Authors: Sarah Bale
She was surprised when he glanced her way, not knowing if he
would listen to her. She sent a calming vibe out praying it would keep Miki
silent long enough for her to speak.
She went on, “I love you. When I said it before, I was
scared but I’m not scared anymore. I love you. You are the only thing that has
brought me joy in all my life.”
Miki laughed. “What is this? Confession time? Ian, I tire of
her. Tell her to leave.”
Ian stared at her and opened his mouth to speak. He was
about to refuse her, which would break her heart. She inhaled and then sent all
the love she felt for him to him in a single thought. He cried out as the love
surrounded him in a red mist. It was so strong that heat radiated from his
body.
“What are you doing to him?” Miki asked as she jumped to her
feet. “Stop it.”
Lexi remembered the first time their eyes had met while she
was still in the wreckage from her house. She had known then he was different.
There was also the moment he stood next to her and comforted her when she was
scared in the compound. It hadn’t been his job to make sure she was okay but he
had.
With each thought she touched and sent to him, Miki’s
screams grew louder.
“Stop it. You will never win. He’s mine.”
The air was so hot in the room that Lexi was starting to
sweat.
“No, honey. I
will
win.”
The last thought she sent toward Ian was one that she had
recently discovered. It was more of a dream, really. In it, she held a small
baby girl with dark hair and eyes, who came from the man she loved. Ian’s
daughter.
Miki flew across the room toward her in a rage but the
damage had already been done. Her love for Ian was killing Miki. The woman fell
to the ground and screamed.
“How could you do this, you bitch? You weren’t supposed to
be as strong as me.”
Lexi shrugged. “Looks like your source was wrong. And by the
way, green is so not your color.”
Miki’s entire body began to shake as her powers fought to
leave her body. The magic knew that her time was at an end and didn’t want to
fade away with the Witch. She thrashed around on the floor, trying to control
the magic one last time, until the last breath left her body.
The magic lifted into the air and came toward Lexi. She held
her arms open, inviting it in. This time there was no battle of darkness or
light. The light had won out and this last bit of power was the missing piece.
She was whole now and would be able to save the realm with the wave of her
hand. Everything was different now and the world was filled with endless
possibilities.
Ian moaned and she ran over to his side. His skin was
flushed and sweat poured from his body. Was he okay?
“Ian? Talk to me.”
Ian shook his head as if coming out of a daze and looked
around the room.
“Lexi, what have you done?”
“What are you talking about? I saved you.”
He stood and grabbed the blanket to wrap around his waist. “The
king will have my head for this. Once he knows I let the queen die, he’ll never
let me live.”
“Ian, would you stop. We can go back to Sapphire City and
everything is going to be fine.”
She knew this was true. King Loren knew more things than he
let on and this was one of those things. He had seen the bigger picture all
along, knowing that she would need the guidance of Ian to make it to Sapphire
City. Everything happened for a reason.
Ian ran his hand through his damp hair. “No, you’re wrong.
You should have let her take me. It’s what I wanted.”
Lexi stilled. “What?”
A single thought drifted her way. He had loved Miki in some
twisted way and he truly thought being with her would have been for the best.
His blue eyes met her own. “I said you should have let her
take me. Lexi, I’m never going to be the same man. And once King Loren finds
out what I did, he’ll never let us be together.”
“It’s not his choice who I end up with. It’s my choice and
yours.” She was trying to forget his thoughts but it was hard.
“And I’m telling you it will never happen.”
She stood frozen in shock, not knowing what to say. This
outcome hadn’t crossed her mind.
Finally, she said, “But I love you.”
“But I don’t love you.”
Lexi stared at herself in the mirror. The last week had been
nothing but a blur. A blur she wished she could have slept through. After
killing all three of the Witches, she had left their palace and lifted the
curse from all the soldiers. With her new powers in place, it had just taken
the wave of her hand to free them.
Carter had joked that it was more effective than the other
way she had saved the other guards but a lot less fun since Colleen hadn’t
helped. His humor had only made her smile for a short time, though. When he and
Andrew went to the tower to bring Ian down, all hell had broken loose. Ian
fought them with every ounce in his body, screaming to let him stay. She
finally had to put a sleeping spell on him just so he didn’t hurt himself or
anyone else. The look of pity that she got from the others killed her. They
thought he was a lost cause. And maybe he was.
As they left the Witches’ palace, the sun had come out.
Several of the men fell to their knees and cried. It had been decades since
they had felt the warmth on their skin. Then it began to rain. The moat around
the palace cleared instantly, the poisonous water gone.
As the water ran down the palace, the once black rock turned
so white that it looked like a moonstone. The grass began to grow before their
eyes and little blue flowers popped up. Lexi inhaled, knowing the area was
saved. If only everything could be healed that way.
King Loren was waiting at the gates of Sapphire City with
Hank and Colleen at his side. Lexi had been welcomed back as a heroine and as
the long-lost daughter of the king. None of it mattered though. She hadn’t
realized how much of her happiness depended on Ian.
