Princess of Darkness (The Dark Prince #3)

by Autumn Winchester

  “Missed you too,” Summer said, giving Clare a small smile.

  In the next moment, Clare was across the room, hugging Summer like her life depended on it. Summer returned the hug as well as she could, as one arm was trapped between them.

  “I’ll leave you two to talk,” Chase said, knowing they both needed to reconnect. “I won’t be too far.”

  “Thank you,” Clare said, giving Chase a small, but happy smile as she let Summer go. She sorta felt bad now for going off on him, but yet she felt he deserved it.

  Chase nodded his head and left the room, while Clare grabbed her sister’s hand, dragging her to the bed. She wasn’t going to let her sister go far, that was for damn sure.

  Once they both sat, Clare cross-legged and against the headboard as Summer sat with her knees pulled up to her chest somewhat, Clare barged into another long rant.

  “I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to see you again. Chase wouldn’t tell me where you were, though he probably didn't know either. I feared, had this lingering feeling, that you would never return. Years down the road, you’d just show up, dead, or so bad off you might as well be dead. But here you are. Healthy. And looking like you were never gone,” she said quickly. Summer wasn’t sure how she could say so much without breathing. “Actually, looking better than I ever remembered.

  “But you’re here. You really are here! I didn’t ever think I’d see you here, sitting on this bed. Alive and healthy!” she repeated. “And I’m a mother now. And you’re an Aunt.

  “You know; I almost gave up. I almost let the past take me, taking my baby right along with it. I almost didn’t get to be here today, but I fought just to be here, now. Kayla refused to care for me, feeling she couldn’t make the right choices on my health, and that made me so mad. Mad at her, at life.

  “I. . . . even though she was born a few weeks early, and so dang tiny, she’s healthy! Summer, I can’t . . . . I don’t know what I would have done if I lost you and my baby all in the same lifespan,” her words turned to sobs, as Clare tried to explain everything and nothing all at once. Her words were jumbled, and sometimes on top of one another.

  Summer’s heart clenched in sadness that her sister had to go through so much while she was away. She understood how tough it was. Summer knew if it wasn’t for Sebastian, she’d be in the same boat as her sister easily.

  She acted on instinct, wrapping Clare into a hug, letting the younger girl cry it out. Clare cried harder as Summer’s arms wrapped around her, giving her the comfort she missed. She missed her sister.

  Clare knew she shouldn’t have had to stress so much about her sister’s well-being, but she couldn’t help it. All her fears and worries came pouring out now that Summer was right in front of her. It didn’t help that her emotions were still all over the place as her hormones were still not normal, and wouldn’t be for quite some time.

  She knew that the stress would cause preterm labor, even as her OBGYN told her constantly. But it was so dang hard to not stress and worry. Finding your sister that you never knew about, then losing her just as fast, took its toll on her. There wasn’t anything she could do.

  In the end, it did turn out okay. The baby was healthy thanks to the multiple steroid shots Clare had been given, even though the lasting effects made her butt cheeks sore for days on end. They were both healthy, other than low iron which would hopefully sort itself out in time.

  After what felt like hours, Clare pulled back, sniffing and wiping her tears from her face.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled to her sister as they both sat back slightly.

  “Don’t be sorry,” Summer said with a sad smile. “A good cry once in a while can do you some good.” She had cried more times lately than she ever had before. It always did feel refreshing, mostly.

  “I can’t believe you are really here,” Clare said, refusing to take her eyes off her sister for even a second, fearing she’d disappear once more.

  “I am,” Summer said, giving her a sad smile. “I won’t be leaving again. Not without one hell of a fight at least.”

  “You, fight?” Clare huffed, loving to see that. “You don’t have that in you.”

  “On the contrary,” Summer said with a knowing look, trying her damnedest to hide her smirk. “I learned a few things over the last few months.”

  “You really were safe?” Clare asked, tilting her head to the side.

  “Yes,” Summer answered. “I had a few wonderful protectors, and teachers. Probably learned more than I will ever really use, but I can protect myself, as well now as Chase can.”

  “I was so worried,” Clare said sheepishly. “I wasn’t sure if you were safe, or who you were with. Or even how to get in touch with you. I think, if I could just have talked to you, it would have been so much easier.”

  “It wasn’t safe for you to know where I was,” Summer said. “Chase didn’t even know. For not only my safety but the entire families, no one knew where I was. I hated being so cut off from you, from everyone, but there was no other way around it.”

  Summer then went into detail on what she went through, making a few friends along the way. She told Clare what she had learned, and how hard she pushed herself to learn to fight, to protect herself. She talked to Clare about how she learned to shoot a gun in such a short time, and perfecting her aim. There was no way around it, as Summer had to know these things. In knowing how to protect herself, she was able to bring John down, once and for all.

  “So no more threats?” Clare asked, hope building in her chest.

  “Not anything like that ever again,” Summer said with a bright smile.

