Page 27 of The Time Of Kings (An Afterlife Story #1)

26

A LOVE GAINED IS A LOVE LOST

DRAVEN

I could barely believe it.

I felt as if I were living in a dream. Not only had I found my Electus, but to know that she hadn’t recoiled in fear at just the sight of my true self… it was beyond all I could have ever wished for.

It made me reflect back on my dream. The one I’d had just before she finally graced my life with her presence. The way I had chased her after she had rejected my claim on her. When I had taken to the skies in my true form before landing right in front of her. Just like I had done not long ago. Something I would have thought she would have run screaming from. A terrifying sight causing irreparable damage. But that hadn’t happened. For a strange calm washed over her features. As if she had been waiting for me to show myself all this time.

Well now I understood why.

She knew.

She always had.

Of course, I had questioned her further on the matter, learning of how she had always seen my kind, ever since she was but a child. I tried to put myself in her young shoes, certain of how frightening that must have been for her. The strength of her resilience only ended up impressing me further, as it was clear she had the inner strength of a warrior and would make me a formidable queen indeed.

But she also made me promise that I wouldn’t tell another soul. When I asked why, she only told me that she had her reasons and for now they were to remain her own. Naturally, I wanted to push for more. Hell, I wanted to know it all!

Yet knowing what she had shared with me already, then I understood that I needed to reward her honesty with patience on my part. Because I also wanted her to trust me, and to do so meant keeping her secret. I understood the reason why to some extent, as clearly this was a burden she had carried with her for most of her life. For should she have been foolish enough to speak of what she saw, then she would have either been burned as a witch or placed in one of those vile insane asylums.

Just the thought of her being forced to live her life out in a dirty cell where humanity was at its lowest made me murderous in a heartbeat, a deadly sentiment I was forced to hide. When it came to treating those believed to be insane, it was a mortal abomination dressed up in a doctor’s robe, and not one I wanted anywhere near my girl. Making me also question, had she run from this before? Was that where he scars came from?

Of course, she asked enough questions to make me believe there was still so much that she didn’t know of my world. But then, who would have been able to teach her? And by now she must have seen enough of my kind to know that we were not all the monsters’ mortals made us out to be.

After all, there were just as many evil Angels in the world as there was peaceful Demons and vice versa. Something she seemed to understand well enough. However, it did now make me question her scars once more, making me look at them under new light. Had she done this to herself in hopes of escaping what she must have once believed to be nothing but madness on her part? I liked to think not, although knowing that someone could have done this to her wasn’t a better alternative either.

However, the second certainly gave me someone to punish if there was anyone left in this world that had ever hurt her. She had quickly become my everything. I was amazed by how strong my feelings had developed for her in such a short space of time. Yesterday had quite easily been the best day of my life and as for last night, well it was hard to put into words.

Claiming her had been like nothing I had ever experienced before, for the pleasure was indescribable. The intensity was beyond anything I ever could have imagined, it made every time before her pale in comparison. If I had believed myself addicted before, then now I knew I was fucking lost. Lost to all that was her!

She was my Angel’s Heaven.

She was my Demon’s Hell.

And she was my soul’s keeper.

One look at her and I knew that I would spend the rest of my life loving her. Adoring, admiring, appreciating every single piece of her. Her soul. Her heart. Her mind and her body. I would love it all. And now I would get the rest of eternity from this point onwards to prove such.

The only thing we didn’t yet have between us was trust.

For I knew there was still so much I had yet to learn. So much she held back around me. Of course, I had been shocked to discover I was not the first man she had laid with. Which had me questioning, was she a widow? Had she once loved another? Or was the reason one she felt shameful of… was she still married?

Not that I cared either way, but I would need to know regardless in case she was running from someone. A past life she was trying to escape, and one I would only be all too happy to aid her with. For I would take her to any corner of the Earth she wished to go. I would rid her of any past she wanted to erase without a shred of guilt or hesitation on my part.

But first, she would have to trust me with such knowledge. Something made more difficult when it was clear she didn’t know that she was Fated to be mine. She knew nothing of the prophecy or being my Electus. No, all she knew was my willingness to kidnap her and keep her my prisoner should she ever think to leave me. Hence why building trust between us would take time. For I also needed to trust that she would stay on her own accord and not try and run the first chance she got.

