A/N: I hope you like it! :)

Kaia

He had not taken my answer well. So bad in fact that he had thrown me against the wall. Then proceeded to throw me up the stairs.

I cried out as he kicked me in the ribs and sent me rolling into my room. Shreya burst into the room. As soon as she saw me and what was happening she burst into tears. I felt another kicked and I rolled onto my hands and knees. Pain spread through my body.
" Shreya," I rasped. Father lifted his leg and brought it down on my back. I screamed as something cracked. " Shreya. Go!" she didn't move. " Go!" I yelled. She was a screaming crying mess as she ran from the room. Good. She wouldn't see the rest though I'm sure she'd seen enough to imagine.

He grabbed my arm and threw me into my desk. Blood spattered as the wood ripped the skin of my arms. I yelled in pain and crumbled to the ground.
My eyes widened as he pulled a knife out and held it against my throat.
" You will do as I ask bitch!" he drew the knife across my throat, not deep, but it broke the skin. Blood filled my mouth. And so… I spat it in his face. His fist followed. My jaw made a sickening sound and I was thrown to the ground. When he was close enough, I swung. My blow landed and he stood stock still from surprise.
" How dare you!" he hissed, then kneed me in the gut.

Aidan

Dad, Az, Cas and I decided to do some early training. The whole camp was asleep. I turned toward Cassian.
" I hope you're ready." He mocked. I took a step and prepared to strike when a cry pierced the air. We all looked to the noise, and found Shreya. The small girl was shrieking and shaking violently. She was crying and screaming. There was a crashing sound from inside her house when she collided with me. I bent down to the girl as Dad, Az and Cas came over.
" Help her!" She cried, her little hands grabbing my shoulders and doing their best to shake me. " PLEASE! HELP HER!" She screamed. I looked at the others and took off at a run towards her house. The other three were right behind me as I burst through the door.

I took in the room. The cupboards were shattered and blood was splattered over the kitchen workbench.

Then I followed the noise.

A cry reached us from upstairs. A cry that was distinctly Kaia. I took the steps four at a time and burst into her room, just in time to see her fly across the room and collide with her wardrobe. She truly screamed then. Stalking towards her was the male I believed to be her father.
" You bitch!" He hissed. " You've got too much of your mother in you. But I broke her too." Kaia whimpered. I saw the trashed room and the blood and bruises that coated her. It sent me into an icy rage. Before he could land another blow I pulled him away from her and threw him to the ground.

I vaguely remember my father grabbing him but all I cared about was Kaia. I knelt down beside her and brushed the hair out of her face. She opened her lips to say something but instead coughed blood onto the floor. Her hand went to her throat where there was a cut. I put my hand lightly on her throat and focused on my healing magic, hoping that the fae bane was finally clear of my system. The skin began to knit together, but a white scar and blood remained.

She was gasping and clutching her stomach. Tears trickled soundlessly from her eyes.
" You have to go, he'll – " she began.
" He's not going to do anything to me." I said softy but not weakly, cupping her face in my hands. She looked over my shoulder where indeed her father was being held back by Dad, Cas and Az. " And I will never let him hurt you again. I swear it." she cried harder then, and my heart broke. I scooped her into my arms. She whimpered.

" She needs a healer!" I said to Dad.
" There are none at the camp!" he replied.
" Then call Madja!" I said and ran from the room, being careful not to jostle Kaia. One of her hands she held over her stomach. She gripped the front of my shirt with the other. Silent tears ran down her face and I pulled her closer to me. I felt her rest her head against my chest.

I shouldered open the door with such force it was a surprise it wasn't ripped from the hinges. Mor's hand flew to her mouth as she took in the crumpled body that was Kaia in my arms. Mum shouldered past her and gasped.
" Upstairs." Was all I needed to hear before I ran up the stairs. Mor and Mum were close behind. I took her to the spare room and laid her gently down on the bed.
" Knock her out." Mor commanded. I looked at her with fire in my eyes.
" What?!"
" She won't feel any pain that way." I nodded reluctantly before reaching for her mind. Her shields were reasonable, but not strong enough. The shields to her mind was a golden wall of swirling light. I slipped past it and grabbed hold of her mind, sending her into a dreamless sleep. Her body slumped on the bed.

