© ItalRT4u, 2012

     In case you’ve managed to formulate assumptions that Cane and I had done the nasty, you can take those thoughts and shove them up your butts.  Instead, we laid there, wrapped tightly around each other, enjoying our proximity, committing everything about each other to memory.  I know, I know, cheesy right?  No one truly understands this until they’re standing in the very spot, in this very life-altering situation as I am right in this moment. 

     Cane left me with words of love and kisses that lingered all over my face.  The ladies of the house stood idly by as we watched our men drive away.  I couldn’t help the tears as I was surrounded with such worry that it all became too overwhelming for my empathic self.  Even Carly seemed to be bothered by their departure. 

     I wonder what happened last night with those two. 

     I made a mental note to find out; after all, I could use the distraction right about now.

     Two days had passed and promises to call and check in were broken.  I couldn’t help the unsettling feeling that coursed through me as I slipped into bed on this dark, moonless night.  I felt like a storm was coming; one of monstrous proportions.  I craved, no, scratch that, I needed to hear from someone.  To be honest, I had given up on waiting a day and a half ago – giving into my urge to hear from them, I had dialled each and every one of their cell-phones – to no avail.  Again, last night, my attempts at contact had failed and tonight, on my third night without any reassurances, I found myself wide awake, yet exhausted with worry.

     I hadn’t realized that I had managed to fade into a restless sleep until I was rudely awakened by the front door slamming shut and thunderous footsteps rushing up the stairs.  I rushed out of bed and hid behind the bedroom door, ever at the ready should anyone dare intrude the confines of my room. 

     The silhouette was evidently that of a man’s.  He began to slowly creep towards the bed and paused whence he realized no one was there.  That’s when I pounced on him, a beautifully executed round-house kick to the side of his knees sent him tumbling to the floor, his head hitting first, knocking him out instantly.  I rushed to the bedside lamp to shed some light on the scene – I wasn’t ready for what I saw.  There on my floor laid Cane, sprawled out.  My hands flew up to my mouth, muffling the surprised, yet shocked squeal that came out of me.  I let myself drop to the floor at his head and cradled it onto my lap, worried that perhaps he’d hit his head too hard.  I closed my eyes and cursed myself for not paying closer attention before, tears burning but I refused to let them come.

     “Not the kind of welcome home I was looking for.”  He mumbled which made my eyes snap open and stare at him with remorse; light footsteps made their way up the stairs to what I presumed to be the rest of the men.

     “I’m so sorry.”  I whispered.  “It’s just…” my voice trailed.

     “I was practically begging for it, barrelling in here in the middle of the night.”  He cupped my cheek, looking up at me upside down with a sweet smile on his face.  I helped him to his knees, facing me.

     “Still,” I paused.  “I’m so sorry, Baby.”  I peppered light kisses over his face, making him chuckle as he pulled me into him – a hold, a hug that soothed each and every nerve of mine, making me forget of the exhaustion and worry I had been suffering through since their departure.  Eventually, he got up and pulled me with him, picking me up and laying me down, he rushed to his side, stripping himself down to his boxers, he crawled in beside me, pulling me into his chest – a sigh escaping him.

     “Sleep.  I haven’t slept in days.”  He whispered and I felt myself lull into a welcoming dark abyss of slumber.

     I woke to an empty bed.  Sitting up quickly, I wondered if it had all been a dream but to my delight, I saw the clothes Cane wore still scattered across the floor.  As much as it annoyed me in the past, I couldn’t help but smile at the mess of clothes on the floor in this moment.  Yeah, I’m a clean freak, so sue me!  I quickly got up and ran for the bathroom; there, I found a note on the mirror.

Good morning beautiful,

I didn’t want to wake you but we’ll be waiting for you downstairs.  Take your time.

Love,

Cane

     I smiled and jumped in the shower.

     I walked into the dining room, the aroma of eggs, bacon, French toast, and then some wafting toward me, not to mention the eyes that turned to me as I proceeded to take my seat by Cane – the men had smirks on their faces. 

     Did I miss something?

     “So we heard you floored him.”  Patrick teased and I blushed.  “Good on you.”  He winked as Andy and William chuckled.  The ladies looked confused and Cane had to oblige by recounting the story, educating them on what happened after he had barged in and tried to sneak into our room.

     “Have you lost your damn mind?”  Sandra looked at her eldest son.

