“You’re a brave man.”
Caleb scowled. “Not so brave. I allowed myself to live a life of hell for decades. If it hadn’t been for Rose, I might even still be in that castle. In fact, I’m certain that I would be.”
I understood what he meant. I remembered all too well what it felt like to be lost in the darkness. Darkness that was so easy to sink into as a vampire, yet so difficult to climb out of. If it hadn’t been for Sofia, I was certain that I would also still be wallowing in it.
Perhaps Rose is to Caleb what Sofia is to me.
Caleb raised his gaze to my face, and whereas before his eyes had looked distant, now they looked focused. Almost fiery.
“Derek,” he said. “I’m in love with your daughter.”
I believed him when he said it. The sincerity and feeling in his voice was unmistakable.
I nodded slowly.
He wet his lower lip. “And when I feel the time is right,” he continued, “I want to ask your permission to marry her.”
My voice caught in my throat.
My girl, married.
The thought made me shudder.
It wouldn’t be long now until she was eighteen, but she still felt like my little girl, despite how much she’d grown up.
I stood up and walked over to the window, steadying my breathing as I looked out at the swaying trees. I could sense Caleb’s tension as he waited for my answer. He got up from his chair and walked over to my side.
“I promise to protect her with my life. I pro—”
I held up a hand. Caleb had misunderstood the reason for my silence. It wasn’t that I doubted him anymore. I just wasn’t sure that I was ready to let my daughter go… to anyone.
I swallowed hard. Finally, I turned to face him, my mouth parched.
The earnestness in Caleb’s eyes became my undoing.
Even though it killed me, I nodded.
I gripped his shoulders hard. A smile formed on my lips. “I don’t think Rose would ever forgive me if I refused.”
He breathed out sharply. I drew him in for a hug.
I remembered how hard it had been for me to win Aiden’s trust and approval. As difficult as this was, I really didn’t want to be as tough on Caleb. He’d been through enough hardship in his life for me to give him more when all he wanted to do was love and care for my daughter, just as I had for Sofia.
I took a step back, looking him over. “Achilles, eh? Rose Achilles.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Hm. Doesn’t quite have the ring of Rose Novak… But it’ll do.”
Chapter 11: Rose
I didn’t sleep much that night. My mother invited me to stay the night in the apartment, but I preferred to go back to the cabin and wait for Caleb. I was already asleep by the time he climbed into bed. I woke up again at about two in the morning, feeling his arms around me. I was happy that he’d gone to see my father. I would have given anything to listen in on their conversation.
“How did it go?” I asked, snuggling closer to him on the mattress.
He brushed his palm over my forehead. “Well,” he said.
“What did you do?” I asked.
“I helped your father out in his study. He briefed me on a few of the many responsibilities he has on his shoulders.”
“Did you find it interesting?” I asked.
“Very. A lot more thought goes into running this island than the one I used to live on… How did it go with you?”
I heaved a sigh. “Well, we figured out the venue, entertainment, and food. We just don’t know if anyone will actually show up. My mother and I need to go to the Vale”—I looked up at the clock—“in a few hours, actually… in hopes of enticing some ladies to come and meet the dragons.” I grimaced at the thought. I couldn’t have made up a more bizarre situation if I’d tried.
“Then you should go back to sleep,” Caleb said softly, still stroking my forehead.
Caleb was right. I needed more sleep. But as much as I tried, I couldn’t. Caleb even managed to fall asleep before me. I lay awake well into the early morning hours. When I looked over at the clock again and it was four-thirty in the morning, I decided to get up. There was no point in wasting time lying down when so many things needed to be done before noon. I walked into the bathroom and brushed my teeth, then took a shower and got dressed. I checked in the bedroom to see that Caleb was still sleeping before scribbling a note and placing it at the foot of the bed.
Caleb, depending on when you see this, I’m either at my parents’ house or in the Vale. I love you, Rose.
