Beyond

by Chantal Fernando

  I nod. How long until all supplies ran out? Then the hunts would become longer, more dangerous, or we’d have to live solely off the land. The thought was a little scary.

  Okay, it was a lot scary.

  “We can make do,” Gina says, interrupting my thoughts. She bumps her hip against me. “We always get by. Cavemen survived, surely we can.”

  I laugh at that. “As long as the crops keep growing I think we will be alright. The potatoes are important. We won’t have much meat, but we will have some. I can always go hunting for birds.”

  She rubs her stomach. “I could go for a huge turkey. Are they any turkeys around here?”

  I laugh, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. “We could look for one.”

  “Olivia,” Dane says, coming to stand next to me. “Are you busy right now?”

  “No, why?”

  “Because I want to taste your pussy,” he whispers in my ear, making me blush.

  “Oh, well… I… uhhh.. I think I could make some time.”

  Gina laughs, leaving the two of us alone.

  “Good,” Dane replies, kissing my neck. “I don’t think I can wait any longer, so unless you want people to see a show, we need to get to our rooms. Now.”

  We practically run there.

  “You have no proof,” I hear Lars say.

  What was up with Lars these days? Deciding I was sick of trying to piece together this puzzle, I walk right up to him and Dr. James. The two of them were standing in front of Dr. James’ room, near where I saw them speaking to each other last time.

  “Proof about what?” I ask, glancing between the two of them.

  I was missing something here.

  Dr. James swallows, and I don’t miss the emotion that crosses Lars face.

  Fear.

  “Nothing,” he replies. “This is between the doctor and me.”

  I look to Dr. James. “Is everything okay?”

  He looks to the ground, sighing. “He’s right. I have no real proof.”

  “Proof of what?” I ask, brow furrowing in confusion. “Someone tell me what’s going on here!”

  Dr. James looks to his door. “Come inside Olivia. The others don’t need to hear this.”

  As I walk by, Lars grabs my arm. “He has no proof Olivia. Only his assumptions.”

  Lars was Dane’s best friend. I didn’t like thinking he was up to something, but something didn’t feel right. “Okay, I just want to know what the problem is.”

  “The problem is,” Lars grits through clenched teeth. “The doctor is making accusations about me that I don’t fucking appreciate. And with no damn proof.”

  I was completely lost. “What are you being accused of?”

  Dr. James opens this door and looks at me, a tired look on his face.

  “Murdering your father.”

  Dr. James tells me that he suspected my dad was being poisoned.

  “Why do you think it was Lars?” I ask, needing to know this answer.

  He sighs, scrubbing a hand down his wrinkled face. “Lars brought meals to your father. He insisted. Don’t ask me why. Lars was there with him when he died, did he tell you that?”

  I shake my head. “Why am I only hearing about this now?”

  “I don’t have any real proof Olivia,” he murmurs. “Only until recently when I realized what his motive could be.”

  “What?”

  He licks his lips before replying. “There’s talk about Sam and Lars being together. Do you think your father would have allowed that to happen?”

  I cringe and shake my head. “I don’t know. Probably not. He was obsessed with rebuilding our population. If he had it his way, every woman would be pregnant right now.”

  “Exactly,” Dr. James replies. “I don’t know what your father would have done but I don’t think he would have liked two of this best men being in a relationship.”

  “So you think Lars wanted him dead because of that?”

  “I have no solid evidence, but I do think that, yes. Lars would know that when Dane took over, he would have no problem with it. Dane isn’t like that.”

  I nod. Dane wasn’t like that. He was accepting of everyone. “I need to process this.”

  I say bye to Dr. James and walk slowly back to our room. I stop when I see Dane and Lars talking to each other in low tones.

  “I didn’t do it,” I hear Lars say. “You know me Dane.”

  “I know,” Dane replies, rubbing the back of his neck. “How did Olivia take it?”

