Skyla Rossi: A Game of Deception and Lies (The Rossi Legacies Book 4)
Skyla Rossi: A Game of Deception and Lies Chapter 49

ROYCE.

"Fine by me," I reply.

Just then, Mom and Winona enter the hall. There's no sign of Marcel or Dad but the blood on Mom's clothes makes me scan her over. She looks ok. What happened?

"Then what do the people say?" Aleric says scanning the crowd.

"I don't give a fuck what people say. I know my daughter and you are not the f*****g one for her."

"But I am her mate! Fated mate! You have no right to stop me from being with my mate, Alpha King Alejandro." Aleric says.

"Because I-" Alejandro begins.

"Dad, stop it!" Sky shouts.

I don't want her doing that to her father... they've only recently come to an understanding.

"Fated mate or not, she'll always be mine. She chose me, and as much as I belong to her, she belongs to the Solaris King." I say confidently, not caring how arrogant I sound.

"How dare you!" Aleric snarls. "I demand you accept her rejection and back the f**k off, or I won't hold back from killing you either."

I smirk coldly. "If you will succeed."

"Try me!"

"But she is choosing Aleric Arden... we need to do what's right, your majesty." Another Alpha from the council says seriously.

I glance at Alejandro, who still seems to be struggling with the truth, as he stares at Skyla.

"Aleric." Mom's voice comes, but she sounds exhausted.

"Mom... look, I found my mate," he says, smiling at her.

Mom looks between us, "Tell me Aleric, tell me the truth," she says, looking between the three of us. "Did you have anything to do with Quade's death?"

"No! How can you believe that? I have done nothing wrong!" He says with false sincerity as he takes Mom's hands. Concern in his eyes as he looks at the blood on her clothes. "What happened?"

She shakes her head, and I glance at her hands, stained with blood...

But she's observing him. Can she see through his façade?

My heart thunders as she slowly pulls away and looks at Skyla, who is standing silently. Mom goes over to her and takes her hands.

"Skyla Rossi, I wish our first meeting wasn't like this... but please don't pitch two brothers against one another... isn't Royce the one you want?"

"No," Skyla replies. "It's Aleric. Royce has committed far more crimes than you can imagine. If I were you, I'd stay away from him."

My eyes flash and I'm about to speak when Leo places his hand on my arm.

"Enough. With the allegations that are presented here. I vote that for now, Aleric and Royce Arden are both taken into custody for questioning and held in confinement. until we have done our investigations. As for Skyla Rossi, I think she too should be kept apart from-"

"No! Aleric has done nothing wrong. Isn't the law that everyone is innocent until proven guilty? Probe their minds, and you will get your answers! How can you hold someone innocent in prison? I'm telling you that he has done nothing to me! I want to be with him! And if anyone will make this difficult, then I demand that the council defend me! isn't that what it's for?!"

A murmur crosses the crowd, but it's clear without the facts and proof everyone is debating it.

If Dad could see the state of the Arden name, he tried so hard to protect....

"All in favour of Leo's suggestion!" Alejandro growls.

"Dad!" Skyla says, shocked.

"I'm sorry Sky... but I'm not taking chances."

"Before everyone votes...I just want you to think if you truly think this is the right thing to do... why am I being targeted? I have done nothing wrong in my life. I suggest a mind probe and until there is proof against me, I will not settle to be abused by those in power." Aleric says seriously, as he scans the crowd. But this was not part of his plan. I can see it from the look on his face, the way he paled and the way he's balled his fists.

"Now you're ok with the mind probe?" I ask coldly.

Mom looks at him, frowning slightly.

"All I want is to simply be with my mate," Aleric says.

"Aleric," Mom begins. "The truth, it's never too late to atone-"

"There is no truth! I'm being framed because your Solaris King wants my mate! He got the kingdom! Allow me to keep the woman I love!" Bastard...

"All in favour of keeping both Aleric Arden and the Solaris King, Royce Arden, in confinement until further investigations!" Alejandro thunders.

The crowd is torn, and I know it's going to be a mixed vote. Rayhan Rossi is the first to raise his hand, followed by all the Westwoods. Azura follows as she looks at me with regret and mouths, 'I'm sorry'.

One by one, everyone begins to raise their hand.

"You can't hold me forever. I have a life!

This will only cause my mate trauma!" Aleric shouts.

"No, it won't," Raihana says coldly.

"Perhaps a time limit?" Someone says.

"It's true. We can't hold people like this without proof! That goes against what we have been taught!"

"I propose they be held for three days then if in three days no proof is brought forward, then he'll be released," Liam says suddenly.

I look at him sharply as Skyla curses.

Three days?

"That's not fair!"

But his words send a ripple through the crowd.

"All in favour," Alejandro says quietly.

Most hands go up and my eyes flash.

Three days.

F**k.

That means for three days I can't do anything?

Aleric wraps his arm around Skyla, who hugs him tightly.

Three days... I need to replace the answers in three f*****g days... but I'm not opposed to getting rid of him if I don't replace anything.

"Then we will hold Aleric Arden and Royce Arden in custody. After all, this involves the royal family. We can't have something happen if they are under your watch," Magdalene says gravely. "Perfect... and we will replace out if anything strange occurs under our watch," Raihana says, her eyes glimmering as she glares at Aleric.

