A warm feeling washed over Alex as she gave Tom a nod and a smile. It seemed like her brother was finally getting used to the idea of Jay and her together. Soon enough she thought, they can all gather together like a family over in Ashland and laugh at the events of tonight.
Walking out of the vault, the siblings locked the door behind them. Knowing the castle underbelly best, Alex guided them back out onto the moonlit lawn. With a quick glance at the moon, they both changed to birds, flying off into the direction of the harbor.
Gathered at the docks were Henry, Jay, Cosmo, and Andy. The two men and the boy stood in front of a great black ocean liner while Cosmo sat perched on Jay’s shoulder. The ship’s three red smokestacks rose in stark contrast to the navy blue sky. Pacing back and force, Jay, kept checking his pocket watch while glancing around him. Changing into human forms as they landed. Andy instantly spotted Tom and Alex, running towards her with arms wide open.
“Alex! Alex!”
Kneeling to meet him, Alex allowed him to fling his small arms around her neck before lifting him up and giving him a kiss. Holding the little boy against her, she buried her face in his soft hair, smiling as a single tear ran down her cheek.
“Are you actually coming with us, Alex?”
“I am. You're my boy, remember? How could I ever let you leave me behind?”
“You sure can't. I wouldn't leave you behind, anyway.”
“No, I suppose you wouldn't.”
Tightening her grip on the child, Alexandra closed her eyes. She was never letting him go again, they’d finally be together for good. Running over to them, Jay put his big arms around the two of them, bringing them closer to him. Resting his chin on top of Alex’s head, Jay heaved out a sigh of relief as Cosmo barked once from his shoulder.
“I was beginning to think you wouldn't be showing up.”
“Now why would I do such a thing?”
“I thought you changed your mind about being with me.”
“Oh, I'm not letting you off that easy.”
“Jay, is it?” Tom butted his way into their conversation “I trust you will take good care of my baby sister and keep her happy. Because if I find out you hurt her, I swear I will hunt you down and kill you like the filthy dog you are.”
“You don't have to worry about it. I'll never stop treating her like the princess she is. Your sister is safe with me.”
“In that case...” Tom stretched out his arm “... I'll be honored to call you my brother-in-law.”
“Likewise.” Taking Tom’s hand, Jay smiled, and the two shook on it.
Henry approached the group with a stern expression on his face. “Alexandra are you sure you want to take this upon yourself. Once word gets out about Dalton and you leaving with the barkeep… well, you know Quinton will never stop hunting you.”
“I know. But this is one battle I must fight on my own, and to me, Jay is worth it.”
“Very well. We will do our best to keep the war away from you for as long as we can. But know, one day the battle will come to you, so be ready.”
“I will be. Just promise me the two of you will stay safe. And please try to keep in touch the best you can.”
“We will, milady. We will also send word to you right away if you need to prepare yourself for a fight. Now, before it's too late, the young man behind you will take you to your room.” Henry pointed behind them to a shipmate in a red jacket who smiled at the two of them. “I hope you'll find happiness over in Ashland.”
“I've already found it. Ashland will simply allow me to express it openly.”
With a final goodbye, Alex turned and walked towards the ship with Jay, and Andy still hanging off her neck. The young man in the red jacket greeted the three of them with a courteous bow and pointed to the gangway leading to the belly of the ship. Readjusting Andy in her arms, Alexandra walked up, stopping only at the top to steal one last look at Vega, Tom, and Henry before disappearing into the steel hull.
Inside the ship, an awestruck Alex took in her surroundings of polished wood walls and lush floral carpeting. Ever since childhood, when she first saw an Ashland ocean liner, Alexandra wondered what the inside of one would look like. Now, finally able to see it with her own eyes, she was not disappointed. The ship attendant walked in front of them and pointed left, past an open area and down a dimly lit hall.
“If you would follow me, your room is further down this way.” The attendant began to walk away. “It's an honor to provide you safe passage, Lady Hamilton. It's not often we get foreign dignitaries on board our ship, let alone ones as high up the ranks as you.”
