#9 The Lonely Rogue

Junie

Cole was right. The second Caspian pulled me from the portal, my head spun and my stomach churned. I stumbled away from Caspian, not wanting to throw up all over his shoes.

“Junie?” Caspian’s voice was laced with concern as I bent over and gasped for air.

“That….sucked.” I gasped. Caspian’s low chuckle earned a stubborn glare from me as I straightened my back.

“You should know that everyone already knows what happened.” Cole said, leaning against the wall in the dark room we were now in, “I told them when you summoned me.”

“I figured.” Caspian grumbled, not taking his eyes off of me.

I looked around the room. It was small and dimly lit, void of any furniture or decorations, a large mirror was the only thing in the room. The mirror’s frame was old-looking with delicate gold detailings and took up the entire wall. It took me a minute to realize that the mirror was what we had just come out of as it slowly stopped rippling and returned to solid-looking glass.

“This is the portal room.” Caspian said obviously.

“I think she could’ve figured that one out on her own.” Cole snorted in amusement.

“Are you feeling okay?” Caspian ignored his Gamma.

“Yeah, I’m okay.” I mumbled as my head slowly began to steady.

“Out of the frying pan and into the fire.” Cole said before opening the door and slipping into the hallway.

“Ignore him. It’s going to be fine.” Caspian was glaring after Cole.

“Okay.” I squeaked, taking his hand and feeling overwhelmed by nerves. I had absolutely no experience with mothers.

Caspian smiled down at me reassuringly before dragging me out of the portal room. We entered a large, empty hallway that you could have driven a truck through; it was that large. The walls were decorated with vintage-looking floral wallpaper, golden sconces, and brass gas lamps hanging just below the white crown molding. Old world mirrors and portraits hung from the walls. Cole and Caspian’s dress shoes clicked loudly on the marble flooring as we moved through the hall.

The hall emptied into a grand foyer that mimicked the design of the hallway. A huge fireplace stood off center in the wall, between a grand staircase and a closed walnut door. Fire was roaring lively in the hearth, warming the room and casting elegant shadows on the walls. Facing us were a set of heavy-looking wood doors that, I guessed, were the front entrance. To the left was an arched opening and to the right was a door propped open. Inside the cracked door I heard voices, saw shadows moving, and old music poured from the room.

Caspian took us through the archway which opened into a cozy living room. It was much more modern than the rest of the castle.

“Junie!” Ally squealed and jumped up from the sectional couch, lunging towards me. She nearly trampled me with her hug.

“Hi, Ally.” I laughed.

“Goddess, are you okay?” She held me at arm’s length and looked me over. Her eyes glanced towards her brother next, checking him for injuries as well.

“We’re fine, Ally.” Caspian looked irritated with his sister’s concern.

“Malcolm was in the parlor room with some guests visiting from one of his packs. They wanted a meeting with you.” Ally said and I realized that must’ve been the room off of the foyer with the half-opened door.

“They can wait. I need to get Junie settled first.” Caspian dismissed her with a wave of his hand, “Where is mother?”

“In the kitchen having her tea, of course.” Ally plopped back down on the couch and turned her attention towards the mounted, flat screen TV which was playing some sort of werewolf soap opera. Apparently, the realm had some pretty famous actors.

“Come along, Junie.” Caspian said, tugging me away from the living room. I didn’t even notice that Cole had stayed behind with Ally.

I didn’t say anything, but it was hard to ignore Caspian’s discomfort and tension with being home. I hadn’t realized how differently he acted with me in Charleston compared to here, in the castle, where all of his responsibilities weighed him down.

Out the otherside of the living room was a huge dining hall; it was set up more like a cafeteria with a set of swinging doors leading to the kitchen. I caught a glimpse of a smaller, formal dining room through an opening that was set on the opposite wall.

Caspian pushed through the swinging white doors and smiled as he saw a woman sitting at a small table inside the kitchen. It was clear where Caspian got his looks from. The woman had the same thick, chestnut colored hair and bright blue eyes. I wondered what, if any, features Caspian got from his father. The woman smiled and her face lit up.

“Oh, this must be Junie!” She gushed, rushing over towards me.

I had no idea how to address a royal and I realized that was something I probably should’ve asked Caspian before this moment. I stammered and stumbled through a curtsy only to have both Caspian and his mother laugh at me.

“Oh, enough of that. Come here!” Queen Lydia yanked me towards her in a fierce hug.

When she pulled away, Queen Lydia studied my face with her hands curled around my forearm. Her eyes pinched together as she racked my body with her gaze.

“Hm, interesting.” She said thoughtfully before releasing me.

“Mother?” Caspian seemed confused by her reaction. Instead of answering, her expression returned to a kind smile as she hugged her son, as well.

“I’m glad to see you two here, safe and sound.” She said, “Why don’t I take Junie to her room while you take care of business, Caspian?” Queen Lydia said, already hooking her arm around mine and pulling me from Caspian’s grip.

