I was in great company though. Eva settled in with only a little bit of my help. It was as if she was home. She fit in so well everywhere in this world.
Sebastian and Francine visited to see if were settled in.
Francine stood with her arms crossed. “Eric is restless. We can’t stay here forever.”
“Of course he’s restless. He was cursed here.” Sebastian said softly.
She looked at me hopefully. “Have you heard him yet?”
I knew what she was asking me as her brother shushed her. I shook my head.
Dinner was served at around six, and we all went down to the dining area. Butlers, ready to serve, stood against a wall of the beautiful dining room.
Everyone got seated. I took the chair at the end and only realized when I sat down that Marick was way on the other side with his father.
His father spoke to him softly as Marick shook his head with closed eyes.
His dad tapped him twice on the hand.
“Emile and Joshua will be coming home for the weekend.”
“Yeah!” Eva yelled.
Eli laughed, and Marick winked at her.
I was dreading it.
“When is Minaut going to return?” I asked, and Marick gave me a concern look. I warned him I was going to mess up. I felt lost without her.
“Minaut really made an impression on you,” said the queen.
I nodded. “I feel safer with her nearby.”
She frowned. “No one is going to hurt you here, Danielle.”
“Mom,” Marick said.
“Sweetheart, she has to know that.”
“She doesn’t remember.” He sounded annoyed.
She shook her head. “She will return tomorrow, Danielle. I’m sorry that you feel unsafe without her, but I promise you, you are safe here. No one is going to harm you.”
I forced a smile. I hated lying, I sucked at it, but I couldn’t tell him that her thoughts were unsettling.
Our first course was served, and I played with my food as everyone was making conversation.
“Can I go sit next to Grandma?”
“Go, kiddo. You don’t have to ask me.”
“Thanks, Danielle,” she said and picked up her plate to go sit next to her grandma.
Everyone laughed, but I could feel eyes on me again and I didn’t know whose.
Eric wasn’t at the dinner table and neither was Francine.
Katia just spoke to the queen as if they were old friends.
I didn’t fit in with them. How did I manage to fit in while everyone thought I was human?
Both Marick and his dad kept looking at me through dinner. Marick looked away the minute I looked at him and said something to Eva, but the king just watched me with worried eyes.
He smiled softly and finally looked away.
During our main course, the door opened and a beautiful woman with brown hair walked in.
She went straight to Marick and gave him a hug from behind which made him tense up a bit. He pulled off the arms wrapped around his chest.
That was her.
I couldn’t breathe. I wish he could stop pretending with me and tell me the truth.
I got up. “May I please be excused?” Everyone gave me that pitiful look before the king nodded.
I didn’t want to look at her.
“Danielle, wait for a moment,” Marick said to me before turning to the newcomer. “Shania,” Marick said, “I want to introduce you to Danielle.”
The woman’s smile vanished. She looked at Marick before she walked over to me. My heart raced slightly, but she smiled warmly before she bent down slightly and planted a kiss on each of my cheeks. “Welcome back, Danielle.”
“Thank you,” I said, sounding confused, and walked past her up to my room without looking back.
Conversation started up again when I was just out of earshot to hear the details.
My heart was stammering.
I kept hearing his words: don’t make it harder than it already is.
That was her. The woman who raised my kids. Kids I couldn’t even remember. And now I was back to do what? Take it all away from her?
I didn’t belong here.
What came next was my body moving faster than my mind. Before I knew it, my bag was open on the bed, and I was chucking my belongings into it.
A knock on my open door startled me. I whirled around to find Marick in the doorway.
“I’m sorry about…” he stared at the open bag on my bed.
“Marick, I don’t belong here. I can’t.” I stop and ran my hands through my hair. I still struggle to breathe. It was as if I was still in that courtroom.
“Danielle, this is your home.”
“Something happened here. I might not remember it, but I can’t breathe. I can’t stay here.”
He walked over to me.
“Nothing bad happened to you here, okay?” He pulled me into a hug. “This was your home, and you loved it here.”
“Who is she? And please tell me the truth,” I asked him, and I could feel him tensing up. “You married to her?” I asked.
His face was expressionless.
“No, well, not in that sense. She was someone though, Danielle.”
I pushed out of his grasp. I knew he loved her. He just felt too bad to show me that.
“I can’t stay here. I don’t remember you anyway. You have no obligation toward me.”
“Danny, please. It’s dangerous out there. I don’t know who is watching us. Minaut is out there now trying to keep you safe. Don’t leave, please,” he begged. He didn’t even answer my other question. “Just stay until we know who’s behind this.”
I looked at him not knowing what to do. I felt so trapped.
“This feeling you have, it might not even be your own. I think it’s your ability that is starting to get stronger. You’re feeling Eric’s emotions. Something bad happened to him here a long time ago. He hates this castle, and I wish I had another place close by for him, but he’s the other person that might be in danger. If anything happens to him…I already struggle to forgive myself for not investigating more back then, not trying harder,” tears filled his eyes again. “For just giving up.” He wiped one away with the back of his hand. “I can’t lose you or him. Please, stay.”
