Robbin's POV
Cold, crisp air filled my lungs in a frenzy as I flew above in the sky. Dark clouds formed below me and I knew a storm was coming. Just a while longer, I thought to myself. It'd only been two days since we came back to the Northerner kingdom, and my time a focus has solely been on Vision. We haven't spent a moment apart since leaving. I would've slept outside with him too if Xander didn't put a curfew on the kingdom to prevent any Rogues from slipping away at night. He's so keen on catching every last rogue that he's doing pack inspections more frequently than needed, and checking for runaways at the rogue detention centers on Northerner territories.
I'm afraid Xander might be letting Ryker get under his skin. Yes, we have a mole, and there may be rogues lurking in the kingdom, but that doesn't mean we should lose our heads. It means they should. Vision swerves down to Mystic Lake as he senses the storm too, and I unwillingly climb off of him. It's already nightfall and I'll be expected to dinner soon. I'd skip out on it, but Xander wants to put on a strong front to everyone, showing them no enemy can tear down their king or queen.
Vision's head bends down to the lake to taste its water as I walk around him. "I guess this is it for today," I sighed out, rubbing the side of his massive face. "I'll come back first light, I promise." I wrapped my arms around him one last time and let him go. Leaving Vision is always the hardest thing to do. I'd never say it to Xander's face, but our bond is stronger than the mate bond. It's unfortunate for him, but it's true, mostly because I'm not a werewolf. I don't carry their possessiveness features. Dragon blood carriers protect their own, and I fear that one day if I had to choose between them, even I wouldn't like the outcome.
The castle was within view and I made my way toward it, already regretting leaving Vision behind. Every time we fly together, I can't help but get the urge to never come down, to just leave. But that'd be selfish. My responsibility as queen trumps everything less than it.
I was hoping for a quiet walk back to the castle, but Xander's figure caught my eye just up ahead, as it had for the past few days. He's been waiting for me after my rides, which he had the audacity to limit to three times a day for 'health' reasons. At least he didn't bring any palace guards with him today. "This isn't necessary, Xander," I say as soon as he's within earshot. He wasn't even looking at me as his gaze was focused on Vision behind me. From the look on his face, Xander's feelings toward Vision aren't good ones.
"It's time for dinner. I thought you'd like to see your people for once and not flying around with your pet." His tone was a spiteful one, like a child throwing a tantrum.
I felt angry at his word choice for Vision. He isn't some pet object to me. "Vision is not a pet. Don't you dare speak of him like that again! What's with you? Ever since we've returned from the Westerlie kingdom, you've been defensive about me."
Xander crossed his arms, seeming on the verge of holding back whatever he originally wanted to say. "You've been spending your days flying from your duties as a queen. I understand you're excited to have him back in your life again, but don't forget the people who are following your lead. Now come, it's time for dinner." It didn't even sound like an option. It was a command. The alpha in his voice peaked loud enough for me to hear him bark his order at me. Xander looked down on me, just as he used to do when we first met when I was the useless girl who suddenly appeared in the Northerner kingdom.
"When are you going to learn," I asked, crossing my arms as well, "I don't take orders from you. Yes, your my mate, but that term clearly has two different meanings for us." I wanted my words to hurt him, the way his did when he insulted my Vision just moments ago. It seemed to have worked. Xander's face didn't flinch, but his eyes were furious, almost ready to pop out and attack me.
"And what exactly does it mean to you," he asked but it was rhetorical as he answered for himself right away, "Because, for me, it means someone who obeys their mate, someone who listens the first time or deals with the consequences." I was appalled by his words. Is that what he thinks I'm here for? "You're my mate, Robbin, not Vision's. Your attention should be on me. Your love and affection is mine. I don't want to share."
"And if I don't? If I choose to disobey you, what will you do?" I wasn't sure if Xander wouldn't hurt me. He has in the past, after all. I was still his mate back them, and he chose to hurt me. No, I was sure he'd try it again, but I'm stronger now. So he could damn well try, but he won't walk away without a fight.
"Then I'll throw you back into the cooling cell and let you freeze out until you learn. Don't forget little dragon, you're in my kingdom. You may be the queen, but I am your king." his body towered over mine, but my confidence brought me to the same height.
