The entire Yarrister family was brilliant and highly skilled in different areas. She was sorely lacking in information about basic things here. Would she be able to learn everything necessary to be successful?
She was pacing the floor and wringing her hands when Rayn entered the room.
“Whatever is wrong? What’s happened to upset you so?”
“I’ve been thinking about everything, and I feel so inept compared to all of you. You all are so smart, brilliant really, and talented, and I just pale in comparison. I don’t know anything. There is so much I need to learn. I mean, I didn’t even know how to fill up the bathtub or work the shower—basic things. I feel like an idiot. “
“I am so out of my element here. I’m not sure I’m ready for all of this.” Maddie couldn’t look Rayn in the eyes. She knew if she did, she wouldn’t be able to say the words that were floating around in her head.
She continued, “I mean, everything is happening so fast. Where will we live? Here or on Earth? What will I do? How will I catch up with you all? I feel like I’m so far behind.”
Maddie took a deep breath and contemplated quickly whether she should say more. She knew she was rambling. She continued anyways, “I have to wonder if love is enough. I know you always hear it is, but right now, I’m really scared it won’t be.”
Maddie felt spent, worn out from everything. Was it all the stress she had been under? Was it the excitement of coming here to Vesturon? Was it the anxiety over meeting with Rayn’s parents and/or her grandparents? Could it be the stress of the trial? Maybe it was a combination of it all, but she was just tired.
“Maddie, what are you saying?”
“I don’t know. Maybe we should put all of this on hold until things calm down a bit. I am utterly dumbfounded by everything right now. I don’t know, Rayn. I just feel so uncertain about everything.”
“I can assure you, Maddie. You are everything to me. No one expects you to know these things. Great Deity, this is your first time on Vesturon, and of course, you do not know these things. It would not be expected of you. Please do not judge yourself so harshly. No one else is. There is so much to take in, but in time, it will become second nature.”
“You must admit, it is a lot, right?”
Rayn could feel her tension vibrating through him. It saddened him to see how troubled she was. She certainly had a point. This was more than just a lot to take in. It was mind-boggling. He understood her concerns and anxiety, and he wanted to take them away for her.
He reached out and took her hands in his. “Maddie, I cannot begin to imagine. Everything I take for granted, you are experiencing for the very first time. I must admit, though, that I adore watching you take it in. You are curious beyond measure and so enthralled with it all. It gives me great pleasure to watch you. I promise you I will be with you every step of the way, and when it becomes too much for you, we can escape back to the mountain house on Earth.” Rayn continued to hold her hands, calming her. “I will even make you this promise. If you find that Vesturon does not suit you, we will spend half our time here and the other half on Earth. How does that sound?”
“You would really do that for me?” He never ceased to amaze her.
“Just remember, no one is judging you on what you do not know. And as far as you and I are concerned, I have never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you more than I ever imagined possible. Do you love me?”
“Without a doubt, I do.”
“Do you trust me?”
“You know I do. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t!”
“Do you believe in me?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then you have your answers. But the most important question you need to answer is can you live without me? I know what I can live with and what I cannot live without, and I have no desire to live without you in my life. Maddie, your happiness is paramount here. I do not want you here unless this is something you want yourself.”
“Rayn, I do love you. I’m just not sure I’m enough for you.”
“Maddie, you did not answer me. Can you walk away from here and live happily without me in your life?”
“No, I cannot. I cannot imagine life without you.”
“That is all I need to know,” Rayn said, flashing her one of his heart stopping smiles. “Now, come here.”
He held out his arms, and she willingly let herself be enveloped by him. She put her arms around his waist and leaned into him. Everything felt so perfect like this. She stole a look at him and simply melted on the spot.
“What was I ever thinking? This is just perfect right here… like this.”
“Exactly what I was thinking. Are you ready to go to your grandparents? I have arranged for your escort, and they are ready and waiting. While we are there, you can talk to your grandmother about your desires concerning the children.”
“Escort? Why do I need an escort?”
“Because, like it or not, you are in the public eye. I will not take any chances with your safety. You cannot go anywhere without protection. While Vesturon is safe, there are undesirables and evil forces here that could cause you harm, and I am not willing to take that chance.”
When Maddie and Rayn reached the main entrance hall, they were greeted by a contingency of five Guardians. “Maddie, these males have been assigned to you as your personal guards. They will accompany you wherever you go, unless you are with me. They are here to serve you.”
“Ok, if you think it’s necessary.”
Maddie was a bit embarrassed by the commotion they stirred, but she would go along with it if it made Rayn more comfortable. After all they had been through, she could understand his concern for her safety.
Chapter 14
Maddie and her grandparents talked about everything from how she was a great lover of the outdoors to how different she was from her mother. They discussed what Maddie’s mother had been like and how life was before her untimely death. Maddie opened her heart up to them and told them how devastating the death of her father was to her and how lonely her life had become. Then, she told of the joy Rayn and his family had brought into her life. She felt like she was once again a part of something, not an outsider looking in.
