by K. Lyn Hill
She slapped him in the arm with a towel she was holding. “Don’t you go babying me too. Marecio won’t stop nagging on me like a momma hen. Rebecca, sit down. Rebecca, why are you out of bed?” She mimicked. “One would think I was dying from a terminal disease instead of simply carrying his child.”
Rosy cheeks made her whole face light up, the glow unmistakable. She was complaining about it, but Damien knew she said it with all the love and warmth she possessed. Marecio, Rebecca’s husband had been the son of a tailor. His family had been poor and couldn’t offer much to a bride, but he fell in love with the black smith’s daughter and she him. Although her family had money, her father promised to disown her if she so much as went near the boy. Rebecca went against all odds and married the love of her life, despite the hard circumstances surrounding it. As long as Damien had known her, she had never shown or expressed any regret in her decision. In fact, even when they didn’t have food to put on the table, she still had a smile that chased away any amount of rain.
Rebecca was about ten years his senior, but no one would be able to tell by looking at her. Although hard work had etched lines in her face and made her features more sever, the kindness in her expression covered over any age and Marecio looked at her as if she were the only woman in the room.
It was the kind of love Damien could only wish to have one day.
He made it a point to get to know all the villagers outside of town. They were the ones that needed the most help. A few years ago, he had begun to sneak supplies out to the people who lived far from town. A blanket here, some apples there. It was never much but each time, the people had welcomed him with open arms. He could never tell which ones were just happy for the food or that he had given them his time but Rebecca and Marecio there was no questioning their affection. They had been a family to him when he was sorely lacking one within the castle. For that he would always be grateful.
Marecio was Damien’s age and as children, he would come to the castle with his father while they conducted business and they would play together. As much as a crown prince was allowed to play with a tailor’s son, that is. They didn’t get very far without being scolded. But the few moments they did get together, made them close. Close enough that when the villagers rejected them, (Rebecca for marrying under her rank and Marecio for marrying older than the usual age) Damien had felt a comradery with them. For they heard the rumors his father spread about him and they didn’t listen to the tarnish being done to his name.
When they had difficulty procuring a priest to perform their wedding vows from the local villages, Damien had ensured that one travel to Ceranthium, so they could publicly officiate their love, even if it was clear to anyone willing to look already.
“Rebecca, what are you doing out of bed?” Another voice joined the fray and she sent Damien a ‘see, I told ya so’ look as Marecio appeared over her shoulder. As soon as he saw him, his frown turned into a wide grin.
“Damien, my brother.” They weren’t blood but over the years they had become a close second. There were no formalities between them. The prince title died the moment Damien had watched them say ‘I do.’
“Marecio, good to see your still keeping your wife in line.” He joked, reaching his hand out to embrace his friend.
Marecio scoffed. “I think it’s the other way around. Stop taking her side. It only makes her gloat.”
The door opened behind him wider. “And come in. Why are you still standing outside?”
Damien stepped inside, wiping his feet on the mat. He removed his wet coat and Marecio took it from him, resting it on the coat rack. After thanking him, Damien smirked. “I hear your being quite the nag.”
“Just wait till you’re in my shoes and see if you don’t nag too.” Marecio grunted.
Damien knew he meant it in jest but after thinking about all that had happened with Aerity, he had to force the smile on his face. Rebecca eyed him curiously before flashing him another smile and heading into the kitchen. “I know you hate it but all I have is tea.”
He did hate tea but somehow he could never resist anything Rebecca offered. “That’s fine. Let me help you.” He started to walk to the kitchen when a sassy voice stopped him.
“Do all you men seriously think I can’t boil water on my own?”
He chuckled and turned to face Marecio. “I guess it’s just us then.”
Damien was led into their modest living room and took a seat on their ratty, worn out couch. He wanted to do so much more to help them that it made his chest hurt. But he had no control.
“I know that look and wipe it off your face. You have done enough for us.”
“I haven’t done nearly enough.” He argued.
Marecio shook his head. “We are doing just fine here. The food you brought the last time got us through the hard times. Don’t feel pity for us. We have everything we need.” He sent a longing look toward the kitchen and Damien couldn’t help but smile. “Rebecca must be due soon.”
Marecio nodded. “Aye, about a month left.”
“How are you holding up?”
A wide grin was his response. “How could I be anything but amazing? My perfect wife is carrying my healthy baby. Only thing that will make it better will be when I get to hold my baby boy in my arms.”
“I envy your love.”
Marecio offered him a sad smile. “How is everything going with the princess?”
Damien brought his elbows to his knees and leaned in. There weren’t many people that he could be honest with, but he trusted them. Not that they were even near other people to spread the word anyway. They had been informed of everything up until the festival. Now he needed to spill his guts about the rest of it.
After he was finished Marecio leaned back in his chair and blew out a breath. “Woah.”
“Yeah.”
Rebecca came into the room, holding out his cup of tea to him.
He took it from her with thanks and took a sip of the horrid stuff.
