Chapter 34: Chapter 34

ANNA

Days have gone by since Roland left. He left after the night his brother was killed right in front of him.

Roland did persuade Damitry to go to the Moon Goddess. She demanded a duel between them, throwing two deadly swords at their feet.

At first, Roland rejected her request, but Damitry was eager to fight. He knew it was his life or Roland’s. Only one would walk out of the arena; there would only be one victor.

Damitry took the first swing. Roland was still trying to reason with the Moon Goddess, but his words fell on deaf ears.

It was a fierce battle, brother against brother. Roland’s swings weren’t meant to hurt Damitry, but Damitry was filled with anger. He was out for blood and wanted Roland’s head.

Roland struck him down with a blow of his sword, and Damitry held his hands up in defeat.

The Moon Goddess ordered Roland to kill him, but he refused over and over. She wanted Damitry dead for defying her orders. He brought war to her peaceful land, and so many innocent lives were lost due to his lust for power.

“If you will not kill him, Roland, then the both of you will pay the price,” she proclaimed.

Damitry looked up at his brother.

“I’m sorry, brother. You will not pay for my sins.” He grabbed Roland’s sword and thrust it through his heart.

Roland just stood there, shocked at his brother’s display of love. After that, he was not the same man, I knew. He had a heavy burden to carry with him.

***

I don’t see Roland again after the night on my couch.

If it weren’t for Amethyst, who told me why he left, I would have never known what happened to him. She came to see me after she woke from her coma.

He went back to their realm, she explained. He needed to accept the crown because his father was stepping down.

After that heartbreaking conversation, she also left. I have no idea when I will see him again—if I will ever see him.

Now I’m just walking this empty path they call life, putting on a fake smile, hiding my heartache, struggling to move forward. Hiding away in my now-empty apartment.

After Ray and Jordan return from their month-long honeymoon, she packs up the last of her stuff and moves in with him. It takes me a while to get used to the idea of Ray not being in the next room.

I cry myself to sleep a few times just wishing Roland would hold me one last time, so I can feel his touch. Ray never mentions his name. She knows he broke my heart by only looking into my eyes.

Roland stages a car accident with Damitry’s body; it is the easiest way to explain his death to the world. There are still many unanswered questions, but Damitry’s adoptive parents try to extinguish most of the flames the paparazzi start.

We hold a funeral for Damitry. It is a heartwarming ceremony.

Ray gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. They call him Leroyd. She asks me to be the godmother and Xander to be the godfather. She is a great mom and they are all happy.

Life moves on and times change. I go out with a few guys just to get Ray off my back, but it never leads to more than just dinner. The scar Roland left doesn’t heal so easily, and it is hard to pretend I’m over him.

How could I be? We are meant to be together.

The first month he doesn’t return, I look for a way to go to him, but because I have no clue how the portals work, my efforts are in vain.

After a while, I give up and move on, sort of. I throw myself into my work; it is my way of dealing with everything.

Time does heal some wounds. It gets better. My smile becomes more real and my pillow stays dry. Food tastes better, and I start to feel more like myself.

—Nearly two years later—

Ray comes storming into the kitchen. “Anna, could you please go pick up the cake? The guests will be here soon.”

“Yeah, sure.”

It’s Leroyd’s first birthday party. I grab my keys from the kitchen.

“Anna, are you getting the cake?” Xander comes in with Leroyd in his arms.

“Yes, why? Need something?”

He nods. “More balloons. This monster popped most of them.”

I smile and kiss Leroyd on the cheek. “You’re no monster.”

He giggles at us.

“Okay, balloons and cake. See you soon. Bye.” I go out the door and drive off to the bakery.

When I arrive, I tell the lady behind the counter, “Hi, I’m here to pick up Leroyd’s cake.”

She smiles at me and goes to fetch it. After a few minutes, she returns with a box in her hands.

“I hope you like it. We sprinkled a lot of chocolate flakes on it.”

I smile brightly at her. “Thanks a lot. I’m sure he will love it.” I take it and head back to the car.

As I am about to open the car door, I feel a familiar feeling running down my spine. I look up, only to stare into the gorgeous ice-blue eyes of Roland. He is standing on the other side of the road, a perfect smile on his face.

My jaw drops to the ground. I want to sprint over to him and leap into his arms, but it is as if time stands still and my body won’t respond to any request.

~Am I dreaming? Pinch me now. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him. It can’t be.~

He crosses the street to me.

“Hello, flower.”

The sound I thought I would never hear again, his voice so welcome to my ears, like a symphony.

“How?” I can hear the confusion in my voice.

