Chapter 21: Chapter 21

ANNA

I head straight to the woods.

~I need to get away from here.~

My legs are shaking and my vision is blurry from all the tears in my eyes. My heart is shattered, my soul is crushed. The man who sets fire to my soul despises me.

“Anna!” Roland shouts from the castle doors.

~Lev must have told him. He sounds mad.~

“Annabeth, wait!”

I ignore him and keep on running to the woods.

He grabs me by my arm.

~He is so fast.~

“Anna, please,” he says, in a soft voice.

I spin around, ripping my arm out of his grip. Tears stream down my cheeks.

“I hate you! Let me go!” I spit at him, glaring into his black, emotionless eyes.

He shuts his eyes and lets out a breath.

“You don’t mean that,” he whispers, and opens his eyes, staring into mine.

My body starts shaking as I let out a sob.

“I do! I hate you so much!”

He grabs me by my arms and pulls me to him.

“No! Let me go!” I scream, and hit him.

He just holds me to his chest like I’m his life source.

“Roland! Let me go! I wish I’d never met you!”

He squeezes me tighter.

~He’s going to crush me.~

A flash of relief streams through my body. His touch is calming me. I stop fighting him. My body is numb, my breathing is steady, and the tears stop.

I stand in his embrace, not saying a word. The silence between us is all we desire.

I let out a sigh.

“Roland, you’re crushing me,” I whisper.

He loosens his grip a little.

“Anna, I’m sorry.”

I can hear the tremble in his voice. I know that it’s sadness.

“Roland, let me go, please. I promise I will not run.”

I need to see him, to look into his eyes.

“No.” He presses me harder to his chest.

“Roland!” Lev shouts. Roland lets out a loud growl as he approaches us.

“Okay, I will not come near her, but you are crushing her.”

“I want to talk to you, but I need to see you,” I whisper.

Lev’s eye falls on me, and he smiles.

I feel Roland’s whole body relax. He lets me go slowly, afraid I might run. I pull away from him, and he grabs my hand.

“It’s okay, Lev,” I say. “Can you please give us some space?”

He looks over to Roland, then back at me, then nods and strolls back to the castle.

Roland’s eyes are shut, his jaws clenched.

~I need him to calm down if I’m going to talk to him.~

I place my hand on his jaw. “Open your eyes, Roland,” I whisper.

He slowly opens his eyes. They are bright red.

I flash him a sweet smile. “Hey,” I whisper, dropping my hand to my side.

He smiles at me and pulls me in for a hug.

“Sorry, flower.”

Those two words hit me right in my heart, mending it. I take in a breath of his scent.

“We need to talk.” I push away from him

He won’t let go of my hand, and we stroll back to the castle, hand in hand.

Lev is waiting at the door. He smiles brightly as we approach him.

“Tell the king I will see him tomorrow,” Roland says as we pass Lev.

~I swear if he didn’t have ears his smile would go right around his head.~

We stroll up the stairs and head to Roland’s room. I pause outside, and Roland looks at me with a frown forming on his forehead.

“Come, we’ll talk in my room.”

~Oh, shit. Bad idea.~

I follow him inside anyway.

It’s a beautiful room. The huge bed is draped in bright wine-red and gold bedding. A few portraits are placed on the wall. There are fresh flowers. Armchairs sit in one corner with a bookcase. There’s an en suite bathroom.

He leads me to the chairs.

I sit down with him next to me and clear my throat.

“Well, I need to apologize as well. I’m sorry for shouting at you. It’s just that you are so stubborn.” I shake my head and look at him.

There is no emotion on his face or in his eyes. He nods, not saying a word.

~Okay, so this is going to be a one-way conversation, then.~

“Okay, so I have a few questions. One, when will we leave? I need to get home. Why do I need a babysitter who I hate? How long before we reach the elders? Why do you insist on going with me, if you can’t stand me?”

That has him narrowing his eyes at me.

“Why can’t I go alone? And then, why are you so frustrating? You drive me crazy.

“I just want to feel needed and help you, then you go and freak out. I just want to talk to you and want you to listen to other people, and then you go and break down doors.”

“I mean, Roland, I just started to like you, then you go and run to the—”

A smile forms on his face, and he cuts me off mid-sentence.

“You like me?” He sounds amused.

“No, I didn’t mean it like that.”

~Shit, did I really just say that?~

“Oh, flower, don’t deny it.” He gazes into my eyes, leaning in closer to me.

I gulp.