Then I left through the front door and began racing down the mountain. The crisp morning air was rejuvenating, the chirping of the birds filling my ears. I raced through the forest and didn’t slow down until I arrived at the foot of my parents’ tree. I ascended in the elevator and, to my surprise, saw that the kitchen and living room lights were on. Realizing that I’d forgotten my key, I looked through the kitchen window. My parents were both sitting at the dining table, deep in conversation. I rapped against the window. Their eyes shot toward the window and their expressions warmed on seeing me. My mother leapt up and rushed to the door to let me in.
“You couldn’t sleep, Rose? Neither could I.” She beckoned me inside and led me into the kitchen.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” my father said, his voice sounding hoarser than usual. He took my hand and placed a kiss over the back of it.
“I’ve just been thinking about this stupid ball all morning.” I looked at my mother. “Did you manage to speak to Corrine already?”
“Yes, I caught her before she left the beach last night. She’s been working most of the night with Ibrahim and Shayla on the hall in the Black Heights. She said she wasn’t tired anyway and was up for the challenge. Oh, and the witches will take care of the food, too. That’s not a problem.”
“Good.” I breathed out. “I don’t think we should arrive at the Vale any later than eight this morning.”
“I agree. We could probably make that seven forty-five.”
“In the meantime, I’m going to start gathering up my music and deciding what the agenda should be.”
I got up from the table and walked through the penthouse toward the music room. I opened the cabinet in the corner of the room and began paging through my music sheets. Once I was happy with the assortment I’d pulled out, I placed all the sheets into a binder and tucked it under my arm. Then I headed back out of the room. As I neared the kitchen, I could make out my parents in conversation, but as I approached within earshot, they stopped talking. I couldn’t help but wonder what they were talking about that they didn’t want me to hear.
I walked back to the table and placed my music down in front of my father. “Well, that’s what I’ve chosen.”
He opened up the binder and began paging through the sheets, nodding every so often in approval. “Good choice,” he said.
My mother looked at me with concern. “We still have a few hours before we can leave for the Vale, honey,” she said, “why don’t you try to sleep?”
I shook my head. “I just can’t. I already tried. I won’t be able to sleep until this ball is over.”
My father stood up, holding the music sheets in his hands. “Then why don’t we give these a little practice?”
I leapt at his suggestion. “I’d love that.”
We left my mother in the kitchen and headed back to the music room, both taking a seat on the bench in front of the piano.
He took out the first music sheet and placed it on the stand. I began to play. I managed to get through the entire piece without a single mistake, despite not having played this particular composition for at least a year.
When I’d finished, my father was beaming. “I still remember the first music lesson I gave you when you were six. It’s hard to believe you’re the same girl.”
“Caleb’s pretty awesome with instruments, too,” I said, running my hands along the keys.
“Yes.” My father smiled down at me. “I�
��ve heard him play.” He cupped my face in his hands. As he stared down at me, I could have sworn that his eyes moistened slightly. “I’m proud of you, Rose. I’m so, so proud of you.” He leaned down to plant a kiss on my head. “And I want you to know that… I approve of Caleb.”
I raised a brow. “Really?”
His jaw tensed and even though he looked almost pained to admit it, he nodded, keeping his eye contact steady with me. “I’m not sure there’s anyone in this world whom I could see as truly deserving of you… but Caleb’s a good man. I can’t deny that.”
This was the first time that I’d heard my father outright approve of Caleb. He couldn’t have known how much it meant to me. I flung my arms around his neck and buried my head against his chest. He pulled me onto his lap and cradled me like a baby.
“Thanks, Dad,” I croaked.
We cuddled for a while longer, then I slipped back down onto the bench and continued to play the next piece. I played mostly solo, but for a couple of pieces, my father played an accompaniment.
