Chapter 32: The Turning of Events

"How are you...why are you...I mean.." Dolores couldn't seem to form a sentence as her vision took in Jasper, her mate.

He chuckled, kissing her in response. "You didn't think I would miss your birthday, did you?"

Dolores tackled him to the floor, wrapping her arms around his neck, breathing in his figure scent. Jasper did the same, putting them in a seated position, Dolores positioned on top of him. The two of them stayed locked together, holding one another for a long moment.

Jasper stroked her hair, humming the silly lullaby he had created all those months ago. Tears threatened to fall from Dolores's eyes as she squeezed him tighter, never wanting to let him go again.

"As much as I love holding you in my arms, I did hope to have one dance with you at your New Moon Ceremony," Jasper murmured into her hair.

Dolores pulls back, keeping her hands on him, afraid that this is all a dream and if she stops touching him, he'll disappear. "You want to dance? Here?" She gestures to the small circular room with only an uneven cot.

"Yes, I do." Jasper simply states, standing and placing Dolores on her feet before him. Bending down slightly, he extends his hand. "May I have this dance, Princess Dolores."

Giggling, Dolores takes his hands. "You may, my Sage." Placing her hand in his, Jasper twirls her before pulling her close to him with one skillful movement, causing them both to burst out in laughter.

Swaying back and forth, Jasper hummed, creating the tempo and holding her close. There were no candles, no orchestra, no fancy ballroom, but Dolores would remember this dance for the rest of her life, with only the moonlight lighting their faces. They danced for what seemed like hours until suddenly Dolores had an urge to wrap herself around Jasper.

Jasper stopped his humming and movement, wrapping his arms around Dolores as well. Dolores hugged him as tight as she could, wishing she could never stop.

"Why didn't you come earlier?" Dolores whispered into the night, "Tonight was a nightmare for me!"

Jasper squeezed her tighter. "I'm sorry, my sweet. There were too many things keeping me from coming sooner. Why didn't you just run away with me from the very beginning?" Jasper teased, nipping at the lobe of her ear.

Dolores tried to laugh, to smile at his loving joke, but she had wished so many times in his absence that she had run away with him when he asked.

"They almost married me to a vampire." Dolores arbitrarily said.

Jasper's body seemed to become incredibly still beneath her before softening once more. "What do you mean?" He asked in heartbreaking calmness.

"They wanted me to marry the vampire Prince Keylon in exchange for peace between the two kingdoms." Dolores distracted herself with the back of Jasper's hair as she continued. "Of course, I know the King and the Crown Prince have the right to decide their Princess' fate…but I just think that's ludicrous for them to have my choice."

Jasper said nothing just continued to hold her, placing his forehead to hers. Dolores met his gaze and saw that fire burned within his eyes. For the briefest of seconds, she thought he would shift into his mighty Dragon form.

"Let me burn the entire Palace to the ground." His fury rumbling through her.

"You know I can't let you do that." Dolores sighed, "There aren't only horrible people here, and I can't leave what we both know is rightfully mine.

"I don't think I can do this anymore," Jasper growled, brushing back a fallen lock of hair from Dolores's face. stroke a lock of Dolores' hair, "Always standing by and watching you suffer is pure torture for me."

"Please," Dolores begged, offering him a quick kiss, "just a little while longer. Can you do this for me?"

Jasper said nothing as he cupped Dolores's face in his palms and brought her lips to his, pausing for a painstaking minute before kissing her softly. Doles kissed back softly at first, but soon their kiss turned into a fierce clash of teeth and twisting tongues.

Dolores ran her fingers nails up his staple causing Jasper to bite her lower lip, releasing an erotic moan from Dolores. They kissed like they hadn't kissed in years, even though their time apart had only been a few weeks.

Jasper pulled himself from her, practically slamming himself in the wall opposite her, and Dolores felt a coldness creep into the places he had touched her. She gingerly felt her swollen lips, a light blush spreading over her cheeks when she realized she wanted more, more than this intense kissing.

Taking a step towards Jasper, she froze when he threw up an open palm towards her.

"Please, Lo," He panted. "Give me a moment."

"What if I don't want to." Dolores sang, her voice full of innuendos.

Jasper eyed her suspiciously as she gave him a lustful smile.

"As much as I want to say yes, my sweet." Amusement mixed with discord coated his words. "Tonight isn't our night."

