I exhaled. "What if someone has been sent already from Aurora? Would it not be beneficial to get the information earlier?"

He shook his head. "It's too risky."

I sighed, and I stood.

He also stood, as if he needed to stop me.

"I'm just going to the study to meet Angela," I told him. "Perhaps you can cool off a little bit before supper."

He sighed, and he looked back to his pile of papers. "I have a lot more work to do, so perhaps that is best."

I rose from my place on the sofa, and he reached a hand out for me, pulling me into him and embracing me tightly. He gave me a soft kiss on the cheek, and he said, "Please, let's not fight about this anymore."

"It's settled," I said, exhaling.

Reaver finished his work, and he pulled the watch from his pocket to check the time. There was plenty of time before supper, and he thought that he may go off to find Lilyana with Angela. He felt badly that they had fought, and he just wanted to express that he wasn't angry with her, he was angry that he wasn't in control of the situation.

He stuck his watch back, and he stood from the desk. He grabbed his coat, shrugging it on before heading out into the hall. He put his hands in the pockets of his trousers as he walked. He would feel better once they got news from Ben, but he knew that could be days, or even a week before something would reach them.

As he approached the study, he noticed an odd quiet, and he opened the door. It was empty save for Angela, who was sitting and looking over papers of her own. She glanced up to him, and she offered a smile.

"Where's Lilyana?" Reaver asked, raising a brow. He looked about the room once more, as if she might just appear suddenly.

"She's not here," She said. "Why?"

"She said she would be," he replied, his panic rising. "Where is Logan? Perhaps, she is with him."

"He has taken to the war room," She said dismissively. "He's been going there to escape the wedding colors and fabric samples. Is something wrong?"

"I hope not."

Reaver entered the war room, and he saw Logan pacing, but alone.

"Damnit, Lilyana," Reaver hissed, his fist tightening.

"What? What has she done?" Logan asked.

"She has gone to Aurora, it seems," Reaver growled.

"Then I suppose the next question I should ask is: what have you done, Reaver?" Logan asked. "Does this have anything to do with what happened in Brightwall?"

"Brightwall?" Reaver asked, sneering slightly. "What do you know of Brightwall?"

"Nothing, except that I know that you didn't leave Albion to open some silly factory," Logan came back. "Enlighten me. What made my sister so angry that she banished you from her sight? Was it about her scars?"

"This is not the time nor the place for such a discussion," Reaver retorted, his face reddening.

"If Lilyana is in Aurora, you've failed to protect her. There's nothing we can do," Logan said.

Reaver's hands tightened into fists. "We fought in Brightwall, what we fought about doesn't concern you."

"If it concerns my sister, it concerns me," Logan said. "There have been too many lies since you've snaked your way into Lilyana's life."

Reaver's jaw tightened, and and the muscle in his arm trembled, holding back his fist. He gulped down the tight, angry knot in his throat. "There are things that you wouldn't understand, boy. Things that you wouldn't believe. Your simple mind couldn't wrap around the hard truth."

"Oh?" Logan asked, stepping closer. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Try me."

"I am immortal," Reaver said, almost as if it were a simple fact.

"What are you talking about, you madman?" Logan asked, rounding Reaver slightly, disbelieving.

"I have lived centuries, Logan," Reaver said. "I assisted your father in the demolition of the Spire all those years ago. In fact, I shot Lucien Fairfax myself while your father was busy listening to his drivel. I have lived far longer than most have. Now Lily will as well. "

"She would never do that," Logan said, his head shaking. "Lily is not that selfish."

"But I am," Reaver shouted. "I couldn't stand losing her, so I didn't tell her when I took the extra sacrifice to The Shadow Court. I lied to her so that I could keep her." His teeth ground together. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"You bastard," Logan said. "You've corrupted her."

"I did no such thing!" Reaver snapped. "All of the weight of that bargain lays on my head. She will not be harmed. She had no idea of my scheme until that morning in Brightwall."

"So she sent you away," Logan snorted, pacing before Reaver. "And you just walked away from her. What a loving husband you are!"

"She left me-"

"She died every day without you," Logan said. "Did you know that? She thought that I didn't know, but I did. I never said anything to her to spare her feelings. Any mention of your name...it sent a look of unending sadness to her face, and it pained me to watch it. You put her through that, and yet you come here worried for her well-being?"

"I am her husband!" Reaver shouted, moving forward to shove Logan. "Do you not think I know her pain? That I did not feel it every day we were apart? It killed me when she disappeared before me that day in Brightwall, and it kills me now that she has done the same thing all over again! Don't you dare tell me about her pain and her suffering because it was mine, too!"

Logan's fist collided with Reaver's face and the pair fell to the ground. Reaver pushed his way on top, sending a punch of his own into Logan's mouth. When Logan pushed Reaver off, he jumped on him once more, sending a few more good punches across Reaver's jaw as the other man sent heavy blows to his ribs.

Angela burst into the room, and when she saw what was happening, she shouted, "STOP IT!"

