Chapter 39- Elnora POV
“Elnora, I heard your thoughts,” Lawler blurted out to me. My stomach immediately felt sick, and I could feel the fear-sweats coming. “I am sorry. If I knew that you were listing in on my thoughts, I wouldn’t have.” My words break off as the unknown takes over me. “I am sorry. I am just going to go back to the house, back to my room. I didn’t mean to upset you.” My tears are streaming down my face in sadness as I turn to walk away. I can feel that I messed up. I know that I overstepped, and I hate that I did it so quickly in our new relationship. “Oh no, you don’t.” The gentle pull of my arm follows Lawler’s words. Pulling me back to him. “I am so sorry.” I sob. I am waiting for the harsh words to lash my ears. “Why are you sorry? I was listening to your thoughts, those are personal, and you had an excellent po
Chapter 40- Merrick POV Floating in the pool with my brothers feels like a dream. It has been years since I have been swimming, let alone happy and stress-free. My biggest worry right now is that I don’t fully understand what will happen next, what role I will play, and what I should and shouldn’t do. My concern must be written all over my face as I take a sip of the smoothie that Sabastian had brought out to us. “What are you thinking about, Mer?” Talvin asks. “All the things, man.” “Like what?” Fulton chimes in. “I get that the two of you understand what is happening and where you fit in here, but I have no idea what I should do or the rules or anything. What role do I play here? At home, I watched after Mom when we were home, and after the two of you, here I have no idea, and it is a bit intimidating.&rdq
Chapter 41- Merrick POV Tonight, I am following Fulton and Talvin’s leads. I have no idea who Lawler truly is, only that I can trust him. Fulton said we would hug him and that we were to follow suit, so I plan on doing just that. I have just hugged a man I have never met in my life, and surprisingly it was nice. I felt safe and at home. It wasn’t a difficult thing to do or even a forced feeling. So, in other words, nothing like trying to hug my own narcissistic father, which is forced, awkward and uncomfortable.I watch as Mom steps forward to hug Lawler. I know she is only doing it because we bet her, and she doesn’t want to lose that bet. I thought it would make me feel uncomfortable seeing her hug another man seeing as we just learned about our father a few hours ago, but something else eased me instead. She looke
Chapter 42- Talvin POV “What was that?” Merrick questions as he walks up behind me. “Oh, just thinking that this will be my home.” I lie. I cannot let him think that I want to take the position of king someday. I never felt that I would wish to do the task in all the time I had been here, but today, knowing everything that I do and how I would do anything for my family and the people of the Kingdom, I feel different. Something feels new within my soul. “Tal, are you coming, or are you going to sit there and daydream all day?” Fulton calls from the path. “Coming,” I call as I run to catch up. When did they walk past me? I question myself. Arriving at the clearing, we find a group of teen vampires our ages. “Hey, everyone!” Merrick calls out to them. As we walk to the area where the fire will be, Merrick walks off with the older t
Talvin POVTonight with Lawler and Mom was beyond anything I could have dreamed of having. I never thought I would have two people who cared for me so profoundly within the same room and getting along. I also never thought I would be back here so soon, and what’s more, I want to be here with my family. Choosing my room was easy. I had always envisioned myself belonging to the last window on the right on the third floor; I just never understood why. I knew it was my room before I even looked out the window and remembered the intense feeling. “Is this your room?” Fulton’s voice flutters to the window. “It is so weird. Whenever I came here, I always felt drawn to this room. Like it was mine or something.” “You have been in this room before?” “No, it was the window when I was looking at the house from the beach. Apart deep down inside of me, I just felt like it was my room, and one day I would claim it, which was an odd
44- Talvin POV The fire is a fantastic size, much like the love that I know Mom and Lawler have for one another. Looking to where Sydney stands, I allow my mind to drift to what she said about me being a vampire. A few things make me question if I am human or not, but are they enough to consider me a vampire? I don’t recall ever needing a transplant of any kind that would have proven my DNA, not for one parent or another, nor do I think I am adopted. I have seen my birth certificate before, and everything seems to be expected. My thoughts come to a drastic halt as Hildi from the local coffee shop comes out with a platter of coffee, and I am immediately drawn to her. “Good evening, my dears.” She announces, hugging the three of us tightly. “It is so good to see you again, young man.” She reveals when she gets to me. “It is goo
