A/N : TRIGGER WARNING FOR FAMILY VIOLENCE.
Kaia
I sat on the wooden rocking chair on our porch in the late afternoon watching the sun set. I watched the girls training. Shreya was curled up on my lap, her small head resting on my chest. She held my left hand while my right hand held a cup of warm tea. I watched my father as he fought with the other camp generals, I watched Aidan as he sparred with his uncle Azriel, I watched as Priya – my best friend – bounce over to me, a sword dangling from her hand and sweat beading on her forehead.
" Hey!" She beamed. She plopped down on a seat beside me. I held a finger to my lips then pointed to Shreya who was now snoring quietly.
" Sorry." She whispered with a smile. " Are you sure you can't train?" I nodded gravely.
" You know what he'll do." She sighed.
" Will he ever stop?" she asked. A shrug was the best answer I could give. She shook her head furiously. " You're immortal Kaia, and so is he, this could go on for hundreds of years. I know you look eighteen – I hate that you settled a year before me by the way – "
" It was only a year." I smile, stroking Shreya's back.
" – but you're actually twenty five and have so many more year left in your life. Why not just run away?" I stared her down.
" I tried that once, and his punishment was almost too much for me to handle."
" So try again!"
" You know why can't. I have to stay here for Shreya, I hate to think what he would of done to her if I wasn't here to take it." Priya shook her head.
" But look at you," she said, waving her hands towards me. " You're twenty five and are already basically a mother to Shreya, and his servant. You have to stand up for yourself, and if you won't do it for yourself, do it for Shreya!"
" I've tried that as well – "
" Good evening ladies." My older brother crowed as he came out to the balcony.
" Can't you do anything?!" Priya tried with Malachi.
" I've tried!" He said," And besides, he only does it when I'm not there." Priya groaned. Malachi leant down and gave her a quick kiss on the lips then went to the training rings.
I feigned throwing up at my friend and brothers show of affection.
" I'll never get used to that." I said poking my tongue out.
" Kaia," Priya whispered suddenly.
" What?" I whispered back.
" You've got an admirer."
" You're dreaming." I said.
" Maybe you're dreaming, but I can see clear as day.
"Who is it?" I asked.
" The High Lords son."
" Aidan?" I blushed. She whacked my arm.
" You like him!" She accused.
" I do not!" I said but my cheeks only reddened.
" You do too!" she laughed. " I am going to have so much fun playing matchmaker."
" You will do no such thing!"
" We'll see." She said.
Aidan
I spared with an Illyrian I had befriended yesterday in the ring, but my gaze kept snagging on Kaia as she chatted with her friend, her hand absent-mindedly stroking Shreya's back.
" Some thing caught your eyes? Or should I say someone?" Malachi asked. He followed my gaze.
" Kaia?" He asked. " You like her?"
" I'm not denying she's beautiful." I replied. He grunted.
" She has been her whole life," I frowned," it seemed she's got more of mum in her than dad." He laughed.
" You're her brother?" I asked, surprised.
" Since she was born." He joked. I smiled at that.
Kaia
I was stitching a hole in one of Shreya's shirts after tucking her in to bed. It sat comfortably in the dining room. There was a loud banging on the door. I rushed to the door and yanked it open. I hadn't expected what I found, for standing in the doorway was Cassian, and had an arm around Aidan.
" This idiot burst his stitches during training and the healers aren't back yet." Cassian informed me with a smirk. I nodded and held the door open for the two to slip inside.
" Put him there." I pointed to the couch that was just big enough for him to lay down, though his feet did hang over the end.
Aidan
Cassian left smirking and threw a wink in my direction. I scowled at him and hoped that Kaia hadn't seen him. She was fumbling around in a cupboard. When she returned there was a small box in her hand. She set it on the table and pulled a stool over to beside the couch.
" I need you to um… Can you… I need you to take your shirt off." She mumbled. A pretty rose blush creeped onto her cheeks. I smile at how sweet and beautiful she was and grabbed the hem of my shirt and lifted it over my head. I caught her eyes wander to my chest as I laid on the couch.
Kaia
Geeze. I had no doubt he trained a fair bit with abs like that. No, Kaia, focus. If you can't do this how are you going to touch him to stitch it back up?! I mentally hit myself and motioned for him to lay down. I cleared my throat because it felt to quiet and my cabin felt too small. I pulled out my stitching needle and thread and laid a light hand on his abdomen. I feared he could see the blush that was probably getting darker.
He hissed at the first poke of the needle but did not move. When he gave a nod of his head I continued.
Aidan
I watched her as she worked. I focused on her and not the pain, but I'm sure that even if there wasn't any pain, I would still watch her. How her hair fell into her face so many times that she paused to tie it back into a low pony tail. How she blew at the strand that were too short to reach the back. Her hands were light and steady as she re stitched the wound. When it was stitched she walked over to the kitchen, I watched every movement. How her hips swayed when she walked, how she bit her lip when she was concentrating. She came back over with a warm wet cloth. She wiped it slowly over the wound.
At my hisses she mumbled a ," Sorry." But did not make it worse by stopping.
" All done." She said, standing up and stretching her back. I traced those movements too. She rinsed the cloth in the sink and tossed me my shirt. As I took my shirt I grabbed her hand and pulled her slightly closer. I looked down at her.
" How can I repay you?" I asked, not letting go of her hand which seemed to fit perfectly in mine, but I ignored it. I felt a tug to pull her to me, to breath in her scent of sandalwood and roses, to hold her close and to never let go.
" You don't have to repay me." She whispered, because we were so close.
" I'll find something." I replied. I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her fingers. I put her hand back to her side and as I walked out of the door.
" Thankyou." I said, before leaving.
Kaia
After he left, I just stood there. I could feel where his lips had touched my hand, I missed the warmth of his hand when he held mine. I could still feel the lingering feeling of his lips on my cheek from days ago. We hardly knew each other, but there was something about him that drew me closer. I couldn't resist just standing that little bit closer to him, I couldn't stop myself. It was… strange, but it was nice, to feel that draw to someone.
Aidan
" How was it?" Cassian asked with a smug smile. He was sitting at the dining table with his feet on the table.
" What do you mean how was it?" I asked.
" Did you two…" he wiggles his fingers.
" I hate to break it to you, but I find it incredibly strange that my uncle finds interest in my sex life." Azriel spirted his wine across the table and it just happened that it landed on Cas. Dad was basically rolling on the floor with laughter and Mor was beating the table with her fist.
" You've got so much of your mother in you." Dad said through his laughter and gave me a clap on the back. Cassian was scowling at Azriel for the wine in the face and Nesta was giving her mate a disgusted look.
Kaia
I woke up to find my father already in the kitchen. And he was smiling! At a loss for words I asked," Is there anything particular you'd like for breakfast." I asked unsurely.
He answered with," I have some great news Kaia," he said. I hesitated but sat down. " I was talking to Devlon and his son last night, and it seems that his son enjoys you." My eyes widened.
" What do you mean enjoys me?" I asked unsurely.
" Anyway, right to the point. Him and I have made an agreement that the two of you will marry!" He was practically beaming, me on the other hand. Dread settle in my stomach like a boulder. Devlons son! Laurent! People in this camp heard the stories of what the men in that family did to their women.
What I said next was not to my father's liking.
" No!"