  “I don’t know,” Lars replies. “She trusts the doctor. Plus I don’t think she likes me being with Sam, so maybe…”

  Say what? How dare him!

  “She isn’t like that,” Dane says, defending me. “She just wants Sam happy and she doesn’t have any issues with you.”

  Lars scoffs. “She doesn’t think I’m good enough for him.”

  The bastard was putting words in my mouth. I didn’t want Sam hurt, and to be honest I didn’t like how Lars was with both Gina and Sam, but I hadn’t said anything because it wasn’t my business. Never once did I say or think that Lars wasn’t good enough for Sam.

  Dane leans back against the wall, his leg bent. “Olivia is a good woman Lars. What is the real issue here?”

  “Have you told her yet?” Lars suddenly asks.

  Told me what?

  “Told her what?” Dane asks.

  Lars chuckles. “About the prophecy. Why how many other things haven’t you told her?”

  Dane shakes his head. “No I haven’t mentioned the prophecy. Her dad believed in that shit, not her.”

  “Yeah, because of you,” Lars mutters.

  “I don’t keep anything from my wife,” Dane replies. “’I’ll tell her in my own time.”

  “Did you tell her about Jordan trying to make a move on you?”

  Dane sighs wearily. “No. I don’t want Jordan dead.”

  I gasp silently. He was protecting her? She made a move on him? And what about the prophecy?

  “You’re lucky Olivia didn’t see,” Lars grins. “She was all over you man.”

  “I know,” Dane groans. “She just won’t take the hint. I told her I’m not interested and never will be with her again. Yes, we had some wild crazy sex back in the day but that’s it. She tried to fucking kiss me and caught me off guard too.”

  I see red.

  She tried to kiss him?

  That bitch was going down.

  After I dealt with my husband and his minion.

  Stepping out from behind the wall so they can see me, I narrow my eyes. “She was all over you, was she?”

  Lars visibly cringes, and Dane’s face goes pale. “Fuck, Olivia. I can explain.”

  “Time for explaining is over Dane,” I snap, looking between the two of them. I start with Dane. “How many times I told you that bitch wanted you and you denied it every damn time. Every time you speak about her it’s to stick up for her. If it’s her your loyal to, and not me, then go and be with her. You think it’s hard for me to find another man? My father isn’t here anymore,” I look to Lars as I say that, “And I now make the rules. I don’t have to stay with you.”

  Dane’s jaw tightens and he speaks through clenched teeth, “Anyone you touch, will die. Painfully. You willing to jeopardize the few men we have in the castle?”

  “Fuck you Dane,” I yell. “And you,” I growl, turning to Lars again. “If I find out it was you that killed my dad, I will end you. Slowly. I’m a determined woman Lars. I will find out the truth.”

  Lars stands straighter. “I have nothing to hide.”

  “So be it,” I say, then turn to leave.

  “Olivia--”

  “Leave me alone Dane,” I yell, pushing his arm away as he comes closer and reaches for me. “Don’t touch me.”

  I ignore the pain that flashes across his expression. “Baby listen…”

  “No.”

  I let the pain seep through that one word.

  I was hurt.
<
br />   He kept things from me, he kept protecting a woman that wasn’t me. Did he even want me? Was it just because of my position? Because of my father? Did he still care for Jordan?

  I didn’t know.

  Let him go have wild, crazy sex with his ex.

  I need time to think about everything.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I’m lying in Sam’s bed, feeling sorry for myself when Dane storms in.

  “I need a moment,” he says to Sam, who glances at me for my approval. I nod, and Sam leaves, closing the door behind him. Dane sits down on the bed, his elbows resting on his knees.

  “When I first came to the castle,” he says. “I saw you. You were young, beautiful. Like a princess. Long blonde hair, an innocent expression. Sheltered. You had no idea what was going on in these walls or outside of them. When your dad mentioned he wanted to marry you to Finn, I knew I couldn’t let that happen.”

