Future of Terrasen

Chapter 6

"No. It's not happening," Aedion demanded and folded his arms.

Lysandra leant back in her own seat, frowning. She would not allow men to think they can control a woman. Not that Aedion was doing that, he was just upset. But Lysandra's own habits were hard to kill.

"She is a woman now. You do not get to tell her what to do."

Aedion's face softened. "I know...but to me she is still a child."

Lysandra kept her frown. "Do not ruin today," she warned him.

Evangeline curtsied to Aelin, who had hurried to their small home in Caraverre with Rowan just to celebrate Evangeline's eighteenth birthday.

Evangeline had, of course, invited Luca, along with Emrys and Malakai. Gavriel had came to see his step-grandaughter on her birthday and Fenrys came to see Elentiya.

They still didn't know if Fenrys and Elentiya only shared the carranam bond - if it even was that bond.

Luca had stuck close to Evangeline as she accepted gifts from everyone. Lysandra had spent most of the time whispering to him and demanding he stopped snarling at the male.

"I can't help it," Aedion murmured to his wife. "My daughter is growing up. I want to spend as much time as I can with her. But he is always there." He glared at Luca.

"Its not his fault either," Lysandra said and took a drink. "He is her mate. She is of age now. When they decide to create a future together, Aedion, it is not for you to take control."

Aedion clenched his fist. "I know, dammit."

Lysandra narrowed her eyes at him. "You're going to ruin my plans too," she muttered and took another drink.

"What plans?"

Lysandra choked and spat her drink back into the goblet. He gently patted her back. Aelin glanced up from where she sat talking to Evangeline and Luca.

"Not now," Lysandra hissed.

Elentiya was sat on Rowan's lap. He kept glaring at Fenrys, sitting next to Gavriel.

Elentiya turned to Gavriel and said, "Uncle Kitty-Cat, shift."

Aelin and Rowan chuckled.

Gavriel stiffened. "Not right now," he told her.

"Looks like she's gonna be tough with her training just like you, Whitethorn," Fenrys smirked.

"She is my daughter," Rowan grinned at him.

Aelin rolled her eyes. "She's only saying it because this buzzard keeps telling her to shift."

"Maybe you need to put someone in danger?" Luca teased. "You know, chain them up and sit them on a frozen lake inside a mountain with a monstrous beast underneath it."

Rowan chuckled at Luca. "Aelin saved your ass. It was fine." His smile faded as if recalling the moments afterwards where Aelin had screamed at him.

"It worked," Aelin said, squeezing his hand.

"Maybe chain me up on some ice," Evangeline suggested, "and get this one-" she gestured to Luca -"to know how you felt, Majesty, as Elentiya shifts and saves me."

Aedion growled. "You'll do no such thing." He stood up and leant on the table, bearing his canines.

"We are not serious, cousin," Aelin said, giving him a worried smile.

Rowan reluctantly handed Elentiya to Fenrys, prepared to protect Luca.

Elentiya laughed as she looked up at Fenrys, her smile growing. Rowan's anger went up a few notches.

"What are your future goals, Evangeline, now that you are a woman?" Aelin asked her.

She shrugged. "I would like to go see the other kingdoms, say hello to our friends." Aelin nodded. "I'd like Luca to come with me. Show him more of the northern continent."

Aedion's chair fell over. Rowan took a step closer and Gavriel stood up.

"Outside now," Gavriel ordered.

"No," his son spat.

"Your father wants you outside," Rowan said quietly. "You will go outside."

Aedion glared at him. "I'm not going anywhere."

Aelin put her hands on her hips. "Your King has commanded you go outside."

Aedion met her glare. She could see the words forming on the tip of his tongue: or what? You'll burn me?

Aelin didn't move as she allowed her power to singe his arm. He hissed and put out a fire that was not even there. Yes, cousin. I will do just that if I have to. Do not forget that I was an assassin before I became Queen.

Aedion growled as he walked outside, followed by Gavriel and Rowan.

"What is wrong with you, boy?" Gavriel demanded.

"When Evangeline became my daughter she was only twelve. I have only had six years with her."

"That's more than what most people get," Gavriel said quietly.

Rowan nodded. "You know what you feel being Lysandra's mate?"

Aedion nodded. He, like Rowan did with Aelin, loved Lysandra without the mating bond snapping into place.

"That is what Evangeline feels for Luca - What Luca feels for Evangeline," Rowan pointed out.

"You have to put aside your own feelings and respect Evangeline's," Gavriel advised him.

Aedion sighed, defeated. "I know... She's just my daughter."

"And you are my son. You may have Lysandra but it will not stop me from making sure I have my own bond with you. Just as Luca being with Evangeline won't stop your bond with her."

Lysandra appeared in the hallway. "Aedion, why are you so focused on Evangeline?"

He cocked his head.

Lysandra sighed, "I did not want to do this today because it is her birthday."

Gavriel and Rowan studied the shifter.

"Go past my scent," she told them.

The two males looked at each other, politely smiled at Lysandra and headed back into the party.

"Evangeline won't be your only chance to be a father," Lysandra said, touching her stomach. "Manon wrote me the other day, she said that though it would be difficult to conceive it is still possible. She said that our child will either have fae features like hearing, or - more likely - my shifting abilities. But other than the normal, human risks of childbirth, there are no other dangers."

He reached for his wife and kissed her.

"Stop worrying about Evangeline or you will miss out on the first few years of this child," Lysandra warned him.

He nodded and pulled away from her smiling. Aedion stared at the hand on her stomach. A part of him and a part of the woman he loved was going to enter this world.