“I don't mind,” she answered. “It is who you are.”
She was speaking to his very soul, and he felt his heart tremble. This girl who had known nothing but a simple life seemed to understand all the complex problems he was facing and all the difficulty he had weighing on his shoulders.
“I don't want you to go,” he said, interrupting their silence.
“Where am I going?” she asked.
“Back to Earth. Anywhere. I want you to stay with me.”
“Forever?” she said, raising her body to look at him.
“Sorry,” he shook his head, “if that was shocking. I've had a bit much.”
Suddenly, it clicked in her brain.
“Are you drunk?” she asked, grinning. “You sappy sod, coming in here and cuddling with me because you've had some wine.”
He grinned, the seriousness of the moment gone.
“Maybe. Am I not entitled?”
“Of course you are entitled,” she teased him. “You're the king. In high school, all the boys wanted to cuddle after a few drinks too.”
“I assure you, I can hold my liquor,” he said as she grabbed his hands. They were half wrestling, half cuddling, and she had no objections. His lean hips swiveled, and she straddled him, pushing her hands down onto his chest. “It's just been awhile since I indulged”
“Ha,” she leaned into his face. “I'm going to tell your brothers you are a lightweight.”
“Don't. I'll never hear the end of it.”
“How are you going to stop me?” she said, and that was when he kissed her again.
This kiss was different from the first one. Strong and passionate, there was no mistaking the meaning of this one. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth, and she knew what was coming.
She could feel that he wanted her – feel that he had every intention of taking her.
And she had no intention of stopping him.
“Yvette,” he said, when he pulled back. “Is this what you want?”
“I think it's what I've wanted since I first saw you,” she replied.
She wanted to lose herself in the moment – the feeling, the passion. After so many weeks of uncertainly, of fear, she just wanted to feel good.
He had clearly been with multiple women before, as a King would have. He knew all the right places to touch, to caress, and to nip at. She wasn't as experienced as him, but she soon found herself crying out in pleasure, and begging him for more.
She didn't think of anything else but his flesh – his touch, his kisses.
When they finally fell back to bed, both of them were lost for breath. Her naked body was cold against his flesh that was always warm. She curled up against him, a smile stuck on her face.
“Wow,” she said. “That was amazing.”
“You doubt my ability?” he asked.
“No,” she replied. “Never. I just never had anything like that.”
“And you have been with a dragon before?”
“Yes, with Thomas,” she said. Both of them remembered the tediousness of the situation then, and the heaviness of the day returned.
“Would you like to see him?” Peter asked. “When he is brought here?”
She had to think about it for a long moment. Once upon a time, the answer would have been yes, unconditionally.
But now, the answer made her pause.
“I think so,” she said, at last. “Although, I don't know what I'll be able to say or do. You have to understand, Peter, I did love him. As misguided as that love was.”
“I know,” Peter replied. “And I will have that in mind during his trial. But we cannot make exceptions when it comes to crimes of such a serious nature. Aiding my father in the destruction of innocents is something we take seriously.”
“And if your father chooses to show up? To save him, I mean?” Yvette asked. “What will you do then?”
“I don't know,” Peter replied. “But if it comes to ridding this planet of him, I will do that.”
It was the first time she had heard him say such a thing and the first time he had been so confident in his rule.
“So, you do want to be king,” she asked.
“Yes,” he replied. “This is my rightful duty, and I have no reason to skirt it. Although I find it much easier to bear when you are by my side.”
“Is this the wine talking again?” she asked him, and he smiled.
“No, it is long gone. This is my heart.”
He gave her a kiss on the head, not expecting an answer from her. Yvette's thoughts were swirling, and she couldn't form words.
She wasn't sure how long they would lay there before the final feeling of pure happiness left them. She knew that soon, they would have to get up and face the world. There would come a knock at the door, a call, and they would have to leave their sanctuary.
But for now, she entwined her fingers with his, comforted by his chest rising and falling. He was so strong, so different from anyone that she had ever met. She wasn't sure she wanted to leave either. But she knew, to make a decision at the magnitude of which he was hinting at, she had to be sure. Ariel and Enya had made such a choice, and it changed their whole lives. Yvette had to know that she was ready for a new life, ready to leave all of Earth behind.
The knock came at the door within the hour. How they knew that Peter was there baffled her, but she supposed a king's whereabouts were always known.
“My Lord,” came the cry. “Thomas Donizetti has been brought to the throne room.”
“Well,” said Peter, sitting up. “Shall we?”
“Yes,” she replied, the tremble back in her voice. She knew that she had to do this, though, for it would aid her decision. When it came down to the two of them, who would she choose? Would it be Thomas' dangerous ways, or Peter's broken heart? The choice was not easy.
Chapter 12
“Open up!” Peter commanded, as they walked towards the jail. Yvette was nervous, her heart in her chest. She had never seen the inside of their jail, but it obviously was not a bright and cheerful place. She also knew that their jail had been built to block magic so that the prisoners were trapped in their weakest form, which was human.