But, we had time in our favour, and for once, it was now one I looked forward to, for the monotony of eternity already becoming a forgotten memory. Just being able to dine with her in the company of others was taxing, for all I wanted was to keep her to myself. As if we were caught in our own bubble, one where the outside world could not penetrate. A world I wanted to protect her from. For if I didn’t already know how fragile she was, then what happened earlier was a reminder enough.

By the Gods the fear I had felt in that moment was a new emotion I had never wanted to experience ever again! When I saw her foot slip as she got too close to the cliff edge, it was like being plunged into an icy lake. Pure dread had filled my veins and I had reacted without consequence. My only thought was saving her, caring little about who witnessed such, least of all her.

Something that, in the end, didn’t matter.

It was another obstacle I no longer feared I would have to navigate through and was the biggest one at that. Now as for her new social standing, that would have to be handled with care. Such as the meal we shared with my sister, as well as my Second and his unruly maid. Unruly if today’s events were anything to go by, for she certainly seemed to be giving the Vampire a run for his money.

I also had to question the timing of this, for us both to find our Chosen Electus within hours of each other was too much of a coincidence for either of us to accept. Something we openly expressed to one another the moment we were alone after leaving the ladies to their own musings. I had been tempted to confess the knowledge of Catherine knowing of our kind but, in that moment, it had felt wrong. Especially after I had promised to keep her secret. I didn’t feel right breaking such a promise, even to my Second.

But Lucius had been right, as there was a strange sort of familiarity between them, my Catherine and Miss Earhart. Like they already knew each other. My own betrothed even slipped up and called Lucius’s intended by another name. But stranger still, had been the way my own sister had come to her defence. Had that just been Sophia trying to put her at ease? For she had always wanted me to find my Electus… I just didn’t know.

However, the one thing I did know, was that I would soon get to the bottom of it all. Something I had intended to do that very night, even if it meant invading her privacy.

By the time I had finished speaking with Lucius, I found that she had retired to my bedchamber for the night. I was surprised to find her writing a letter, one she had seemingly just finished, and I looked over her shoulder to see her write the name of the friend she spoken of at dinner.

Amelia.

It was a pretty name to be sure and indeed similar to Lia, so I suppose it was an easy slip up to make. But after she folded the letter, one I already knew I intended on reading the moment she was asleep, she slipped it under the rest of the sheets of paper. Like I said, I knew it would be an invasion of her privacy, but how else was I to learn of my wife to be? To learn of her life before the one I intended to give her. I told myself it was done so as to protect her, and for the most part it was true. But it was also to rid me of the fear I could feel building that she was about to slip through my fingers.

Perhaps it was the melancholy I could see on her face, making me run my fingers down her jawline until getting to her chin. Once there, I raised her face up to mine so as I could see the same sorrow painted there in her stormy coloured eyes.

“What brings such sadness to your eyes, my love?” I asked but before I could react, she was suddenly up and out of her seat, throwing her arms around me. I was so taken aback by her response, that it took me but a moment to react. I didn’t know what brought this on, but I held her back all the same. Soon wrapping my arms around her and holding her tighter when I felt her shuddering against me.

She was crying.

“My sweetest one, please tell me, what makes you cry?” I asked, feeling my throat thicken as the sound of her tears affected me like no other.

She pulled back and the sight that met me nearly had me staggering. The beauty in her eyes was painfully exquisite. A bitter perfection, as her gaze spoke of so much and yet I could not pinpoint a single emotion long enough to be sure of its name.

But then she granted me her thoughts and never before had a single word ever affected me so.

“I love you, Dominic.”

Love.

She loved me.

I swallowed down the emotion that threatened to spill over, joyous tears trying to arise where they never had before. So, I cupped her cheek, framing her face with my hands so as I could tip her head back. Then I lowered my forehead to hers and told her what I knew to be true to the very depths of my heart. The first time these very words had ever been spoken to any other but that of my family.

“As I love you, my Catherine.”

She closed her eyes as if these same words had meant everything to her. In fact, she was just about to speak, when suddenly someone was banging against the door.

Anger at being disturbed had been like a barb at the end of my tongue, so close to lashing out at the unwelcome intrusion. That was until I felt my sister’s presence. So, I did what I loathed to do which was let Catherine go so as I could open the door that I had locked after first entering. A habit I very much doubted that I would get out of for quite some time.

What I would have preferred to do was bask a little longer in the glow her words of love had brought me. However, one look at my sister’s anxious face and I knew time wasn’t yet on my side.

