Epilogue

The stars outside filled the darkness of my room with little light. I looked up at the ceiling and gazed at my glow in the dark gallery of stars and smiled at the memories it brought. Memories of Keegan helping me stick each and every one on the ceiling. His beautiful eyes dancing bright as the stars outside.

Silent tears ran down my face. It had been too many days since I saw the man I loved. Too many days spent trapped inside the world my parents created for me. Trapped smiling at men full of themselves and the power they thought they possessed. Trapped laughing at stupid things the socialites said at parties. I lived in a nightmare that was my existence.

I glanced down at the cool blue stone on the ring Keegan gave me, curled up tight in a ball and squeezed my eyes shut. Where was my guardian now that my world was whirling out of control? Where was the man that cared enough for me to enslave himself to my greedy parents and ensure my happiness?

I began to imagine his hands caressing my cheek and wiping the tears from face. I could just feel him gather me into his arms and murmur that everything was right, that nothing would hurt me as long we were together. More tears began flooding my eyes and running down my cheeks as my imagination let me once more feel his lips on my temple, my cheek and finally my lips.

The kiss was bittersweet and full of tender longing. Full of hope that maybe, just maybe if we stick together, the world would vanish and leave us free to do as we always wanted to. That if we loved each other enough that everything would work out.

"I love you Piper." Keegan whispered to me when our lips drew apart and I realized that this was no fantasy. "I always have."

I opened my eyes and sat up, "Keegan." I whispered reaching out to him.

He took my hand and brushed kisses against my fingertips. "Hello Piper." he said huskily.

"You're here."

He nodded, "I came for you. To tell you—that you were more than my friend. That —I love you, I always have."

Tears of joy ran down my face as we embraced.

"And now my love, let's go where nothing will ever harm you again." He said to me. "I've already prepared the perfect place."

I smiled up at him, "Any where you are is perfect."

And then we were gone.

~ The End ~

Thank you everyone that reviewed. You are the reason I continued doing this series to tell each of the hero's (and their heroine's) stories. So again thank you and, for the final time, review this story for me.