Royal Blood and One Forever : Book Three

by Simone Nicholls

  Was that Isabella's voice now? Tyler was close to my side, keeping up with me but muttering under his breath. Right now I didn't care, I knew it was wrong. I knew to some degree it was sickening to have your mate forced to see you, but that didn't stop the overwhelming anxiety that washed through me.

  I lowered my shoulder and rammed it in to the door. The big oak doors shattered under the force of my weight, splitting into pieces.

  Everything stilled; time froze.

  Her face was white as porcelain, her eyes a deep sea blue; I was lost in the darkness of her ocean opals. Golden sheets of silk hung loosely around her shoulders. Her face was a sculpture, a beautiful unflawed piece of art; one that should be admired for centuries, generations.

  Slowly she began to blur, and I blinked quickly not to lose the image of perfection in front of me. The blur disappeared, and then I slowly began to realise that it was my own tears that had affected my sight.

  The drumming increase beating of my heart filled my ears. How had I forgotten how beautiful she was? My memory had not captured her unflawed beauty.

  A shaking on my shoulder slowly was pulling me from the daze I was in.

  "Connor?"

  Tyler's voice was calling me, and slowly reality was pulling me back in. Whacking Tyler's hand off my shoulder and shot a deadly look up at him; her beauty had brought me to my knees.

  Snapping my eyes back to drink in Isabella's pure beauty, but as my eyes locked into her opals. Only sadness coated them. Her face was covered in blood, her hair a messy tangle with a mixer of tings and blood in it. Tears leaked down her cheeks, and heart breaking sorrow covered her face.

  "His gone." She muttered directly at me, "His gone."

  I was at her side in a heartbeat, and gently I cupped her broken face.

  "Who's gone?" my voice was stronger than I felt. "Who are you talking about?"

  "They took him, his gone." She fell into my arms, her head burrowing into my chest.

  "Who is she talking about?" Tyler demanded from next to me, shot a look up at him. How was I meant to know who she was talking about? But I noticed the question wasn't directed at me. He was glaring across at two men.

  The ones who must have captured her.

  "We don't know." A man forced respect, "When do we collect our money?"

  A deep growl roared from my lips, and it shook Isabella within my arms.

  "They have him, they have them!" Isabella's voice was full of panic as she pulled away from me. "Connor, please."

  She was asking me. She was pleading with me. How long had I waited to be wanted by her again?

  "Tyler, don't let them leave." I didn't look away from Isabella as I spoke. "Till they give Isabella the answers she wants."

  "Why my King, she is a criminal!" A rough, disgusted voice spat, and I didn't have to address him because I heard Tyler's fist connect with his face.

  "Do not question the King." Tyler commanded. "Now tell us where he is?"

  Both Tyler and I had no idea who 'he' was, but I was thankful that Tyler wasn't leading this fact on.

  "Which he is she talking about? There were four." Finally, the man was giving up information.

  "Where are they all?" Tyler pressed.

  "Where we found her, we left them all there."

  "Are you lying?" Tyler questioned.

  "No, we made sure they were knocked out before we left." Another man piped up with a softer voice, "They weren't hurt."

  "Isabella?" I pushed the hair from her face, "Did you hear that they are safe."

  "Cooper, all that matters is Cooper." She mumbled before her eyes slowly shut.

  "She is still fighting the dart, it should fully wear off soon." The same guy spoke from before. But I didn't address him back.

  Scooping Isabella up in my arms, she was safe and for the first time in years, I finally carried my princess.

  I was never letting her go again.

  Isabella

  My eyes fluttered open; the room was fully lit from the morning sun shining through the large bay windows. As I took in the room, my stomach began to fill with nerves, and as I looked at the large hand which was cupping mine, guilt washed through me in a huge wave.

  Connor was kneeling beside the bed, his head laying limb on his arm and his hand firmly holding mine. I couldn't help but wonder how long had he stared at me before he fell asleep, how long had he stayed awake hoping I would wake up?