I nodded.
“I’m moving into the room opposite yours. I’ll be within shouting distance.”
“You don’t need to do that.” I punched the air in frustration.
He stared at me.
I closed my eyes. “I’m sorry about everything.”
“I’m not. This is your home,” he said as he headed out. He paused by the door but didn’t turn around or look at me. “It’s not like that with Shania despite of what you think. You’re not here because I feel guilty or have an obligation to you, Danielle. You’re here because I can’t live without you. You just can’t remember me.” He walked away, and tears rolled down my cheeks again. I hated the way he made me feel. I walked to my door and closed it. I wanted Minaut.
* * *
MARICK
* * *
A knock came late on my door.
I smiled. Maybe Danny wanted more answers.
I knew she was restless. Without Minaut, she probably had many questions.
I got up from the bed and open the door. It wasn’t Danny.
Shania stared at me with tears in her eyes.
“I said everything there is to say at dinner.”
“Marick,” she said
I let her in. “It’s Danielle, Shania, the love of my life.”
“She doesn’t even remember you.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s the mother of my children, the mother of my daughter. I can’t abandon her now in her time of need.”
“So, it has nothing to do with love?”
“It has everything to do with love. She’s the love of my life. Why don’t you hear me? I gave up my throne for that woman.”
She looked away her jaw muscles pumping s
lightly.
“You know what I was like without her. I can’t do this. Please.”
“Marick, she isn’t the same Danny anymore.”
“I don’t care.”
“Josh and Em don’t even know her.”
“They will. Besides, they know of her. Mila spoke of her many times, so did my mother and father. They know who their mother is. If you can’t handle it, then leave—go on a holiday or something.”
“I’m not the running away type. I still have duties here.”
“Which belong to Danielle. As soon as she is better to do them, she will take over, Shania.”
She just stared at me. “I gave you everything. I raised your kids, I—”
“I never asked you to do that. I can’t do this with you.”
“Fine,” she said and stalked to the door. She turned around at the doorway and looked around. “Where is Minaut?”
“Away on royal errand. Besides, she isn’t mine anymore.”
She looked at me. “What?”
“She chose Danielle, always had, so she is back with Danielle.”
“She is human, Marick.”
“It didn’t stop Minaut the first time.”
She didn’t like that answer much, but she turned around, shaking her head as she left.
Minaut wasn’t a big fan of Shania. I guess it had something to do with how we ended up together after Danielle’s death, or rather, her disappearance.
She never died.
I plopped down on the edge of my bed and ran my hands through my hair.
Tears still pooled in my eyes. She really thought that I would bring her here if I had moved on. I tried, I couldn’t. I never did, but to see whatever that was in her eyes, I like to think it was hurt, but that was the last thing I want to cause Danielle. I knew she could care for me again, like she always had.
All those years. I could just imagine the darkness of the potion that weighed heavy on her, the thoughts of what she went through.
I googled the Brolin case a few times now. News reported that Danielle was one of his victims, but she was the only victims that was hardly in the press. They said she was kept the longest of his victims. There wasn’t a lot of information other than that.
She really thought that she was trapped somewhere in a basement with him, tortured and raped—that Eva belonged to him.
I smiled as my little girl jumped into my mind. I had to still say goodnight to her.
I knew she missed her grandmother, whom she knew as mom, but that would change too.
I got up from the bed and went to Eva’s room. I found Danielle tucking her in.
“Daddy,” she said, and I walked over as Danielle looked at me over her shoulder.
Danielle pushed a loose lock of hair away from Eva’s face. “Goodnight, Eva.”
“Goodnight, Danielle,” she whispered which made Danny smiled. “I love you, so much.”
“Ditto, kiddo. Sorry about everything.” She whispered back, gave her a kiss on her temple, and got up. She walked past me and out the door. She was giving me some time with Eva.
“Where were you today?” she asked. “I missed you.”
“I’m sorry sweetheart, but I still have duties that I need to take care of.”
“I thought you weren’t the king?”
I chuckled. “I’m still the prince, which makes you a princess.”
She blushed. “I’m going to have to get used to that.”
“I know you do.”
“When are Josh and Emile coming?”
I laughed. “It’s amazing that you know them, Eva.”
“It’s weird.”
“It’s not weird. It’s special,” I said, sitting down where Danielle sat only a moment ago. “You still need to tell me about meeting Grandpa in your dreams.”
She sighed. “All of them?”
“Most of them.”
“He came to me after you came. He’s got very squishy cheeks.”
I laughed with her. “He does, doesn’t he?” I pinched her cheeks. “You ever see Grandma?”
She shook her head. “Why is Danielle so sad?”
I frowned. “You think she’s sad?”
“Oh, dunno. She looked sad tonight.”
“I think she misses Grandma and Minaut.”
“Where is Minaut?”
