Chapter 29: Liars.

                                    

                                          
For a few days after Tanya left everything had been quietly perfect, or so Andrew thought. With each hour he'd push Teddy into something she didn't want to do in the aim of making her 'The Perfect Queen' as Queen Theodora Rose of Aderelle she felt she couldn't disagree with him, but as Teddy she wished she would be able to tell him and not hurt him like she had the first time he directed her. Being with Andrew had made her weak, had made her show her emotions and now was a time to survive through the chaos and God knew she'd survived before. With each day Andrew saw Teddy pull away from him and he didn't know what to do, he didn't know if something was bothering her or if did something wrong, and that bothered him. 
                          
**
                          
Today had been a rest day, between the wedding, to the coronation, to visiting the public and everything that had happened behind closed door has tired her immensely and all she wanted was her big brother, who seemed to have just disappeared. Using all her contacts and still no one could find him. Where had he gone? He had gone on benders before but she could always reach or find him. She thought he was doing so well, he was wasn't he? She'd spent hours going over everything from their childhood to now and couldn't figure out what was going on, how had Andrew distracted her so much? She had never gotten this bad before. Mason seemed to be okay with everything, what if he wasn't? Before she could get lost any deeper in her thoughts Andrew poked her trying to check she was alive. "Sorry babe, you just hadn't moved in a while. Are you okay?" she nodded nonchalantly as he sat down near her, and started to list more of the things she could do better. But that's when she cracked "Will you just stop telling me what's wrong with me?! Don't you think I already know?!" Andrew's mouth dropped. He had never realised that all whilst he wanted to make her a better queen he had been berating his wife. Before he could apologize someone had burst through the door, "Jesus Christ does anyone know how to fucking knoc... Mason?" Mason was stood in the doorway with a gun pointing towards Teddy, Andrew couldn't move. "Masey, what are you doing?" Teddy's anger had dissipated and now was as cool as a cucumber, Andrew had never seen her so calm. He could tell she was worried but trying her best to hide it and boy was she doing it well. "T, I need the crown... please?" "Why do you need the crown Mase?" he jutted the gun forward as a warning to his sister, "You know why I need it T, Please don't make me do this." Her shoulders physically sagged, "I thought you were doing well." She whispered. "Me too T, but Tanya. She knew T. She knew what I did. You have to understand, please, please give me the crown." "Is it for you or Tanya?" Mason grew angry, "What does it matter?" "Because it fucking matters Mason! I don't care about Tanya but I care about you!" with each passing word Teddy's voice rose until it was almost a thundering cry. As Mason moved baby steps forward Teddy could see, his face matched Tanya's the last time she saw her. "Oh Mase," she went to reach for him and he fired a shot into the corner of the room. Whilst Andrew jumped from the bed Teddy stood like a statue, like the shot didn't faze her. "If you don't give me the crown she's going to make me kill you T. I know that's something you're comfortable with but I'm not." "I did that for you Mase. Don't you dare throw that in my face. Paul got us out but I had to work for it. You were to off your face to do it so they made me do so. I WAS A CHILD MASON. A CHILD. The only family you have is me yet now you're going to kill me for TANYA? So I did all that for nothing?" Mason was shaking. He'd do it. He would. He needed the crown. Tanya would kill him if he didn't. He didn't want to die but he needed Tanya and what she was giving him. 
                          
Joseph had heard the commotion and thinking that Tanya had returned he has walked towards his son's room. When he had heard what Mason had said, he regretted ever allowing Tanya in his home. He loved his sons but that woman was more trouble than he was worth. He knew Mason didn't want to hurt Teddy but he knew his wife and he knew what she was capable of achieving with her manipulative ways. He knew the crown was a front, he had it checked for safety reasons, after she had demanded it earlier in the week. She was using Mason to rid the world of Teddy, so that she'd have an in with the public and they'd demand her back as Queen where she had all the sway she wished with whomever she wanted. He wanted to walk in. to stop him. But he didn't know how. He knew Teddy did but she was blind for it was her brother who she had taken care of when he had needed to care for her and their parents for them both. He saw from the hallway how desperate Mason was becoming, Teddy had come into his life as a child, parents killed after they had been 'kidnapped', he didn't need them around so he palmed them off and yet they found their way back to the so called kidnappers who had actually kept them safer than he ever could, they didn't teach them the best things but they kept them safe. And now was his turn to keep at least one of them safe. "Mason, the crown is not going to give you what you want. It's been checked. It's clean." Joe had surprised Mason that Joe had been there, let alone spoke. "Get on the bed." Mason said shakily. Joe did as he said aware of the problems that could arise if he didn't. "YOU'RE LYING." Mason scream at Joe. He was shaking and crying, "Please tell me you're lying." But Mason knew he wasn't. And in that moment, in his crying state, he fell to his knees and before he squeezed the trigger he whispered "I'm sorry". Joseph had chosen to sit behind Teddy so that when this moment happened he could push Teddy out of the way. And that he did. The gun went off and Teddy fell to the floor, reaching for her gun that was under the cabinet that she landed by. As soon as she felt it, she pulled it out and fired in Mason's direction without a blink. 
                          
Andrew has reached for his dad as he fell to his knees. Gunshot wound to the stomach. He was dying, Joe felt it.  "Dad. Dad." Andrew applied pressure to the wound, "You'll be okay dad. We'll get help. Teddy? Teddy!" Teddy ran to Andrew and Joe, ignoring Mason's dead body on the opposite side of the room. Joe reached up for Teddy's face, "Take care of him." She nodded. She knew that he was close to the end, "Andy," Andrew faced his dad, "You take care of her too. You're a good man and you'll be a great King. I love you son." Andrew faced his wife and saw her crying, not for her dead brother but for her father-in-law who had hated her up until last month. He would take care of her with every breath he had.
                          
  
                          
How was your Valentine's Day? Good? Boring? Let me know in the comments!
                          
Also, What are your current book recommendations?  Physical books, Wattpad or whatever you like but I'm always looking for a good book. Here are some of mine:
                          
-Holding Up the Universe; Jennifer Niven
                          
-My Not So Perfect  Life; Sophie Kinsella
                          
-The Last Piece of My Heart; Paige Toon
                          
-Billy and Me; Giovanna Fletcher
                          
-A Thousand Letters; Staci Hart
                          
-With A Twist; Staci Hart
                          
-Accounting For Love; Erin Wright
                          
-Three Girls and A Baby; Rachel Schurig
                          
-Penryn and The End of Days Series; Susan Ee
                          
I've also recently been loving the Free, first in the series, Romance books on iBooks, maybe have a look on there if you are a bargain loving, book lover. I think the best ones are the books that have sequels but are not all based on the same character each book. Have a look at that and then get back to me about what you think!