  "Connor?" my voice was soft, gentle and I wasn't forcing it. Looking at Connor sleeping peacefully, I couldn't, no I wouldn't stop the fluttering of love which went through my body. With my other hand I gently ran it through his hair, as he slowly began to wake up.

  Slowly he pulled his head up and his eyes locked with mine. I think for the next few minutes we couldn't rip our eyes away from each other, because we both didn't want this dream to end. But this wasn't a dream. We were really together.

  Connor is everything to me and for too long pride had kept us apart. Slowly his lips curled into a small smile, and it had been too long since I witness his happiness. Slowly I traced the outline of his strong jaw, touching his skin sent shivers through my body.

  We were ripped apart unfairly, and I couldn't help but begin to feel some blame, because I hadn't trusted him. Years had passed, but still I knew I loved him, and for the first time in a long time I wasn't fighting the feeling of love for him.

  "Connor, I have to tell you something." I gently placed my hand over his, which was still holding my other hand.

  "No Is, I need to tell you something, it's my faul-"

  "Connor, stop." I closed my eyes for a second. For years I had feared telling him what I was about to tell him and my courage was beginning to fail. "I have kept something from you." Opening my eyes, and looking into his, I saw his wonder begin to flash through them and I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. "You have a six-year-old Son."

  I could feel his disbelief for a spilt moment, being so close to him it was impossible for us to hide our emotions from each other.

  "His name is Cooper."

  Connor remained silent for a few moments, before he pulled his hand away from mine and stood up. Taking a few steps away from the bed, he ran his hand through his short black hair.

  "Does he know who his father is?" Connor couldn't look me in the eye, and it hurt. You would think after everything we had been through, I would be used to the pain.

  "He knows little." I pulled the blankets back and hung my legs over the bed, the soft carpet now at my feet. "There wasn't much I could tell him."

  Connor paced the room for a few moments before stopping and facing me. His face showed the demand raging in him. "So, what now?"

  Frowning and raising an eyebrow, I was expecting rage, not questions. "Excuse me?"

  "I said what now!" His eyes turned into the murderous ones, ones I had seen before. "You told me, so what now? You disappear again with my son. Your guilt is washed away now Isabella, now you have told me you can leave once again and can continue keeping me out of his life, like you clearly want!"

  "No." The word slipped from my mouth, influenced by the pain raging across his face from my actions. "I want him to know you." A ran a hand through my blonde locks, before gripping the back of my neck, stress of the situation creeping through my body. "I came to tell you because you have a right to know, that's why I came. I just...." I paused and looked him in the eyes again, "I want you to know him, and I want him to have a dad. He deserves to know you."

  Connor's eyes had locked onto mine and he wasn't pulling away. His eyes were raking mine for more information, as if my eyes held all the answers to the questions swimming in his mind.

  Time passed slowly and he didn't speak a word. Finally he broke eye contact, by turning his back to me and walking out of the room. The thud of the door made me shudder. I fell back onto the bed. What did I do now? Connor knew, and now I faced the dooming question that I had been asking myself for years; would he never forgive me?

  Conno
r

  "I thought it was best to keep them in your study." Tyler gave me a side way glance as he stood guard of my office door.

  "And the others?" I placed my hand on the door, ready to push it open.

  "Dining room, under guard." Tyler was still eyeing me up and down, clearly he could see the rage I was attempting to keep a lid on.

  Who wouldn't be angry when you have just been told you have a son? I gritted my teeth and pushed the door open, slamming it behind me.

  Chase and Nick both didn't seem fussed by my entrance, they didn't even turn to face me in the arm chairs. Instead, they waited for me to take my seat behind my desk. Eyeing both of them up and down, they looked as I remembered them.

  "Had a chat with Isabella yet?" Chase's face was tight as he spoke to me. "I'm guessing you know now?"

  "You mean that I have a son?" I scoffed.

  "Yes." Chase was calm, which did catch me somewhat off guard.

