He leaned forward and gently swept a strand of hair behind her ear; his fingertips grazed her skin.Sarah closed her eyes and let her head fall to the side into his touch. She felt comfort and security just pour over her. Henry left his hand on her cheek, his thumb tracing gentle patterns across her face.The air was almost thick with tension inside the car as if the silence between them was palpable. Elara, a maid, sat in the front seat and glanced back at him in the rearview mirror, but she blushed bright red as she turned quickly away, her subconscious picking up on the undercurrents of romance.Henry spoke in a low, reassuring voice, "You are safe now, Sarah. I'm here for you." His words clung to her, wrapping her in a warm embrace that shielded her and protected her.Sarah's eyes flashed open, locking with Henry's in a skipped heartbeat. For a moment, they merely stared at one another, electricity crackling from the connection between them.Elara coughed, the spell broken, and He
As we discussed the events of the day, I couldn't help but get drowned in Sarah's sparkling eyes. Her laughter was contagious; I found myself smiling with her, feeling light, as I hadn't in a long time.And the more we talked, the more I found my eyes darting back to the fall of hair down her back in careless waves, the shape of her lips as the smile came softer. Her eyes swept me under.I felt an instant connection with her, some sense of belonging I had never felt. It was like knowing her my whole life, not just days.I tried to pay attention to the conversation, but my eyes went back and rested on her face, drinking in her beauty. I knew I stared, but I could not help myself.She did not seem to pay heed to my gaze and continued talking about her favorite books and places she had gone to. Still, an awareness subtle as any appeared quiet understanding, it seemed, which passed between them like some whispered secret.Something in my head told me I needed to go easy, that I couldn't w
But I could feel him behind me, feel the warmth of his body, feel the tension between us. It was alive, pulsing with energy, waiting to spring."Oh, hey, it's cool," Henry said, his voice low and smooth. "I didn't mean to make you feel weird."He stepped back, his eyes locked on mine, and I felt his release, his apology sincere.I nodded, still in a daze and still trying to cool off, my heart still racing. Still, standing there, the feeling of anxiety running in my veins like a river wouldn't leave me alone.I thought deeply, realizing that to do anything with Henry would be a betrayal to Jethro. The thought was a blow to my gut heavier than a ton of bricks, and shame painted the inside of my skull.A tear had escaped my eye, and I hastily swiped it away. Not quick enough, though; Henry had seen it. He took one step closer, his eyes full of concern."Sarah, what's wrong?" he asked in a soft, gentle voice.I shook my head to try and clear it, but Henry's eyes lingered with mine, workin
I nodded serenely, completely understanding. "That's okay, Henry. Neither do I remember him."Henry's eyes crossed mine, and I saw a hint of mutual pain. We both had lost so much, so young."I wish I could tell you more," Henry said, regret deeply etched in his voice. "But I hope you know that I'm here for you now, Sarah. Always will be."I smiled softly, a sense of gratitude towards Henry welling up inside me. "Thank you, Henry. That means much to me.""I'm sure, though, that our fathers were close," Henry said, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.I nodded, making a light joke to break the tension. "Yeah, they probably plotted world domination together."Henry chuckled and nodded. "Maybe so."He apologized again for what he did, and I waved it off. "It's okay, Henry. Really."With a nod, Henry said, "I'm going to bed. It's been a long day."I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, me too. Goodnight, Henry.""Goodnight, Sarah," he replied, his eyes warm with friendship.We retired to our roo
Just as I was about to doze off to sleep, I heard a heavy thud on my door. I sat up to look at Mom, but she was deep asleep. I lay back down and chalked it up to the house settling.But then I heard the thud again. This time, it was louder.Terrified, yet bold, I took a torchlight down the stairs to see what it was. The creaking of the stairs beneath my feet sounded louder in the dead of night.At the bottom of the stairs, I swung my torchlight around the room, trying to see what was making the noise. But there was nothing. Just an eerie silence.Then, I suddenly heard a whisper. "Stella."I stood in the kitchen and was suddenly surrounded by a screeching noise that ran chills down my spine. Turning around, I saw that one of those creatures embraced Sarah, my sister. Its big, slender arms wrapped around her, and her eyes had wide stares of terror.I screamed, inching forward to rush towards her, but it was too late. One of the creatures pounced upon me, and I felt something sharp pier
Just as I had begun to sleep, I heard a loud thud on my door. I got up to check on my mom, but she was fast asleep. I laid back down, thinking it was just the house settling.But then I heard the thud again. Louder.Terrified but bold, I took up a torchlight and made it downstairs to see what it was. The stairs below my feet creaked in the silent night.Well, downstairs, at the bottom of the stairs, I shone my torchlight around in the room so that I may be able to find out what was making the noise. There was nothing. Just an eerie silence.Then I suddenly heard a faint whisper: "Stella."I was in the kitchen when I suddenly heard a screeching noise giving me cold chills. Turning, I saw my sister clutched by one of those creatures: He had his long, spindly arms wrapped around her, his eyes wide with terror.I screamed, trying to rush toward her, but it was too late. One of them threw himself at me, and I felt something sharp pierce my skin. I struggled; then, everything went black.As
