Chapter 20

I say still, I could not help but not take my eyes away from him. The more I tried, the more futile it was. “You look like the goddess her self” he commented.

I bowed my head down, fighting the blush that threatened to expose itself on my face. “Thank you” I said in a small voice. He had come to pick me up an hour ago. But somehow, due to distractions of both his lips and mine, we got here an hour later.

It was a garden just outside the palace.

“I like the view” I said out loud. It was quiet, calming and everything.

“Its called the garden of thoughts” he said smiling at me. I looked at him there was no way I understood what it meant but I nodded either way.

“If your thoughts are pure it shows you that most beautiful thing your mind has ever thought of and more.”

“So then, what do you see?” I teased looking at him. I was curious what exactly he was seeing. Were his thoughts pure? Was he seeing rainbow or unicorns shitting rainbows?

Of course I didn’t ask that. I didn’t want to be seen as a creep.

“You” he said causing my heart to flutter. We ate after that in perfect silence. There was no way I was going to say any after that.

“Again, I am sorry I could not protect you” he apologized.

I rolled my eyes at him “ what about my mother?” I felt a little sad for forgetting my mother all these while. She would have most likely been going out of her mind trying to figure out where I was.

I saw his eyes darken and his fist clenched when I asked the question.

“Where she belongs” he said through clenched teeth.

“Ahhhh, let me guess. You guys really didn’t get along on your first meet. It’s okay. You guys would get along soon” I teased laughing about how the encounter would have gone down. Seeing that he was a shifter, my mother would have thrown a feat.

“We would never get along and I suggest you cut ties with her. She isn’t worth your time” I blinked once, twice. Three times.

“I don’t understand?” I tilted my head from the confusion.

“She was part of the people trying to kill you.” He scoffed.

“That’s not right, there must have been a bit of misunderstanding. Where’s my dad? He would better explain what’s going on”

“ in the dungeons, with her” I stood up so fast, I almost tumbled over. “What!!! How dare you!” I washed away from the garden, but slowly, the beautiful scenery started to change. Every where became hot. And the flowers started to turn black, to ashes.

“What’s happening!” I looked around. The entrance was covered up with fire. “you set me up!” I turned to look at him

“Eloise you have to calm down. It’s just playing mind tricks on you. Whatever you are seeing is not real.” He said calmly, but I wasn’t listening. I was passed that the moment he said my parents were in the dungeons.

“Take me out of this fucking place” I sneered. He took my hands in his and led me out. Or at least that’s what I thought till I entered a cave filled with bats.

“ You said you would take me out!” I said removing my hands from his and running back to where I came from.

I could not find it.

“Eloise calm down! It’s all in your head!” he said gripping both sides of my arm and shaking me. “ none of what you’re seeing is real!!!” there was no way I was going to believe him.

“I promise, I would never hurt you intentionally” he said, this time, in a softer voice. A part of me wanted to believe him so bad, so I let him take my hand again as he left me through the garden to back to the palace.

“Easy on your steps.” He guided, keeping his tight grip on me. I saw a tiger, or a wolf. I felt myself tremble. He might have noticed that I was seeing something scary. “Good energy. Think butterflies okay?” I nodded. I tried to ignore the wolf that was coming closer and closer to me.

“Its all in your head. If it makes you feel better, all I see are butterflies, and then squirrels.” He said with a soft smile.

I was completely still. The wolf was beside me at this point, waiting for me to make the wrong move. I could have sworn that it looked at me and smirked. It freaking smirked at me.!

I clung to Eric tighter. He gave ma a reassuring hold.

Nothing is real'. I told myself. As if to prove a point, the wolf nudged me, showing its fangs. My hands left Eric so fast, and I began to run forward. There was no other way. I ignored his shouting of not running. I screamed as high as my lungs could carry me.

Suddenly, everything stopped. The castle stood there, there were people walking around. There was no wolf. I turned around to see Eric coming towards me with worry in his eyes.

He gave me a once over and then hugged me. “You scared me.” I bit my lips at the reply that stood on my tongue, waiting to be released. .

“Take me to my parents “ I said looking him straight in the eyes.

“No” his eyes darkened. I looked at him, shocked. “did you just refuse me from seeing my parents?”

“Your mum doesn’t care about you” he said with annoyance.

I shook my head. I really didn’t know what happened between them when I was unconscious, but that didn’t give him the right to say shit about her that way. She was strong and stood by me. There was no way I would let him talk about her that way

“let me be the judge of that” I said walking up all in his face.

“I don’t like my authority being challenged” he growled.

“And I don’t like being told what to do. Especially when it comes to my own family.” His eyes darkened and went back to their normal color several times.

He was fighting his wolf, I could see it.

“Take me to her right now, or you would regret it. I promise you” he growled.

“Follow me” he said.

What should have been a cute and romantic date turned out to be the two of us, trying to rip out each other’s throat.

I walked all the way to the basement. It was dark, and he smell that hit me could not be explained.

“Daddy!” I yelled as I saw him first. He looked tired, but his face brightened when he saw me. He looked like he hadn’t gotten a nice meal ND a proper bath in a while.

“You’re finally awake.” He said hugging me just as tight as I hugged him.

“where’s momma” he looked hesitant, not wanting to say anything. “ honey, she’s sick.” My mind immediately went in alert

I heard chains rattle and I ran to the sound.

“Momma!!!....”