“I wouldn't suspect you would. Most of my kind prefers to stay where they are. As for me, from now on, I am an average woman, not a princess.”
“Very well miss.”
Walking behind the young man, Alexandra wondered if her blood status would be an issue over in Ashland. She knew pure-bloods and grays coexisted and could wed over in the free world, but she was no ordinary pure-blood, she was a royal as well. Considering asking Jay to alleviate her concerns, Alex stopped at the railing open to below. Marveling at the spectacular sight, she completely forgot about her worries. Glancing up at a sizable stain-glassed skylight exposing a beautiful courtyard with shops, trees, and fountains below, Alexandra let out a small gasp.
“Magnificent. To think you can put the outdoors inside a ship. Ashland truly is a marvelous place.”
“If you think it's impressive now miss, just wait until you see it alive during the day. That's when the promenade really comes to life.” The ship attendant smiled politely before putting a hand on Alexandra's back, directing her forward. “But come now, you must be exhausted. You can experience the wonders of our ship tomorrow, after you get some rest.”
In fact, Alex was exhausted, more so than she cared to admit. The night's events have taken their toll on her, and she did not care to argue with the attendant. Instead, she followed the man’s lead further down the hallway. Halfway down the narrow tube, they stopped in front of a small wooden door with the number 222 on it. Reaching into his jacket pocket the young man pulled out a key, handing it over to Jay.
“This is your room, it's all set up for you. I laid all the information about the ship out for you on the desk. Now please, get some rest and feel free to explore the ship at your leisure.”
“Thank you.” Jay took hold of the key and placed a small tip in the man's hand.
Tipping his hat in gratitude, the attendant walked back down the hall leaving the four of them alone for the first time. Putting the key in the door, Jay swung it open to reveal a modest room with a large bed situated between two porthole windows. A wood desk had pamphlets splayed out on its polished surface. Across from the table, a sofa bed had been pulled out and made up for the extra passenger. The cozy interior felt safe, and Alex was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief as Jay closed the door shut behind them.
Walking over to the large bed, Jay flopped down on top of it and sprawled out with a heavy breath. Placing a sleeping Andy on the sofa, Alex tucked him in and put her old teddy bear next to him. Deciding to leave Alex and Jay to their thing, Cosmo flew down and nestled next to the boy’s head for a well-deserved rest.
With the child and the pigrie fast asleep, Alex glanced over at Jay. He was patting a spot on the bed next to him with a huge grin. Alexandra wondered if she should join him or if perhaps the sofa bed was a better place for her. After all, she didn’t exactly know what she was supposed to do with a man in such a situation, or if sleeping beside him was even appropriate.
“Well come on sweetheart, I ain't going to try to do anything unless you want it.”
“That's not it...” Alex looked for words to express how she felt, “it's just—”
“You've never slept next to a man before?”
“Yes,” Alex replied meekly as she turned her face towards the floor in embarrassment.
Chuckling, Jay rolled over onto his bac
k, spreading his arms wide open. “Come on over love. It's all right, I don’t bite. Plus, you got to get used to it at some point since I'm not letting you leave my side ever again.”
Whether it was his words or the way he said them, Alex was not sure, but Jay made her euphoric. Not to mention he was right, she'd need to get used to sharing a bed with him at some point so might as well start now. Climbing on the mattress, Alex snuggled up beside Jay, laying her head on his chest. Hearing his heart beating and smelling his familiar scent, Alexandra felt herself melt as Jay kissed her head, stroked her hair, and held her in his warm embrace.
“Jay,” Alex lifted her head to look at him, “did you mean what you said back at the tavern? Do you really plan to marry me?”
“The minute we get off this damn boat sweetheart.” Caressing her face in his large hand, Jay brought Alex in for a deep kiss. “Unless you changed your mind about me already.”
