From The Ashes

Chapter Twelve

I was awoken the next morning by something smacking me in the face. I popped up out of bed and looked around, dazed and confused, until my eyes landed on Aislinn.

She was glaring at me, with hands on her hips and a shirt still in her grasp. I looked down to realize she had thrown a pair of black jeans at me.

"Uhh, good morning?" I sheepishly said to her. She huffed and threw the shirt at me, too.

"You have half an hour to get ready before you need to be in the throne room. King Ruben and the princes have been talking about your incident all morning. So hurry up." I grimaced at her harsh tone.

"Look, Aislinn.."

"Not right now, Indigo. I don't have the patience for you."

I paused for a moment before getting out of bed and heading to the shower. As I washed the remnants of last night away, anxiety settled like a boulder in my stomach.

Today, my fate with the DarkBlood pack could change.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. I hadn't realized just how much I'd enjoyed my time here. I didn't want to go back to being a nobody; the person who everyone in Moonlight pack could kick around and not even bat an eye. I turned off the shower and got out.

I dressed myself in the black jeans Aislinn had thrown at me, accompanied with an olive green v-neck sweater. I opted to pull my hair into a high, tight bun, and apply a little more makeup than usual. I needed to look like I took this seriously.

I ended with putting my mother's ring on my finger, adding a simple golden chain, and spritzing myself with jasmine smelling perfume. I was hoping the familiar smell would calm my nerves a little. It'd be almost like Artemis was here cheering me on. Aislinn knocked on the bathroom door.

"Are you ready?" She asked. I opened the door and nodded to her. Before she could leave the room, I put my hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Aislinn, just in case I don't get the chance to tell you later, I want to say I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. I know you were just trying to be a good friend and look out for me. I took a risk that may end badly, but I want you to know how sorry I am." She looked back at me with tears in her eyes.

"I told you not to go. I don't want you to leave here. You're the first real friend I've had in...well, ever. As mad as I am at you, I'm really hoping King Ruben goes easy on you and let's you stay. Now let's go, it'd be really bad if we were to be late today." With that, she turned on her heel and began walking down the stairs.

I followed her with my head down. I guess I really hadn't thought of the reprocusscions my actions would have on the people around me. Shame weighed heavily on my shoulders as we walked down the long hallway to the throne room. She stopped suddenly outside of the door.

"Whatever happens, make sure you can stay," she whispered to me before walking in.

I waited.

I could hear voices beyond the door. It sounded like it was getting heated, but I couldn't make out any definitive words. Finally I heard King Ruben.

"You may enter, Indigo."

I straightened my shoulders and pushed the door open. I tried look confident, but I couldn't stop the shaking of my hands. I clenched my fists by my side and stopped just before the king's throne.

I scanned my surroundings. To my left, Valen and Von were huddled by their thrones, occasionally whispering to one another. On King Ruben's right, with her hand on his shoulder, was Queen Stella. She met my eyes and flashed me a small smile, but her expression was stiff. There really was no telling how this was going to play out. I took a deep breath. The room was silent for a few moments.