Rebecca laughed. “What is your affinity for the poor drink?”
Damien shook his head. “I couldn’t tell you. Just never liked it.” Taking another obligatory sip, he placed it on the table.
“So were you really just talking about your love life without me to hear?” Rebecca accused, blowing on her tea to cool it down. Steam wafted off the top and Marecio stared at it like it was a deadly assassin.
“Hot tea will not kill me!” She shot him a look and he placed his palms in the air placatingly.
Damien smirked. “It wasn’t much of a love life. More like a hate life.”
“Whatever it was, I want to know what you were talking about.”
He sighed, really not wanting to repeat the whole thing over again nor did he want to answer a million questions. He should have known to wait. Rebecca was always so nosey. “Turns out there really are two Aeritys.”
Her mouth dropped open. “How do you know?”
“The princess came back. The difference was clear as day.”
Rebecca took a sip of her tea and then leaned back, her big belly following her. “What are you going to do?”
“All I can do. Keep her safe until I can sort things out.”
Rebecca nodded, silent for a moment before saying, “I heard rumors in the village when I went into town last week. As you know, I never take much stock in what I hear there but I was wondering about it.”
“What kind of rumors?”
She licked her lips and shot a glance at Marecio. They were having a silent conversation with their eyes.
“Out with it.” He sighed.
Her cheeks reddened. “Was it true that she jumped in front of your attacker at the wedding?” She blurted.
He rubbed at his face. He knew this was coming. “Yes. The man said he had wanted the princess to be happy with Siel, instead of me.”
She made a deep sound in her throat. “Look, I know you love your brother, but you are twice the man he is.”
“Rebecca!” Mare
cio scolded.
“Don’t, Rebecca me! How great can this girl really be if she didn’t even see your worth?!” She crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. Damien appreciated her defense of him, despite the fact, she was doing it at his brother’s and Aerity’s expense.
“There were many things that divided us and much of it was my own error. I can’t blame Siel for the mistakes I made.”
“Why not? They all like to blame you for the things they did.”
Marecio just shook his head like there was no controlling his wife. Damien almost laughed. In a way, she reminded him of Aerity with her fierceness. Too bad Aerity’s anger was often directed at him and not for him.
“There’s nothing I can do about it now. I sent her away. My father is scheduled to return soon.”
Marecio nodded. “She wouldn’t have been safe there.”
“So where did she come from? How did she get here?”
“I’m still trying to figure that out. There’s a lot I’m trying to figure out. Actually, that was one of the reasons I stopped by. I wanted to see if you two were alright.”
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Rebecca asked.
He didn’t want to worry them but he also didn’t want to leave them unaware. “There have been odd animal attacks happening recently not too far from you on the outskirts of the woods. Have your seen anything? Heard anything?”
Marecio swallowed. “We thought we heard something, but the noise wasn’t something we recognized.”
“Do you think we’re in danger here?” Rebecca leaned forward in her chair which he wondered how it was even possible.
“The attacks were still pretty far away and whatever creatures they are, they didn’t attack random houses, but I want you to just keep aware of your surroundings. Don’t wander anywhere near the forest right now.”
They nodded their heads in agreement.
“Do you think they are coming from the sanctioned part of the forest?”
“I don’t know. But I do know someone who might. I’m going to pay him a visit when I get back to the castle. Speaking of which, I should probably get going. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
As they finished up and walked him to his horse, he untied the bag of food and blankets and tried to hand it to them, but they shook their heads. “There are those out there in much more need than us. Give it to them.” Damien glanced down at their worn shoes and ratty clothes but ignored it and nodded. They had so little and yet were willing to give so much. He looked at the sky and saw that the light was waning faster than he had anticipated.
“Make sure those that need them, get it for me?” He asked and Marecio nodded his head in agreement, taking the bag from his hand.
“It was good seeing you, brother. Safe travels.”
“You as well.” Damien said, shooting a look in Rebecca’s direction. “Next time I see you, I expect a turn in holding your baby boy.”
Rebecca smiled lazily at him before rubbing a hand over her stomach. “I think we can arrange for that.”
“You sure you don’t need anything else before I go?”
“You have enough on your plate. We are fine. Now go. Shoo.”
Damien grinned and gave her a soft hug before embracing her husband. “Until we meet again old friend.”
He headed toward his horse and just as he untied him and mounted, Rebecca called to him over the wind. “Damien, it’s not too late.”
“Too late for what?” He called back, angling Regent so he could hear her reply.
The corner of her lips tipped up. “For you to find your Marecio.”
Damien knew what she was saying. That it wasn’t too late for him to find love. True love. The kind of love that overlooked a world of faults and lies and saw the truth. But he didn’t have a choice in the matter, and it was a waste of time and energy to dwell on what could have never been. He wanted to make a joke about being partial to females but decided against it. With a nod in her direction, he kicked his feet and galloped towards the castle.
