Fight For My Loves

Chapter 3: Questions and Answers

Elle POV

“Why did you not come back? Why…why did you…leave?” Me. Why did you leave me? I thought you loved me! I can’t voice that…taking a deep breath, I felt a tear slip past my big brother’s fingers and make its way down my cheek. My heart feels like someone has used their claws to tear at my chest while pouring acid on my heart and, when it feels like I can’t take the silence or weight of my unasked question, my heart starts to fall out, he answers.

“I never told you who my parents were. My father was the former Vampire King. He thought he had a few hundred years left, but he started to decline rapidly. I knew there was some other cause other than losing my mother, his beloved. It had already been a century since then. He had seemed fine. Turns out, the people who destroyed your life did the same to me.”

“That sounds horrible. My sincerest condolences to you. Still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.” I said to him, Ed's hand still covering my eyes. I felt his presence right next to me.

“When we were younger…” he mused, “we thought that” I had to cut him off. I couldn’t let that train of thought continue.

“You thought what? You’d be able to come see me, and that I’d look into your eyes like we had planned all those years ago? That I would actually want that moment 302, almost 303 years later? You think I haven’t moved on? Given myself to someone else? Someone who showed up for us?” My wolf whimpered at my words. They were cold and meant to hurt him. I was angry, as much as Artemis just wanted me to look into his eyes, so he’d know what we do.

He stopped walking at this. “Well, I just…” I don’t care. Not now. The anger is fresh in me. All these many years later, I am heated. I want to hurt him. I want him to feel what I have felt for over 300 years. I can feel myself moving my hands under my desk, reaching for my long dagger, not quite a sword. I wanted his head.

'Ed, I can do this.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes. I need to.'

Grabbing it, I glanced as quickly as I could without eye contact, for his stance. Holding my dagger, the tip pointed at his neck, I asked again, “So? What do you want? I won’t ask a third time.”

He was frozen on the spot. Hands raised as he stood submissive, knowing that at any moment I could kill him. “I need an answer before I kill you. I don’t care who you once were to me, Adrian. Best friend, first love, it doesn’t matter. I don’t trust s**t anymore.” I grew quiet as I could feel his breathing slow and him trying to calm himself. “I don’t trust anyone but Ed after being abandoned for over 300 years.”

His head dropped at the jab. He knew I wouldn’t forgive easily. My wolf’s senses were picking up every vibration and movement. I could sense every little change in him, from his hair rising up, to his heartbeat bounding in his chest, to the hair falling around his face as he dropped his head. “I know it’s a sorry excuse, but when I attempted to tell my father, he wouldn’t allow me to speak, telling me I had to go into slumber immediately. That someone was poisoning him, and I needed to hurry to ascend the throne. I know it’s a weak excuse. I should have told someone, anyone. I offer my sincerest apologies, Lady Knight. I have embarrassed and dishonored you.”

His breathing was even, but only just so. I could tell he was barely holding it together, feeling the pain, seeing it on my face. Knowing the tears spilling down my cheeks were his fault. Knowing he was the reason, I was crying, yet again.

“Oh please! Are you telling me there was not a single soul in the entirety of the Royal Palace who knew about me? Was I that much of a…dirty little secret?!” My throat felt raw with emotion as I questioned Adrian. I needed to know just how badly he hated me. That way I could just pick up the tiny fragments that were left of what was my heart. The small pieces that didn’t fully splinter into such small pieces that only a microscope could help to put them back together.

My arm dropped the sword for a second to grab the other one on the opposite side of my desk. I held them both to his throat, as if they were a large pair of scissors. I awaited his answer.

“No. No one knew. I kept you hidden due to my father's health. I didn’t want anyone to know about you, so if I had to go into the slumber sooner than expected, you would be okay. I hoped I would see you in the afterlife, in another life. That I would be able to love you properly. And I’m sorry I didn’t fight harder for you. I am so incredibly sorry. I love you so much.” His forehead presses against mine. I can feel his shaky breath on me. I could feel his body start to shake.

‘He’s telling the truth. If he really was simply trying to protect us, that means there was a threat close enough to him that they could have easily found us.’

‘Yes. I know.’

‘Then why still be mad? Mate needs us like we need him. He’s waited for us just like we have for over 300 years.’

I sighed. She was right. Artemis was always the slightly more leveled headed of the two of us.

‘You’re right. You know you are.’

‘Then open your eyes!’

‘Artemis?’

‘Elle?’