The rest of the time passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was time for my mother and me to leave for the Vale. We bade goodbye to my father and entered the elevator. On reaching the ground, my mother offered to carry me on her back. Although I was taller than her, since she was a vampire, she was strong enough to carry me and run at the same time without problems. But I shook my head, realizing that she didn’t know about my newfound speed.
“I can run fast now, perhaps as fast as you. Shall we race?”
My mother looked surprised, then grinned at me. “Let’s go.”
We began whipping through the trees and I was amazed that I could almost match her speed.
“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised,” she said. “Your father never did lose his speed… I still wonder what caused this change in you though.” She cast a sideways glance at me.
I shrugged. “It just happened soon after I saw Dad spouting fire.”
“You’d never seen him do that before, had you? Perhaps it sparked something in your subconscious.”
“Maybe… It’s just strange.”
We had already reached the Vale after barely a few minutes of conversation, so our voices trailed off as we prepared ourselves for what we were about to do. We reached the town square and stopped outside the bell tower. I looked at my mother, who was motioning to begin climbing it. I caught her arm and held her back.
“Mom, I should do this. I’m responsible for… this situation.”
I didn’t give my mother a chance to argue as I began climbing up the ladder. I reached the bell at the top, grabbed the rope and began swinging it wildly. My eardrums ached, as they always did when ringing this giant bell. But I didn’t stop ringing until the square was filled with people. Some of them had clearly just climbed out of bed after a night of partying down on the beach.
I cast a brief glance down at my mother before clearing my throat. “Firstly,” I began to yell down, “all of you who are not single ladies can go back to bed. I need as many single girls as possible gathered here in this square. If there’s anyone you don’t see here, please go and fetch them now.”
I was met with a sea of confused faces, but I was relieved when they did as I’d requested. About half an hour later, the square was filled with I guessed just shy of a hundred and fifty women—a small fraction of those we had on the island, but they were enough for now. There were only a hundred dragons, after all.
Some of my classmates down below smirked and waved at me. I smiled and waved down at them as I caught their eyes.
“So, ladies,” I continued. “You are all single and looking?”
A couple of women shook their heads and shouted, “Not looking,” but most were nodding.
To those who did shake their heads, I said, “Those who aren’t interested in dating, please leave the square. This doesn’t concern you.”
The few who had shaken their heads left the square.
“Right,” I muttered. Since most of the humans had not even witnessed the dragons firsthand—they had been inside the mountains throughout the battle and the dragons had all left soon after the battle had ended—I proceeded to explain the arrival of the dragons, my managing to win them over, and their reason for staying on the island.
Once I finished my story, I was met with stunned silence. My stomach dropped, and for one horrifying moment, I thought that nobody was going to step forward and volunteer.
Debbie, one of my classmates, broke the silence. “So you’re pimping us out?”
“No!” my mother and I yelled at once, horrified at the thought. “If any of you don’t find this appealing, you don’t have to come. This is only for those who are interested in trying something… new.”
To my relief, Debbie broke out laughing. “I was just pulling your leg, Rose.”
I smiled back weakly. “So? Who wants to attend the ball at noon?”
A chorus of “Yes!” pierced through the morning air as every single woman standing in the square raised their hands. They hadn’t even seen the shifters yet, but I supposed I must have done a good job at describing them…
“Okay,” I said, after the screams had died down. “Then you should all aim to meet me in the clearing outside the Black Heights at eleven-thirty this morning. The ball starts at twelve, but I’d like you to arrive a bit early.”
“Okay!”
I chuckled to myself as everyone dispersed. I climbed back down the ladder.
“Well handled,” my mother said. “Now, I suggest that we go to the venue and see what the witches have done with it.”
My jaw tensed. Although the girls’ reaction had been a major weight off my shoulders, the main obstacle was still to come. We still had to pull off this ball and make sure it all went smoothly. Managing a hall filled with fiery dragons and vulnerable humans was a daunting prospect.
My mother rubbed my back. “Just a few more hours and this will be over.”