     “I don’t think he’ll be doing that again.”  I stated.

     “Well, not in that fashion, anyway.”  Cane leaned over and kissed me lightly on my cheek.  “I can think of other ways that would be far less painful and much more enjoyable.”  He added through our mind-link, as he was still leaned in toward me, studying my reaction – I paused to try and swallow a bit of toast as I felt it lodging itself in my throat, making me cough.

     “Are you alright dear?”  Sandy eyed me as Cane rubbed my back with a smile of satisfaction on his mouth.  Blushing, I nodded and proceeded to shove more food in my mouth as a way to deflect Cane’s effects on me.

     Prior to vacating the table, William had asked to speak to both Cane and I.  Without a second thought, the three of us rose and I followed them both to the den.  When we reached his desk, I caught Cane and his father exchanging gazes.

     “What’s going on?”  I asked, thinking the worst.

     “It appears that the situation in Scotland is similar to that of ours.”  William began.  “They’ve asked for an audience with you, refusing to believe that you truly are the heir to the throne.”

     “Still, after they’ve heard of what’s transpired here, after they’ve met my match, the violet eyes, the tattoo, they refuse to believe?”  I asked.  Cane took my hand which caused me to look at him and he nodded the answer.  “I see.  So what do we do now?”  Did this all mean that those who’ve been on our side are wavering in loyalty at this point?

     “Not entirely.  I say we give them what they want.”  Will said with such a simplistic tone and crossing his arms over his broad chest indicating that he meant business.

     “What?”  Cane interjected.  “That’s absurd!”  I squeezed his hand which was still in mine and his head snapped to look at me.

     “Let’s hear him out.”  I told him softly.  I’ll be first to admit that walking into an ambush by myself had been a stupid move but it’s the way I could only see it happen at the time; but now, after experiencing it first-hand, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t put myself in that situation again.  For that, I understood Cane’s reservations but I also knew that it was needed seeing as it was the only way to put an end to this divide that existed within the Fae realm.  The one thing that offered me comfort was the fact that I knew all too well that William would never deliberately put me in a dangerous situation.  Honestly, had he been coherent on the night we put an end to Matt Davis and his antics, he would have never let it unfold the way it had.

     I hadn’t expected much, if any of what had come out of Will’s mouth.  I was thankful to have such wonderful people behind me to back me up and help me in becoming the leader I needed to be.  The plan was dangerous at best but as of late, so was everything else that had occurred in my life as of late.  I trusted Will explicitly and valued his guidance with this royal acclamation I’ve been subjected to.

     “There’s one more thing.”  Will added softly as Cane and I had started to turn and leave.  We turned back to face him.  “You may both want to sit down for this one.”  My heart lurched into my throat, anxiety riding me to my core, no thanks to William and his emotions. 

     Damn this empathy! 

     I sensed that Cane felt the same way as I did.  One look toward him only proved me right with the green coloring that tinged his skin.

     At my request, I had asked William to give us the night and that we would provide Scotland with their answer first thing the following morning.  I left the room before everyone else had the chance to say anything else.  Frustrated and shocked, I stormed up the stairs to my room and slammed the door shut, throwing myself onto the bed. 

     Give an inch and they’ll take a mile!  Can I not live my life in fucking peace and do things at my own pace?  I wondered to myself.

     “For fuck sakes!”  I hollered into the pillow.  Cane hadn’t come up yet; I suspected that he simply wanted to let me blow off some steam – the gym seemed really appealing at this point. 

     Maybe later. 

     I grumbled loudly in my pillow when I heard the doorknob to the room click softly.

     “Are you alright?”  Cane said softly, closing the door to the room behind him.  I lifted my head from my pillow, noticing the slight smirk on my lover’s face; clearly he had caught the grumbling and airy vents I was letting off – the ones that my pillows clearly hadn’t muffled all that much; not with our sense of hearing.  I gave him an exasperated look and let out a huffed breath.

     “I can’t believe that they’re asking this of me; of us.”  I told him, evidently still shocked with their demands.

     “We don’t have to, you know.”  Cane tells me softly, taking a seat on the bed beside me with a hand rubbing soothing patterns on my lower back.  In truth, I knew that but I couldn’t shake that part of me – a large part of me wanted this.  The only thing I hated was that it wasn’t on our own terms.

                                          *************************************

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