by A J Manney
Zalia turned to her grandfather who had been standing patiently and quietly, taking everything in. She smiled sheepishly at him. “I’m ready now. I’m sorry; I just panicked,” she said.
Her grandfather took her arm in his and smiled down at her. “It’s okay. I think we both benefited from Valen’s appearance,” he said. They walked slowly towards the doors again. The guards stepped to the side, waiting on her grandfather’s command to open the door.
He looked down at her once more. “You ready?” he asked.
Zalia nodded. She knew she was ready. She didn’t know what the future held or how everything would work out. She only knew that with Valen at her side, she could face anything. Theirs was a love that would only grow stronger as it was tested by the strands and seasons of time.
Her grandfather nodded and the doors were pulled open. Zalia locked eyes with the handsome prince who had stolen her heart and moved towards her future.
After
Zalia startled awake. She sat up quickly in bed. Valen was already out of bed and moving to put pants on. “What is it?” she asked fearfully.
“I’m not sure. I’m going to go see. Stay here,” he said. Then he was gone. Zalia sat still for a moment, trying to calm her racing heart. She looked around the room where she and Valen had spent more time this last week than any other room in the house. The house was a beautiful cottage Beckam owned and let them borrow for the week. She and Valen had had such an amazing time together. Never in her wildest imaginations could she have imagined what it would be like to be so thoroughly loved and ravished. She was pulled from her thoughts as Valen came back in.
Zalia took one look at his face in the early morning light and instantly knew something was wrong. “What is it?” she asked.
He stared at her for a moment. Then he spoke, “There’s been an attack,” he said in a low angry voice. “Your grandfather was killed,” he said.
Zalia felt her heart stop beating. Not again. I can’t do this again. She felt strong arms come around her as Valen pulled her onto his lap.
“Zalia,” he said placing his hands on her face. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. We will get through this,” he said.
With that, Zalia broke. She started sobbing into Valen’s chest. Tears for the grandfather she was just getting to know, tears for the family she lost. Valen didn’t say anything. He just stroked her back gently.
When Zalia could control her tears enough to at least talk, she asked, “How’s Beckam?”
Valen was quiet for a moment too long. Zalia looked up at him. “Valen, what is it?”
He looked away for a moment and then back at Zalia. “Beckam saw who killed your grandfather, but...” Again, he paused. “She got away,” he said.
“She?” she asked in shock.
Valen nodded. Then he looked down at her and delivered the clincher. “Apparently she has his markings,” he said softly.