“Are you ready?”
She turned to see the king—her father—standing there with a
concerned expression on his face. He had wanted to postpone the celebration in
her honor but his council had advised against it. The people needed to know they
were safe even though that wasn’t entirely the truth. There would always be the
threat that another Witch could rise into power but as long as Lexi was alive,
that risk was very slim.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He took her by the hand and said, “You look just like your
mother right now.”
Her face flushed at the compliment. That was another thing
that had been happening since she returned to the palace. People kept comparing
her to Grace, which was so very flattering but she didn’t know how to respond.
She could barely remember her birth mother but everyone assured her she favored
her.
Her father broke into her thoughts. “I hope you can forgive
me for putting you in danger. I knew that if the Witches suspected you were my
daughter right away, then you would have stood no chance in defeating them.”
He knew the Witches and their motives better than anyone.
Even his own council hadn’t known what his true plan was until she had returned
to the city.
“I understand completely, Father.”
His honest guilt over the matter had shown her that he was
sincere. He had done what was best for Sinoda, just as any leader would have.
It still stung that he had been willing to lose her, though. And now she was
alone. It seemed her heart would never stop aching.
They reached the doors that led to the balcony where they
celebration would take place. Two servants straightened King Loren’s cape
before he entered the balcony to deafening cheers. The people once again
trusted their king and all bans had been lifted, allowing Sinoda to thrive once
more.
The servants moved to Lexi’s dress and began fluffing the
skirt. It was so big that she wanted to twirl around just to make it spin. The
designer of the dress had given her strict instructions not to do that, though,
as it was not the way a princess acted. The light pink dress reminded her that
witches could indeed be good. She was proof of that.
Her red hair was curled and piled on the top of her head.
She didn’t even want to guess how many pins held it together. A large tiara
covered in diamonds finished the look. One of the servants handed her a wand
made diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds. Each stone represented a part of
Sinoda and how special it was.
The doors opened again and it was her turn to walk onto the
balcony. The crowd cheered and threw flower petals into the air. She inhaled
and was reminded of the Enchanted Fields for a moment.
King Loren held out his hand and said, “You have done the
Realm of Sinoda a great service Lexi. I am sorry that I doubted you earlier but
you have proven yourself to me and to the realm. You have saved us from the
evil Witches.”
The crowd below cheered and called out her name. Colorful
banners waved and her chest swelled with emotions. She should be happy right
now but all she could think about was Ian and how he should be there. Andrew
caught her eye and winked. She could feel his thoughts drifting her way and
knew he was upset with his friend.
Carter, who stood next to Andrew, was having similar
thoughts. She was also surprised to find that King Loren had asked him to join
the guard as a captain. It made her happy to know he was going to be able to
protect the people of the realm. She only wished Ian would be able to do the
same.
“You protected us when I thought all was lost. We can never
repay you for what you have done but I can grant you one wish. Please, tell me
what your heart desires and I will make it happen,” King Loren said as he
gestured for her to step forward.
She knew this was the part when she was supposed to refuse
his offer and pledge herself to the kingdom but the words caught in her throat.
Everyone waited, knowing the answer she was supposed to give. Her eyes scanned
the crowd one last time. He had to come—
“Lexi?”
She blinked and realized tears were streaming down her face.
Her emotions were so strong that it was beginning to spread throughout the
crowds too. She closed her eyes and tried to get control over her feelings. It
wasn’t fair to make the people sad just because she was. Especially when this
was a day of celebration for the realm.
Taking in a deep breath, she said, “I thank you for your
generous offer, King Loren. The only thing that I would like is to go back to
my home—in Oklahoma.”
The crowd gasped and she tried to block the emotions they
felt. They were scared that without her there the Witches would rise again.
She, too, worried that this would happen but without Ian, there was no true
reason for her to remain. She could feel her powers wane at the thought of
losing Ian and she knew it made her weak to anyone who might try to attack her.
At least in Oklahoma she could try to heal her broken heart.
“Are you…are you sure, Lexi?”
Loren spoke to her not as a king but as a father. The love
and regret he felt surrounded her until she felt as if she was being held by
it. She sent out her own feeling of love toward him and nodded.
His eyes softened. “Very well. Though we hate to lose you,
we will make sure you return to your home. I have to remind you of one thing,
though. It is our law that once you leave, you cannot return unless you are
desperately needed to save the realm.”
She knew the consequences of her choices and she was willing
to accept them.
“I understand, King Loren.” She looked out to the crowds and
said, “And I give my word to you, the people of Sinoda. If there ever comes a
time that you need me I will come back and do it willingly and happily.”
“Very well.”
He held out his arm and led her from the balcony. The crowd
cheered though she knew they were sad. When they were inside the palace, the
king stopped and turned to her. A few lingering servants scurried away, giving
them a moment of privacy.
“I know this is partly because of…him, my daughter. Are you
sure this is the right choice? You could be happy here and I could ensure your
paths never crossed.”