“Prisoner came in armed and dangerous, My Lord,” one of the guards said, and Peter glared at him.
“Do you not think I can handle myself?” he asked. The guard stuttered.
“No, My Lord, of course, yes, My Lord. Of course, you can protect yourself.”
“Excellent,” Peter replied. “Where is Cole?”
“Safe, My Lord,” the guard answered. “And he will continue to remain so.”
“Excellent,” Peter replied as the gates opened. He moved to go in with Yvette, but she put her hand across his arm.
“Do you think I could see him alone?”
“That's not safe,” Peter said, and she gave him a look.
“I thought your prisons were the strongest in the universe,” she said. “Able to hold anyone and pose no threat. You can stay right here and the guards are right here. What harm can I meet?”
Peter looked at her for a long moment, and then took a deep breath. “Of course,” he said, at last. “But if there is any danger, any trouble whatsoever, please let me know. Scream, cry out, I will hear you.”
“I will,” Yvette said. “And Thomas won't hurt me.”
She didn't really believe that herself, though. As she approached, she wasn't sure what she was going to find.
He was pacing, growling, as if he were a caged animal. In a lot of ways, he was a caged animal. His eyes were back to brown, the magic blocked from them. His face was torn up, although he didn't seem to be in any pain. Thomas was used to being beaten and mistreated. Her heart always broke at that thought. She had thought he was strong, but it was different. He didn't know love or kindness until he came to the Donizettis. They had taught him the way a person should be treated, and Yvette had shown him a love that didn't involve leading an army to their death.
“Hi,” she said
softly, staring right at him. He turned, facing her full on. She could see the extent of the damage to his face and winced.
“Get me out of here,” he said, snarling at her. “How can you stand there and watch them lock me up like this?”
“Thomas,” she said, softly. “Did you know I was in the mall?”
“What kind of question is that? This cage will kill me if I'm in here long enough. Yvette, get me out, unless you want to watch me die.”
“Did you know I was there?” she repeated. Still, he refused to answer.
“You know what happens when they keep someone like me blocked of magic for too long. Didn't you see what happened to Alexander? He looks a shell of his former self, and yet he won't give up that carapace wench.”
“You will not speak unkindly of my brother or sister in law,” she snapped at him. That stopped him cold. And then he laughed.
“You married him?” he asked. “Of course, you did. You got taken by all the glamour and glitz, all the majesty. What was wrong with me, Yvette? Was I not enough for you? Was a step up from your trailer park life not good enough? You had to go the whole nine yards with a dragon you've known half a second?”
“Thomas, I was never yours,” she said, softly.
He stopped at that, staring her in the eye. His silence spoke volumes.
“And you know I was never yours,” she said. “What we had was special. What we had killed time. I don't know. I did enjoy it and I did…I do love you.”
“But you love Peter more,” he answered. “It makes so much sense. He is a king, did he make you queen?”
“We aren't married yet,” she replied. “But we will be. He asked me.”
“Where's your ring?”
“He didn't…” Yvette realized how things were happening. “I just know.”
She couldn't give Peter an answer five minutes ago, lying on the bed. She didn't know where her heart lay or what her next move was going to be then. But now, she felt like the path ahead was so obvious and so clear.
“Really?” Thomas asked, crossing his arms. “What else do you think you know?”
“That you knew I was in that mall,” she said. “And you sent the old king anyway, to kill Peter, and maybe me as a bystander. Or a target.”
“Yes,” he finally admitted. “Yes, I knew you were in that mall. But I knew I could save you if something happened.”
“Something did happen, Thomas!” she cried. “And you were nowhere to be found.”
To that, he had no answer, looking down at his feet. She put her hands to her mouth, fighting back tears.
“You would have let me die if it weren't for Peter. Another moment and I wouldn't have been able to get out of there at all. And all the innocent people who died, for what? For what?”
“There are always casualties when justice is trying to be done,” he said. “The lives of the few do not compare against the lives of the many.”
“No, every life matters,” she screamed at him. “Every life. Mine, the mall workers, the dragons, the bears, the wolves, it doesn't matter. You don't get to choose who lives and dies.”
“I do not,” Thomas said. “But the king does. And King Richard will reign again. A much better rule than this cobbled together disaster.”
“Peter is–”
“Peter wanted to die, Yvette,” Thomas said. “Wake up. Even when I lived here, he wanted to die. He looked for ways. He was accident prone on purpose. He hoped someone would run him through with a spear. Richard was sick, and life was taken from him too early. Does that sound familiar?” It was as if he had ripped into her very soul. “Would you not want a second chance if that was the case?”
“I…” her heart nearly stopped.
“All you've ever wanted was a second chance, isn't it?” his voice grew softer. “ A do-over, a chance to live and be healthy. I understand that. And I didn't understand it before. I'm sorry. Life was ripped from me, but I was a warrior, I was prepared for it at any moment. When I met Richard, I understood how not being prepared can leave you pacing, praying, hoping in agony.” He held out his hand to her. “Come home with me, Yvette. I'll spring free, and Armand can give you that life.”
