Emerald Mountains (The Dream Traveler Series Book 2)

by Nicole Knight

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  “You look beautiful,” Axel told me as I walked down the stairs to the grand foyer.

  “Thank you,” I said as I allowed him to take my hand.

  I was wearing a form-fitting red dress that hugged my figure nicely. Trin designed this one too. If she ever comes back to earth with me, I am getting her into a fashion design school. She is that good.

  When all of this war stuff with Tate and Corone is over, I plan on setting up a clothing business for Trin, if she wants it. It would be a shame if I was the only one blessed with her designs.

  Axel led me into the dining room, lit with romantic candlelight, and beautiful wildflowers were placed in vases around the room. There was a sweetheart table placed in the center. On the table sat a small sealed barrel of what I assumed to be wine.

  Axel led me over to the table and pulled out a chair. He saw my glace at the sealed barrel.

  “I can’t take any chances,” he said.

  I quickly nodded my head in understanding. It was smart thinking on his part.

  I looked around the room again.

  “This is gorgeous,” I told him.

  “Yes, you are,” he said while looking directly in my eyes. His eyes were entirely gold, and his gaze just melted me with its intensity. His dark hair reflected the candlelight.

  “You look so handsome,” I said, taking in his nicer dress clothes. The pants were black, and he had on a loose-fitting white shirt. The sleeves were long and a little loose. The neckline was rounded and low. It showed off the very top of his fabulous peck muscles. He will make it very difficult to concentrate on dinner when I just want to eat him up instead.

  A member of my staff came out and to poke a hole in the barrel. Axel only took his eyes off me to watch the staff member work. I could see her hands shaking under his gaze. Finally, she punctured the hole, and she poured my glass first, which was customary. I was to taste it and tell her if I approved. I did just that and nodded my head in approval.

  She then poured Axel’s wine and left the small barrel for us.

  “This is a sweet wine,” I told him with approval.

  “Do you truly like it?”

  “Yes I do, how did you know that I would prefer it?”

  “I noticed you have a thing for sweets. The chef is always baking up something sweet with you in mind. I figured your taste in wine may be similar.”

  Look at him, noticing the small things. I am impressed.

  “You did well,” I told him with a smile.

  Another staff member came out with a great smelling pasta dish. She placed it in the center of the table and scooped some onto each of our plates.

  When she left, I dug in. The flavors of the pasta, the sauce, and the cheese tasted wonderful.

  We were quiet while we ate, but every so often I would catch Axel sneaking a glance at me. He had sauce on his top lip, and it made me smile.

  After we were done eating, our plates were collected, and chocolate cake was brought out.

  “Thank you,” I told Axel while looking at the chocolate goodness.

  “Don’t thank me, thank Chef Martha,” he said.

  While Axel cut me a slice, I broached my next mission.

  “So, in my dream with Venia and Victoria, I was told about the Emerald Mountains. Have you heard of them?”

  “Yes, but they are supposedly a myth. They were once thought to be the source of magic in this world. They have been missing, likely disguised for hundreds and hundreds of years. Many people believe they are not real and were just made up,” he answered.

  “Well, they are real, and I know how to get to them,” I said.

  “You do?” he asked me.

  He did not seem shocked by this.

  “Yes, Victoria actually found them, and I have some pretty specific instructions. I was told not to tell anyone,” I whispered to him. I didn’t need anyone overhearing this conversation.

  “There is another catch, isn’t there?” he asked me.

  “Unfortunately, so. We need to go as soon as possible. Like the day after our ceremony. I have specific instructions on what I should be doing there and my reasons for needing to go there.”

  “Ok, I would rather spend the day after the ceremony in bed with you. But I understand that Venia has placed a lot in your hands, and you won’t let her or the Kingdom down. I will make preparations and alert the others. We can get a small traveling team together,” he told me.

  “No, just you and I. No one else is to know where we are going. I wasn’t even supposed to tell you. I should be going alone.”

  “That’s not going to happen. You will not go alone,” he told me sternly.

  “I know, that’s why I am asking you and only you, to come with me. No one can know our task or where we are going. These mountains must remain a secret.”

  “Ok, then I will make preparations for just us. I will forgo practice tonight to work on this,” he told me.

  “Thank you,” I told him sweetly.

  He never even questioned me for a moment.

  “You’re welcome. We will have plenty of time for our other plans, once everything is over,” he responded.

  “You are right, we will,” I promised.

  I finished my chocolate cake, and then Axel escorted me to the library while he went to his office.

  I did some more reading about the geography near the area of the Emerald Mountains. I needed to know what I was up against.

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  My hair had been curled into large loose waves, and my tiara was placed on top of my head. My dress was stunning, and somehow Trin had outdone herself, again.

  My dress was white, keeping with traditions back home. However, the dress’s ends had been dip-dyed purple to keep with tradition in the Morthlands. My shoes are heels that are white at the top and faded to the same purple. The dress is form-fitting to my hips, and then it flowed freely, without being extremely poufy. The front neckline of the dress is what really caught my attention.

  It was low cut.