  “You really took John down?” she asked, amazed.

  “Basically,” Summer laughed. “I had help. Sebastian and Gabriel stood by, making sure he didn’t try to run and hide.” John was deadly, but a coward all the same.

  “I never met the man, but I’d happily kill him again to make sure he would never cause us so much pain,” Clare mused.

  “Same here,” Chase said, entering the room with Asher in tow, holding a little bundle of pink.

  “Summer,” Asher said with a nod of his head, a smile on his face. “Glad to have you back.”

  “I’m glad to be back,” Summer replied, her eyes hardly leaving the sleeping baby.

  “Have you told your sister the good news yet?” Chase asked, hiding his smirk.

  “What news?” Clare asked, taking the sleeping baby from Asher, her eyes bouncing back and forth between everyone.

  “We’re pregnant,” Chase said quickly. “Well, she is, not me.”

  Clare burst out laughing at how Chase was quick to say he wasn’t the one expecting a child. Chase merely looked on confused, not grasping the concept of why it was so funny.

  Clare took a moment to look at Summer’s little bump, only slightly jealous that she was still so dang small. But also not exactly noticeable either unless she looked there.

  “So, what’s her name?” Summer asked, amused at her husband.

  “Alyssa Jean,” Clare said, looking at the baby in question with a love-filled look.

  “Pretty,” Summer said.

  “Do you want to hold her?” Clare asked. At Summer’s small nod, Clare gently handed over the baby, letting her sister hold the newest addition, showing her how to support her neck, with a hand under her head.

  “She’s so little,” Summer said in awe. She hardly weighed a thing!

  “Just over four pounds,” Clare said, almost sheepishly. “Small, but healthy. She’s breathing and eating without any issues, so there was no reason for the hospital to keep her. Lungs are strong as can be.”

  “Wow,” Summer said, looking at the cute little bundle. She had a little button nose, and chubby, but yet thin, cheeks. She had a pink hat on and was sound asleep.

  “She’ll sleep much more than normal newborns, and eat more often, but nothing really to worry about at this time,” Asher said. It was a lucky chance that the baby was born as healthy as she was. It didn’t happe
n often. “Do you two know what you will be having?”

  “Not a clue,” Summer said with a smile. “We won’t until after it’s born.” She took a moment to glance at Chase, who had a proud look on his face.

  “Same as we did,” Clare mused. “Of course, I wouldn’t change a thing. I love her no matter what. And Kayla should be bringing up her bassinet soon, I think.”

  “I’m sure we will both be set for the rest of our lives,” Summer joked. She couldn’t help but already be in love with this baby, and couldn’t imagine how much more in love she could be with her own.

  “Two cousins who will be the best of friends, and raised as siblings. I won’t let you three move too far away,” Kayla said, entering the room with a bright smile, seeing that everything was just fine.

  “Chase is paying for a house to be built on his property, so we won’t be far at all,” Clare spoke up. “You won’t even get to miss me.”

  “I have a feeling you will be here a lot, even though it will take a good six months or so before the house is completely built. You have to figure out what kind of house before we can start on building it,” Chase said amused.

  “In a few weeks we’ll start looking at some plans, more in depth than we have before at least,” Asher said, taking control. “You need rest,” he gave Clare a pointed look.

  “I will,” Clare said. “I’m okay, really.”

  “I don’t want you stressing more than you need to,” Asher went on. “Alyssa could have easily not made it with how much stress you were under as it was. For you get your health back, you can’t be up moving around or worrying about things.”

  “Asher,” Clare said, but wisely didn’t get up. “I’ll rest. I’ll let you tend to me hand and foot. I promise,” she said, her words sincere. “But my sister will be staying here to hang out for a little bit more. I missed her, and there is no way I’m letting her out of my sight quite yet.”

  “Alright,” Asher said with a nod of his head. “Call, or even text, if you need anything at all.”

  “Of course,” Clare said with a smile. She knew that between everyone in the house right at that moment, someone would be popping in every so often to make sure everything was okay.

  All the while, Summer couldn’t help but keep her eyes glued the baby that was cradled in her arms. She couldn’t wait for her own to arrive. For now, she certainly would spend time with her missed family members, and adore this little one in her arms.

  Chapter 38

  Chase checked on his wife shortly before he went to make dinner for the houseful of people, but found her and Clare both asleep, Alyssa in between them, still wrapped in the light pink blanket. Chase couldn’t help but smile, seeing his wife so filled with life and hope.

  Pulling out his phone, he quickly took a picture of them. He’d let them sleep, knowing they were both tired and worn out. Plus, having woken up his wife the day before while she was taking a nap almost made her snap his head off. He didn’t really want anyone cranky this evening if he could help it.

  Summer, so far, had taken everything in stride. From the redecorating of the house, to how hard Clare had it the last few months in her absence. She was concerned over her sister, but she knew things could only look up from now on.