Mum channelled her dawn court power and laid a soft hand on her shoulder, I knew she was helping, but something deep within me caused me to growl at her the moment her hand came in contact with her shoulder.
" Calm down Aidan." Mor ordered. I look apologetically at Mum and took one last look at Kaia. I stormed from the room. Just seeing her damaged body fuelled the icy rage that was overcoming me. I didn't look at Aunt Nest and Elain as I passed them. I stormed toward where Dad was holding tightly to her father. My hands clenched into fist and I could feel the darkness swirling around me. Cassian took one look at my fiery eyes and tackled me to the ground. In my rage I didn't see him coming and he soon had me pinned to the snow crusted ground. He held my arms beside my head.
" Get it out of your system!" He commanded in a harsh tone. " I know that you're angry because he hurt your mate, but you NEED. TO CALM. DOWN!" The word clanged through me. Mate.
" What do you mean my mate?" I asked, the anger seeping from me. Cassian flinched.
I saw over his shoulder that Dad's face was pinched and Azriel's face was stony.
" What do you mean my mate?" I demanded.
Azriel said as he pulled Cassian off me," We assumed you hadn't realised and we were going to let you find out on your own." He scowled in Cassians direction. I slowly stood up.
" She's my mate?" I uttered. I looked up at Dad who nodded lowly. " Are you sure?" I asked.
" Very sure." Cassian said.
" How can you know? I haven't felt any bond snap into place…"
" Have you ever felt a sudden need to be near her?" Dad said. " I know for sure that you can't keep your eyes off her. Have you ever felt a sudden need to protect her, more than our usual instincts? The sudden need to touch her, to be near her, to – "
" Okay! I get it!" I interrupted. I didn't need to hear what he was going to say next, especially hearing it from my father. Dad smiled.

A cold laugh sounded from behind Azriel. Our heads whipped to Kaia's father. He had a huge smile, showing his pointed teeth.
" Shut up!" Cassian hissed. But he did not. He looked directly at me.
" Mates. You and my daughter…" he pondered. He didn't bother to fight against Dad's iron grip. " It's a shame you'll never get to have her. A big shame…"
" And why's that?" Cassian asked condescendingly.
" She didn't tell you?!" He said with a horrified voice. " She's destined to be married. To Laurent."
" Devlons son?" Azriel asked. Her father nodded. I felt my heart drop into my stomach. " Have you signed the contract?" He asked. Her father nodded with satisfaction.

I stood in the doorway as Mum finished patching Kaia up. When she was done she walked over to me, looking more tired than I had ever seen her. I gave her a quick hug and a peck on the cheek.
" Thanks. You should rest now." She nodded with a yawn and left the room.

I sat on the stool that Mum had been resting on. She was getting married… soon. To Laurent. She would be going from one prison to another. Laurent was no better than her father. Everything was so mixed up, but the thing that had caught me totally off guard was that she was my mate! Mate… I had dreamed of having a mate since I was a child. And here was this beautiful female, who was kind, caring, loving and trust worthy, and she was mine. No. She wasn't mine. She would never be mine. Kaia was free to make her own decision, but I had a feeling she wouldn't be able to. She was betrothed to someone else. But looking at her now, I had never felt this way before. The overwhelming need to always be with her and to never let her go. And though we barely knew each other, I felt close to her and … the beginnings of a relationship.

I hesitated for a moment before reaching for her hand and encased it in mine.

Kaia

I don't remember much, the only thing that was clear, was that he was always there. The first time my eyes opened he was sitting beside me, holding my hand, then my eyes fluttered closed.

He was coming towards me, his fist pulled back, then the image changed. This time it was Malachi, with a feral grin on his face. The image changed again and it was my mother laying on the ground, then it was Shreya, and Priya, and Aidan, so I screamed.