Stella's pov I woke up to the sun streaking through the curtains, but the warmth of the morning did not affect the chill within me. The nightmare was fresh in my mind, and the terror that lingered in my heart was hard to dissolve.I got out of bed and started my morning routine just to get it off my mind. I showered, put on my work gear, and went into the kitchen to make coffee. My hands shook while pouring the coffee into the filter, and my mind kept wandering right back to the nightmare.I sipped my coffee, reaching out for my phone to check if there was a message from anyone. There was one from Sarah. Because of my nightmare, she asked how I was. I responded downplaying it, but she knew me too well.I grabbed my bag and headed out the door, focusing on the day ahead. Yet the nightmare still lingered, making me twitchy and jumpy. I just couldn't shake this feeling that something was off. It was like the nightmare was trying to tell me something.Driving to work, the only thing I co
Stella's POV As I spoke, my mom listened intently, her eyes filled with empathy. When I was done speaking, she wrapped me in a warm hug. "Oh, Stella, I'm so sorry that you're going through this. That sounds terrifying."I felt the lump well up in my throat as I hugged her back. "I've been so scared, Mom. I don't know what it means or why I'm having it."My mom squeezed me into a tight hug as her face changed from empathy to shock. "Stella, this is. This is weird," she stammered in her voice."What's wrong, Mom?" I asked puzzled.Mom cleared her throat before talking. "My nightmare. It was similar. The same beings, the same dark room. It scares me, Stella."I stared in utter shock. How could this be? Why were Mom and I having the same nightmares?Mom embraced me closely, trying to comfort me. "Relax, sweetie. Everything will be all right in the end. I don't know what this means, but we'll figure it out together."I clung to her, taking some comfort in her arms. What did it mean that m
Sara's POV As night fell, we spoke and laughed to make up for lost time. The announcement of the baby's arrival brought tears of joy to our eyes as Emma and Elias announced it. Henry and Anne's reunion was warm and welcomely received.We sat down to dinner at which time Jethro reached for my hand, his eyes locking mine. "I'm so glad to have you home," he whispered.I smiled, knowing full well the deep connecting nerve that was between us, and simply replied, "Me too.".Not one of my loved ones was missing from the dinner table, and for the first time in a very, very long time, I was whole.As the night wore on, Jethro took me toward our chambers with his arm securely wrapped around me."You're safe now," he whispered as his lips tickled my ear.I nodded, finally, the memories no longer weighing on my shoulders. "I'm home," I said out loud.Jethro's eyes sparkled, his lips curving into a smile. "Forever," he replied with a promise.I smiled in return; knowing all was right in the worl
Sara's POV As night fell, we spoke and laughed to make up for lost time. The announcement of the baby's arrival brought tears of joy to our eyes as Emma and Elias announced it. Henry and Anne's reunion was warm and welcomely received.We sat down to dinner at which time Jethro reached for my hand, his eyes locking mine. "I'm so glad to have you home," he whispered.I smiled, knowing full well the deep connecting nerve that was between us, and simply replied, "Me too.".Not one of my loved ones was missing from the dinner table, and for the first time in a very, very long time, I was whole.As the night wore on, Jethro took me toward our chambers with his arm securely wrapped around me."You're safe now," he whispered as his lips tickled my ear.I nodded, finally, the memories no longer weighing on my shoulders. "I'm home," I said out loud.Jethro's eyes sparkled, his lips curving into a smile. "Forever," he replied with a promise.I smiled in return; knowing all was right in the worl
Sara's P.O.V I hummed softly to myself as I cleaned Vincent's bedroom, my hands gliding easily across the surfaces. My eyes strayed to his dresser, toward that one drawer he'd always said not to touch. Curious, I wondered what could be so special in that one little drawer. "A surprise?" I asked innocently.My fingers found the handle and drew the drawer open in a second. Inside were heaps of photos. The first I picked was of a man crowned, an aura of melancholy diffused about him. A lot about him seemed so familiar, yet I just couldn't place who he was.I went onto the next picture couple embracing. The woman's face stirred something in my system. "Emma? Elias?" I blurred my head racing. Then, a sharp pain pierced my head, and pictures slipped from my hands as a groan escaped my lips.A voice reverberated inside my head, "I love you, and you are forever mine." But it wasn't Vincent's voice. There came confusion inside me. Picking up the coronation picture, the rise of tears was to be