“Okay, fine. I-I did start to like you. As a friend.”

~Yeah, right, Anna. Keep telling yourself that.~

“As a friend?” He smirks and moves back into his chair. “Okay, then. Allow me to answer some of your questions.

“We will leave as soon as I know what the demons are up to. It is a dangerous world out there, and you have no clue how to get to the elders to return home.”

“Our journey will take about ten days. And why do you hate poor Trix? She is only here to protect you.”

I look down at my fingers and shrug my shoulders.

There’s a knock at the door. Roland stands. “Enter.”

Lev appears.

“Roland, the demon army is growing as we speak, and”—he sighs—“the ogres have joined them.”

Roland runs his fingers through his hair.

“Fuck.” He grabs the desk in front of him. “Lev, you need to get a message to the vamps. Ask them to meet us here. I will mind-link Collen, tell him to come and bring some of his strongest fighters.”

“And your father?”

Roland tightens his grip on the table.

“I will let him know.”

Lev nods and exits.

I stand and go to Roland’s side, gently placing my hand on his shoulder. He looks troubled.

He pulls my hand to his lips and places a soft gentle kiss on my knuckles.

“Sorry for this, flower. This is not your fight, and now you are caught up in all of this. It’s my half brother. He’s behind it.

“My father named me his successor and not him. He wants the crown. I really don’t want it—I like my carefree life—but I can’t let him rule. He’s a selfish, narcissistic man.”

He turns to face me and takes both my hands in his. His eyes are wild.

“Anna, I need you to be safe. You mean more to me than anything else in the universe.”

He places one hand on my jaw, gently stroking it with his thumb.

“You want to know why? Well, I have completely fallen for you, Anna. Everything you do, everything you say, everything you are, even your feisty side.

“You’re my first thought in the morning, my last at night, and almost every thought in between.

“Anna, you tame the beast inside me. You are my strength and I would do anything for you.

“I can’t promise you that I will never scare you again, but what I can promise you is that I will do everything in my power to make you happy. I’ll keep you safe and take care of you. I’ll love you till my last breath.”

A tear escapes my eye, and he gently wipes it off with his thumb. He lifts my head up so our eyes meet.

“Anna, I’m truly, madly in love with you,” he says in his sexy, husky voice, and smiles sweetly.

There are hundreds of things running through my mind.

~I don’t know how to respond to that~.

“I-I-” I turn and storm out of his room, running straight to mine. I lock the door behind me, sprint to my bed, and fall on it face-first.

~That man just confessed his love for me and I just stormed out, not saying anything.~

I lie on my bed for a while, processing everything.

~I wish Ray or Amethyst were here. They could give me some advice.~

My heart cries out to Roland, but then there is a part of me screaming for Damitry. All the stuff going on has my emotions bouncing all over the place.

~Okay, I need to get it together. There’s a war coming and they’ll need me for something, I hope.~

I rise from my bed and head out.

~Maybe I should ask Lev to teach me a few combat skills, just in case.~

Strolling down the stairs, I hear Roland’s voice and freeze.

~Shit, he is talking to the king and the prince. I wonder if Lev is in there.~

I sneak past the door and try to go to the patio.

“Anna,” Roland says.

I turn. Lev is standing next to him with a smirk on his face.

“Where are you going?” Roland asks, coming over to me.

“I was looking for Lev.”

Roland narrows his eyes at me. “Oh? Why?”

He looks to Lev, who shrugs his shoulders and grins.

“I thought maybe he could teach me a few combat skills, just in case I need to defend myself.”

Roland smiles at me. “So now you’re fighting too?” He sounds amused.

“Do you have a problem with that?” I smile and look over at Lev, who tries to hide his own amusement.

“No, I just think maybe you should start by asking Trix.”

I roll my eyes at the mention of her name.

“Don’t you want me to train with the best? I mean, you said Lev is your best fighter, so wouldn’t he be able to teach me more?”

Roland frowns and looks over to Lev, whose ego is sky-high now.

“I suppose he can teach you a thing or two.”

“Thanks. I’ll wait on the patio for you, Master Lev.” I smile brightly at them both and stroll out.

There’s a chill in the air. Even the beautiful melody of the birds is gone. A shiver runs through my bones. I stare into the distance and my eyes fall upon my beautiful golden-brown wolf friend, Collen.

I rush down the patio stairs. There are so many wolves behind him.

“Hey, guys,” I shout at them.

