Chapter 43 — Who He Is

Konn’s POV:

Once I let Aqua and the others leave with the five gemstones I had explaining to do to the king and queen. “I don’t get it Konn, what happened?” The king asked me. 

I explained everything to them about Aqua’s holder dream and the truth about what Diana intended for holders. “So, you let Aqua leave with the stones?” The Queen asked. “We can’t just forgive that. This offense could lead to your arrest for treachery.”

Did they hear anything I had said? “Did you know?”

“No Konn but no other holders have made these claims before. We’re doing great things for the kingdom. How could the holder do more anywhere else?” King Peter might have not been my best friend anymore, but he once was. I know when he’s not telling the whole truth. 

“Did you know?” I asked again.

Peter sighed. “Yes. When I became King, my father explained it to me. It’s altered history that werewolves teach.”

“It’s not altered. Aqua spoke with the moon goddess who confirmed this. The moon goddess didn’t speak to any of the past holders because they were groomed into loyalty. You didn’t care about my daughter's well-being, and you were ready to manipulate my son into being the holder you wanted. I stood up. “I quit, so future generations of my family won’t be used. Call for my arrest in the name of treachery, I don’t care.” 

Peter stood up. “We were raised together Konn, call it manipulation or grooming but we were raised like brothers. You would walk away from that?” No other adviser or holder could walk away from it. They made sure that we felt a deep bond with the royal family so leaving would feel wrong. 

I didn’t say anything, instead I walked out. He stopped being my brother a long time ago. I went back to my room and only took what I could hold in my pockets. I helped Gray pack. “Why are we leaving?”

“We don’t belong here Gray. We’ve been lied to and cheated.” I left the room carrying his bag with me. 

Cade was outside the door. “You really quit?”

“I’m surprised you’re not already gone, but yes, I did really quit.”

“I’m going to go stay with mom and her parents.” Cade said. “I can’t be here for any longer either.” It was good for him to be with Lynn. 

On our way-out Kaya and Polly ran to us. “What’s going on??” Kaya asked. “Everyone’s leaving, you're leaving too??”

“You can’t leave…” Polly pouted. Gray looked up at me with the saddest look he could give. 

I kneeled. “Do you two want to come with us? Gray and I can’t stay here.”

Polly and Kaya looked at each other than nodded. Just like that I had three kids to look after. I was practically raising the two girls already with the help of Stewart and a few others. 

We left for the nearest hotel and things were good for a couple weeks. I heard from Aqua and Cade, so I worried less about them. 

I walked down to the lobby to take the kids to the park that was across from our hotel. Someone who looked like Mae had just walked in the front door. It took me a few seconds to realize it was her. I felt panicked but didn’t show it. The kids were playing on one of the arcade styled games in the lobby. 

I walked to Mae as soon as she noticed me. “This isn’t a coincidence, is it?”

Mae shook her head. “Aqua told me you were here… she also told me you were rejected. I came to check on you.” I wasn’t planning on seeing Mae yet. Especially not with the kids around. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I couldn’t start a relationship with the woman I had an affair with right after being rejected. How would I explain that to Gray and how would I not feel guilt from Lynn knowing about it? Gray probably hasn’t even thought about the possibility of me being with someone else. It’s really soon Mae.”

Mae frowned. “I’m not just the woman you had an affair with. I’m the mother of your daughter and the woman you’ve loved for twenty years. Konn you could have at least told me. Is there ever going to be a good time for us?”

“Mae, I've always expected us to be together at some point. I didn’t think that would be until Gray was an adult.”

“You weren’t going to tell me? I didn’t think we’d ever be together.”

“I didn’t want you waiting,” I said.

Mae scoffed. “I’ve always been waiting.” 

I gave her the key to my room. “I’ll be up in fifteen minutes.”

Mae blushed. “Okay…” She left towards the elevator.

I walked to the kids. “We’re going to have to hold off on the park. You guys are going to spend a little time in the children’s daycare center they have here.”

They didn’t seem upset by the change in plans. I took them to the daycare then met Mae in the room. She was sitting on my bed with a sad expression. “I can’t have sex with you if we’re not together Konain, I can’t do it anymore. It hurts…” 

I walked to her and kissed her. It was the first time I was able to kiss her free of guilt. I took her shirt off and slowly got on top of her. I wiped her tears away as I kissed her chest. I kissed her up her neck to right under her ear. “I love you, Mae.” I whispered.

“Konain…” Mae felt cold, but her love was warm. 

After we had sex, we stared at each other for a while as we laid next to each other. “Um…” Mae broke the silence. “Did that mean what I thought it meant?”

I kissed her forehead. “Yes.” I answered. “We won’t be able to mark each other for a while and I don’t want you to officially meet Gray yet.”