  The neckline went almost all the way down to my belly button, cutting between my breasts. It fit me like a glove, and I couldn’t be any happier. Because this was a private ceremony, I could be laxer with what I wore. If this ceremony had been in front of a large crowd as it typically is, I would have had to be more conservative with my dress.

  The crown jewels of the Morthlands were draped across my neck, hung from my ears, and wrapped around my wrists.

  Trin handed me a bouquet of lilies that were blue and purple in color. Her dress was a solid purple that fit her very nicely.

  “You look like a Goddess,” she told me.

  “Thank you,” I said with a knowing smile.

  I did look like the Goddess, but not for the same reasons, she thought.

  Beetie was also in the room, and she was blotting the tears running down her face.

  “Aunt Beetie, stop crying,” I told her.

  “I can’t help it, you just look so beautiful, and I am so happy. You deserve this piece of happiness.”

  “Thank you,” I said, feeling touched by her words.

  “Shall we get this started?” I asked.

  “Yes, let’s get you to the ceremony site,” Trin said.

  She took my arm, and Aunt Beetie took my other arm. We walked down the stairs into the grand foyer and then out the door and around the castle’s side. Some villagers were there hoping to get a glance at me, but some of my knights stood in a line blocking the view.

  I made my way around the back of the castle.

  The large sun was setting, causing the sky around it to turn beautiful oranges and pinks. Axel was standing in his official knight uniform. It was a dark purple, and his gold metals stood out against the dark fabric. He had a sincere smile on his face as he watched me step into view.

  The priest stood next to him, ready to conduct the ceremony.

  Wisdom waited for me at the beginning of the aisle. He took my arm f
rom Trin and Beetie. Beetie quickly found her seat, and Trin rushed to the end of the aisle to stand next to my designated spot.

  He slowly walked me down the aisle, and he was all smiles. At the end of our walk, he left me standing next to Trin and facing Axel.

  There were romantic floating candles all around our outside ceremony space. Some beautiful flowers in various shades of blues and purples fell slowly to the ground from trees surrounding us. A single musician was playing a slow, soft romantic song. The water in the moat was moving fast, causing the distant sound of water to reach us to add to the atmosphere.

  The stone wall was draped with beautiful purple velvet, and candles also rested on top. I could see the happy faces of my extended staff watching the ceremony from the castle windows. Luna and Star were in matching flower girl dresses, which were the same shade as Trin’s dress.

  The ceremony passed in a blur as I was so overwhelmed by it all.

  The priest wrapped a purple silk ribbon around Axel’s left hand, and my right hand, which symbolized our bonding. He read the Goddess’s prayer. What is different about our bonding ceremony is that we know we are soul mates. Those who are soul mates are to drink an ‘everlasting elixir,’ which in reality is supposed to make this a done deal and final. I didn’t read up on the whole process, knowing my family had me covered.

  Axel took the first sip of the elixir that had been in Wisdom’s possession, and then I took the last sip.

  I immediately knew something was wrong.

  For starters, I felt what I could only describe as someone hammering away at my chest. It was like having two heartbeats. One was calm, and the other was extremely stressed. Also, I felt another awareness in my head.

  I looked around for the source. Slowly I could feel the identity of the presence, and it was Axel. I hadn’t been inside his head, or anyone else’s since I lost my magic when I was poisoned. So I was slightly taken by surprise to feel him here.

  This was different than the other times, I could feel my own thoughts, but I couldn’t feel his or his emotions, just the calming presence that let me know he was ok.

  Maybe that pounding I felt in my chest was his heartbeat?

  I laid my hand out on his chest and could feel his heart jackhammering away. It perfectly matched the loud beating in my chest. That was amazing and scary at the same time.

  “Do you feel mine?” I asked, referring to my heartbeat.

  He simply nodded at a loss of words.

  The priest ignored us and announced us as a bonded pair and stated that we could kiss. I had a feeling this was more for my benefit than anything else.

  Axel grabbed my face, one hand on each cheek, and brought our faces together in a sweet innocent kiss.

  The non-innocent stuff would be saved for later when there were no eyes but his.

  We led the way out of the ceremony, and our families followed behind us. We had a grand dinner in the banquet hall that Trin had planned. It was a beautiful end to a beautiful ceremony.

  “You look absolutely beautiful,” Axel told me when we found a moment alone.

  “Thank you, you don’t look too bad yourself,” I told him.

  Then his mother came and stole him away for a dance.

  I watched him as he danced with her.

  I can’t believe this man is all mine. Despite his mother lying to him about his magic, he still loves her and was always gentle with her. She smiled up at him, and I could feel her love for him.

  It scares me how much I need him. It wasn’t until now, as I stood here watching him dance with his mother, that it truly sunk in. This man had become my rock and my source of strength. Looking ahead at our future, I am absolutely terrified of losing him.

  The news of our bonding will spread, and my enemies will take notice. I’m not sure what Kennan wants more at this point; power and to rule all of the Kingdoms, or to hurt me as much as he can. If it’s the latter, it is easy to predict what he will do. For a bonded pair, the worst thing that could happen is the death of their soul mate. This placed a huge target on Axel.