Dolores looked around the confined room, remembering where they were. She heard The cot creek as Jasper sat down. Patting the thin sheets beside him, Dolores joined him.

Jasper pulled her into him,”Lo, I can not stay with you long, I have to return to Wulf Mountains. I have much to do.” Jasper whispered into her hair. laying them down upon the uncomfortable cot. Entangling their legs, Jasper wrapped his arms around Dolores as she laid her head on the spot where his chest met his shoulder.

Dolores listens to the sound of his heartbeat, breathing in time with his steady drumming. Seconds ago, she was ready to rip her clothes off and prove how truly her she was but now, with the rhythm of his heart and the heat from his body Dolores slowly drifted back to sleep.

The Confinement Tower door creaks open at dawn, and Jasper quickly shifts into tiny Dragon form, hiding in Dolore's skirt pocket.

Dolores sits up and is surprised to find only a single maid. The Palace maid opens the door wide, wordlessly gesturing to Dolores to walk out. Dolores follows the maid's lead and leaves her cell.

When Dolores is brought back to quarters within the Grand Palace, she is surprised when the maid finally speaks informing her the King has granted her early release due to the Vampire Prince’s request. When the maid leaves her alone without saying another word, she slams the heavy door behind her.

Dolores stares at the large wooden door with a perplexed expression painted across her face. So what now? Dolores asks herself because she honestly doesn't have a clue what is happening or what her next move should be.

She suddenly sees some maids and soldiers hurriedly running past her window, and they seem to be going to the Pantheon. Was there something wrong on Crystal? Dolores decided to follow these people to see what was going on.

Through the glass windows of the Pantheon, Dolores can see the High Priestess Crystal packing her belongings before eating the dome. Moving closer, Dolores sees that she wasn't packing but standing and directing others to pack her items for her.

"Be careful!" Dolores heard the Priestess exclaim to a young male. "That hectolitre lamp is antique and easily broken."

Dolores caught sight of a familiar face and saw that Daflon was amongst the men Crystal was commanding. Dolores watched as they lifted a large chest onto a shoulder before placing the massive chest next to a pile of tinkers, laying each inside the compartment with care.

Once he finished filling the chest with lavish trinkets and treasures. Such ad, exotic bottles filled with things Dolores could only imagine, she finally heard Daflon speak.

"My Priestess," Daflon started, "you may want to say some words since my men have been busy fulfilling your every request.

Dolores watched as she silently nodded her head in agreement and glided towards the group of hardworking males, her long dress embellished with pearls and crystals swayed as she walked.

Dolores and Jasper stood at the threshold listening as Crystal addressed the males, her long hanging sleeves swaying as she speaks

"Thank you, wonderful males. You have my gratitude." Crystal feather-like voice floats over the Pantheon

A lone clap sounds from the back of the Pantheon. Jaspers pulls Dolores behind the statue of Goddess, hiding from the source of the noise.

"What a shame that Mesa will lose such a wonderful Priestess" The sarcastic voice sends a shiver of cold recognition down Dolores's back as the Crown Prince, Adam, continues. "How will the Kingdom go on now?"

"Yes," Crystal dragged out her voice every bit as sharp as his had been. "What a shame that I will not be able to work for you anymore, your highness" A hint of a smile in her tone. "Alas, I believe this was all for the best. I simply cannot tolerate such blasphemy anymore."

Dolores could feel the whipping snap of her word, and a strange feeling fluttered in her belly, one that felt like admiration for the priestess. Flicking her eyes around the statue, she saw Crystal turn towards Daflon and grab a quilted bag with golden stitched seams.

"Let's go, General Ran. Before the real storm comes." The Priestess' words were promising as she spoke.

"Yes, High Priestess---"

"She is no longer the *High Priestess* now, General Ran." Adam interrupted.

"No longer the High Priestess of the royal family, yes." Daflon corrected, "She is now the High Priestess of the Wizards' Society."

All at once, the top of Pantheon opened as it had the night of the Rite, and Dolores watched as Cyrstal muttered insensible words as she twirled her free arm above her head. Looking up, Dolores saw the clouds above take the form of winged horses which swept down towards Crystal, Dalton, and his men.

Adam roared, and minor cracking of bone filled the space as he began to shift Crystal gave him a devious half grin. Suddenly a sea of Palace guards entered the dome, halting before the Crown Prince. One stepped out in front, kneeling before an enraged Adam.

"His..." The guard began breathlessly. "His majesty is...dead."