She rushed forward and grabbed Logan by the collar of his coat, yanking him backward off Reaver. Logan's whole body tensed but he reined himself in, his breathing heavy and still shaking with rage. He reached to hold his ribs slightly.

Reaver pushed himself to his feet, wiping the blood from his lip with his thumb.

"What is this about?" Angela demanded.

"Lilyana has disappeared," Logan said. "Gone to Aurora once more. This one failed to protect her." He jabbed his thumb in the direction of Reaver.

"Will you both stop this, already?" Angela questioned, releasing Logan, putting herself between the two. "You both love her. You both want to protect her, but you can't very well do it when you're off beating each other's faces in!"

Logan turned his eyes away, shame washing over his face.

Reaver's shoulders slumped and he sighed. "Yes." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Yes. You're right."

"Now, both of you, shake hands and go get cleaned up," She continued. "I won't have any more fighting in this house as long as Lilyana is pregnant. Do you have any idea what this could do to her?"
"Do you have any idea the kind of danger she is in, now? In Aurora?" Reaver asked.

"There is nothing we can do about that," Angela said. "We can only pray to The Light that she will return safely and be, ourselves, composed when she does."

Both men grumbled as they stepped forward to begrudgingly shake hands.

"This doesn't change what you did," Logan said. "And how I feel about it."

"I know," Reaver said. "Nothing will ever change what I did, but nothing will ever make me regret it."

The pair separated, and Reaver hurried back to his and Lilyana's bedchamber. He suddenly didn't have much of an appetite for supper.

The streets of Aurora were crowded, not suitable for assassination attempts from afar. Anything that brought my assailants within melee range, would be easy enough for me to handle. I moved swiftly toward the Inn where Ben had told us he was staying.

He was easy enough to find, enjoying a drink at the bar, looking rather worried about something. When he spotted me, his eyes widened, and he jumped to his feet.

"What are you doing here?" He asked quietly, seizing me by the arm. "Where's Reaver?" He started leading me up the stairs, most likely toward his room at the Inn.

"I came alone," I told him, with a sigh. "What have you heard?"

"Too much," Ben said as we entered his room. He locked the door behind us. "This isn't looking very good at all. Not only are the major mercenary groups in Aurora after you, they are united under a rebel-group. I had just sent word back today."

"Do you know who is behind the rebel group?" I asked. Perhaps people of Teroh's tribe had gathered, perhaps it was angry Aurorans.

"No way to be sure," Ben sighed. "I haven't heard much except that they are gunning for you and Reaver and anyone else of your family line. They mean to overthrow the monarchy."

I gulped, my heart rapidly picking up in my chest. "I am glad I came. This news could not wait." I wrung my hands together. "Ben, have you spoken to Kalin?"

"Yes," He told me. "She doesn't know what's happening. A lot of her sources have come up missing. Her life may also be in danger due to her connection to you."

I swore under my breath, rubbing my temples. "We need to get back to Albion. You are in danger just as much as Kalin would be, if not more."

"I'll be fine, Lily," He said, patting me gently on the arm. "Just worry about-" He stopped suddenly, and he threw me behind him. His voice was barely audible. "Someone is coming."

I readied myself, reaching for the pistol at my hip, and focusing my Will through my gauntlet.

The door crashed open, and four large men were spilling in. I shot one from my hip, sending him staggering backwards into another, and Ben, having been unarmed, shoved another back. I sent a wave of electricity in front of Ben, catching the remaining three men and dazing them.

I handed Ben the pistol, and one of the men came barreling toward me. He struck me angrily with the back of his hand, the blow connecting to my cheek. My vision flashed with white, and a wild pain worked its way all the way through the side of my face. I grasped him by the throat, charging my Will as much as I could before letting it loose through his body.

The man dropped twitching to the ground, and Ben put a slug into another of the attackers. I sent another powerful bolt of lightning through the air, wrapping it around the last of the mercenaries. He writhed and screamed before falling silent and hitting the ground.

Ben stuck his head out the door, looking for anyone else that may be on their way, and he shook his head to me.

"Let's go," I said through gritted teeth, the pain intense, and I grasped him by the wrist.

We appeared in The Sanctuary quickly, and I dragged him by the arm to the map, slamming my hand desperately down onto Bowerstone Castle on the map. We reappeared in the study in the castle, and I sagged gently against Ben.

He supported me, and he observed my face, wincing slightly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Ben," I assured him. "Just...can you help me back to my room?"

"Of course," he replied with a swift nod.

As we made our way back to my bedchamber, I already sensed that Reaver would be waiting for me. I had been gone too long for him not to notice my absence. I drew in a deep, calming breath, and I reached for the door. I let go of Ben, and I nodded a goodbye to him.

"I take it that he's going to be very upset with you," Ben said.

I only nodded.

"Would you like me to come with you?" He asked, raising a brow.

"No. I did this, and now I have to deal with the consequences. Go ask Hobson to prepare a room for you. You'll stay here until this all blows over."

