Page 12 of The Time Of Kings (An Afterlife Story #1)

11

MY TIME

DRAVEN

F inally.

Finally, I had found her.

I could barely believe it after so many lifetimes lived in waiting, it almost didn’t seem real to me now. Yet here she was, shrouded in mystery, and one I would soon unravel. It was as if her body had been wrapped in a length of ribbon for every year she lived. I would pull on each end until it gave way to the bare skin I craved to touch. Even now, as she stood looking up at me. doing so with those captivating big, grey-blue eyes of hers, reminding me of the storm in which she had arrived in my life.

Of course, when I had fantasied of our first meeting, never once did it include muddy footsteps that I would have to follow, only to find her hiding under my bed covered in the evidence of her escape. Meaning, it had somewhat tainted the first moment I laid my eyes on her, making me question if this was in fact, the girl. One I had been hunting for since Marcus had mentioned her being of particular interest to me. And now I knew why.

Yet just another reason why having a seeker in the castle had been useful, despite his unusual demeaner and, more often than not, unruly behaviour. But, being a vessel of the Fates, I knew to take his words as serious as if they had been spoken by my own kin. Which was why I couldn’t help but think back to those early hours of this morning.

Early that morning…

“What is the meaning to this?” I asked the moment I heard the disruption to my peace. My foul disposition was made even greater from the turbulent dream I’d been having. And as of late, it had always been the same. A cruel dream whereas I had finally found my Fated Electus, only to have her run in fear from me.

In fact, I had just declared my affections for her, telling her in the meadow where we stood of my intentions to marry her, only to have her flee from me. I would then take to the skies, gifting her with my true form when landing before her amongst the trees. To which, she would cry out her fright at the sight of me, before a strange calm came over her. As though she had been waiting for me to show myself all this time. Yet stranger still, throughout the dream, her face was always hidden to me. Only her long golden hair flowing freely to her waist was the feature my cruel mind would grant me. For it shadowed all else, giving me only hints of the unknown girl the Fates had deemed born for me.

But dreams like this were not uncommon and nor was the theme, for she often ran from me in them. It was like the Gods’ punishment for being King of a realm they created but could never rule over. As if this was the only chain they could hold me tethered with. A carrot to keep dangling in front of me in the form of an immortal promise.

The only thing I ever desired.

My Electus.

My Queen.

My Gods’ Promise.

However, before I could claim her lips like I always craved to do in these dreams, and just as her face was about to be revealed to me, Fate would snap its forbidding fingers. For just as I would reach her, she would disappear. Like some ghost of a past not yet lived through.

Hence why I would always wake in a thunderous mood, cursing whatever time was left between us. Questioning how many more years I would have to waste living through before I finally found her. Knowing that when I did, from that moment onwards, my days would be filled with the happiness she would bring to my heart. The longing and loneliness of this punishing sentence would finally be at an end.

Making me question now, could these recurring dreams finally mean that I was closer to finding her? Something that seemed more plausible when I overheard the conversation below my window.

Some local peasant had insisted on speaking with the Lord of this castle. One clearly intent on telling me of the strange sight he had beheld in his cottage.

Hence why I summoned my clothes and made my way down to the entrance using Supernatural speed that I was free to do this early in the morning. For the staff would not be awake at this hour.

Although as soon as I heard what he had to say, I knew that it would not remain that way for long.

Besides, they had my annual ball to prepare for this eve, so servants would soon stir, and the castle would be a flurry of activity. However, for me, it would soon be so for a very different reason entirely.

“My Lord,” the commoner said, bowing and making me impatient enough to snap,

“Be quick. Out with the reason you disturb this castle’s slumber!”

My man Jacobs had been dealing with him and looked less than pleased that I had been woken.

“He tells of a woman found in his cottage performing witchcraft,” Jacobs said, making me hold up a hand to stop him.

“I asked him the account of it, now explain what you saw,” I demanded of the quivering man.

“Beg your pardon for the late hour, My Lord, but it is like your man here tells of it. Witches in me very cottage, I seen ‘em with my very eyes right through me window. They be there cackling out their spells.”

I wanted to roll my eyes at his explanation, hence why I told Jacobs to toss his arse out in the mud, already turning from this simple mortal mind.

“Get rid of this superstitious simpleton,” I snapped, already walking away when he added quickly,

“I speak the truth, for the golden haired one was far too beautiful to be of this natural world.”

I stopped dead in my tracks and turned back to face him, my breath catching in my throat as my heart hammered a new beat within my chest. So, after quick and measured steps back to him, I found myself taking him by the threadbare jacket he wore. My grip unyielding as I shook him to stop his fearful trembling’s, despite giving him reason for them.

“A golden-haired beauty, you say. What of her…? Speak, man!” I shouted, having no patience for his fear of me. Something that admittedly was not surprising, for I was no small man and was near twice his size.

“She looked like an angel sent from Heaven, standing there in me cottage surrounded by witches.”

I frowned at this.

“She wasn’t alone?”

“N-n-noo, M-my Lord,” he replied nervously, the wrinkles around his mouth and eyes deepening as he shook in my firm hold.

“What makes you call them witches? For that is a serious claim indeed,” I asked before letting him go.

“The way they lit the fire, as if spells were being whispered from their lips.”

I dismissed this part as being nothing, but an overactive mind fuelled by the ale I could scent on his breath. In fact, I disregarded his continued rambling completely and instead looked to my steward.