  My eyes widen. Finn was an older man, about forty-five who died last year. Dad wanted me to marry him? He was so old!

  “Exactly,” Dane murmurs, looking at me. “Finn was old enough to be your father. There was something wrong with that. I didn’t like it. I knew Evan was superstitious, so I decided to casually mention something. A prophecy I was told about. I made it sound like you could only be married in your twenty-first year, and your first born son would save humanity.”

  I gasp. “You made up the prophecy?”

  He winces. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

  My lip twitches slightly. “You saved me from marrying that old fart, and in return, years later, I chose you to marry me.”

  “I know,” he replies, smirking. “Ironic isn’t it? I set up my own future my saving you from him. I wouldn’t have it any other way though. It just proves that you were meant for me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He shrugs. “It didn’t cross my mind, I guess. I never meant to keep it from you. I’d never intentionally hurt you Olivia.”

  My face falls as I remember what I’d overheard about Jordan. “She knows you’re married and she tried to kiss you. And you never told me Dane. How am I supposed to trust you if you don’t tell me things?”

  “I didn’t want you upset,” he sighs. “I made a mistake. I fucked up. I should have told you the moment it happened, but I didn’t. I didn’t like her hands on me Olivia. I told her to leave me alone.”

  “It hurt to hear those things,” I reply softly. “You know I didn’t like the way she was acting around you. And you kept standing up for her.”

  “I wasn’t standing up for her,” he says, shaking his head. “I’m always on your side. Always. You’re strong Olivia, but she’s not.”

  He cups my cheeks gently, and I can’t help it, I tilt my face closer to him automatically. “I couldn’t leave her out there, no matter what. I couldn’t have that on my conscience. And I made it clear that I was taken, and happily so. I’m fuckin’ obsessed with you Olivia. I don’t even want to look at anyone else.”

  “I don’t want to have to worry about what you’re doing when I’m not with you. Trust is everything Dane.”

  He swallows. “I know. She means nothing to me, I guess that’s why it doesn’t bother me when she’s around. But if a man was like that with you, I’d want to kill him, so I understand.”

  “I don’t like her and that sucks because she’s now one of my people,” I say, throwing my arm over my eyes. “She disrespected me by trying to touch you.”

  His hand touches my thigh. “Stop being angry baby.”

  “I’m staying here tonight,” I announce. “I just want to be alone.”

  His face falls.

  “You mean you just want to be away from me,” he replies in a dry tone. “My mother always told me that when I got married, to never let my wife go to bed angry. Besides, I don’t want to sleep without you.”

  Dane rarely mentions his parents so I’m surprised by him bringing his mother up. I know that they died when the virus first hit our country.

  “Dane--”

  “Let me hold you,” he says quietly. “Please.”

  It’s the please that gets me.

  “Okay,” I whisper.

  He carries me in his arms like a bride, and walks back to our room.

  When he holds me close against his body, he whispers, “I love you and only you. I only see you. I only feel you. I could search the whole fuckin’ world and there would be no one else for me.”

  “Dane--”

  “You have no reason to worry about me in that way Olivia,” he says. “I don’t think a man ever loved a woman as much as I do you.”

  He really made it hard to be angry at him, didn’t he?

  “I’ll handle her,” I say, strength in my tone. “And you don’t step in.”

  He kisses my temple. “You’re missing the point here baby. I don’t care for her any more than I care for any other woman in this castle, okay? But yes, whatever you want.”

  I sigh. “It’s hard to stay angry at you.”

  “You can stay angry all you want. I just don’t want you being hurt, especially when it’s me causing it. If it was someone else, I’d kick their ass.”

  “Dane.”

  “Yes?”

  “Kiss me,” I demand.

  He does, and the world melts away.

  When I approach Jordan the next morning, the last thing I thought I’d find her doing would be having sex.

  With Wyatt.

  With the door wide open.

  “Holy shit!” I gasp, turning around and closing my eyes. “You could close the damn door!”

