Realm of the forgotten

Chapter 13

Akara POV

I looked at Eric and his mother, trying to put together an answer while my thoughts replayed what had happened.

“I don’t know,” was all I could tell them.

They glanced at each other, worried. I sat in bed staring at the window and avoiding their eyes. My thoughts went to the voice. Who was that? And what was I supposed to be ready for? Nothing came to me.

“Get some rest, dear, and tell us if you need anything,” his mother said. I nodded. I wished they would leave. I needed to be alone with my thoughts.

When she closed the door, I noticed Eric hadn’t left. He stood beside the bed, studying me as if he was trying to piece something together, his face a stone mask. Then he fetched the chair from the corner, set it by the bed, sat down with his arms and legs crossed, closed his eyes, and didn’t say a word.

I stared at him, dumbfounded. Was he staying by my side? Why would he? I didn’t understand him at all. He kept confusing me, and honestly, this whole place did. And the mate bond made no sense. How could he possibly have found his mate, and how could that mate be me?

I watched him for a few minutes and decided to get some answers.

“Why am I here?” It came out as a whisper.

He stayed still for a moment. “Because you’re my mate. That’s why you’re here. We’re getting married, we’ll complete the ritual, and you’ll be mine for eternity.” He said it as plain fact.

I wanted to deny every word. But I remembered what had happened the last time I said no, and fear gripped me. I tried to keep my hands from shaking where he might see them, and looked at the window instead.

This world was so different from mine. It was cloudy every day, with no sun to greet you, and night was completely dark. If not for the two moons that hung permanently in the sky, I think the whole place would have been black. I was trying not to look at him, and I was very aware of him in the room. When I glanced over, he was watching me, and what I saw on his face I hadn’t expected. If I was reading it right, it looked like tenderness.

The next moment he was sitting beside me on the bed. The sudden movement made me jump. He was so fast that I hadn’t seen him leave the chair. His face was inches from mine, and my heart began to race. Fear locked me in place.

“You are mine, and mine alone,” he whispered, dead serious. I could feel his breath on my skin. My whole body tingled with him this close. He took my hand firmly and brought it to his lips, and kissed it. I froze. My mind told me to run, and my body wouldn’t move.

“No,” I said. “I’m not yours.”

He smirked, as if my words meant nothing, as if I had no say at all. His grip tightened, and I could feel the possessiveness in it. Then he nodded, and the next thing I knew I was on my back and he was gripping my shoulders. A gasp escaped me. His hold was strong, and I knew that trying to break free would be pointless, so I glared at him instead. His face was somber.

“You are mine. Do you understand? I’ve waited for you for a very long time, and the ritual will bind you to me for all eternity, as it is meant to be.”

“No. I won’t, and you can’t force me. Let me go.” I was angry now.

He smirked again, but this time it looked playful, though I doubted it. He chuckled. “You will, and you won’t have a choice. You’re in my realm now, and the rules are different here, darling.”

I gritted my teeth. Then he lowered his head until his lips were beside my heart.

“You heard the voice, didn’t you?” he whispered.

I was stunned. How did he know about the voice?

“Let me tell you something, darling.” He moved to my ear. “This realm was made for every creature you can think of, and they all live here. You’re not human, Akara. You already know that. What you are, though... that part you’ll have to figure out for yourself.”

He got up and walked out without looking back, leaving me with my mind a mess and one question circling over and over.

What am I, if not human?