"Threats won't make me love you, Xander."
"No, but necessity will."
My body felt like it was burning from one thousand fires. His words enraged me, and I was sure Vision felt this too. I heard the stomp of his feet moving closer to us. I didn't stop him. The unreasonable part of me wanted Vision to burn him to ashes, but a small piece of sanity knew what would happen next. A Westerlie royal killing a Northerner king would invoke a war.
"Necessity," I scoffed, "What would I ever need from you?"
Xander cocked his head to the side as if he was waiting for me to figure it out, but I was completely oblivious. I don't need Xander. There isn't anything that he could take away from me, nothing he could reach anyway. "Insurance," he answers with confidence. "Staying with me is the only way to keep the Westerlie kingdom from falling. You don't have a choice."
"You'd use innocent people to threaten me?" I was appalled. I never thought Xander could be so cruel. "You're no different than Ryker." My words finally seemed to strike a vein. Xander, who usually only reacts with his eyes, was full-faced disgusted at what I said. His body was rigid, but I could tell his mind was racing. Comparing Xander to the same monster who murdered his parents was low, but it was the only way.
"Don't you ever compare me to that man again." Xander moved forward but restrained his steps as Vision growled ominously behind me.
"Fine," I crossed my arms and glared up at him, "So long as you don't threaten to the lives of civilians. That's no way a king should act and you know it." Xander's demeanor seemed to have calmed down. What was going on with him? Ever since we returned, he's been harsher to me. Is he jealous of Vision? It's possible. Werewolves are possessive and territorial. And here I come, the alpha king's mate who brought her heart and soul with her into his backyard. Of course, his feelings are going to be hurt. But it's not my fault. No one could've predicted this happening. In Xander's eyes, I have two mates. And in mine, I only have one. Vision is my first choice and Xander...I want him to be one too, what am I going to have to sacrifice?
I exhaled deeply and shut my eyes briefly. When I opened them again, I turned to Vision who was waiting to basically eat Xander at this point. Maybe Vision felt possessive too. All this time, I've been selfishly focusing on myself, not even on my dragons feelings. I rubbed Vision's snout to calm him. "Velita," I commanded, and he took off into the sky, leaving Xander and me alone.
Xander's face contorted back to normal as if the argument we just had never existed. "Xander," I sighed out, "We keep having the same fight. You want submission and I want freedom. There has to be a way to meet in the middle."
"He shouldn't have come back," Xander mumbled. It was faint, but I heard it clearly. "He's back, and now I have to share. You were already difficult as it was to get attention from, and when I had it, it was fleeting. Now that he's back, you're not even here. You've left me alone down here." he was speaking from pure emotion, something I'd never seen from him. His feelings were real.
I wanted to tell him that Vision would always come first, that'd I'd choose him over my mate, but that wouldn't stop this argument. It'd only increase his jealousy, and we have bigger problems to deal with. "How about I spend time with Vision for the first half of the day, then you have me for the second?" we need to compromise this situation before Xander decides to take care of it himself. Nothing good would ever come from that.
Xander pauses for a few seconds before answering. "What about your queen responsibilities? You can't just abandon them."
"I wouldn't. Whatever I have to do will get done. But when it's finished, I'll either spend time with you or Vision." Xander hesitated. "This is our compromise, I continued, "We need to have some balance or this fight is never going to end. Please, Xander."
"Fine," he finally answered, moving closer to me, "But come my time with you, and you can believe you won't be let out of my sight." I could tell there was another motive within his words, that me staying by his side wasn't the only thing he wanted from me. How could intimacy be in his mind right now?
"If that's what you want, then so be it."
"No, it's not what I want. I'd rather never have you leave my sight, but you seem to run away from me every chance you get."
"That hasn't happened for a while now. Now come on, you said it was time for dinner." Xander turned to the side revealing the path back to the castle to me. Our compromise, it may not be efficient or the smartest choice, but it's all we have at the moment. Honestly, I can't think of a better solution. I can't go a day without seeing Vision, and Xander can't go without seeing me. Anything other than this wouldn't work, not as long as any of us are alive. I just hope it lasts. My mother died in the last world war fighting werewolves. If I have to go down the same way, then so be it. But I'm taking Xander with me.