‘What if he hurts us again? I can’t do that again. We only started to feel mildly okay within the last century. I…I can’t. Not again. I can’t be abandoned again. I won’t make it.’ I had to be honest with her. I knew I wasn’t strong enough for a second time. She would have to help me bare so much of the weight if he hurt us again. I didn’t know if either of us would survive. We both loved him so much. We always had. That’s why we were alone for over 300 years.

‘He won’t. I fully trust our mate.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes. And if he does go against us, I will bare the brunt of the pain, so you don’t have to. I love you, human. We’re best friends.’

‘Hahahaha yes. We are. Okay.’ I take a deep breath in and out. I move partially out for her to come forward. The only way you can tell we’re both there is, one of my eyes going from a crystal blue to a deep midnight color with what looks like stars in them.

‘Yes. Let's meet mate.'

Smiling, I felt his forehead move away slightly. Taking one final deep breath, I opened my eyes and looked into his deep, blood-red eyes.

“Beloved.”

“Mate.”

I feel the tingles, my heart is beating so hard I fear it may burst through my chest. His hands move around my waist while the other holds me at the back of my neck. His lips descended on me. He is kissing me so hard; I know my lips are bruised. Pulling away, I pushed his hard, muscular chest, trying to put some distance between us. Though, truthfully, my body is on fire.

“You knew, didn’t you? As soon as I walked in?” He asks.

I smiled a cheeky smile at him for the first time in 300 years. “Yes. We had to have a conversation with you and each other to make sure we were on the same page.”

Looking at me, Adrian can see we are both present to say hello to him. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet both of you. What is your name, my wolf queen?”

“Artemis.”

“My beautiful beloveds, Eleanora and Artemis. Beautiful names. I can only imagine how beautiful Artemis is. I cannot wait to meet you, little wolf.” Artemis retreated as I could feel her blushing, her tail wagging nonstop. She was a contented wolf. He was making both of us needy. Dear…sweet Moses! He had a way with words. “May I hug you? Just hug? I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

“Yes”, it came out way breathier than I was going for. It’s possible it was actually a moan. This man has me so hot I can hardly think. His arms were around my middle while my face was buried in his neck. It felt so normal, so natural. Like it had always meant to be this way. I felt whole…almost. More whole than I ever had before.

‘Artemis?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Why don’t we feel whole yet? Why do I feel like something is missing?’

‘Because it is. Now that we have Adrian, we can finally find the final piece.’

‘Final piece? What are you talking about?’

‘I need rest now, Elle. It will be a long journey.’

“Elle?” He asked, breaking my conversation with Artemis. He had patience in his eyes. “What did Artemis tell you?”

“I asked her why I feel as if something is missing, even though we found you.”

“I know the feeling of being whole, but not quite. I’m sorry you had to wait so long for me.”

“You were worth the wait, Adrian.” I reached my arms around his neck to play with his hair. I stood on my tip-toes and pulled him down to me. He stood an impressive, 6’3” while I was a tiny, 5’5”. Maintaining eye contact the whole time, until my lips touched his. Just as I felt him pull me as close, a throat cleared.

“Are you alright, Elle?” Ed came over to me, standing between Adrian and me. He searched my eyes for any sadness or pain.

'We got the answers we wanted. We’re going to accept him.' I linked him.

'Alright. After you mark, let me know. I’ll alert the alpha. He’ll want to meet with both of you.'

'After all this time? The big, bad alpha’s finally going to show his face?'

'You know he absolutely refuses to meet any women, just in case. He does not want another mate. He says he can’t risk it again.'

'Whatever. I’ll block my scent then.'

'I’m sure he’d appreciate that.'

Smiling at each other, we hugged. Knowing he’s got my back and will always support me makes me so happy. Ed lets go of the hug and turns towards Adrian. He pulls his hand back to shake with Adrian. When I blink, Adrian is on the floor.

“What the hell, Ed?!” I shout at him, shocked and pissed off. “What did you hit him for? He apologized and explained his reasoning!” I begin to move around him towards Adrian, when Ed’s hand stops me.

“Where have you been since you woke up, Ad?” Ed asked, standing over him. I look up at my big brother. What does that question mean? Where has he been? He’s here…trying to find information about me, right?

“Let’s talk about this at another time, Ed. I just want to be with Elle.” Adrian reached for my hand. Why didn’t he want me to hear the answer to that question? Artemis sat forward now, looking on edge.

‘Artemis? What’s going on?’

‘Adrian is hiding something. I need answers.’ And with that she pushed be into the box in my mind.