“Sorry, for taking so long. It wasn’t easy coming here, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to see you, even if it is only for a few minutes.”

He takes the cake from my hand and places it on the roof of my car, then pulls me to his chest. I’m still in shock.

“Anna, I missed you so much. You have no clue how much pain I endured, being apart from you.” He breathes in my scent.

I’m enjoying the warmth of his embrace. The touch my soul yearned for has returned.

“I can’t stay, my sweet flower,” he says in his deep voice, his hiding his heartache. “I just had to see you again. I know it’s selfish of me.”

I shake my head. “No, you are not selfish. I’m glad you’re here. I’m so happy to see you too.”

I smile and stare into his eyes. We stand there in each other’s arms.

“Anna, I must go back. I’m king now,” he says with pride.

“They are lucky to have you.”

He holds me at arm’s length.

“Come with me, please, Anna. I need you at my side. Every day that’s passed without you has been torture.”

A tear runs down my cheek.

“Anna, please. I will keep you safe. I will care for you and love you. We belong together.”

He scans me, giving me time to process everything.

~Can I just pack up my life and go with him? Will I ever be able to come back here?~

“Roland, I—”

He places a soft, gentle kiss on my lips, filled with promise and love.

“I’ll come back for you, my sweet flower.” He pulls me into him for one last time. “This is not goodbye. I will find you again and next time I will make you mine.”

I look into his eyes.

“Is that a promise?”

He grins at me.

“Yes, it is. I have to go now. I need to pack up Damitry’s things. I love you.”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “I love you, too.”

His eyes are filled with wanting, lusting. He wants me just as much as I need him. He brushes his lips against mine. I feel the warmth of his love hitting my core.

He pulls me closer to him, deepening the kiss. My lips are starving for his. Everything, every thought falls away as we get lost in each other’s taste. This is not a goodbye kiss, but a kiss filled with promise and hope.

He slowly pulls away, leaving me breathless.

“Goodbye for now,” he whispers as he presses his forehead to mine.

I shut my eyes and whisper, “See you soon.”

He lets me go. I don’t have the strength to watch him leave. I feel the cold wind blow against my face, and realize he’s gone.

~I know I will see him again.~

Deep in thought, I go back to the party.

“Anna, I almost sent out a search party for you.” Ray takes the box from my hands. “What happened to you?”

I smile a sweet smile.

She raises her eyebrows.

“Anna?” she says in her demanding voice. “And don’t you dare say ‘nothing.’ Your lips are all red and swollen and you are totally flushed.”

I touch my lips at the thought of our kiss.

“You kissed someone. Who?” Her eyes start to twinkle.

“Roland.”

Her jaw drops open in shock.

“Wait, what?” She shakes her head. “Roland. Heart-smashing, hot-as-hell Roland.”

I nod.

“Who’s hot as hell?” Jordan comes strolling into the kitchen.

“Uh, you, babe.” Ray flashes him a shy smile.

“Oh, that I know.” He places a kiss on her head and smiles brightly at her. “Well, let me take the cake out. Then you two can finish your boy talk.”

He pops his eyebrows at me. “Oh, yeah, and Anna? You might wanna fix your lipstick.”

He smirks and strolls out.

Ray starts to giggle. “Come on, let’s get those lips fixed.” She takes my hand and we stroll upstairs to reapply my lipstick.

I tell her Roland wants me to move in with him, but that I can’t tell her where to.

“Anna, do you love him?” she asks very seriously. “Does he make you happy?”

“Yes, I do love him, and yes, he makes me the happiest woman alive.”

She tilts her head and smiles. “Then why are you here?”

~That’s the question I have been asking myself.~

~Why did I stay? Why did I hesitate to go with him?~

“I have to go.”

Ray smiles and nods. “Go get your happy ending, Anna. You deserve it.”

I rush down the stairs and grab my keys. Speeding away down the highway, I hope I’m not too late.

~He said he still needs to pack up Damitry’s stuff. Hopefully, he didn’t finish and is still at Damitry’s place.~

My heart is racing. I can barely breathe. I pull up to the huge apartment building. I run in, pressing the elevator button thousands of times, impatiently waiting for the doors to open.

Roland is standing inside the elevator when the doors open on the ground floor.

“Anna?” He drops the box as I leap into his arms, crushing my lips on his. He gently lowers me to my feet and smiles as our lips part.

“I’ll go with you if your offer still stands.”

He pulls me to his chest.

“It still stands.”

He pushes the button, and the elevator doors shut behind me. He gently lifts my face to his. Our eyes meet.

“My sweet flower.”

He smiles and leans into a passionate kiss.

“The End”