  From Asher, Chase had learned that Clare had a difficult birth, and almost had to have a C-section because she wasn’t dilating like the doctor had expected. Of course, after so many preterm labor scares, it was so hard to tell how her body would react when she could safely go into full labor.

  Clare had a long labor, which is normal for first-time mothers, but it wore her out. With being medicated with a spinal pain relief, her blood pressure had dropped dangerously low too many times, but luckily, she was able to give birth just in time.

  Alyssa was born on the small side, but healthy. Clare could expect to make a full recovery without any issues, although it may take her a few extra weeks to gain back her iron and energy levels since she had been on bed rest for most of her pregnancy. Nothing long term that needed to be worried about.

  Chase couldn’t believe that it was now spring, and by the end of summer, his own child would be born and living in this house. Time sure had flown by.

  Summer had been gone for almost five months, and Clare had given birth two months early. At one time, Chase wasn’t sure they would be here as a happy family, but they were. And there was no rush to push forward.

  “Hey,” Jack said with a mouth full of food, as Chase made his way back to the living room.

  Jackson Hawk was never someone Chase had expected would be on his side. Summer won just about anyone over, even from such a young age. Jack had helped keep her out of the limelight against some of the stronger punishments she most likely would have received. He turned out to be a pretty decent guy.

  “I’m surprised you’re not with Peter,” Chase joked. Those two seemed to be joined at the hip more than not. Though Peter did seem to keep to himself a lot, but he was a fun man to hang out when he was around other people.

  “He’s . . . . busy?” Jack said in a question, doubting his words. “Truthfully, I have no idea what he is doing. He didn’t give me details. Said something about going out to grab something.” He shrugged, not really concerned the slightest bit.

  “Hmm,” Chase said in thought. He was pretty sure he had a good idea.

  “Is Summer really okay? Are you okay?” Jack asked after getting a drink of his root beer that he had sitting on a coaster on the coffee table.

  “We are both fine. Better than fine,” Chase said with a smile, lost in thought. “I’m gonna be a daddy.” He couldn’t help but beam at the younger man. Chase couldn’t help but tell the entire world.

  “Congrats,” Jack laughed. “You are so whipped.”

  “Am not,” Chase mumbled out.

  “Oh, did anyone tell you about Cora?” Jack asked, sitting up straight, trying to keep his face a calm mask, and failing miserably.

  “No?” Chase said, squinting his eyes at the man.

  “Turns out, she’s pregnant,” Jack said, his voice amused. “She says the father is Pastor Evans. And he went to jail two days ago for having sexual relations with a minor.”

  “Not surprised,” Chase laughed out. “He deserves it.”

  “Yes, he does,” Jack said. “Now Cora’s parents are forcing her to give the baby up for adoption. She really wouldn’t be the best mother, that’s for sure. She’d pawn it off to anyone, I’m sure.”

  “Oh,” Chase said, that was surprising. After thinking about it for a moment, it really wasn’t. Cora’s parents weren’t the best parents either.

  “I think Trent and Abby are planning to adopt the baby after it’s born. She can’t have any more kids because of how the pregnancy turned bad with Sarah,” Jack went on. She never talked about it, but the idea of adoption was never taken lightly.

  “They would be good for that,” Chase said. “Before long, you and Peter will be adopting yourself.”

  “Nope,” Jack said, although he blushed slightly at the idea. “I . . . I think I’m good with all the other babies around.” Heck, they weren’t even engaged!

  “For now,” Chase smirked with a laugh.

  “Whatever, dude,” Jack laughed, throwing a chip at the Prince.

  “Hey, no food fights,” Kayla said, standing between the entryway and living room, hands on her hips.

  “Sorry,” Chase and Jack both said.

  “Boys,” Kayla muttered out with a shake of her head. “Where is Asher?”

  “He went out to get some last minute things for Clare,” Jack answered. “Girl stuff. Plus, he didn’t want to hover, so the girls would have some time together.”

  “They are both asleep,” Kayla said with a soft smile. She knew they had missed each other horribly. “I’m sure they will be close to one another for a few days.”

  “I have a feeling my wife will be a thorn in my side,” Chase muttered out. “It’ll be worse when Fayth shows up, and Zinna is here too
!”

  “Who’s Fayth?” Jack asked.

  “A friend she met in Colorado. She demanded she would have to move here, too,” Chase laughed out. “She’s . . . . . she has more energy than Zinna, I think.” He wasn’t entirely sure how to explain the redhead that wasn’t afraid to say what was on her mind. She was something else.

  “Can’t wait to meet her. She sounds fun!” Jack said brightly.

  “I can,” Chase muttered, knowing that between Clare, Zinna, and Fayth, Summer may be the only calm one. If any of his guards got in the mix, it would be . . . . a lot of bickering.

  “Summer really has changed, hasn’t she,” Kayla mused.