  "And you think I will be taking her word for it? I have been led down this path before." My voice lowered to a growl. How could she of kept this from me? Years that I had missed of my son's life, years I would never get back; well that is if he is even my son.

  "Don't disrespect her." Chase's eyes narrowed, "You know Isabella doesn't lie, unlike some."

  "Was that directed at me?" I growled, gripping the desk with both hands, ready to leap across the desk and charge at him.

  "Connor, we came to tell you some details Isabella might off left out." Nick placed a hand on Chase's arm, perhaps reminding him why they came here in the first place.

  "There isn't anything more to be said." I snapped, "And nothing more I want to know."

  "You shouldn't be hard on her." Chase shook Nick's hand away. "If you want someone to blame for this mess, its you."

  "Is that all you have to say?" I gritted my teeth, "The door is behind you, feel free to walk through it."

  "Isabella's always deserved better than you." Chase spat before rising from his chair and I followed his actions, now on my feet. "But for some unknown reason, you're her everything. Even though she fights it, she is incomplete without you. For years I have had to watch her fight you, and you have no idea what she has been through."

  "What do you want from me?" I yelled. Every word he said was the truth and it burnt. Because I didn't need Chase to tell me, I knew I only had myself to blame for Isabella's actions.

  "I want you to man up and put her first for once." Chase stepped forward with a pointed finger in my direction. "If you let her leave this time to live a broken life, you are more of a weaker man then I remembered."

  "She doesn't want to be with me. I know she wants to leave already!" I yelled throwing my hands in the air alittle before glaring into Chase's eyes "She told me to ease the guilt, now I wouldn't be surprised if she has already run!"

  "She has waited a long time to see you again; I can guarantee you she won't run." Nick cut in. "Chase is right, she has been lost without you."

  "So what do you want me to do, force her to stay here?" I leant back and crossed my arms, "Keep her prisoner because in the long run she would be happier?"

  "Did the thought every cross your mind maybe you should just ask her to stay?" Chase spat at me before storming in the direction of the door, Nick close behind him. "You know what makes me sick?" Chase had the door open and was glaring at me from over his shoulder, "She would do anything for you, even after everything you have done to her."

  "You're forgetting Chase, she is the one who kept my son a secret from me all these years." I fired back at him before he slammed the door.

  Falling back into my chair and spinning around to stare out across the garden. I knew I had no right to blame Isabella from keeping Cooper a secret from me. A strange feeling crossed my body as I thought of my son's name for the first time.

  I knew Isabella wouldn't be lying to me, I had a son. A few hours ago I knew nothing of him but now I couldn't fight the urge to want to meet him and I had a strong feeling that he would mirror his mother's image.

  Sighing, I closed my eyes, finally asking myself a question I had been thinking since Isabella told me about Cooper.

  If she took him away from me, and went back into hiding, would I survive this time? And a strong part of me was telling me if they left I wouldn't be able to. But would she stay if I asked her to? And what shocked me more, was I didn't even have one feeling of hate towards Isabella for what she did, yes I was hurt but if anything I loved her more, and I couldn't understand why.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Isabella

  I still felt childish, well to a degree. When Connor left me, I couldn't stand staying in his room waiting for him to return. So I left.

  No, I didn't leave the castle, I left to find another room and I did; nearly a full wing away from him. Sitting on the guest bed, in the room that I had claimed as mine, I had to say Connor's room was better. But I felt unwelcomed in his room, and though he hadn't said it, I felt it.

  My heart began to ache for my son. It had been days since I saw him and I didn't know how much longer I could take this separation from him. Though my pain was suddenly ended when the guest bedroom door burst open.

  "Found you MOM!" Cooper came running into the room, charging in my direction. Shocked by his sudden appearance, I nearly didn't have a chance to grab him in time, when he sent himself flying into my arms.

  "Thought you would be in Connor's bedroom." Chase walked through the door calmly, closing it softly behind him.

  "How did you find me?" I looked behind Cooper in my arms and Chase who was now taking a seat on the bed.