“I'd never...” Alex glared at him with a pout. “I’m just making sure you didn't change your mind about me.”
Jay chuckled. “You worry too much princess. I've been yours from day one. I assure you, I ain't going nowhere. Now get some rest, you need it after the night you had.”
Laying her head back down on Jay's chest, Alex curled up to him. Closing her eyes, she tried, but she could not fall asleep. Listening to Jay’s breathing, Alexandra waited until she was sure he had fallen asleep. Sitting up beside him, she sat on her pillow with her knees tucked into her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. Huddled up, Alex watched Jay sleeping next to her before turning her gaze to one of the porthole windows.
Still terrified Quin would come rushing the ship at any moment, Alexandra watched and waited for his figure to come running down the dock. But Quinton never came, and after about an hour Alex felt the ship nudge from its spot as it began to sail away. As the pier faded from sight, and the endless ocean took over her view, she let her guard down and allowed herself to fully unwind. Once the sun poked its face over the horizon, Alex knew they were safe. Laying back in the safety of Jay's arms, she drifted off into a deep sleep as they sailed to their new life together.
Chapter 32
Journey to a New World
By the time Alex woke up, the sunlight was streaming through the two portholes, illuminating the cabin in a warm, amber glow. Andy sat on the bed beside her, playing with his bear and Cosmo. Still sleepy, Alexandra marveled at the little boy, realizing this was the first time they were together during the day. His face looked even sweeter in the sunlight, and she could make out the small dimples on his cheeks. Reaching over, Alex ruffled Andy’s hair, and he lifted his head over at her, beaming with delight.
“Morning Alex.”
“Morning sweetie.” Alexandra looked around the room “Where is your daddy?”
“In the bathroom.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Alex...” Andy crinkled his nose as he studied her face “... can I call you mama now?”
The boy's words took her by surprise, yet at the same time, they thrilled Alex. Somehow it felt natural for Andy to call her mom. It seemed almost as if she had been his mother all along, and perhaps, she always was. Sitting up from her pillow, Alex gave Andy a sincere look, grabbing hold of his pudgy hand.
“I would like that quite a bit.”
Both Alexandra and Andy smiled at each other and laughed as Cosmo snorkeled with joy. It felt good to laugh after everything they’d been through. As the two of them shared the joyous moment, a door slid open at the other end of the room. Jay stepped out of the bathroom with nothing more than a towel wrapped around his waist. Looking at Jay's wet, muscular body glistening with the morning sun, Alex felt herself flush, looking away to avoid staring at him for too long.
“Well good morning, darling.” Coming over to the bed, Jay sat down next to Alex, putting his face in her hair. “Did you sleep well?”
“For the most part.”
Being tickled by Jay’s goatee, Alex giggled and pulled away only to end up being wrapped up in Jay's arms. Ensnaring her in his arms, Jay placed a hand behind her head and gave her a deep kiss.
“Ewww, you guys are gross.”
“Oh, yeah?” Jay smirked at his son “Get used to it pal, you'll be seeing a lot of it.”
The little boy rolled his eyes, making Alex break into a laugh. Andy turned away from them, taking Cosmo over to the sofa he drew a curtain shut and returned to playing with his bear. Admiring Jay's physic, Alex noticed something she hadn't before. There was a tattoo of a black wolf on his left shoulder. Running her hand up his arm, she paused and studied the picture carefully.
“Oh, that? I had it done about three years back,” Jay answered her silent question unfazed.
“Why a black wolf?”
Smirking, Jay kissed her forehead. “I told you, I was yours from day one, did I not?”
“Wait...” Alex looked up at Jay shocked as the realization of what happened dawned on her. “... does this mean, you are the black wolf?”
“In the flesh baby.”
Finally, it all made sense to her. Nothing that happened up to this point was an accident. They were destined to find each other all along. All this time she was worried about her destiny, Alex was running straight for it.
“How long did you know about me?”