" Kaia!" A voice shouted. " Kaia! Wake up!" The voice was deep and like silk. A soft hand gripped my shoulder.
" KAIA?!" I swung upright, gasping for air. " Kaia. Just listen to my voice." The voice commanded. " You are safe. You are healed. You are in my cabin." It informed me. I squeezed my eyes shut, and when I opened them, a dark figure came into focus.
" Aidan?" I whispered. Sweat trickled down my spine causing me to shiver and wrap my arms around myself despite it. " Aidan?" I asked again.
" It's me." He said. I could see nothing as my eyes were yet to adjust to the darkness.
" Where are you?" I whispered.
" Right here." He answered sweetly. I felt a soft hand on my cheek. I leaned into his hand and laid mine over his.
" What happened?" I asked as his hand slowly retreated from my face, but I did not let go of his hand. I gripped it tightly as though it was my only tether to the world of consciousness. He didn't pull away, instead he placed his other hand over mine so it was held between them.
" Do you really want to know?" He asked unsurely. I nodded. " Well… what do you remember?" He asked. I took a deep breath and combed through my memory.
" I remember him," I spat, because I would no longer call him Dad, never again. " And I remember, what he did. And then I remember you." I whispered.
" Well… I brought you to my families cabin – "
" You didn't have to – " I flustered.
" It's fine. We have a spare bedroom. My mother used her healing magic to heal you…" I grimaced.
" How bad was it?" I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer. I saw a muscle in his jaw flicker.
" You had multiple broken ribs, the skin on your arms were torn in places. Your back was broken in spots, your fingers in one hand was broken," I smirked at that. I must of punched him pretty hard. " Your ankle was twisted, and the rest was cuts and scrapes. Mum said you're fully healed but you should take it easy.
I gasped," Shreya?"
" Is staying with Priya. Your brother isn't back from his border watch yet." I nodded.
" What about him?" I asked.
" He has a new home in the prison." I released a breath I hadn't realised I had been holding.
" Thankyou." I murmured.
" I'm sorry." He whispered.
" For what?" I asked, tilting my head.
" For not realising, for not stopping him earlier. For not seeing the signs – your bruised cheek, your limp…"
" This is not your fault." I said firmly.
" I'm still sorry." He murmured. " I'll get you some water." He said before slowly letting go of my hand and leaving the room.

I looked toward the window and saw that it was late in the night, and he had been here. The moon hung high in the sky, and still, he had not left my side. The kindness in that alone warmed my heart, but I couldn't help but hope he had another reason for staying with me and caring for me.

I pushed back the blankets of the bed I was in to find I was wearing a short night gown that fell to my mid-thigh. I very slowly swung my legs over the bed. I expected the floor to be icy cold, but it was warm. The High Lord must have some spell on the house so it was always warm. I placed a hand on the bedside table and one on the bed beside me. I heaved myself onto shaky legs and simply stood for a moment to see if I could manage my weight. I didn't have the strength in my back to lift my wings off the ground so they dragged ever so slightly. I took one wobbly step before letting go of the table.

I took two more steps before my legs gave out and I collapse. Before I could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms wrapped around my shoulders – careful of my back – and under my knees. Aidan scooped me up and began carrying me back to the bed.

I laid a hand on his chest. " Wait." He stopped and looked down at me. His eyes were soft, but there was a hint of worry there. " Can you take me to the window please?"
" Sure." He murmured and carried me over to the window. He placed me carefully on my feet on the ground but did not move from right behind me in case I fell again. I could feel his warm solid body behind me. I grunted at the effort of opening the closed window with my sore arms. Aidan placed a hand on either side of mine and pushed the window up.
" Thanks." I whispered.

Aidan

As I helped her push the window up I couldn't help but be aware of every place our bodies touch, and with that short nightgown… I kept a soft hand on her forearm and watched as the night breeze rustled her long locks of curled hair. The moonlight shone onto her face and lit up every feature. She closed her eyes and tilted her head up the slightest bit.
" I've always liked the night." Her voice was soft as she kept it at a whisper. The moonlight illuminated every plane of her face, and her lips. That's when I realised she was smiling. Her lips were barely tilted upward but it was enough that it caught my attention, and I found it hard to look away. " There is something about the night that is so beautiful and peaceful, don't you think?" she asked quietly.
" Yes." I answered, but I was not looking at the night, I was looking at Kaia.
" But I think the stars are my favourite."
" Why?" I asked.
" Because they are there every night in exactly the same place, and they never lose their brightness."
" I've never thought of it that way." I whispered back to her, my breath brushing against her ear.
" Sometimes I even think of the stars as people. The fae who have died. They light up the night sky to create something beautiful, that can drive away the horrors of the living. The moon is like the mother, watching over all of them, and all of us." She whispered.
" That's a beautiful way to think of them." I replied, because it was. She began to sway and I quickly grabbed her other arm.
" Whoa," I said," we should take you back to bed." She only nodded and allowed me to scoop her into my arms. Her body, that seemed so fragile compared to mine, curled into me. She buried her head in the soft spot between my shoulder and neck. Kaia was asleep before I had even gotten to lay her on the bed.

A/N : I hope you liked it. Stick around to find out what happens in the next chapter. Please review and tell me what you thought, your reviews are what keep me writing and I love to read any advice you have for me. Thanks! :)