Collen lopes to my side and presses his head against mine, wagging his tail.

“Hey, Collen. Nice to see you again.”

We walk side by side to the castle, and they all head in to change back.

“Anna, how’s things?” Collen says when he returns, pulling me in for a huge hug.

“Good. Roland is in the throne room with Lev and the others. Did you see the demons?”

Cullen’s expression hardens.

“Yes, unfortunately. I’ll see you later. I need to speak with Roland now.” He smiles and heads in as Trix comes strolling out.

“Come on. Roland asked me to teach you a thing or two.” She walks down the stairs and waits for me on the lawn. “Hurry up, Anna. I don’t have all day!”

~I really don’t like her~, I think as I follow.

She has a sarcastic smile on her face.

“Okay, princess, lift up those arms. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

In one move she trips me and I fall to the ground.

“Ouch!”

I push myself off the ground.

She smirks at me.

“Again.”

~I want to wipe that smirk off her face.~

I fall down on my butt, my face, my knees. She gets me every time. I have no idea how to defend myself.

“You done, princess?”

~This woman is really getting on my nerves now.~

“No. Again!” I stand and dust off the dirt.

“I must say, I like your enthusiasm.”

We take our stances. She storms me and knocks me down. I fall on my back.

“Fuck!”

“Come on now, princess. You’re a little human. What did you expect?” She looks down at me and grins. “Pffft. Human.”

She shakes her head and walks to the castle.

I get up.

“Hey! We’re not done!”

She looks over her shoulder and smiles.

“Okay. You like getting your ass kicked?”

I narrow my eyes at her. On the road, I had learned a thing or two from Amethyst and always listened closely to what Roland told her about digging deep for her power. I saw her shoot fireballs out of her hands.

~Okay, Anna, this is it. Time to search your soul for that hidden power inside of you.~

I close my eyes and take in a deep breath. I feel warmth growing inside of me, running through my veins.

“Don’t cry, princess. This will be over soon,” Trix says.

“Bring it, bitch.” I push my hands out in front of me like Amethyst told me.

“Confident, I like it.” She smiles and storms me.

I shout the word Amethyst said and let the warmth take over. A fireball shoots from my hand, blasting Trix into the tree.

“What the hell?” she shouts.

I go to her.

“Oh, don’t cry, princess.” I smirk as I go back to the castle.

~Wow, okay. I didn’t know I could do that.~

Roland comes storming out of the castle and frowns at me, looking over to Trix, who is still shocked on the ground.

“What happened?” he asks as I pass him.

“I just kicked her ass, that’s all.” I smile and Lev starts to laugh.

~I’m exhausted. That really drained my energy. Definitely time for a bath.~

In my room, I fill the tub with water and bubbles and slide in.

~Maybe that is what Amethyst was thinking about, in the prison. She said no human can enter. Maybe I’m not just a human.~

I wish more than ever that she was here right now. I have no idea how I just did that. I just wished for it and willed it.

~How on earth?~

I shake my head, trying to make sense of it all.

~She said it takes a lot of practice to even let a spark out of your finger, and I just blasted a fireball out of my hand.~

I slide underwater to clear my thoughts.

“Anna!”

~Oh, for crying out loud! Roland again.~

I get out, grab my towel, and stroll into my room.

He is standing at the door, looking at me with shock in his eyes.

“Do you mind?”

He steps in and closes the door behind him.

“Not what I meant.”

“How?”

“What do you mean, how? I thought you could answer that question.” I grab my clothes from the bed.

“Anna, can you please be serious? How were you able to do a spell like that? It takes a full-blood sorcerer months of practice to do what you just did.”

“I’m not sure. Amethyst knew something but she never told me. Now if you don’t mind, I would love to get dressed before we continue our conversation.”

A smile appears on his face as he scans me.

“Oh, baby, I don’t mind at all,” he says in a soft, husky voice as he starts to close the distance between us.

I smile at him and put my hand on his chest, holding him at arm’s length.

“Not what I meant.”

We stare into each other’s eyes, filling the room with sexual tension.

“I will not touch you till you ask me to, flower,” he takes my hand from his chest and places soft kisses on it, sending bolts of electricity to my core. “We will talk when you’re done.”

He turns and heads out the door.

~I don’t know what happened or how, but that made me feel powerful. I love that feeling. I want an answer. I need to know how.~

~But first, I need a nap. I’m exhausted.~

I crash onto my bed and cuddle with my fluffy pillow, and sleep consumes me.