Chapter 32

Raylon

I led Connie down the twisting path as my heart raced at everything she said.

I wanted to believe that someone so perfect could truly exist, but my mind kept telling me that this was a dream I would soon wake from.

Her warm hand in mine felt strange, yet right. Like it belonged there. Like if I let it go, she would vanish into the wind.

I never understood how my brother could have fallen for the queen so quickly and so completely, until now.

I understood what she meant to him, and I finally believed his words when he said there is nothing he wouldn’t do for her. I could also imagine the pain he felt when she passed.

Connie walked beside me, her eyes wandering to every little thing. Every plant, every insect was a wonder to her.

“Do you have forests like this on your world?” I asked, wanting to hear her sweet voice again.

“Yes, we do. Although I haven’t seen most of these plants before. It’s so beautiful.”

“Many are a protected species. I keep them here so that they may survive. They are used in medicine, fabrics, and other things. Some of them only live here.”

“Are they a private collection, or are you trying to save them from going extinct?”

“Both. I have always enjoyed the beauty of nature. But I let them grow wild here because this is the safest place for them.

“No one would dare to hunt or steal from my private planet. It’s a crime that deserves one of the highest punishments.”

I turned to look at her when she didn’t reply and saw her eyes narrowed at me.

“Is there something on your mind?” I asked her.

“I was just wondering. Before I came here, Billy and Bob tried to make me sit through all the laws I shouldn’t break. I was curious how many of them I have already broken.”

I laughed. “At least five. Two of them are punishable by death.”

“What!” She stopped abruptly and yanked her hand out of mine.

“It’s all right. I won’t tell anyone.”

“What laws have I broken?”

Her eyes were wide with panic and her smile was gone. I stepped over to her and took her hand again, saying, “Unregistered outsiders are not allowed in the kingdom.

“If they are caught without entry permission, they are taken to the prison. Most end up being thieves or murderers, so they find themselves in the chamber.

“Also, touching a royal without permission is a deadly crime,” I said with a wink.

“Great,” she said and continued to walk. “Now I’m an outlaw. With a death penalty.”

“It’s good to have friends in high places.”

“You think this is funny?” she snapped back. “What if someone decides to carry out my punishment?”

I stopped walking and pulled her into my arms, saying, “Then they will need to go through me first. Can you swim?”

Her panic changed to confusion in an instant.

“Swim? Yes, but what does—”

“Hold on,” I said and wrapped both my arms around her waist before taking a step forward.

When her hands went around my neck, I stepped off the edge of the cliff and laughed at her scream.

A moment later we hit the water, and Connie let go of me to swim to the surface of the lake.

“Have you lost your mind!” she shouted at me over the roar of the waterfall and splashed water into my face.

“You said you could swim,” I shouted back to her.

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you would push me off a freaking cliff!”

“Look around you, Connie. It’s not really a cliff, more like a big rock.”

She looked around, and when she looked back at me, she smiled.

The crystal-clear water, surrounded by lush green and blue trees, shrubs, and bushes, gave this little piece of paradise privacy from the rest of this empty world.

Connie swam back to me, and I pulled her into my arms. I wanted so badly to kiss her again, but I knew I had to wait for her to do it first.

I couldn’t risk pushing her for fear that she would scurry off like a frightened little bird.

“This place is incredible.”

“Yes, it is. I would live out here for the rest of my life, if it were not so quiet.”

“No. People would destroy it. It’s perfect just the way it is.”

“I have never brought anyone here. Not even my brother knows about this lake.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me,” she said as she looked into my eyes.

~I want to share everything with you, Connie. I want to give it all to you, if you will just have me. Have me the way I am.~

“What’s on your mind?” she asked with a frown.

“Well,” I began, but I couldn’t tell her my true thoughts. “I was thinking that we should get back to the house.

“Maybe get some dry clothes and prepare for dinner. I don’t think you want the royal family to see you all drenched like this?”

“I wonder whose fault that is?” she said with a roll of her eyes.

We swam to the edge of the lake and climbed out.

Once we got back to the house, I showed Connie to one of the nine bedrooms, and shut the door as I left.

My face held a smile I couldn’t shake, and as I walked to the master bedroom, I let my mind fill with dreams of what life would be like with her.

~Would she want to live here? Just the two of us? Or would she want to be in the city, with other beings to make friends with? Could she be happy living in the palace with my family?~

The memory of how she looked at everything on the path came back to me. The wonder in her eyes at the smallest of things.

I could spend a lifetime showing her new and interesting things in my world, and never tire of seeing the look in her eyes.

I stripped off my wet clothes and waited for the bath to fill. As I lowered myself into the warm water, I looked down at my body.

The scars over my chest no longer angered me so much. I ran my finger over one of them and thought about when the right time to tell her about these would be.

~If she does not fear the scars on my face, maybe she will not fear these.~

I sank down into the water, and as it covered my face I screamed out in my head to the universe to let her choose to stay. I would do anything for her to remain in my life.

After finishing my bath and getting dressed, I left my room and went downstairs to the lounge. I searched the lower level for Connie, but I did not find her.

I went back upstairs to the room I’d shown her to and knocked on the door.

“Yes?” her voice called.

“Are you all right?” I asked, worried at how long it was taking her. ~Was she planning to run? Having second thoughts?~

“I’m fine. Won’t be long,” she shouted to me.

I left her door and went back to the lounge. With a happy sigh, I lowered myself into the seat and reached for the glass slab next to me.

After a few quick taps on the screen, I waited for my brother to answer.

“Raylon, what is it?” he asked as the connection began.

“Hello brother. Is all well in the palace?”

My brother narrowed his eyes at me for a moment before he said, “Yes. Why are you wet?”

I smiled. “Connie and I were—”

“I do not need to know what you two were doing,” he said with a laugh. “I am only surprised you have time to call me.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s not like that, brother.” I looked back at the stairs to see if Connie was coming. “We haven’t done anything. All we did was talk.

“But I have another reason for calling, other than being questioned about things that are none of your business.”

“What is it?” he asked with a smile.

“Connie would like to meet the other children. I thought you could bring them to Parna tonight for dinner?”

He turned away for a moment, then Asytar’s adorable face came into view. “That sounds wonderful, uncle,” she said. “We will be there at sundown.”

Zasrus laughed—“Looks like it’s decided,” my brother said. “See you tonight.”

I placed the glass screen back on the side table and leaned my head back. At the sound of Connie’s gentle footsteps coming down the stairs, I stood to look at her.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of her beauty. Her long hair flowed down her back, her eyes highlighted by soft colors and her lips a pink that begged to be kissed.

Her perfect body wrapped in a dark-green dress that showed every curve and her smooth, shapely legs seemed longer than usual in the high-heeled shoes she wore.

I knew I was staring as she came down the stairs, but I couldn’t help it. I felt like I wore rags in comparison to her.

She stepped off the last step with a blush. “Too much?” she asked as she smoothed the dress down with her hand.

I swallowed, trying to find words.

“You look…incredible.”