Part 17 (2/2)
”Your heart is big enough to love thousands and it is in your genes to love more than one.”
It was my turn to laugh. ”Let me guess, I get that from the Dark Lord, my dad, too, huh?”
The wind stopped moving around me and the night felt suddenly still. ”No, my sweet child, that gift came from me. You see, I loved your father, but he was not the only man I loved. He was not the only man that could give me you.”
I was. .h.i.t with a sudden realization. ”Oh G.o.d, that's why he's been so insistent on me marrying Caleb in front of the Kingdom. He never got to proclaim his love for you and put an end to your other affairs.” I dropped to one knee. ”Why, did you leave father for them?”
Her voice was growing fainter now. ”No, you cannot leave what never lets you in and he made sure that I could not commit to any other so long as he was unable to have me.”
I thought about what she was implying. Had my father forbidden her to see anyone else, even though he could never publicly love her? I didn't have to wait for a response.
”You must hurry, Gwyneth, a life is in your hands now. Do not let him repeat the sins of his past. Go to him, Gwyneth, go ....”
I shot awake and found Caleb still asleep next to me. Touching him lightly, I watched as his eyes opened quickly. He glanced around and then sat up fast. ”Don't laugh when I ask you this, but by any chance, did you just dream that someone was in some serious trouble in the Dark Realm?”
I nodded.
”s.h.i.+t,” he said, tossing the covers aside. ”Me too. Let's go.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine.
We used the portal to the Dark Realm near the river by my house. My father had created it when I was a child so he could watch over me. I looked around at the large buildings and crowded sidewalks. This wasn't exactly what I had pictured h.e.l.l to be, but I was pretty sure it was what Christians based their belief of it off of.
It's always dark in the Dark Realm, hence the name. Not too many creatures that inhabit it can take direct sunlight. Everyone is free to come and go between the human world and here and that is a very scary thought.
I grabbed for Caleb's hand as I walked past a furry seven foot tall beast. Its eyes were bright red. Only the black iris let you know they were even functional. It looked at me and spread its mouth wide. For being huge, it had incredibly tiny teeth. I pulled in closer to Caleb. He'd been walking a step ahead of me the entire way.
”Caleb, wait.”
He slowed and turned to me. He shook his head slightly and pulled me to him. ”I'm sorry. I'm wrapped up in thoughts about ... let's just say that I've got a lot on my mind.”
”Like what?”
The large furry beast took a step closer to us. I tensed up and Caleb smiled. He put out his hand and shook the human-like hand of the beast.
”I thought that was you,” the beast said in an incredibly low voice.
”Beevan, how have you been?”
Caleb knew the thing? A shudder ran through me. Beevan turned to me. ”Is this who I think it is?”
Caleb pulled me in and brought my hand to his lips and then to my horror put my hand out to Beevan. His large hand came up and took mine. He brought his wide face down to me and planted a light kiss on the back of my hand.
”Princess, it is an honor indeed.”
Princess? I turned around and looked behind me. Both Caleb and Beevan chuckled.
”You'll have to excuse her, Beevan, she's not used to the t.i.tle,” Caleb said.
”Yes, I can see that.” He let go of my hand gently and looked at Caleb. ”You should know that the elders are filtering in. They have come early to aid in the preparations for the ceremony.”
Caleb stiffened. ”Which ones are here?”
”At least half of them and yes, your Aunt Sira has arrived.” Beevan looked down the street towards the large castle. Caleb followed suit and then looked back at me.
”Maybe we should come back later. We should really let your father know that we're coming.”
I thought about the dream I'd had. No, this couldn't wait. I had to see my father and stop him from doing something. I just wasn't sure what yet.
”Caleb, I need to see my father. Now. It can't wait.”
He let out a sigh and glanced at Beevan. ”I take it that since you are here, so is Conlan.”
Beevan nodded his gigantic head. ”Yes, my master is in a meeting with several of the elders as we speak.”
”Thank you, Beevan, and be safe.”
Beevan smiled. ”Be safe, young Caleb.”
Caleb pulled me down the street. I suddenly felt like everyone we walked past was staring at us. I yanked on Caleb's hand to stop him. He turned around and stared at me.
”What's wrong now?” he asked.
My jaw dropped. He was treating me like I was the biggest burden he'd ever had to deal with. I pulled my hand loose from his and felt my face tighten. ”Nothing, sorry.”
His eyes fluttered shut and he closed the distance between us. I stiffened as his arms wrapped around me. He planted tiny kisses on the top of my head and held me tightly. ”Gwen, I'm sorry. I'm just worried about the elders being here already.” He ran his hand down my cheek. ”How are you feeling?”
Ignoring his question, I glanced at the people walking past. They gawked at us. ”Why is everyone staring at us?”
He looked around like he was noticing for the first time that they were. He shrugged. ”I'm not surprised. You do realize that you're royalty and a public sighting of you is big stuff here.”
”But why are they staring at us?”
Caleb laughed. ”Because since your father announced our engagement, we're all the talk.” He cleared his throat. ”Of course, my s.e.xual escapades have been front and center in the tabloids while you were in Tuscany. They claimed I was sowing my wild oats before tying the knot.”
I groaned. ”Caleb, I'm trying really hard to be okay with my father's decision to force us to marry, but I can't lie to you.”
Nodding, he pulled me close and pressed his mouth to my ear. ”I know, Gwen. Deep down, it doesn't feel quite right, does it?”
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