Chapter 12: Rose
I was relieved that all the girls arrived on time. Well on time. Two dozen arrived an hour early. My mother and I caught some wandering around the tunnels in search of the hall. We ushered them inside and asked them to wait in the corner until it was time.
The witches had outdone themselves again designing this place. The sacks of grain had been moved elsewhere and the rough floors had been smoothed into the same black marble that the dragons seemed to like. Several crystal chandeliers hung from the cavernous ceiling. A long table of food was already set out along one wall and we’d arranged cushioned seats all around the circumference of the hall. As an added touch, the witches had created a little veranda halfway up the wall and attached a winding set of stairs to it. This was to be the music balcony. The witches had placed a piano there and an assortment of other instruments I knew how to play. I’d also requested that two witches, Shayla and Leyni, stay with me and help keep the music going when I needed to take a break.
I looked at the watch on my mother’s wrist. It wouldn’t be long now.
“Why don’t you go and bring in the others now? They should all be waiting outside.”
“Good idea,” I said. I could do with some fresh air. Although it wasn’t particularly hot in the hall, all of these chambers felt claustrophobic to me. It was as though the dragons’ heat emanated through the bowels of the mountain.
I hurried out of the hall, along the winding tunnels, and emerged in the clearing. Sure enough, all the other girls were waiting for me. They all had looks of excitement and apprehension on their faces. I noted how much care they’d taken in their appearance. Their hair was done up beautifully and they all wore gowns and high-heeled shoes. As I walked toward them, I was again struck by how weird the situation was. Like a fairytale. Cinderella with dragons. All we need now is a pumpkin.
I looked down at my own clothes. I was just wearing pants and a sweatshirt. I would keep myself on top of the balcony anyway, so hopefully my attire wouldn’t offend anyone. Debbie and a few othe
r classmates hurried toward me in the crowd.
“Have they arrived yet?” Debbie asked.
“No,” I replied. “We’re not expecting them before noon.”
I led everyone down the tunnels and back toward the hall. My mother greeted us at the entrance, inviting everyone to take a seat. My classmates wanted to sit and talk with me more, but my nerves wouldn’t allow it. I wasn’t able to sit still. I stood up and wandered over to the buffet. I walked along the assortment of steaming stainless-steel vessels. I called my mother over.
“When it comes time to eat, we’ll have actual tables, right?” I asked. “So it will be like a proper banquet.”
“Don’t worry,” my mother said. “Corrine already thought of that. At around one o’clock, after everyone’s had a chance to introduce themselves, the witches will arrange for a long table and help with the serving.”
“Good.”
I almost leapt out of my skin when there was a thundering knock at the door. The girls began chattering excitedly, but as my mother reached the door, a hushed silence fell about the hall. My mother opened the door to find the first dragon standing behind it. Jeriad. He looked freshly showered and more radiant than ever before. He was dressed in simple yet luxurious clothing—light linen pants and a loosely fitted shirt that exposed a generous amount of his toned chest. As the other dragons began entering after him, they all looked similarly dressed.
I was surprised that the prince hadn’t been the first to enter. But I didn’t stay to watch. I wanted to make it up to the balcony before he arrived so that I wouldn’t have to meet him again.
I scrambled up the stairs and didn’t look back down at the floor again until I’d reached the top. Now that it was noon, the witches were beginning to arrive to help out—Shayla, Leyni, and a couple of other witches, though Corrine wasn’t among them. I guessed that she was finally having a well-deserved sleep.
As I peered over the railing, I kept my head down low, just so that I could see, but wasn’t easily seen. To my surprise, Theon was the last to walk through the door. He wore a deep blue cloth draped over one bulging shoulder that perfectly complemented his tan skin. Approaching the center of the room, he stood next to the other dragons. They had all gathered together and were looking casually around the room at the ladies in their seats. I couldn’t spot a single girl in the room whose cheeks hadn’t already flushed.
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