Since returning to the palace, the king had not spoken Ian’s
name. He said it was because Ian needed to prove how sorry he was but Lexi
feared it was because her father resented him and would never be able to
forgive him. She could imagine how her life would be if she stayed. Ian would
be sent away and she would always wonder about him. When the day came that
their paths did cross, it would break her heart all over again.
She took her father’s hands into her own. “And what kind of
life would that be? It wouldn’t be fair to him or to me.”
“I am being selfish. I can’t bear the thought of losing you
so soon after getting you back.”
When Queen Grace had sent her to Oklahoma with Myra, she had
told everyone that Lexi had died. The king had been devastated thinking that
his only child had been lost to him. Losing the queen a short time later had
sent him into a depression so deep that his council feared he would not make it
and the realm would be sent into turmoil.
“You aren’t losing me. This time you’ll know that I am alive
and well. And if the realm ever needs me I will return, I promise. I…I just can’t
stay here.”
His golden eyes filled with tears as he said, “Your mother
would have been so proud of you, as am I.”
“I love you.”
“And I you.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll have the portal
opened as soon as possible. You’ll be on your way home in a few hours. Is there
anything you’d like to do before you go?”
He wanted to know if she would see Ian before she left but
didn’t speak the words aloud.
Sighing, she replied, “I’m not sure. Part of me wants to but
the other side knows it won’t do any good. He is lost to me.”
“Don’t give up on him, not yet. I haven’t.”
She nodded and turned. Brian and Hank were waiting for her
in the back courtyard. When she stepped outside, she was pleased to see that
their new lion was warming up to them, already jumping through hoops. She had
known right away that it would be a perfect gift for the men. Soon they would
have their circus back and it would be bigger than ever. Even her father had
agreed to help rebuild it since Brian’s name had been cleared.
“Princess.” They greeted her with a bow.
“I see the cub has fallen in love with the two of you.”
Hank pushed his hair from his face and grinned. “It’s the
other way around. Thank you for doing this for us. In no time we’ll have the
circus running again.”
Brian added, “And with the costumes and props Sully is
making, it’s sure to be better than ever. We only wish you were going to stay
so you could see it.”
Pain and regret caused her to choke up and she took a moment
to compose herself. She was glad the three men were going to work together.
Since the Witches were gone, Sully had decided that he could use his talents in
other ways since there wouldn’t be a great need for his weapons.
“I wish I could stay, too, but you both know my reason for
leaving. I don’t think I can ever be happy here and I deserve to be happy, just
as everyone does.”
Hank put his arm around her shoulder. “That’s why we won’t
try to stop you.”
“When do you leave?” Brian asked.
“In a few hours.”
“Are you going to see Ian?”
He was the only person who had said his name to her.
Everyone else had danced around the issue.
“I’m not sure.”
“I think you should. If anything, you might leave with
closure.”
She nodded and then asked, “Will you two come see me off?”
“We wouldn’t miss it, Princess.”
They turned back to their cub and she walked away. Ian was
being kept in a building away from the palace and she headed toward it. The
last time she had asked Andrew about his friend, she had found out that Ian was
being kept under restraints at all times.
Any time they let him out, he became violent and tried to
escape. And as much as Andrew had hated to tell her, he kept asking for Miki.
Always Miki.
Lexi reached the building and the two guards at the door
bowed before letting her pass. She took in a deep breath and entered. This was
a mistake but she needed to see him one last time.
Andrew stood outside the room where Ian was being kept.
“I’m glad you decided to see him but he’s been in a mood
today.” He glanced over his shoulder at the closed door. “Lexi…try to bring him
back to us.”
His plea broke her heart.
“I’m going to do my best but I’m afraid it won’t make a
difference.”
It felt good to voice her fear. She was scared and there was
no use hiding it. Andrew pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door
before stepping aside. She ambled in and willed the door to shut behind her.
The room was dark but she knew Ian lay on a bed near the wall.
“Miki? Is that you?”
Her heart ached in her chest as she said, “No, Ian. It’s
Lexi.”
“Go away.”
She reached his side and tried not to cry. He was bruised
where the restraints had cut into his skin. She reached out and pushed his
dirty hair from his face. When was the last time that they had bathed him?
“No, I’m not going to leave. Well, not yet.”
His eyes met hers out of curiosity, “What does that mean?”
“I saved the realm, which you may or may not know. Now there
is no need for me to be here.”
He looked at the ceiling and said, “They tell me Miki is
dead. Did you do that?”
His question took her by surprise.
“Don’t you remember what happened that day?”
“No. Everything is one big blur. I can see bits and pieces
but then they run together and I stop trying.”
She sat down in the chair next to the bed and replied, “Yes,
I’m the one who killed all three Witches, including Miki.”
“So, you killed the woman I desire and now you’re going to
leave me here to rot?”
The venom in his voice made her want to weep. He hated her
and would never forgive her. She didn’t need to see his thoughts to know it was
true.