“Wake the fool, I wish to speak with him immediately, then gather up my men, for it seems they have a criminal to retrieve,” I told my steward, ignoring the commoner’s gratitudes. Obviously, he was under the misconception that I was aiding him in this. When in truth, my actions were purely out of my own personal interest. Because if there was even a small chance of the ‘angelic blonde’ being that of my Chosen One, then I would stop at nothing in retrieving her.

Hence why I snubbed such thanks before hearing him muttering that he would head back to the inn and drink his experience into a drunken memory. Well as long as he kept his mortal mouth shut, as the last thing I needed was the townsfolk getting riled up about the talk of witches in these parts once more.

Besides, I was already allowing that somewhat dangerous emotion to rise. The one named hope that was centred around who I could possibly find soon in my possession. Meaning my time would be greatly filled with all that is my Chosen, leaving me far too occupied to deal with mortal madness.

Speaking of which, it looked as if Marcus was at the ready for me without needing to be woken.

“Tell me what I want to hear, Seeker,” I demanded, walking into my office and pouring myself a glass of port from the decanter. Of course, by the time I turned back to face him, Marcus was lounging in a chair as if he had moulded himself to the upholstery.

Well, it was better than seeing him up in that damn tree he often chose to rest himself in like some warning crow. He was worse than my pet, Ava, who also liked to warn people away from the castle should she ever become bored of hunting her prey. Alarmingly, children were a favourite of hers.

“Well?!” I snapped.

He reclined while looking thoughtful, doing so with that sadistic disconcerting painted grin.

“Then I am happy to offer you the comfort you seek, for it is true, the Electus has finally graced this time.”

I actually crushed the glass in my hand in my shock, thankful, at least, I had rid it of its contents first. My head snapped around to his quick enough to break mortal necks.

“You do not jest? For I swear to the Gods, Marcus, if this is…”

He hastily held up a hand and stopped my rant before I could fully form threats.

“I would not dare, my King of Kings, for what I see is true, she has entered your lands.”

I felt the sting of the glass bury deeper into my flesh as my blood dripped to the floor. As if I needed the feel of this pain in aid in keeping me grounded enough to know for certain that I was not dreaming like I feared.

She was here.

“Gods… finally,” I uttered in my deepest shock, caring little if I displayed my relief. A relief that felt as if it had relit a fire within my soul, and one I had only discovered in this moment had been long ago been extinguished.

“Then I must go to her!” I declared, clenching my fist and already feeling my flesh knitting back together once the glass had evaporated. But it was at this moment that Marcus stopped me in my determined strides.

“Alas, I would not do that if I were you, my King.”

“Why not!?” I demanded, feeling every muscle in my body tense with being denied.

“Because that is not what I see happening and, therefore, be warned, that if it were to change, then so will the Fates in playing out as they should.”

“What are you saying? That I could lose her if I go and retrieve her myself?!” I barked like some wounded dog ready to fight.

“Has it not always been Fated that she must come to you?” he asked, making me clench my jaw. Because as much as it pained me to do nothing, I knew he spoke the truth. For that was how it had always been prophesied. So, despite it going against the grain to do nothing personally, I was at least wise enough to heed his words.

“Then what do you suggest?” I gritted out.

“You mean, what do I know…?” he reworded with a grin, causing me to narrow my gaze at him, for I had no patience or inclination to feed his amusement. However, my dark look must have spoken for me as he quickly added, “…You will send your men to retrieve her, but not before I arrive at the inn and allow whispers of the bounty their Lord has placed on her capture.”

I scowled at this, suddenly wishing my brother were here. For I was in dire need for not only his council, but also his unmatched abilities to calm me.

“Why in the Gods holy names should I do such a thing?!” I asked in a venomous tone I knew signalled even further the end of my patience.

“Because it will ensure you getting what you desire more than anything else in all the realms and every world that lies between. That, my King, is why,” he replied, bowing slightly, as if stroking my royal ego would help in calm me. When nothing fucking could right now!

“Explain!” I ordered darkly.

“She is not alone, therefore when your men arrive, they will be led away from the cottage. Then, when your Chosen least expects it, she will be taken without having the chance to run herself. It is the only way I see Fate playing out in your favour, My Lord.”

I released a deep sigh at this, not liking his plan, not one bit, in fact. I disliked it so much that I came close to saying, damn to the Fates, I would hunt her down myself. Because I knew whether she ran or not, I would chase her down and catch my prey. But then he said the one thing that he knew would have me yielding to this plan of his.

“It is also the only way to ensure she is not hurt.”

I closed my eyes, already pained by the idea that anything could befall her breakable, mortal body. Hence why I finally conceded.

“Very well, Seeker, we will play this out your way but, be warned, these bounty hunters of yours better not harm her in any way, for if they do, they will have me to deal with, understood?!”

“And that, too, will be their Fate should they be foolish enough to defy us both.”

I gritted my teeth at that, not liking the sound of his reply. But before I could say more on the matter, he slapped his hands to his knees and jumped from the seat with the kind of natural grace possessed by a cunning feline.

“Then it looks like I have a job to do… My King,” he said before he spun his cane, allowing it to rest across his belly as he bowed his farewell to me. I jerked my head in response before releasing a deep sigh after he had gone, knowing how much trust I was granting the fool.

For I was soon left with nothing but that dangerous hope blooming within my chest. A hope that, this time, would favour me my Chosen, and Fate did not mean that she was…

Forever destined to slip through my fingers.