She didn't move, but she was listening.
“You know that he can,” Thomas said. “He's the best doctor there is. If anyone can help you, it's him. And we can have a beautiful life together on Earth, you and I. Everything is familiar there, everything is safe there. Isn't that what you really want?”
Yvette met his eyes.
“I can take care of you,” he took a step closer, as close as the bars would allow. “Is that what you crave? You don't even know him, Yvette, and the queens of the dragon world do not have as glamorous of life as you might think. Help me.”
His extended hand stretched further.
She wanted so badly to take it. Thomas was her first love, her first kiss. He had taught her everything there was to romance and to lust. He had held her when she had been ill, and reclined her on nights she had not. Like him, she hadn't known much kindness or a family until she came to the Donizettis.
Their house, their ways, and their family was life changing. If she walked away from him, she'd be walking away from Armand and from Evelyn, who had become like parents to her. She'd be betraying them when they had shown her nothing but love.
Thomas had said he was going to save her, didn't he? They had been together a year, which seemed like a lifetime in her young mind.
“Yvette,” he said, opening and closing his hand. “Come.”
But what about the mall? What about the destruction? What about all the other crimes they claim he had committed? Everyone thought they were fighting for the right thing; no one saw themselves as evil or wrong. Everyone had a cause, a passion. She could forgive him for being on what she thought was the wrong side of things. The dragon world was not her place; she did not know the politics, the ins or outs of it.
But she did know basic humanity and basic kindness. Armand had taught her that when he took her in.
Yvette took a tiny step back, although it nearly killed her.
Thomas' hand retracted.
“Really? After all Armand did for you?”
“Because of what Armand did for me,” she said. “Because he taught me right from wrong in a world where I thought nobody cared. Because he showed me a random act of kindness in a place where no one looked twice. Does he know what you have done, Thomas?” she asked. “Does he know what you tried to kill? Hope. You tried to kill hope in a world that was dying to be set free.”
And with that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
Her footsteps echoed down the cement hallway. When she reached the end, the guards pulled open the gate. Peter was standing on the other side of it, his eyes wide.
“You heard that?” she asked, although she knew that he had.
“Every bit,” he answered. “I um…”
She put her hand in his.
“I only have one request,” she said. “For the trial. Please bring Armand here.”
“I can do that,” Peter said. “But why?”
“I know that you and the others had questions about Armand's treatment of Thomas, how he tried to keep him balanced and sane. That was what the drugs were for. And for years, Thomas never lashed out, at least not like this. Armand is not the bad guy, and if anyone can set this right, it's him.”
“Or he could be behind it all,” Peter said, but Yvette shook her head.
“He isn't. I bet my heart on it.”
“Fine,” Peter promised her. “Did he reveal where my father is?”
“No,” she sighed. “I didn't think to answer. But I'm not sure he knows. He's fighting for a cause, Peter, that's all. He's not orchestrating everything. He's a soldier, not a leader.”
“The trial will prove that,” Peter replied. “You look exhausted.”
“Well, it has been quite the night,” she leaned against his chest, comforted by the beating of his heart. “I didn't me
an to blurt all of that out to Thomas. I just realize what you were saying back there.”
“And is it what you want, my love?” he asked her.
“Yes, it is,” she turned to look at him. “We had a rocky start, but everything happens for a reason.”
“And you know what marrying me could mean?” he asked.
“That I will be queen?”
He laughed.
“Yes, my darling, it will mean that. But the consequences may be much more dire,” he brushed a strand a hair back from her face. “We don't know that dragons who have returned from Other are here to stay for good.”
“Peter,” she stopped him. “All my life people told me I was going to die. Or they told me that I would never have a real chance at a real life. Either one of us could drop dead tomorrow and disappear. But we have today, so let's be grateful for that.”
“Yes,” he said, looking down upon her with love in his eyes. “Let's focus on today.”
He leaned down to kiss her, and she felt shivers go down her spine. Today might not be enough for her swelling heart, but she'd start with it and see where the future led.
Chapter 13
“I think it will be much like your human trials on Earth,” Alexander said to Yvette two days later. It was the morning of the trial, and she was nervous. They had gone to Armand, who agreed without a fight to attend. He was arriving momentarily, and she desperately wanted to see him. She hadn't been down to the jail at all to see Thomas, knowing that her heart couldn't take it.
She hated herself for it, for she knew that he must be going through hell down there. Ariel had assured her that Alexander's diminished strength was due to eleven years of exposure to the most powerful carapace on Earth, and then several attacks from a group of them at once. The jail for a few days would do nothing to Thomas that his body wouldn't repair the second he stepped out of the cells.
“His crimes will be presented, and he'll have a chance to defend himself. Peter will hear the evidence, and then decide on the verdict.”
“Which might be death?” she asked, almost afraid to speak.
“It might be,” he answered. “You do not want that? Even though he tried to kill you.”
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