Ash's Place

Chapter 15

Ash's POV

Xander's brown hair drifts down to the floor as the barber cuts his long locks. His face remains impassive, and his shoulder is tensed under my hand. Following his gaze, I look to see him locked onto a man a few years older than him. When my eyes meet the stranger's, he smirks and gives a slight nod of his head. Xander forcefully sighs, making me remove my gaze from the stranger and focus back on my husband.

I squeeze his shoulder slightly and he turns his head to place a gentle kiss on the top of my hand. I fight back a smile at the simple gesture and when I look up again, this time I look at Aiden. He quickly meets my gaze and quirks an eyebrow up at me. He moves his hand up to brush his hair out of his face and when he does, he swiftly taps his forehead twice. Sighing, I lower my mental shields and allow our sibling connection to grow taut again.

'What is wrong with him?' Aiden asks, looking pointedly at Xander.

'I don't know. He is stressed about something. Who is the man to your left?'

'You don't know?'

I narrow my eyes slightly, 'If I did, I wouldn't be asking.'

Aiden smirks, 'That is Rasmus Canmore. He is the eldest brother of the Canmore family and when his father steps down, he will become High Lord of the southern peninsula.'

'That was uncharacteristically helpful. Are you okay?'

'I'm bored. But my plan is not to ruin your day today, Ashlee. I would prefer today to go off without any incidents from our lovely parents.'

I nod and put my mental shields back up, severing the connection. Aiden sighs and rolls his eyes. I shift my attention back to Xander's brother and wonder what the tension is all about. I know Xander said he doesn't exactly get along with his brothers but there must be more to it than that. Xander has hardly taken a breath since sitting down, and I doubt it is because of his hair.

"Let us all start the celebration!" the King declares, as the barber steps away from my husband. Cheers spring up from the crowd before they start to return to the high hall. Once the crowd has cleared some, I run my fingers through Xander's short hair, and he looks up at me. I give him a questioning glance, but he just slightly shakes his head. He stands up and goes to offer me his arm when the King's voice cuts through.

"Ashlee. A word."

I bend my head and look down at the floor, "Of course, Your Highness."

When Xander does not move from my side, the King speaks again.

"Alone."

Xander slips his fingers between mine, "Whatever you have to say to my wife, you can also say to me."

My head jerks up and I give Xander a warning look. He just smiles and looks back at the King. I follow his gaze, to see smoke practically billowing from the King's ears. If there is anything that the King dislikes more than me, it is being disrespected. And while I appreciate the sentiment from Xander, I would like our marriage to last more than twenty-four hours.

The King clears his throat, "Whatever I wish to speak to my daughter about, does not concern you. You are dismissed."

"If you are speaking to my wife, it does concern me. And as the Future King..." Xander goes silent, and when I look up at him, he is pale. He blinks rapidly as if to clear his head and when I look back to the King, I notice his opened hand. He is silencing Xander.

The King scoffs, "You may be the Future King, but I am the King right now. You would do well to remember that Canmore.

I will remind you that this...arrangement" the King says, while gesturing between us, "can be terminated. And we wouldn't want that. Would we?"