Talvin POVTurning my attention back to Leon, I ask him, “What would you want in exchange?” “I want you to join my team in training.” I am not expecting his words when he speaks, and it leaves me briefly confused. “Your team in training? Training for what?” “You need training if you are going to live in our world. I want to be sure that you have the training you will need to protect yourself. I am not asking you to join us in any work-related measures unless you choose to do so of your own free will. I want to be your trainer.” “Sounds like a fair trade. You would get the best of both worlds. Works out in your favor.” Looking into Sydney’s eyes, I can feel that her words are valid. I need training if I am to be in this world.The small amount that he has taught me previously helped me in many instances. The amount of training he offers would give me more than the training I need to live her
Chapter 46- Talvin POVHildi’s shop is overflowing with Vampires coming to get more of her magical coffee. “Oh, Talvin! Come over here, son!” She beckons me from behind the counter. “I have a box of treats in the back that I would love for you to bring out for tonight.” “Ok, what are they?” I ask as we follow her. “Wait until you see! She squeals with excitement.“Here we are, dears.” Sitting on the desk is a box with a beautiful red cake that resembles a wedding cake. Alongside it in multiple other boxes holds cupcakes. “I know it isn’t much, but your mom is human, and this is as close as I can go to your traditions while keeping ours. We will need to bring these to the main table if we can?” “Oh, these are beautiful! This cake looks similar to the Mark cake that was at my cousin's party.” “Oh yes, dear, they received their cake from me. It is such an honor to gift a young
Chapter 47- Sydney POVTalvin asked about my younger years when I was spunky. Those years were filled with fun times until they weren’t. How do I tell him all of this? How do I say to a person I just met about how I am the reason for a law that makes you have a permit? Then it hit me. Like a bandage, just rip it off. The sooner he knows my deepest darkest secret, the sooner he will forgive me for it. “Come here,” I announce to him when he tries to apologize. Pulling him to a secluded area, I take a deep breath and send up a silent prayer to anyone god who is listening. “Oh please, whoever is listening. Would you please help him forgive me? I don’t know what you would want in return, but please let him forgive me.” I plead into the unknown. Not knowing where to start, I allow myself to launch into it. “The law about fires and the penalty being death, that is my
Hello wonderful readers!It has been a privilege to write for you these past months. Your continued support brought me joy and the strength to bring you this book. This book has allowed me to show my children how determination looks. I am going to tell you a secret that I told my children and my family while writing this book- "I am writing for the one person reading right now. If they read for a day or read all of the chapters, I will finish it for them." This gave me the push I needed to continue. When I felt like I was slowing down or getting tired, I thought of you. Thank you for being there on my feed showing me that you were reading. I needed that support, and you gave it to me even if it were only a few moments.As it has ended I have decided to ask you, my reader, if you would be interested in reading a shorter sequel. You can let me know in a short comment, and I will happily begin working on one for you. Stories are a wonderful way to escape the world a
Chapter 171- Elnora POV Everyone has taken their seats and turned their attention to us. “We have learned within our Kingdom that for every problem we have, there is a silver lining. Once again, our King and Queen prevailed, and with their victory, we gained a new King and Queen in training. A gift to our Kingdom that we all thank you for granting to us.” Sabastian bows to all of us before continuing. “When Lawler began seeing you, Elnora, in the human world during the cover of night, he started changing for the better. He started becoming the King he had always wanted to become. Then when you entered our world and completed your mark, you granted him the strength needed to be the best version of King he could be. A gift he has granted your son and our future King. It is my honor to welcome you into our Kingdom not only as our Queen and friend but as the wife of my best friend.” &nbs
Chapter 170- Elnora POV Blow after blow; we watch as the pair of them struggle. "How is he still standing?" I link with Harmony. "Magic, they have witches on his side that are keeping his strength up.” "Can we break it?" I beg. "No, not unless we find the witches and the magic is not coming from here." Harmony sounds defeated. "I cannot live on without him.” "You will have to, for your children." Harmony moves to my side and takes my hand as we watch in horror. Lawler is beginning to lose, and I have had enough. How can I stop this? I ask myself. We watch as his father lifts his hand one last time, and as he does, I know this will be the blow that knocks Lawler unconscious. "STOP!" Tavin demands as he walks forward. My attention doesn't leave Lawler and his position, but the command stops the blow. "You are to remove yourself from his bo