Her grandfather told her about their life and how difficult it had been for them to leave her mother behind. They knew her mother was happy and thriving, and they realized they had made the right choice for her. But what surprised Maddie the most were the countless photos of her and her parents they had displayed everywhere in their home. Many of the pictures were the same ones Maddie had in her collection.
Taruk briefed Maddie on his career. After he served in a training capacity for the Guardians, he continued to move up within the ranks. Eventually, he was elected to the Council of Elders, from which he had recently retired. Maddie’s grandmother, Lysandra, was involved politically as well. She had held several cabinet posts and diplomatic positions until her retirement a year ago.
The day flew by in a blur, but before Maddie returned to the palace, Taruk told her what a fine man Rayn was and that the Vesturions loved him dearly. He was strong of heart, loyal, fair, and committed to his people. They knew he would eventually become a great Leader.
Later that night, Maddie and Rayn sat down with Rayn’s parents to decide on the date of their unification ceremony. It would take place on the palace grounds in the evening outdoors before sunset, and the reception would immediately follow. They explained to Maddie how everything would proceed.
There would be a formal procession that Rayn would lead from the building of the council chambers to the palace. Maddie’s grandparents would follow Rayn’s parents. Lastly, Maddie would follow, surrounded by all of Rayn’s siblings.
The procession would end at the palace where the Yarrister Guardians would hand Maddie over to her grandfather and he, in turn, would give her hand to Rayn for the unification. Immediately after the ceremony, Julian would step up to apply the mating marks to Maddie’s wrists. After th
is was completed, the reception would begin for the attendees. Rayn and Maddie would be driven through the streets of Aurora so the Vesturions could get their first view of the newly mated couple.
Maddie realized there was a significant amount of formality associated with this and began to worry whether she could pull this off without falling down and breaking her nose or, worse yet, breaking someone else’s.
Annalise asked Maddie if she would prefer to wear a different type of gown, possibly a more traditional Earthly gown versus the traditional Vesturion unification garments.
Maddie truly preferred the Vesturion garments as she felt while they were formal and stunning in their appearance, they were much less restrictive than the traditional weddings gowns she was familiar with. She knew they would be more comfortable and would show the people of Vesturon she was a part of them now.
The others would complete the rest of the wedding planning, as Maddie did not have a care or a clue as to what she would need to do.
Maddie was strangely silent for a time, and Annalise noticed this.
“Maddie, is there a problem you wish to discuss with us?” she inquired.
Not wanting to sound childish, but wanting to air her concerns, Maddie hesitatingly asked, “Will I need to wear shoes with high heels?”
Sharra was the only one who understood where this was leading. “Oh, Maddie, do not concern yourself with that. On Vesturon, the formal wedding attire requires that you do not wear shoes at all. If you prefer to have something on your feet, you can wear the traditional Vesturion sandal, which has no heel.”
Maddie was relieved with this information. She had awful visions of her crashing into guests and making a fool out of herself. Her clumsiness in certain areas gave her a real case of the nerves here.
Chapter 15
Rayn, Rowan, Therron, Rykerian, Tesslar, and Xarrid were seated around the kitchen table. They purposely excluded the females from this discussion as it touched on some very unpleasant business. They were discussing what to do regarding Voldruk Monteveldo.
“I think it best if Rayn and I pay him a visit,” Rowan began, “and show him the incriminating evidence we have on his involvement in this atrocity.”
“What exactly do we have?” asked Tesslar.
“Xarrid, will you explain your findings?” Rowan asked.
“I have evidence that our security system and files were breached form the Command Center here on Vesturon. That is why our veil was down the night Maddie was abducted. The ramifications of this are enormous. Also, I have found the prints of the man Voldruk hired to hack into our system and plant the files on Rayn,” Xarrid explained.
“We have the letter from Thorgar Telldoog that he wrote prior to his murder, which we think Voldruk took part in. We also have the confessions of Lucaren Sartorius and Dergan Calderon and their part in all of this. One has to wonder if Voldruk was the one who hired Darryl Carter to kill Maddie. He said someone paid him to do it, and Voldruk is familiar with the Smoky Mountains. This all just sickens me so,” Therron finished.
Rykerian added, “What I do not understand is the ‘why’ behind it all. Voldruk was always such a close friend of this family. It is so unlike him.”
“Bloody hell, what will we tell Athyna?” Therron asked. “I had not even thought about that. This is going to destroy her!”
“You are right, Therron,” Rowan said. “I had not thought of that either. “Maybe we can have Sharra and your mother speak to her. She is going to need a great deal of support throughout this.”
“That is too true, but I think you are right, Father. You and I need to pay Voldruk a visit and get his confession after we present all the evidence to him. There is no other way,” Rayn deduced.
“Then let us go. I want to get this over and behind us,” Rowan decided.
********
Moments later, Rayn and Rowan materialized in the main foyer of the Monteveldo residence, much to the shock of all of the servants.
“Where is Voldruk?” Rowan demanded.
“My lord, he is not in at the moment, but we expect him soon. Would you care to wait?” the butler asked.
“Yes, we will. We shall be in his office.”
“May I bring you some refreshment?”