“The villagers, they have gathered and are making their way to the castle. They look like a small army and as of yet, I am unsure what brings them to our gates.” Hearing this had me gritting my teeth in both frustration and anger. For this was the very last thing I wished to be dealing with right now, not when I had something far more important to achieve. Like making love to my Chosen who had just confessed her deepest affection for me.

“Send word to Lucius, tell him he is needed. Then come back here, for I will need you, sister,” I told her, looking back to Catherine, knowing she would understand what I was asking of her. Because I wouldn’t trust my Chosen to remain here without being guarded and there was no one more capable than my sister at doing so in my absence.

Sophia nodded, before picking up her skirts and rushing down the hallway in search of a servant. As for myself, I walked straight to where I kept my armour and started to pull pieces one at a time from the oak trunk.

“What happened? What is it… are we… we under attack?” she asked, the trepidation in her tone giving me cause enough to take pause.

“Come here,” I asked of her, trying to keep my tone light so as not to worry her. For little did she know that no trouble would reach these walls, for I would kill every last one of them before I allowed any threat to get near her. She did as I asked, and before donning my gauntlet, I ran the back of my fingers down her cheek.

“Do not fret, my love, for I would not let anything happen to you… do you trust me?” I asked when she bit her bottom lip and looked uncertain.

“Catherine.” I spoke her name more forcefully before asking again, “Do you trust me?”

At this she released a held breath and nodded, gifting me with her words.

“With my life.” An answer to which I closed my eyes as I let that knowledge seep deep within me before gazing upon her with all the love I felt in my heart. Damn, but all I wished to do in that moment was pick her up in my arms and carry her to my bed. To lay her down and show her just how much I did love her.

But the moment Sophia re-entered the room, I knew that blissful end to the day would have to wait. Because first I had a threat to eliminate. Shortly after this Lucius joined us, knocking on the door and prompting me to say,

“Enter!”

Lucius appeared also clad in his armour. Not that we expected to need it, but we also knew what an intimidating sight we would make. For more often than not, this was all that was needed. That and my Second’s particular skill set, giving me cause to say,

“It seems I am in need of your persuasive talents, Lucius… but what is this, you bring your own frightened doe with you… is she…?” I said the moment I saw his Chosen One looking fearful by his side. However, it was the unspoken part of my question that we both focused on, as he knew what I asked without needing to say it aloud…

Was she to be trusted with my Electus?

“Yes, and if not, I will gladly bear punishment in her place if foolish enough to do anything reckless,” Lucius replied with ease, no doubt trusting her enough to be assured of this. I nodded, knowing that if it was good enough for my friend, then it was also good enough for me.

“Very well, my dear Catherine… I won't be gone long, and it seems you have more than one lady to keep you company,” I said, making my way towards her and pulling my sweet girl back into my arms. Her anxious face looked up at me, as if she were struggling with the idea of letting me go. So, I hoped to ease her fears by telling her,

“For my sister here is very capable at keeping guard and watch over the two of you.” At this I turned my trusted gaze to Sophia, telling her, “Sister, I leave my most precious gift in your hands, do not fail me.”

She bowed her head to me and was quick to answer,

“I vow now and forever to always protect what you hold dear in your heart.” Her loyalty never faltered, I knew she would do all in her power to ensure my Electus remained safe and within the confines of these walls.

Which meant that my Catherine was going nowhere.

“Then let us be quick, old friend, for we have precious hearts to get back to,” I said, eager to be done with this so as I could get back to bedding my soon to be wife once more. As for my second, he looked to be in the same mind, for he too looked reluctant to leave his own Chosen. A private moment I gave them, so as I too could have one of my own. Starting with pulling Catherine more firmly within my hold. Then after tipping her chin up, I told her,

“Be good now… little thief who stole my heart.” I whispered this last part, making her swallow hard before fresh tears followed the tracks of others. The sight nearly undid me, and I swiped one from her skin and brought it to my lips, tasting the emotion for myself. Then as if fearing the words being spoken aloud, she mouthed,

‘I love you’.

I smiled at that, before doing the same back down to her, our silent moment made all the sweeter for it was shared by no other in the room.

‘As I love you.’

She nodded, and I forced myself to let her go and leave through the door. The last sight of her was one I didn’t know in that moment…

Would haunt my dreams to come.

For it would be our last.