  “I like the thrill of being caught,” she says, laughing behind me. I turn around to find them now both covered. Wyatt has the sheets up to his chin, and it makes me want to laugh. Jordan on the other hand, has one breast out like she’s proud it’s there.

  “I heard you tried to hit on my husband,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “I’ve thought long and hard about how to react to this, and I’ve come up with one solution.”

  “What?” she asks, a little wearily. “You can’t do anything to me.”

  I grin evilly, flashing my teeth. “Do it again and we will fight. Hand to hand, with weapons, with fucking mud I don’t care. But I will make you hurt.”

  She gulps.

  I smirk. “What do you say Jordan?”

  “I won’t go near Dane,” she whispers. “He didn’t want me anyway, okay? I’m with Wyatt now. He actually wants me. I’m sorry.”

  “You should be,” I tell her. “I can be the best friend you’ll ever have or your worst enemy. Choose wisely which place you want.”

  She nods, looking sincere.

  “Oh and Wyatt,” I say, looking to him. “You’re a good man. She fucks with you, let me know.”

  Wyatt smiles at me then and I find myself smiling back at him. “I’ll handle her Olivia.”

  “You do that,” I reply, nodding my head at him.

  The arrow hits its mark.

  “I’m going to be even better than you one day,” Regan announces.

  Grinning at him, I turn and hand him my bow. “Come on, show me what you’ve got.”

  Happily, he takes my bow, which is much too big for him, and attempts to shoot the mark. I’m about to help him out when Sam calls my name. Turning to him, I lift my chin in answer.

  “Dane wants you,” he says, with an amused look on his face.

  I swap bows with Regan and run my hand through his hair. “Can we continue this lesson later?”

  He nods. “Sure Olivia. I’ll practice with my bow until then.”

  Such a good kid.

  If anything happened to Dane, I’d want Regan to lead in the future.

  I catch up to Sam, walking side by side with him. Staring at his profile I ask, “What’s going on?”

  He shrugs, but a grin plays on his lips. “Dane told me to bring you to him, so that’s what I’m doing.”

  “I don’t like surprises,” I sigh.

/>   Sam laughs. “Dane said that you say you don’t like surprises but you actually do.”

  Damn him for knowing me so well.

  Sam walks me to my bedroom door then kisses my forehead, before leaving without a word.

  I watch him go, then open the door.

  My eyes flare as I see Dane there on his knees, surrounded in candles, all of them lit.

  Was it bad I was thinking what a waste of candles that was?

  “Olivia,” he says. “Marrying you wasn’t my choice, but it was the best thing that has happened to me. I want you to know that I love you, so I’m asking you if we can have a do-over.”

  “A do-over?” I ask, smiling.

  He nods. “Olivia, will you be mine? I mean you’re already mine, but…”

  He looks adorably frustrated. “What I’m trying to say is, I want this. This is my choice. You are my choice. I love you, and I want you to know that there’s no one else I’d rather be stuck with.”

  I giggle at that.

  He opens his hand, and in it is a ring with a huge red stone on it. A ruby. It’s beautiful.

  “Where did you get that?” I ask breathily.

  “I have my ways,” he replies, standing and closing the space between us. Taking my hand in his, he slides the ring on my finger, on top of the one I was currently wearing.

  “It fits you perfectly,” he murmurs. “Just like you do me.”

  Dane was so damn sweet, and I was overcome with emotions.

  I didn’t know how to react, he had really taken me aback with his romantic gesture.

  So I did what any woman in my situation would do.

  I cried.

  Happy tears.

  Then I told him to stop wasting candles.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Two Weeks Later

  Everything was perfect.

  Until it wasn’t.

  Looking back, that should have been a sign that something was going to go wrong. It usually did. But I was too preoccupied with being happy. I was living in the now, loving my life with Dane by my side. It wasn’t a perfect life. In fact, it was far from perfect, but we made do.