So, the witches trust her despite the fact she's a Rossi...

A hint of a frown crosses Aleric's face before Skyla shakes her head.

"This isn't fair!"

"It's ok sweetheart... we'll be together soon. Three days, they won't replace anything," he says with confidence as he caresses her jaw.

"Mark me then," she says suddenly. My heart seems to stop as my gaze snaps to them... removing my mark....

"No. Until we confirm what is right and wrong, there will be no marking." Leo says icily.

"You can't stop me, mark me, Aleric!" Skyla says, glaring at her cousin.

"That's not Sky." I hear one of the quints say.

I glance around and realise I can see the pain and devastation on their faces.

'Sky... don't do this... come on... can you hear me?' I try through the bond.

Nothing.

My heart thuds as Azura runs over to her, shouting at her not to do this. Flames engulf them both and my own heart is thudding as I see her arch her neck through the flames.

No.

Jealousy and rage like never before burn inside of me, blistering cold ice that is ready to destroy the f*****g world.

"Don't do it," I whisper, my voice so cold and dangerous I barely recognise it as the entire room becomes a fucking freezer. But they don't listen. Time seems to slow as Aleric's flames grow higher and I send a powerful bolt of lightning at it, but there's something inside, something that's shielding them from my blow.

"He'll kill them!" someone shouts as I slam my fists into the fire, but the barrier is strong.

"Skyla!" Kiara shouts, but it's obvious they are torn.

Right before my eyes, I see Aleric sink his teeth into her neck. A blast of my blue aura wraps around Skyla, but it's not my doing.

I'm held back by this barrier, but whatever that is, it throws Aleric back and he hits the wall of flames and in that moment my power overrides his, destroying the flames in seconds.

Ice spreads around us, encasing the floor, ceiling, and furniture.

"What the..." Aleric murmurs, horrified.

"It... didn't work," Skyla says as she clutches her neck.

There's blood and a bite, but it did nothing to the mark or the remaining tatters of our bond.

"They are not destined!" Someone shouts.

"They possibly are, but the mark of a Solaris king cannot be overruled," Janaina says quietly.

"Correct," Grandad says as he steps forward, from where he was holding Mom, and Winona quickly moves closer, supporting her.

Something happened, but my mind is too fucked to focus on it.

"What do you mean? A fated mate's mark trumps all!"

I smirk coldly when Aleric looks at me.

"Not a king's." I taunt.

"What on earth is going on? Who's lying?" Keith says, confusion clear in his eyes.

"We can probe their minds, but the chance that their memories are tampered with is highly likely," Raihana says quietly. "For now, imprisonment is our only option. I hope that is alright Luna Catherine."

Mom looks at her, and I can see the pain in her eyes. She nods slowly, looking away from both Aleric and me, and I can see the negative effect this is having on her.

Mom... I'm so fucking sorry.

They will not hold me. I don't care what everyone wants, but I need to replace answers.

"Three days... until we can be together without these accusations," Aleric says quietly, cupping Skyla's face.

Sky... look at me.

"Where is Alpha Kenneth!" someone asks."

His sons are here and he isn't. He should know what's happening!"

"He won't be joining us tonight," Mom says quietly.

Did she... kill him?

Her aura is weaker...

No, I push the thought away, not having time to ponder on it, as a few witches step forward to bind us.

"Make sure the spells are absolute," Leo says, as he watches Aleric.

Three days... if in three days we don't replace the answers, I will kill him myself before I let him touch my woman. "Royce," Raihana says.

I look at her, and I see the sympathy in her eyes.

I don't need sympathy.

I glance at Leo. "Find the answers, or I will raise hell," I say quietly, as our eyes meet, and he nods.

The witches begin chanting as their magic begins simmering around them, and I can feel the powerful binding spell wrap around them. My eyes blaze as I glare at Aleric.

He's panicking, but at the same time, he's trying to contain himself. But what unnerves me is the way he keeps staring at Skyla, who gives him a slow nod.

What is going on?

His gaze snaps back to me.

"I won't forgive this," he says quietly.

"Enjoy these three days, because when they are over, you will pay for every fucking crime you have committed... and I swear on Selene, and Helios that I will expose the truth. One way or another. This is the beginning of your f*****g end." I reply icily and I mean it. My eyes flash and even with the binding spell, I manage to raise my hand, sending a bolt of lightning right at Aleric hitting him square in the chest. Skyla tries to block, but I create a wall between her and him, forcing her back.

"Royce!" Mom shouts, but I don't really care.

"He deserves far worse." I snarl.

The witches double down on the spells. "You might want to strengthen the spell on him. He may not be as strong as me, but he does have a deal with the snake god after all." I add mockingly.

"The accused will be held in secure cells, and my men will also be watching over them," Alejandro says quietly. "The truth will be revealed. Any funny business and sedate them."

The witches nod, and soon guards begin to escort us out. Rayhan, Liam, Chris and a few others flank Aleric, as I look down at the magic that wraps around my wrists. Three days. That's all they f*****g getting.

I'm coming for you, Lil Lucifer. There's no way your Reign will let anything happen to you.

I turn my head and look over my shoulder at her, only to replace her watching me. Our eyes meet and I hear her heart skip a beat...

"Wait for me, Love. Your Royce will return."