“No, unfortunately, this is not a social call. I would like for all of you to leave as well. Gather the rest of the staff and please depart as quickly as you can,” Rowan commanded.
“But, my lord, that is a most unusual request!” the butler exclaimed.
“I think you misunderstand. It is not a request, but an order. You can return later this afternoon,” Rowan explained.
“Yes, my lord.” He left Rowan and Rayn to find their way to Voldruk’s office.
About a half an hour had passed when they heard the front door open and Voldruk calling for his butler to bring him a beverage. Then, the office doors burst open, and that is when he had his first glimpse of the Yarristers.
Voldruk’s expression turned into one of shock, which he frantically tried to hide. His eyes darted madly around the room, and then he pasted a false smile on his face and said, “Rowan, Rayn, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
“Cut the pretense, Voldruk. It really does not suit you,” Rowan said. “We are here to confront you, as I am sure you have already surmised.”
“Confront me about what?” Voldruk asked.
“Come now, Voldruk. Do you think we are that foolish and gullible? I just want to know why you did it!” Rowan demanded.
“I do not know to what you are referring,” Voldruk demurred.
“Well, I guess I will have to refresh your memory,” Rayn said, barely controlling his anger. Rayn held out the letter from Thorgar Telldoog and began reading it aloud.
Voldruk turned an ashen color and quickly began stammering. “I do not know what this is all about I do not know this man. What was his name?” he attempted to deny it.
“Please, Voldruk. You can try that on others, but do not insult our intelligence,” Rowan harshly said.
Voldruk stumbled back into a chair as he read the incriminating letter left by Thorgar.
“Why did you do it, Voldruk?” Rowan asked. “I thought we were friends, the best of friends. All the years our families spent together, how I convinced you to return to Vesturon after your rogue issue, our females were so close—and our children. We looked at you as a part of our family. I would have given you anything. You only had to ask. Why, Voldruk?” The pain Rowan was feeling was evident in every one of his words.
Voldruk sat, with his head hanging down, and in a distant voice, he answered back, “Athyna. I did it for Athyna. I promised Martya on her deathbed that I would see Athyna cared for and that was the only thing I ever promised her. I could barely stand to be in the same room with that woman the way I despised her. You brought me back from my rogue years, but those were the best years I ever spent. Athyna was the only thing I lived for here. I wanted her to mate with Rayn. I always thought they would make a great team, for they are both intelligent and honest to a fault. I promised my wife on her deathbed I would make sure Athyna would find a mate that would care for her, and I knew Rayn would always see to that. He always put everyone before himself.”
Voldruk paused briefly, then looked at Rayn and continued, “I tried to push the two of you together at every opportunity, but you always ignored her. I made her attend things she had no interest in, with hopes of her being noticed by you, to no avail.”
“Why me? Why not Therron or Rykerian?” Rayn asked curiously.
“Do you really need me to point that out to you?” Voldruk asked incredulously. “That is just another example of your selflessness. It is because you are the First-born. I wanted Athyna to assume the role of your mate. Is that so hard to understand?”
“Yes, it is,” Rayn replied angrily. “Athyna and I are like brother and sister—no more. A blind fool could see that. She has no more interest in me in any other way either. Did you ever stop to consider her feelings
in this?”
When Voldruk shrugged, Rayn continued, “Heavens above, lives were lost because of your sick notions. Maddie barely made it out alive, and if you had your way, she would not be here today. What kind of monster are you?” Rayn demanded to know.
“Rayn, son, calm down,” Rowan said quietly. He turned to Voldruk and carried on, “You have gravely injured our family, Voldruk. I hope, only for Athyna’s sake, that she can forgive you. And had you not been so blinded by your quest for power, because that is what I believe it was, you would have seen that Athyna has only had eyes for Therron for as long as I can remember. She never would have consented to being Rayn’s mate—even if he would have begged her,” Rowan said sadly.
“The Guardians should be here shortly to escort to your confinement. You are being charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and treason. The penalties for this will be drastic, which I am sure you know. You may want to collect a few belongings before they arrive,” Rowan informed him.
Voldruk stood up. “You know, I only came back to Vesturon because of Athyna. It was not because of you or my mate. Lord knows I could barely tolerate her. It was all because of Athyna. Everything I have ever done has been for her. I would have happily stayed rogue on Earth if I had not worried about Athyna. I truly do love her you know.”
“Do not tell her about all of this then. It would sicken her to know that you actually killed innocents in her name,” Rayn hissed.
Voldruk swayed a bit, and then, he made his way to his desk, where he pulled open a drawer and reached inside.
“She will not learn of any of this from my lips. And you are both mistaken. I am not going anywhere with the Guardians. Please tell Athyna that I love her and that I am sorry for all the pain this will cause her. I hope you will see it in your heart to be kind to her. She had no part in this.”
Before Rowan or Rayn realized what was happening, Voldruk gave a command to his Annihilator and vaporized before their eyes.
Rowan dropped to his knees, stunned, while Rayn stood watching, his mouth agape.
Guardians of Vesturon 2 - Resurrection Page 14