Chapter 169- Elnora POV My spell is working. Lawler has a bloody nose as he stands, but nothing more. On the other hand, his father is bleeding profusely and has a broken nose. “What did you do?” He calls out. “I did nothing,” Lawler responds to him. His father struggles to his feet, and when he finally makes it, he throws another punch into Lawler’s stomach. I watch in amazement as Lawler hardly flinches and his father withers on the ground in pain. “Just toss him in the dungeon, and we will deal with him another day.” I request. “Stay back.” Sabastian pulls me from my waist backward towards the beach. I can see what he sees from this position, and people surround us we do not know. I lock eyes with Sabastian, and he nods his head. I look to Talvin and link with him first. “I am calling in back up; tu
Chapter 168- Elnora POV “You look beautiful,” Merrick announces as he enters the room and sees me standing on the dressing platform. “Thank you.” He offers his hand for me to step down after the last adjustment to my dress is made, and I take it. “Really, you are glowing. I am so happy for you.” He states as he walks with me to the door. “Are you sure you boys are ok with me getting married?” I ask him. “Mom, he already adopted us, and we took his last name. We signed off on that paper. Of course, we are ok with you getting married. Finally, we will all have the same last name again. You are the only odd man out.” He pokes fun at me. “I don’t want to upset any of you.” “This has been the best five years anyone could have ever asked for. Trust me, and we are all here for you. If you need me to make a distraction today, just say the word bab
Chapter 167- Elnora POV Vampires can drink a lot before feeling even the slightest buzz from consumption. Today, I am saying prayers to the porcelain gods of Harmony’s guest bathroom, or should I say my room at her house. I feel horrible. My bachelorette party was the best party I have ever been to in my life. Even the creatures that were invited had a blast and drank with us. A soft knock sounds on the bathroom door. “No one is home.” I joke. “I have some tea that will help you feel better,” Sydney calls softly. “Come in.” Granting her access, I wipe my mouth and sit on the floor. “Feeling pretty bad, I see.” “Yeah.” “Harmony said this tea will help you feel better.” “Will it, though?” I ask as I take it from her hands. “She made me some, and I feel completely norma
Chapter 166- Elnora POV Relief. That is the feeling that consumes me when Lawler announces that his father is alive. His face looks horrified and like he is waiting for me to bolt at any moment, but instead, I move to him and sit in his lap. “Oh, Lawler.” I hug him tightly. “I know you are angry.” He begins. “No, I am not. I am relieved more than you will ever know. This is honestly not even close to the things that I was thinking. This is the lesser of the evils that had gone through my mind. I wish you would have told me sooner so I could tell you.” “Tell me what?” “We had your fathers’ blood. We have put a barrier up in our Kingdom, and along with the portals for all the Kingdoms, he cannot get in. There is no way he will ever get you here.” “Spells can be broken.”“They can, but they are pretty good spells. We also have backup p
Chapter 165- Elnora POV Lawler has been distant this week. Not in the mental sense; when he is with me, he is with me entirely. Communication is on point, and he makes sure all of my needs are met, but physically, he is distant. Theo insists that he is working on something, and everything is fine. I know better, though; I can feel it deep down in my soul that something is off. Something has presented itself, and he is trying to handle it without me knowing. I have considered that it was information on Brogan, but Leon comes to me every day after he scouts with any information he has or doesn’t have. Looking out over the ocean from our balcony, I drink my tea in peace. I finally switched from coffee a few years ago when Tiffany insisted I learn the difference in taste and smell in herbs so that I would never fall prey to someone trying to drug me. Over the
Chapter 164- Lawler POV For five years, I have searched for proof that my father was alive or dead, never to find a whisper of the truth. Now I find out that he is alive and coming for me just as I have something important happening in my life. “Do you know when?” I ask as I rub the irritation from my face. “By the next full moon.” He replies. The full moon was the night before last; I have about a month. I begin to calculate what needs to be done before anything happens. “What do you know of the puddle?” I ask standing, producing the blade of grass. “Oh, right. About that.” He stutters. “Touch it.” I insist. “You already know your answer.” He counters. “I need to see for myself.” Holding it closer to him, I watch as he picks it up and peals it apart. Nothing happens; he is the