CHAPTER NINE-THE KING

“No! Please don’t!” Daniel leaped from his bed before his eyes were even opened and he couldn’t remember how he got to Rosemary’s side when he reached her.

Everything was a terrifying blur of panicked screams and rage and his heart pounding in his ears as he threw his arms around her and pulled Rosemary close to him in the dark corner of her room she was huddled into.

“Just a dream, nothing more. Just a dream.” Her sweaty back was wet under his fingers as Daniel crossed his arms then slid his hand to the back of her head and cradled Rosemary against his shoulder.

Her body heat made her scent hang in the air like the flowers in the meadow on a hot day, and Daniel wished he had picked some for her the last time he was there. Every time he went riding across it, he’d catch a whiff of her in the breeze and it brought amity to his cold, black heart. “Shh.”

She trembled uncontrollably against Daniel’s chest as he held her so tight that she could scarcely breath, and he kissed her forehead while he rocked her back and forth. He’d heard her cries many times but was always stopped by Agamori or Nicolas, tonight however, he was her only savior. “It’s alright. I’m here. No one will ever hurt you again, I swear.”

Pressing her face to his hot bare chest, Rosemary closed her eyes and concentrated on his heart beat and tried to match Daniel’s breaths as they both soothed each other back to serenity.

As her soft fingertips began to play with the stray dark hairs on his chest, a shiver shot through Daniel’s body making him gasp and break out in goosebumps.

Chuckling at his reaction, Daniel swallowed everything he was thinking down hard. He stood before many an enemy on his lifetime, but Rosemary’s touch was the only thing that made him falter. He was like putty in her hands and it thrilled him.

Looking down over her perfect face bathed in moonlight, Daniel’s eyes met hers and he slid his fingertips to her cheek then drew them down the soft curve of her face.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deep through her nose as he brought her closer then whispered a spell he never intended to make. Everything was bigger and more mystical whenever Rosemary was near, so when he said, “sleep now,” she had no choice but to obey him.

Her heavy eyes knitted shut in an instant and he stroked her hair as he watched her sleep in his embrace. “I wish I could just snatch those memories from your mind and then you could enjoy one night of peace.”

Leaning into the wall behind him, Daniel wrenched his neck to the side and the blanket he’d been looking at slowly slid across the floor like a soft, comfortable snake until it fell down as it met his fingertips. Wrapping them both in its warmth, Daniel kissed the bridge of Rosemary’s nose then closed his eyes. “Goodnight, my Queen.”

When the birds of morning sang and the warm rays of sun poked through the balcony doors to touch her skin, Rosemary’s eyes batted themselves open to find Daniel watching her.

Realizing she was still wrapped up tight against his naked chest, Rosemary curled her lips under into an embarrassed grin and her cheeks became as red as the apples that grew on the trees outside the gates.

Pushing herself up from is lap, Rosemary slid to the flor beside him and pushed her hair back from her face. “Oh. I’m so sorry Daniel. You should’ve woken me.”

Pulling his knees to his chest, Daniel put his chin on one then glanced to Rosemary. “Many nights I’ve listened to your screams and wanted to be the one to come hold you. I know last night was scary for you, but having you in my arms, it was all I’ve ever wanted.”

Smiling at his impeccable way of making her feel safe and afraid all at once, Rosemary looked down at the floor. “I’m afraid you might get tired of that. I have them every night.”

Gently placing his fingers through hers then closing them around her hand, Daniel made his vow to her. “Then I’ll be here every night, Rosemary. It’s my job to take care of you, that’s why I came here.”

Sighing out at her own pathetic ways, Rosemary turned to him and shook her head. “Well, you’ll never run out of opportunities, I’m quite a mess still.”

“It’s alright.” Daniel drew her hand to his mouth and pressed his lips against it. “I have nothing but time and no one else I want to spend it on.”

Nervously rubbing the pad of his thumb over the backs of her fingers, Daniel glanced to her. “Can you teach me the old language? All the books in the library are written in it and I’m just not catching on as well as I thought I would. Agi told me that you know the history of the realm and the religion better than anyone. I’d like to learn as much as I can.”

Nodding towards the door, Rosemary started to pull on Daniel’s hand. “Go get ready, we can start after breakfast.”

The fates were kind to Daniel in the days Nicholas was gone from the Woods. He spent most everyday locked up in the library or out on walks with Rosemary.

As he stood before a mural in the library of the great king striking down the beastly enemy, Rosemary came to his side and slid her arm through his. “His name is King Asnamar. Does he look familiar to you?”

