Author's Note:
Hiya! I just wanted to thank you all again for giving this story a chance, and I am so glad that you're enjoying it. Please stay tuned for the author's note after the chapter. It'll have information about the species and realms.
Garrett, however, refused to get any rest. Instead, he opted to stand guard by the door, while I slept with the baby on the cot.
Sleep, however, didn't come easily to me, especially with all the tension that was present inside within the small home.
I felt as if I couldn't take my eyes off Cas because something would happen to him. I tried to calm myself by making sure he was all right. Feeding him when needed, changing the cloth diapers that I had conjured while waiting and preparing for his arrival, and even holding him close while he slept.
I couldn't help but smile down at his cherubic face. He was asleep. Yet his brow was puckered, and a small pouting formed on his lips as he slept as if he could feel the tension in the air just as we all were.
I worried that something would hurt him, and even me. After all, I was only a Fae, I had trained for defense and protection but I was told to never use it against a live being, which worried me. Could I turn my back against our laws and nature to protect my son? Would I?
Those thoughts plagued my mind as I finally sunk into a full sleep while Garrett sat by the door, watching the room.
"Come out, come out, Fae. You can run but you can not hide. I will find you, and get what I need from you." An eerie, daunting masculine voice spoke.
I felt as if I was running to escape through the darkness, fear coursing through me as I ran.
"Help! Someone help! Help me!" I scream.
Come daybreak, I woke with a gasp, sitting on the cot and almost causing Cas to wake up too as I sat there covered in sweat.
It took me a while to realize I was still in the house with Jasper's relatives, safe. When I finally calmed down, I slowly stood up and turned to look for Garrett.
He walked in a moment later with some tea for me. "Hey, are you all right?" He asked me as I stared out the window, with arms crossed over my now sore and engorged chest, wincing as I strained to keep my hands pressed to my body.
I nodded, stiffly, "Aye. I need to use the lavatory. Watch Cas for me." I quietly excused myself before rushing out the door.
I took a moment to calm myself, splashing water onto my face over the basin, before releasing myself and heading back to the bathroom.
He sat on the cot, slowly rocking Cas, as he held him in his forearms. Humming a soothing song that we used to sing as we played in the courtyard when we were younglings ourselves.
"Where is Jasper?" I asked Garrett, quietly, as he looked up at me.
"He has gone to make contact with Edward, in the river half a mile from here." He informed me.
I nodded, before turning to look out the window at the sunrise. "We need to go back to Elysianth." I finally said.
He hums, "Is that wise? While the youngling is so small and defenseless?" He questions.
I turn to look back at him as I slowly walk over to him before I bend down to pull Cas into my arms. "He'll know where I am. I can feel him, I think he feels me too. We'll both be in danger if his dragon reacts badly. We need to leave." I urged.
Garrett sighs but nods before standing up and grabbing my cloak before dropping it onto my shoulders. He then pulled off his undershirt and handed it to me. "It's for Cas. He spit up." He says before I can ask.
I give him a grateful look, before turning towards the double doors on the right side of the room.
Without hesitation, I hand Cas to my brother and wave my hands to open the portal.
As soon as it opens, my brother hands Cas to me and nods.
We step through and hear the portal close behind us as the sound of the door of the room bursts open. Alerts us that someone has arrived.
"Isabella, wait!" An all too familiar masculine voice yelled, but it was too late, the portal had already closed behind us.
The moment we walked through my doors, we made our way down the corridor, and in the direction of our parents' living quarters.
Our mother was sitting in her chair, sewing something as we walked in.
"Mother," Garrett spoke, gaining her attention.
She immediately stood up, and rushed towards us, pulling my brother into a fierce hug, before turning to pull me into one as well. Only for Garrett to block her from coming closer to me. She hesitates for a second, watching us before stepping back and smoothing the nonexistent wrinkles of her yellow gown, acting as if nothing happened.
"Garrett, Isabella, am I relieved to see you two, are you all right? Did something happen?" She asked, studying our faces.
I swallowed hard, "I'm afraid nothing good happened while we were away. James Hunter found us, twice." I informed her, as I kept Cas obscured in my cloak, taking a few steps back.
"Has he harmed you? Are you all right? Why are you avoiding my touch?" She asked, concerned.
"I'm afraid you can not come close to me… at the moment, Mother." I informed her.
She frowned, as she looked between us concerned. "What has happened?" She demands.
Garrett rubs the back of his neck, "I'm afraid you can't go near her at the moment. Isabella bonded with the heir of Vespera, unknowingly." He informs her.
She frowns as she peeks around his back to see the bundle I hold to my chest protectively.
She stares at me, before turning to glare at my brother, "How could you allow this to happen? You were supposed to keep her safe. Her reputation will be tarnished if this gets out. The name and safety of this kingdom rests on her future betrothal and you allowed her to lay with a man who isn't her betrothed?" She gasps, as she shakes her head and begins to pace the length of her room.
Garrett shakes his head, "The future of this kingdom is in your hands. You and my father are the rulers, not the other way around. Stop pressuring us to unite more kingdoms. You've already lost one child. Would you like to lose all of us?" He retorts, standing stiffly before me.
I stare between them, unsure of what to say.
"Garrett, she was the last maiden in the family! Do you have any idea of what will happen if any of the other realms find this out, a war will be declared on us!" She shouts, causing me to step back and clutch Cas closer to me.
"No, it won't. She and the Vesperian prince are bondmates. They've been marked. They have yet to meet in person, yet have a youngling together. This is all the goddess Eris' doing. This is meant to be." He assures her.