  I don’t regret Axel one bit, but now that thoughts of what could happen to him have crossed my mind, I regret bonding before the final battle. I had the most magical day, but it was overshadowed by what we still faced and what we have to lose.

  Venia made her plans clear. I needed to lead by example and show the magic-workers of the Kingdom that it is ok to be themselves and find their soul mates.

  But would I live long enough to enjoy this? Or will I die trying to live up to the expectations placed on me by the Goddess? Even worse, will Axel lose his life for something that cannot be accomplished? Will I survive to live with the constant reminder of what I had and then lost?

  I was diving deep down the rabbit hole when Jessica made her way over to my side. She was beautiful; and had grown into herself while living at the castle. Axel told me she had men lining up to try to court her. Being under the protection of the Queen and living in her castle tends to boost your reputation. It also drove Axel insane. If he had his way, he would lock her up in a tower like Rapunzel, but I know how that turns out.

  “You know, if I didn’t know any better, I would say you are sad,” she said to me.

  The thing I learned about Jessica is that she is direct. She doesn’t care who she is speaking to; they are going to hear the truth, whether they want to or not.

  “Why would you say that?” I asked.

  I looked away from her brother and mother and looked at her. She looked me directly in the eyes, and I could see her searching my face.

  “Because of your eyes. It is no secret, my brother and I are close. I care about him, and he cares about you. That means you are my business. You are also family now, and I will always look after my family,” she said.

  Her eyes clearly demonstrated she would not waver in this.

  “So, I am going to ask again, because I truly care. Why do you look sad?” she asked me.

  I knew I could trust Jessica. She would never betray her brother, and betraying me might be the one thing he could never forgive from her.

  I took a moment to search my own feelings before I spoke.

  “All of this, it hangs in a delicate balance. Your safety, your mother, your brother, my family, and the Kingdoms, it is all at risk. The coming weeks will truly test us, and I can’t see the future,” I said with a pause.

  So not seeing the future was a slight lie, but I only see what Venia wants me to see. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any visions of the battle.

  “Axel has become my heart. Sure I am scared of failing and leading these Kingdoms to a war that they cannot win like Eduard did before me. My biggest fear is losing your brother in the process,” I told her.

  She gasped.

  I could see that she was taken aback by that. Now that I opened up this can of worms, I couldn’t close it.

  “I know I should be more worried about everyone else, but that’s how I feel. I know Axel can take care of himself, but I will always worry about him,” I shared.

  I turned to glance his way, and he made eye contact and smiled at me. I wondered if he could feel what I was feeling? I could feel his excitement and happiness deep down in my chest.

  Jessica cleared her throat, and then I directed my gaze back at her. Her eyes were slightly watery.

  Was she going to cry?

  “The Goddess put you two here for a reason. I am not an overly religious person. I’ll be honest; I only pray in times of desperation. But I refuse to believe that she would put you both here together, only to take you away from each other. If she does that, she’s no one I want to pray to anyway,” she said with finality.

  “Thank you,” I said, feeling sincere.

  I felt the same way, but I couldn’t help but question it.

  “Anytime, you are my sister now. While you may be my Queen, and I respect that, I am your little sister, and I will be all in your business,” she said while laughing and lightly punching my arm.

>   This felt right.

  “Oh no, whatever will I do? If only I had a knight to make sure that you stay away,” I said in a teasing and light-hearted tone.

  I punched her arm back, and she faked an injury.

  “What’s going on here?” Axel asked as he approached. He looked amused.

  “Your soul mate is beating me up,” she told him.

  “Nice try,” Axel told Jessica.

  “Harty har har,” she said, faking amusement.

  This felt right, but now this was one more worry for my list. I needed to protect this. If I let anything happen to Axel, I’m not sure Jessica would ever be able to forgive me.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Axel asked, noticing my silence.

  I must have spaced out.

  “Nothing,” I told him, forcing a smile.

  “We are bonded now. I can feel you, in here,” he said while putting his hand on his chest.

  “You can’t lie to me,” he followed.

  Watch me.

  “I’m just sad that this night will eventually have to end, it’s been magical.”

  “I know the feeling, but once the battles to come are over, we can have other magical celebrations,” he said.

  “Yes, we will,” I added with a small smile.

  Jessica excused herself, stating that the chocolate cake was calling her name.

  I felt that too.

  Axel held out his hand and guided me onto the dance floor. Everyone not on the floor turned to face us, and those on the dance floor took a few steps off towards the side to give us our space.

  Then the crowd began to hum. It was a beautiful melody, which resembled the lullaby Axel sometimes hummed to me.

  “What are they doing?” I asked him quietly.

  “They are humming a melody used to tell a story of love and sacrifice and respect. This hasn’t been done since before Eduard killed Victoria, as the melody is associated with magic. It is hummed to pay respect and show happiness. They are doing this for you, to show you respect, and wish you happiness,” he said.

  He touched my cheek to take my attention from those around us and to make me look at him. I could see his devotion in his eyes, and for the millionth time, I felt my heart melt again.