"Right," Ben agreed. "Well...good luck." He gave me a quick hug before taking off down the hall.

I closed my eyes, and I pushed the bedroom door open.

Reaver sat ready for me in one of the wingback chairs. His face was bruised and he had a healing split in his lip. I had obviously not been the only one to get into a scuffle today. I wondered what had happened, but I knew that wouldn't be the issue discussed. I closed the door behind me.

"Why?" He asked, his tone cold and threatening. He rose gracefully from his seat, his blazing eyes fixed directly on me.

"I needed to know," I said. "All of us are in danger, not just me."
"This is not about that, Lilyana!" He shouted suddenly, crossing the room. "This is about your disregard for your life. You just love to make yourself vulnerable, do you not?"

I jumped as he approached, my heart beating in my throat.

"Does it give you a thrill to be in danger at all times? Do you enjoy making me sick with worry?!" He gripped me tightly by my shoulders, shaking me firmly. His eyes finally coming to rest on the bruised side of my face, he shook his head angrily. "Do you expect to come home like this, and for me not to say anything? Not to worry about you?!" His voice thundered through the room. Undoubtedly, others in the palace could hear, but it was obvious that Reaver didn't care.

"You are so careless, Lilyana!" His eyebrow furrowed angrily. "So careless, and so naïve!"

I almost gasped. Tears rolled down my face, and I looked away from him, my breath leaving me. My energy was fading fast. I grabbed the back of a nearby chair.

"You have so much more to worry about than just yourself!" he growled, his eyes darting down to my belly. "Are you so stupid that you would not think this through?"
I shoved against him, and he stumbled backward, and I turned to walk to the door.

"No. We are not doing this again," He said. He grasped me firmly by the arm. "You do not get to walk away from me again. You went behind my back. You-"

"I am not the only one in this marriage that has gone behind the other's back," I spat, my tears still pouring down my face. I tugged my arm away from his grip, and I rubbed where he had held me. "I am still a person without you. I do not need you to protect me every second. I-"

"This is more important than your crisis of identity." His tone dropped, and his eyes burned, as he grasped my womb. "Do not put our child in danger because you need to prove that you are still a Hero."

My lip trembled, and my eyes dropped to the floor. He was right. He was completely right. I inhaled shakily and I dropped to the ground, covering my mouth and sobbing loudly. I put our child in danger to prove a point. I had been so foolish. I didn't know what had come over me.

He crouched before me, pulling me into his arms, pressing a firm, desperate kiss on the uninjured side of my face. "Please...please do not make me worry like that again."

"I'm sorry," I cried, my voice wavering. I slipped my arms around him.

He stroked my hair. "Lilyana, I am sorry for yelling, I-"

"I deserved it," I admitted. "You were right." I drew back to look at him, stroking his face gently.

A soft, half-hearted laugh left him, and he offered me a little bit of a smile. "Do not think that I will let you forget that."

"Can we just...be past this?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. "As long as you promise me-"

"I promise," I said with a nod. "I'm sorry."

"Then it is forgiven, love."

Our lips met softly, and he moved to scoop me off of the floor.

I slung my arms around his neck, and I leaned against him. I was exhausted in every sense of the word, and I needed nothing more than to sleep. When he lay me on the bed, he slid in, though mostly clothed, right behind me.

I needed to bathe. I needed to comb my hair. I needed to undress, but all of that could wait. I laid my face against him, and I inhaled deeply, the comforting scent of him filling my breath. I closed my eyes.

"Lilyana," Reaver whispered.

"Yes?"

"How serious is it?" He asked softly.

"Very serious," I said, glancing up to him. "They are planning a rebellion."

He frowned, and he exhaled. "How much time do we have?"

"I don't know."

He just squeezed me. "We'll send more agents to investigate. They can't be too organized. They've obviously failed twice to get you." He stroked the healing bruise on the side of my face. "They will not get another chance to try." He kissed the top of my head, and he brought his hand to rest on the mound of my womb.

"Both attempts went belly-up," breathed the mercenary captain, his gruff voice slightly annoyed. "You should've sent my boys, and not the Red Blade."

"The Red Blade are perfectly capable. We just needed to observe the situation," said a large, muscular woman, her ocher eyes slashing at him. She was very obviously the leader of the slandered group.

"Observing idn't killin', now, is it?" the first mercenary asked. He glanced up to their leader.

"We need this taken care of before things progress too far," said Page, slamming her hand down on the table. "That child cannot be born. It cannot take the throne. Knowing what we know of Reaver, he would likely just manipulate the child into doing his bidding."

"And The Queen? Why must she die?" asked an Auroran man, chewing on a toothpick.

"Because she made her choice," Page said. "She chose a murderer and swindler over her people, over her country. He puts everyone's lives at risk just being alive. She stands in our way of Reaver. She must die, too." Her voice cracked gently at the end of her last sentence. "No matter what else she's done for Albion, she cannot be forgiven for this."