“Ever since you walked into my tavern. I recognized your scent the instant it hit me. I smelled you before when you first got your totem, I just did not see your human form back then.”
“Then why... why did you try to push me away?”
“At first, I was pissed you had to be a pure-blood and a princess. You were betrothed to someone else. There was no way I could compete with a crown prince. Then, I got to know you, and I thought a life with you was possible, but I didn't want to burden you. I didn't want you to be with me just because you felt like you had to be. I wanted you to love me for me.”
“But you knew I was in love with you long before you confessed your feelings to me. What made you wait?”
“By the time you let me know how you felt, I had completely fallen in love with you. I was terrified of the position I would put you in, so I tried to avoid what you meant to me. But I guess you can't run from fate, can you?”
“No, I suppose you can’t.”
“So now you know. What do you think we should do now?”
“We carry on like we did before, and we wait. When the time comes, as I’m sure it will, we fight, and we win because that is what we came here to do. Not to mention we owe it to him…” Alex motioned her head over to where Andy sat “… to make our world better, so he doesn’t have to suffer the same way we did.”
“Glad you are okay with having to do this with me.”
“Trust me. There is no one I’d rather have by my side. Fate put you in my life for a reason, I know that now. For better or worse, you’re stuck with me.”
“I wouldn’t call it being stuck. If I’m stuck with the obligation to save this world, I might as well do it with the love of my life.”
“Oh, Jay.” Embracing him, Alex let tears of joy fall from her face. “Now I’m still curious, what did your wolf tell you to make you stay in Manevia?”
Placing Alexandra's face between the palms of his hands, Jay looked at her with a soft smile and a loving gaze. “He told me love will set me free again and to go wait for it at the end of the line.”
Closing her eyes, Alex nodded with delight. She finally understood everything as the plot unveiled itself, even if she did not yet comprehend why. Falling back onto the bed, Alexandra cuddled up close to Jay and looked back fondly upon the events which led them to be together. There were many twists and turns in her life, but they put her right where she needed to be, and for that, Alex was grateful.
Four days into their voyage, Alexandra found herself being rudely shaken awake. Opening her sleepy eyes, she noticed the room was still dark. The twilight hours had just started, illuminating
the shadows enough for her to see Jay sitting next to her, shaking her shoulder.
“Wake up baby, there is something you need to see.”
“All right...”
Still partially asleep, Alex did not know what to make of all this. Rolling over on the bed she slipped on her shoes and got up. Standing by the door was Andy with Cosmo riding on top of his head, both eagerly waiting for her to wake up.
Taking hold of her wrist, Jay walked Alex out the door without giving her a chance to throw something over her nightgown. Feeling exposed, Alexandra followed along down the hallway towards the promenade.
Walking over the garden below, Jay led Alex up a flight of stairs and through a large steel door. Suddenly, she found herself standing on one of the decks of the ship. A crisp, salty breeze moved her hair, waking Alex up in the process. Not pausing to look at the ocean, Jay continued to pull her along, guiding her towards the bow. There, in the distance, Alex could see the sun cresting its way above the horizon.
“Whoah!” cried Andy as he broke away from them and ran towards the very tip of the ship.
Moving closer, Alex squinted her eyes to see what had the little boy so excited. Then she saw it, and her mouth dropped open at the beauty before her. In the distance, growing steadily closer was a large city. Its high buildings lit up as the skyline grew closer. What a marvelous sight it was to behold, a city of lights, that shone so brightly even at night.
“Is that... Clear Spring?” Alexandra moved closer to Andy, laying a hand upon the boy's shoulder.
“That's right.” Jay wrapped his arm around her “And it’s the start of our new life together.”
“It's beautiful.”
Leaning down, Jay gave Alex a soft kiss of her cheek. Placing her head against his chest, Alexandra stood there, watching the sun rise over the mystical city as the ship crept closer to its shore. They all knew the war had just started and their battle was far from over. But at this moment they had everything they wanted, they had each other, and to them, it was enough.
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