“Oh, I don’t think…..” Caspian started to protest, latching onto my wide eyed expression.

“Malcolm has brought guests and you must act swiftly against the rogues who attacked you two. I can tend to Junie.” Queen Lydia’s voice left little room for argument, yet, Caspian managed. He grabbed my hand and removed me from her grasp.

“Are you okay with this?” He looked down at me with a stern gaze. I sighed and nodded,

“It’s fine, Caspian.” As much as I didn’t want to leave his side, I knew he had work to do and I didn’t want to be seen following him around like a lost puppy.

“Alright. I won’t be long.” He said, but something about his expression told me that he couldn’t promise that. He leaned down and kissed me swiftly, before releasing me and disappearing from the kitchen.

“Oh, I’m so happy you two have found each other. He’s so much happier since meeting you.” Queen Lydia smiled after her son, taking my arm again as she pulled me from the kitchen.

She led me out the opposite side of the dining hall and through the formal dining room I caught sight of earlier. It had a long wooden table with large legs and matching walnut colored chairs. It was decorated sophistically in dark, moody colors with dark marble floors. She navigated us through several hallways and I was already lost by the time we came to a door that gave way to an elevator.

“You’ll learn your way around eventually, don’t worry.” Queen Lydia laughed at my confused face.

“I doubt that.” I mumbled to myself as she punched a few buttons on a keypad. The doors to the elevator split open and she pressed the highest number on the panel.

“The Alpha and Luna suites are on the top floor along with rooms for the children.” She explained, “Most of the guest rooms are on the ground floor. The Beta and Gamma suites are on the second floor and the third floor is for family; it’s where Alice, Malcolm, and I stay along with my mother.”

The elevator doors opened when we reached the fourth floor, opening up to a dark hallway. This hallway was much skinnier and not nearly as long with several heavy looking wooden doors on either side. Queen Lydia guided me to the very end of the hall, where there were two doors grander than the rest. The door to the left said Alpha while the one to the right read Luna on fancy golden plaques. There was also a set of double doors in front of us with no label.

“This is an addition to the castle that my parents ordered when they first moved in. It’s a suite made for both the Alpha and Luna to share. Before them, when the royal family originally ruled, it wasn’t proper for a woman and man to share a bedroom.” Queen Lydia explained, nodding towards the double doors, “For now, Caspian stays in the Alpha room and I thought you would be more comfortable in your own chambers.”

“Thank you.” I smiled in appreciation as she twisted the intricately designed golden knob, opening the door to the Luna quarters.

It was obvious that the room had already been prepared for my arrival. A fire was started in the brick hearth of the wood burning fireplace, lit candles lined the enmours mantal. A four poster bed stood in the center of the room, directly facing the fireplace, and hidden behind heavy, red tapestries. Queen Lydia pulled the tapestries to the side, knotting them to a post at the foot and head of the bed which was dressed in matching maroon blankets and pillows.

A black and red woven circular rug was underneath the bed, a heavy cedar chest at the food of it. A matching cedar wardrobe was sitting crooked in the corner of the room. On the other wall was a large picture window with a bench seat covered in a velvet red cushion. On either side of the bed’s curved, wooden headboard was a door.

“You must forgive the traditional appearances. You’re actually the first Luna to stay here in the time of the new reign.” Queen Lydia explained, “Although, the bathroom has been modernized.” She added, opening the door to the left of the bed.

The bathroom had black and white tiled floor with a porcelain, clawfoot tub and modern, tiled shower. There was a marble topped vanity that ran the length of the wall with a mirror trimmed in light hanging above it. A toilet was clearly added to the back of the bathroom in a small corner. The other door, I guessed, led to a closet.

“You didn’t stay here?” I asked, leaving the bathroom.

“No. Zeke, my husband, was my mate so when he moved in we just went straight to the joint room and my parents moved to the third floor.” She said, leaning against one of the posts of the bed.

“And Sabrina?” I asked hesitantly. Queen Lydia’s eyes widened.

“I hadn’t realized Caspian told you about her.” She whispered.

“He did.” I said.

“Yes, well, they were the same as Zeke and I. Caspian was already king and living in the Alpha suite when he met Sabrina. When she moved in and accepted his proposal, they both stayed in the combined quarters.” Queen Lydia was frowning.

“It doesn’t upset me to hear about her, you know.” I said and she instantly relaxed.

“I wasn’t sure.” She mumbled. I shrugged and smiled politely at her,

“I don’t have any reason to be upset. She was his mate before. He’s a different person now.”

“He really is lucky to have you.” Queen Lydia grinned, “I wasn’t sure how the second chance mate thing would work.”

“Caspian says I’m too relaxed about it sometimes. I think he wishes I was more jealous.” I smirked. Although, I thought, after today’s show at dinner he might not be thinking that anymore.

“Caspian has a hard time observing people’s subtle emotions.” She said,

“He’s not so hot with the obvious ones, either.” I mumbled and Queen Lydia burst out laughing.