Mae cuddled into my chest. “I’m okay with that… I’ve wanted to be with you for so long.” Family has always been the most important thing to me, but it was equal to my work without me realizing it. Now my family is most important.

The next day Gray was staring out the window. “Dad, when are we going to see Aqua and Cade?”

“Soon, they’re both settling into their new homes.”

“Everyone has a new home.” Gray sat down in one of the chairs. Everything must have been changing so quickly through Gray’s eyes. We’ve never had to adjust so much before.

I was getting another call from King Peter. They didn’t want to accept their lost. I ran everything at the castle, I’m sure me quitting has affected everyone who works there. They haven’t put a warrant out for my arrest, and it was probably because they wanted me back. I didn’t feel guilt, I knew they’d get a new adviser soon. I can’t get my childhood back and neither can Cade. We grew up aiding princes and being prepared to advise them. I don’t know who I am outside of that.

Lynn wasn’t the first woman I’ve ever wanted to marry. The first was a woman who worked at the castle. It was hard to meet woman who didn’t work at the castle. We dated when we were young and when I got serious about her Peter didn’t approve. My wife had to be approved. I was only sixteen when I dated her, but I knew we’d last, and I’d want to marry her. Peter wanted to stop the relationship before it got to the point of marriage years later. 

I was interested in a few different women but none of them seemed like someone Peter would trust. When I met Lynn while flying around, I knew Peter would trust someone like her. She wasn’t my first or second or third choice, but I knew I’d end up loving her. I catered to Peter in every aspect of my life.

The only time I really made a choice by myself for myself was with Mae. If I had met her again before Lynn I wouldn’t have cared about Peter’s disapproval. Or maybe I’m afraid to admit I would. Loyalty to King Peter was all I had known. 

I stepped outside the room and finally answered my phone. “I’m not coming back so leave me and my family alone. I’m not taking orders from you anymore.”

“Fine… I just wanted to say, I appreciated all the work you’ve done for me. I won’t forgive you for leaving or breaking our families apart. It’s a big mistake and our kingdom will suffer for it. The guilt is on your head, but I appreciate your years of service. You’re still my best friend.” He hadn’t spoken to me like that in a decade. 

“Bye Peter.”

A week later while Gray was at Lynn’s I let Mae come with me when I took Polly and Kaya to the park. “You’re adopting them?” Mae asked.

I watched the kids run around. “I don’t know yet. It’s not like I have to work so I’d have time for them.” I made so much money working for the royal family that I was practically set for life.

My phone started to ring so I answered it. “Father.” 

I was dreading getting this call from him. “I heard what happened Konain. How could you abandon our work and let your children break the cycle of holders working for castle? I went to visit like I said I would a few weeks ago and that’s when I learned you were all gone.” It was just like him to wait so long to call.

I didn’t want to have to explain things to my father who already gave so much of his life to the royal family. “It was time for our families to part ways. That’s what the moon goddess told Aqua in a holder dream. There’s time for a new kind of holder.” I couldn’t tell him about the lies and manipulation, not yet.

It was hard for him to understand but he didn’t continue to give me a hard time. It was obvious he doubted Aqua’s dream and our new path. My father was disappointed.

“Is everything okay now?” Mae asked.

I shrugged. “Not for now but I wouldn’t worry too much about it. My father wants to meet us for dinner in a few days.”

“Us? As in me and you?” 

I shook my head. “Us as in me, Aqua, Cade and you. I’ll drop Polly and Kaya off at the daycare.”

Mae wrapped herself around my arm, it was adorable. “That’s a little better but I haven’t seen your father in thirty years. What if he doesn’t like me, what if he blames everything on me?” 

I stared down at her. “Yeah, thirty years.” I looked away. “I hope this isn’t rude but… human’s age faster compared to us. But you still look about as old as I do…” She didn’t look like a forty-year-old human woman. 

Mae laughed. “Witches can age slower. Not all that much slower but I was able to add maybe thirty more years to my lifespan.” It was pleasant surprise. I’d get around thirty more years than I thought I would with the woman I loved. “I also use potions to appear even younger…” She blushed. “I was afraid you wouldn’t look at me the same if my age showed…” She was so beautiful; age couldn’t change that.

I kissed her forehead. “That would be stupid Mae, I don’t care if you look older than me. But to answer your question I don’t know what my father will think of you. It’s hard to tell with him but I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t like you.”

Mae smiled. “Then Gray should like me, right?”

I chuckled nervously. “That’s different… don’t worry about that either.” I didn’t plan on introducing her to Gray for a long time if I could help it. My secret life with Mae has been colliding with other aspects of my life for the past three months. I wasn’t sure what the future held for us, but I was excited to finally be with the woman I loved most. Mae was finally a part of my family.