  "That's easy Mom" Cooper smiled at me and slowly lifted a finger to his nose and his smile got bigger. "Uncle Chase turned it into a game and I smelt you out first!"

  "Really?" I smiled and then I remembered the events that had happened and within seconds I had Cooper on the ground and inspecting him. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

  "Mom stop that." Cooper tried to push my hands away as I looked for marks. "I'm ok."

  "He is Is, we had him checked- we're all fine by the way." Chase winked at me, clearly amused by my sudden motherly take over.

  Cooper wiggled out of my grasp and shot over to Chase to sit next to him. I couldn't explain the relief I had knowing Cooper was fine, and he wouldn't be leaving my sight for the rest of his life. Well, at least not for the next few weeks.

  "It doesn't feel safe here." Chase moved uncomfortable looking directly at me. "It feels like we are..."

  "On enemy grounds?" I finished the sentence for him, knowing what he meant. It was one thing being back in a castle, but another being in the Griffin's castle.

  "Of course it feels weird." Cooper rolled his little eyes at Chase, "We are in a castle!"

  Smiling at Cooper's serious statement and how he was looking at Chase like he was as dumb as a door knob.

  "And there're no enemies here mom, everyone is really nice; especially the kitchen lady." Cooper smiled guiltily at me.

  "Of course you two have been in the kitchen." I gave a pointed look at Chase, who was looking in any direction but mine. "Let me guess that ranked more of importance then finding me?"

  "Mom, how could we of found you if we were hunger?" Cooper's eyes began to open slightly and his puppy dog eyes were now in full works.

  Rolling my eyes and smiling, I walked over to the bed and picked him up. "I'm hunger, did you bring any food for me?"

  Cooper's little smile dropped and he shook his head slightly, saying no.

  "Well then you have left me with only one option." My lips curved into a full smile. "I'll have to eat you!"

  I began showering him with kisses and of course he wiggled and wiggled and laughed and I couldn't express the joy I felt having Cooper back in my arms.

  I felt the presences in the room before I even opened my eyes. I pulled Cooper's little body closer to my chest, protection of my child roaring through me. It was the dead of the night and I was suddenly wishing I hadn't told Chase it wo
uld be alright if he slept in his own guest room.

  I took in a deep breath of the air, looking for the scent of the person in the room with us. As the scent flooded my senses, my eyes snapped open.

  His deep black eyes could always send shivers of desire through my body. Locking onto Connor's eyes, he stood across the room with his arms crossed, leaning against the door, watching.

  Sighing slowly, I noticed his eyes glance down at Cooper for a second before connecting back with mine.

  Bitting my lip, I pulled my hand free from the blankets, placing my hand out and curling my fingers in, gesturing for him to come to me.

  I began to feel nervous. Would he come to me? Had he come to yell at me? Did he hate me for what I did? Every painful second he didn't move, only threw more questions through my mine. Finally, he pushed away from the door and began to walk around the room to the other side of the bed. Pulling my other hand from under Cooper's head, knowing that not even an earth quake would wake him.

  Turning on my side to face Connor, who stood next to the bed, his eyes studied mine. Reaching my hand out for him, it stayed in mid-air waiting for him. Slowly Connor linked his fingers into mine, and I closed my eyes just for a second, taking in the feeling of his touch.

  Slowly he sat on the bed, and lowered himself to his side, our hands still locked in together. Our heads were inches away from each other, and slowly I raised my other hand and ran it down the side of his face; his eyes closing to my touch.

  "I've missed you." His voice was a low whisper, barely auditable.

  Slowly I leant my head forward, and I didn't over think and I couldn't stop myself. My lips gently and softly brushed against his and parting my lips from his, "I've missed you too."

  Slowly I turned my back to him, cuddling back into his stern stomach. Reaching out, I wrapped my arms around Cooper and pulled him back to us. Wrapping his closely to me, Connor hand was on my hip and slowly I felt him reach across and he placed his hand on top of mine which was holding Cooper.