He knew that it was in fact too late for him, but she didn’t need to know that. So he just rode back to the cold walls that lacked Aerity’s previous warmth and thought to himself. Let Rebecca have her dreams, since you can’t have yours.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Carly
She snuck down the hallway, careful to keep to the shadows. There was no reason for her to be sneaking down this corridor except for wanting to find answer. It wasn’t like she could just walk to the advisor’s room and demand he tell her all that he knew. After all, she was just a maid and this wasn’t even her assigned location. If anyone caught her lurking where she didn’t belong…She shivered. No, she couldn’t be caught and that was the end of it.
As she got to the end of the hallway, she paused when she heard whispers bouncing off the unyielding walls. The stone had an echoing effect and yet she still had to strain her ears to hear. Pressing her body up against the wall, she was close enough to feel the chill drifting off the stone behind her but leaned over far enough for her to hear the conversation.
Her fingers dug into the wall as soon as she heard the princess’s arrogant voice. “Why would the king leave the old fool alive for so long?”
A man replied and Carly instantly recognized his voice as well. The army general, Elias. What was he doing with the princess? They had to be speaking about Benjamin. “It doesn’t matter anymore. He will be dead soon enough.”
Carly’s heart began to speed up in her chest as she remained as still and silent as she could.
“I don’t understand why he needs to die. He is practically one foot in the grave as it is.” She heard the princess say.
“Yes well, the walking skeleton still has a working mouth. One I thought he would continue to keep shut but now I’m not too sure. Damien is asking questions. He is finding out too much too soon.Benjamin in on his way to the prince’s office as we speak. And I need to be there when he does so that he doesn’t learn anything.”
“What difference does it make if Damien finds out ahead of schedule? It will all be over soon anyway.” What did she mean it would all be over soon? Was he in danger?”
“We can’t afford any interruptions. Gwendolyn has a very strict schedule that must be followed to a T.” Who was Gwendolyn? That was the old queen’s name. Could they be referring to the woman in the woods? Aerity and Elias both had the same names as their twins from the other world so why not the queen as well? But did that mean Elias was working with her? Or perhaps the old queen was still alive somehow?
“Why are you so loyal to her?” The princess asked.
A pause. “I have my reasons. As do you.”
“Except for the fact that mine isn’t by choice.” There was an edge to the princess’s voice that was as clear as day. Was she being forced into this too?
“I fail to see how that affects me. Just do you job and make sure the fool drinks the tea when he returns to his room.”
“Whatever you say, Your Highness.” The princess grumbled.
Carly heard them saying something else but instead of staying behind and listening, she slipped down the hallway as silent and as fast as she could. She couldn’t tell much from the conversation she overheard but she could get the gist of it. If they lost the advisor, they would lose the only source of information they had. From what she could deduce, Benjamin was in trouble and she had to find a way to warn Damien before it was too late.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Aerity
Aerity woke up on her side facing the cabin wall, a weight gently pressing on the top of her waist. Peering at the culprit, she noticed the weight was a hand. Sneaking a peek behind her revealed the owner of the hand which was a very knocked out Eli. Slowly, she tried easing away from the bed when the arm around her tightened.
“Eli.” She whispered as he pulled her even closer, her back side pressed to his front. She held back laughter as he buried his face in the back of her neck. “Hmmmm where you going ba
by?” He pressed his hips against her behind, eliciting a gasp from her when something hard poked into her back.
Oh she was so going to taunt him for this one.
If she could ever get out of his hold.
“Eli.” She said a little louder, hoping it would wake him up. He seemed to be having a pleasant dream though so she couldn’t be so sure. A firm hand rested on her belly as he began to stroke his thumb over her abdomen. She needed to move...now! Reaching over to remove his hand, he held it firm and nibbled on her ear, sliding his fingers further down her stomach.
Ok this was no longer funny. “Eli!” She yelled.
He still didn’t seem phased as he began grinding on her butt. “Don’t be such a cock tease, Aerity. I want you so badly right now.”
Her body froze as her breathing came to a halt. Was he dreaming about her? Or was he actually awake and trying to mess with her? If that was the case, mission accomplished. There was no other explanation. If he was awake it had to be a joke. If he was asleep…well… she didn’t know how to explain that then. He would never dream of touching her like this.
As soon as his fingers skimmed the waistband of her pants, she was done. Wanting this to end as soon as humanly possible she yelled one more time as she slammed an elbow into his stomach. He grunted and pulled his arm and wandering fingers back as she scurried off the bed.
His eyes were now wide open as his gaze shot to hers. “What just happened?”
So he had been dreaming about her. That was just weird. She pointed at the tent by his crotch. “You were getting a little freaky in your sleep there soldier boy and you wouldn’t wake up.” Unphased he rubbed his stomach and rolled onto his back, proudly displaying the cause of all her anxiety. “And you’re not even embarrassed.” She mumbled, shaking her head incredulously.
He turned to her with a devilish look on his face. “If I were you, I would be more concerned if a dude woke up next to you and wasn’t sportin a hard on.”