Jethro's POV Three Months later…%.Three months had passed since that fateful day. I sat in my throne room, full of the grandeur of a restored kingdom but my heart was still shattered. Ryker's defeat and Tanisha's demise brought peace, but only Eldrid still stirred in my heart.Elias entered, his face solemn. "Your Highness," he greeted low. I did not even look up. "Did you find her?" I asked without any expectation of a different answer.The pause that followed was all the answer Elias needed. "Nein, Your Highness." I looked down, my eyes welling up hot. I had sent Elias to scour the ruins-to search every inch of the explosion site. But there was nothing. No sign of Sara. No indication of her fate.I clung to hope, tenuous as the thinnest of threads but refused to break. She may yet be alive. She must. Elias stepped near. His footsteps made quiet echoes in the still hall. "I have searched every possible place, Jethro," he said, using my name rather than my title. "I have interrogate
Jethro's P.O.V.I stormed down the corridors of Ryker's lair-my sword slicing through the shadows. Guards leaped to intercept me, but with rage fueling my movements, I cut them down with precision.Finally, I burst into Ryker's chamber, my eyes locking onto the man himself.Ryker stood calmly, an amused hint dancing on his lips."Where is Sara?" I yelled, my voice echoing off the stone walls. "Where are you keeping her?"Ryker's smile spread wider, but nothing fell from his lips. "Liar!" I spat, my hand tightening on my sword hilt. "I know you're behind this." Ryker somehow managed to lift an eyebrow. "Sara? Do you think I have Sara? You ought to know me by now, Jethro. If I had Sara, I'd leave a message. But I don't have Sara." Anger spilled over and I was yelling, "You're lying!Ryker's men drew their swords and, in the dim light of the room, angled them at me."Be careful, Jethro," Ryker said, his voice thick with malice. "You're on my turf, surrounded by my men. Your recklessne
Sara's POV I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess fogging my brain. Where was I? The air was heavy with darkness and an eerie silence.A faint splash sounded through the room followed by a cold trickle down my face. I jackknifed upwards, gasping.Someone was sitting beside me, swathed in shadows. My eyes slowly accommodated to the dim light and the outline of a woman appeared."Welcome back, Sara," she said, her voice oozing malice.The woman leaned forward, and a sliver of light danced across her features, revealing Tanisha's sinister smile."You must be wondering where you are," Tanisha said, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Let's just say you're guessing with me."Memories came flooding back to Emma's visit, the figure in black, the knock to the head. My mind reeled; fear clawed its way up my throat.Tanisha did not even bat an eye. "You see, Sara, you're quite valuable to me. Your. Particular talents could tip the scales in Ryker's favor."My heart plummeted. Emma's words replayed
Tunisia's POV I was sitting in my dark living room; only a little light was in view, as it was occupied with dancing candles casting gruesome shadows on the walls. Marcus came in. "Ma'am, our spy says Emma is planning to open Sara's gate of energy for the war," he informed me with low urgent tones.My gaze jerked up; my eyes slit. That gate was the key to unimaginable power, and I wouldn't allow Emma to unlock it. "And?" I pushed my voice tight with anticipation.Marcus did hesitate this time before finishing, "Emma's trying to harness Sara's energy to aid her cause." My fist clenched alongside my jaw. That would be Ryker's death sentence. Failure. Defeat. No, I wouldn't let that happen."We cannot let that happen," I muttered to myself as my mind started racing. "Ryker would lose." Marcus stood before me, a look of neutrality upon his face. "What do you think we should do?" he asked.I smiled, cold and calculated. "We'll kidnap Sara, rendering Emma's plan useless. And this might jus
Emma's P.O.V.I pushed the door open of our modest home, worn out. The last few days had messed with my head, turning into a blur of anxiety and fear, as Mamma's condition deteriorated further with each passing hour. I walked toward her room, apprehension hanging heavy in my heart. Inside, she lay frail, pale with clammy skin."Mother?" I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. I took her hand in mine. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. "Emma. . my dear," she whispered, just barely audible. I forced a smile onto my face, trying to hide my tears. "I'm here, Mother. You're going to be all right."But before I could get her reply, Lia strode into the room, a frown etched on her features. "Emma, don't tire her out," she reprimanded, firm in her voice. I frowned, suspicion dawning that something wasn't right. "Lia, what's going on? Mother isn't getting better," I said, accusation creeping into my tone.Lia's smile was syrupy and sweet. "Oh, Emma, you know your mother's illness is.co
Tunisia's Pov I snuggled deeper into Ryker's side, my fingers tracing the outlines of his chest. His eyes gleamed with amusement, and I knew he was right where I wanted him."Ryker, now that Jethro knows about me. Secrecy," I started, letting my voice drop to a fragile state, "I will have to be protected even more. More men."Ryker's brow arched, and a teasing smile curled his lips. "So that's why you came to me."I smiled back, feigning innocence. "Can you blame me? You are the most powerful man in the realm after all."Ryker chuckled, his eyes glinting with desire. "And what do I get in return?"My heart skittered as my gaze met his. This was it."Whatever you want," I whispered, my voice husky.Ryker's eyes flashed to mine, an inferno of intensity blazing there. "Will you?" he asked, his voice so low it was little more than a whisper and sensual.My heart fluttered at the sound as I nodded, my lips grazing his. "Whatever it will take to ensure our alliance is solidified."Ryker's