“She’s keeping all of us safe.” I bopped her on her nose.
“She’ll come back, right?”
“Tomorrow. You heard Grandpa saying that.”
She nodded. “You sure Danielle is ready?”
I nodded and touched her face softly. “I know she is really hard on herself for letting you down, Eva.”
“I know she told me that tonight. But it’s weird to call her mom.”
“It will take time, but she is patient.”
She smiled.
“Is Mom—” she sighed. “Is Grandma okay?”
I nodded and pulled her onto my lap.
“She’s safe, and we’ll visit her soon. I promise.” I kissed her on her temple again. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted you?” I asked, and she looked at me. “I’m never going to leave you ever again, and I promise, we will get you the best teachers to teach you about your ability and how to do what you do.”
“Is Eric going to be okay?”
I squinted. “Have you dreamt about him?”
She shook her head.
“He will be okay. You know we can’t tell Grandpa or anyone about Mom, right? That she can hear Minaut’s thoughts?”
“Mom—” She sighed and tried again. “Grandma told me.”
I kissed her on her temple again. “Good, baby girl. I’ll try to spend some time with you tomorrow, okay? But your brothers might keep you too busy.”
She gasped. “They are really coming?”
“Tomorrow—early!—so you need to go to bed now, Eva. And if you get scared, Danielle is right next door and I’m across from you.”
She nodded.
“Love you, baby girl.”
“Love you too, Daddy.”
“Sleep tight.”
I tucked her back into bed and then left her door a few inches open before I turned off the light.
I’m sure she wasn’t used to the size of the room, but it was her life now and something she had to get used to.
I knocked on Danielle’s door. She would give Eva a heart attack if she were to scream like that again tonight.
She opened the door and leaned against the frame. “I’m okay, really.” She looked at me.
“I’m not going to take that chance, Danielle.” My joking tone fell flat.
She sighed.
“It’s won’t take long. I promise.” I looked deep into her eyes. “The darkness will feel lighter.” She didn’t repeat it after me, and I tried again, concentrating harder. “You’re safe here.”
“Safe,” she said.
“Go and sleep.” I caught her after her eyes closed and her body went limp. I tucked her into bed.
Her question from this afternoon when I found her ready to leave still lay heavy in my mind. How could she even think that I was doing this out of obligation? It scared me that she didn’t see how much I loved her.
We were all waiting for Josh and Emile to arrive. Sebastian paced with excitement, not that the boys would remember him. Guilt knotted my stomach again, almost making me sick.
Eva was here. Danielle was too, but she stood with Francine. Danny looked so out of place, as if she was forced to be here.
“She will be okay, Marick.” Sebastian stopped pacing and put a hand on my shoulder.
“She doesn’t want to be here.”
“She told you that?” Sebastian looked at me, and I nodded.
“I found her packing her suitcase in her bedroom after Shania came back from her trip last night.”
He grunted softly.
“She knows that it’s Danielle, always had been.”
“Still, I know it can’t be that easy on any of you, Ma
rick.”
“It isn’t, Sebastian. I still love Danielle with everything I have.”
He studied me, a frown line carved on his forehead.
“Prince Joshua and Prince Emile.” My kids were formally announced when they entered.
My mom went to hug them first.
“Your mom really has a great body, still.”
I slapped him hard in his chest, and he grunted. She doesn’t dress like a queen—so what? For as long as I could remember, she was always a looker and way too hot for her age—or so Sebastian tells me.
“They got big, Marick.”
“Yes, I wasn’t really there for them as they look just like her.”
We stared at each other.
I broke the silence. “What?”
“It really fucked you up, didn’t it?”
“I gave up my throne. What do you think, Sebastian?”
“I’m sorry.”
I stepped forward and the boys bounded toward me.
I gave Joshua a hug, then Emile. They were begging for my attention for years. “Welcome home, boys.”
“Dad, what’s the emergency?” Emile asked. He looked around. “And where is Mom?”
Despite being Joshua and Emile’s stepmother, Shania was called “Mom” by both the boys. None of Danielle’s biological children called her mother.
“And who are all these people?”
“Later, Emile.” He was so much like the old Danielle who would ask so many questions. He was her little shadow too.
“Go get out of your robes and come have lunch with me. I’ll explain everything to you then.”
They both nodded as they hugged Mila and their grandfather.
Danielle stared at them while Louise held Eva. Eva couldn’t stop smiling.
I walked over to Louise after Joshua and Emile were out of sight and tapped Eva’s shoulder to get her attention. “Later, sweetheart.” I smiled, and she giggled, super excited to finally meet her two brothers.
I walked over to Danielle and ran my fingers through my hair. “I’m sorry you had to see that,” I said to Danielle.
She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly with a smile on her face. “I can’t—” her voice broke.
“It’s not your fault.” I wanted to hug her, but she already retreated, leaving me with Sebastian.
“You want me to go speak to her?” Sebastian asked me as tears pooled in my eyes.
Playing With Fire Page 38