Shaking his head, Daniel twisted his lips to the side as he considered it. “No, not really. Should he?”

Chuckling to herself, Rosemary pulled on his arm as she started to lead Daniel to the bench by the window. “Come, let me show you something. I’ve been thinking about something since we started coming here together.” Sitting down on the tufted chaise lounge, Rosemary patted the space beside her inviting Daniel to join her. “You don’t know much about your family’s history, do you?”

Daniel looked away to the floor and licked his lips as he shook his head. “No, I don’t know who my father was and my mother’s people, they didn’t really pay much attention to me.”

Taking a book she’d chosen from the table beside them, Rosemary started flipping through the pages then stopped and looked at him. “Well, King Asnamar and his wife were dear friends of my parents. He was killed during the Great War after a valiant campaign against the Great Evil. His wife feared for the safety of her children and left with her people to Earth. It was a very, very long time ago, nearly a thousand years. I’m quite surprised you’re as strong as you are. Typically, Earthborn witches are weaker because they’re ancestors reproduced with humans and diluted their bloodlines.”

Laughing at Rosemary, Daniel shook his head. “Wait a minute, you think I’m related to Asnamar?”

Poking her finger into his chest, Rosemary arched her brow. “I know that you are.” Pointing to the page of the book, Rosemary nodded her head towards it. “Look, Daniel. It’s you.”

Seeing his face drawn into the old paper, Daniel’s whole body went numb. “Are you saying I’m a king?” Everything he had hung his faith on when he walked through that portal in the forest rested in Rosemary’s answer.

“I’m saying that if you want to be a king, that your kingdom waits for you to claim it.” Putting her hand on his, Daniel looked up into Rosemary’s eyes and realized she was serious. “I don’t know of any more of his descendants in the Realm, but there isn’t much to rule these days. That land was long ago taken over by rogue wolves and the worst sort of witches. It’s quite a terrible place now, I’m afraid. It’s a shame. My father said it was quite a lovely castle in its glory.”

Rubbing his fingertips over his lips, Daniel smirked to himself and shook his head. “That figures. My whole life, my family looked down on me like I was lower than the filth on their shoes and now I have a chance to be a king and they’ll never know it.”

Rosemary shook her head and squeezed his hand. “They didn’t know you and they don’t matter anymore.”

Flipping through the pages for her because Daniel didn’t want to give up her hand, Daniel stopped on Asnamar’s Queen. “Is that his wife?”

Reading over the text, Rosemary nodded. “His Fated Mate. It’s quite a funny story really.”

“Fated mate? What does that mean?” Daniel looked up from the page at Rosemary. She tried hard to hide things that made her uncomfortable, but it was hardly useful anymore. “Like you and me?”

Placing his fingertip to her head and tapping playfully, Daniel chuckled through his nose. “You can’t hide.”

Inhaling a hitched breath, Rosemary nodded, too afraid to look at Daniel’s face. “Yes. I think so.”

Moving closer to her, Daniel spoke softer as he brushed her ear with his nose. “What does it mean?”

Her whole body quivered as his hot breath crossed her face and she closed her eyes to try to steady her nerves. “His soulmate. His other half. The one who he was meant for. You can’t ever be whole until they are by your side.”

While she shivered against him, Daniel slid his arm around her back and put his forehead against her cheek. “That’s why this is happening to me. Why I can read your mind. How I could do that to those goblins in the meadow. It’s you. You make me stronger.”

Hearing the doubts in her mind telling her she wasn’t good enough for him he shook his head then put his fingertips to her chin so that she’d face him. “You are. You are everything.”

She closed her eyes tight as she pushed her quivering lips together and shook her head. “You deserve someone who isn’t broken like me.”

Cradling her face in his hands, Daniel brought her close and spoke quietly against her lips. “I’m the one who’s no good. I’m a monster, but I love you. Since before I met you when you were just some phantom in my mind, I loved you. I’ll be good to you Rosemary.”

Finally opening her eyes, Rosemary’s lips grazed his as she nodded and breathed hard against his mouth. “I love you too.”

As he pressed his lips to hers, it was like every light in the house came on all at once. Every cell of his body buzzed with Rosemary’s healing touch and wanted more. It awakened every impulse and sent every sense into the atmosphere.

Rosemary sank into his warm mouth and as he sucked her bottom lip in between his gently, he knew that everything was different now. He was a new man forged in the heat of Rosemary’s kiss. Whether or not he ever stepped foot in his rightful homeland, it didn’t matter, Daniel was now the King of all things.