My mother gaps, and turns to look at me. "M-Marked? No, nobody receives the mark prior to the physical bond, and unification process. This hasn't happened in a millennia. Since Princess Vasilia of Luminae to Gustav of Vespera." She whispers in disbelief. "Show me." She demands, as she steps forward in my direction.
A shield immediately appears before me, as I take a step back, holding Cas closer to me.. "Careful, mother. I would not want to see you get hurt." I warned her.
She nods, before taking a step back, "How did this happen?" She asked me, disbelief still in her voice.
I frowned, chewing on my bottom lip as I briefly began to wonder if I should tell her what happened three months ago, but quickly realized that I should not. I can not trust her to control herself around Cas, and I do not want anyone to get harmed. "I haven't a clue. I just know that it did." I finally respond as Garrett turns to look at me, disbelief coloring his features.
"Show me." She repeats, this time in a gentler tone, maintaining a good distance from us.
I look over at Garrett unsure, watching as he gives me a slow nod, before staring back at our mother. She is staring at us concerned before I take a deep breath and nod, before I slowly lift my arm, and reveal my upper arm to her.
The mark had turned darker as time went by, the red around it receding until it was no longer there. Now the colors looked bright and vibrant. Almost matching those of my garden.
"Mighty Oberon. How could this be?" She gasped, as her hands flew to cover her mouth.
"Eris has granted me her favor. This is my child, and Prince Edward's. The babe looks exactly like both of us. There is no way to deny it. The sight and evidence that is before you does not lie." I whispered as I felt Cas nuzzle my chest and coo softly.
"I thought that after what your sister had done, that we'd never receive forgiveness from the goddess. She has proven me wrong, and I am proud that she has." She whispers tearfully.
I blink hard as I nod, and turn away. whispering a faint "yes" before gulping.
"We need to gather supplies for the babe's care. A wet nurse, clothing, blankets, nourishments for the bae to survive in this realm, and assign a guard to protect its nursery ." My mother listed off.
I immediately turned, "No one is coming near my son. Not you, mother, not a wet nurse, or a guard. I am to protect this child with my life, and I shall do so. Even from you. I will do what I must for my son…" I responded tensely.
Garrett gives her a sharp headshake, "No one can touch that youngling, mother. The first year of that youngling is crucial it be protected by Isabella. No one but the mother can only come close to it. You pose a danger to it." He tells her.
She frowns, "Nonsense, none of you were ever in danger under my care. Why would I pose a threat to my own grandchild?" She asked, offended.
I held back the need to roll my eyes at her before looking at my brother, who gave me a sympathetic look.
This only served to set me off. Anger bubbling up to the surface as I stare at her. Why couldn't she understand? Why did she always have to try to have her way?
"We are all Faes, Mother! My son is a dragon youngling!" I enunciate, tensely. "You know that the laws must be followed in accordance with those of the species. This is ancient Dragon Law. I will not break it to appease you." I respond, narrowing my eyes at her.
She stared at me in disbelief as I held out a hand in the air, before me posed and ready, if need be to protect myself, should she choose to ignore my warnings.
My mother was anything if not stubborn. It was probably why we always clashed. We were too alike for our own good.
The doors suddenly burst open, causing me to turn, and hold out my other hand in warning.
I almost sagged in relief as my father, an older blonde man, who looked strangely familiar, and Edward walked in, all tense.
My mother ignored the arrival and turned to look at me, "I would never harm anyone. I never harmed any of you children. Why is this any different?" She asked.
I sighed, opening my mouth to answer when Edward shook his head at me, before he turned to look directly at her."Because you are Renata of the Elvan clan of Formenos. You can not come near them, or the magic surrounding the youngling will harm you." Edward says heatedly, as he stands a few feet away from me, immediately placing himself between my mother and us.
My father throws me a concerned look, as he looks in the direction of my brother. "I commanded you to protect her." He told him.
Garrett nodded, "Aye. I did what I could, she was never left alone. Not one moment, except while we slept at night. This is all Fate's doing." He answers honestly.
My father frowned and turned to look at me. "Then how did this happen, Isabella?" He asked me.
"If you are referring to my maidenhood, purity, and honor. It is still intact. I can assure you nothing physical has ever happened between Edward and I." I informed him.
My words only serve to confuse my father further as he stares between Edward and I. "Is this some form of witchcraft then?" He asks.
I hold back my amusement. Why does everyone immediately blame witches and their craft when something like this happens? Witches aren't the most powerful thing out there. Power and magic varies in all our species. Dragons may be the biggest of the species, but that doesn't mean that their magic is the most powerful. Faes can cancel it out without breaking a sweat, but that doesn't mean we are more powerful. The type of magic used is what the outcome will be. It is much like Angels and Demons. Angels can be far more powerful than demons, but with the correct spell, a demon can defeat an angel.
I want to point this out but a look from Edward silences me.
He then turned to look at my father and shook his head in response, "We dream walked. Our magic touched, and the bond was formed unintentionally. You have my word that nothing inappropriate ever happened between us. Her maidenhood was never at risk with me." He reassures him.
This causes the older blonde man to nod as if answering a silent question between them but keeps his sharp green eyes on my father.
My father's frown deepens. To a stranger, it would seem as though my father had aged a millennia over the course of these last three months and a half. The ebony of his curly hair now sprinkled with white, and the wrinkles in the corners of his eyes were more prominent. The same as my mother.
My father lets out a long, tired breath, shaking his head, "Then how was that youngling made? Can you reassure me that her reputation and purity have remained untarnished?" He asked him.
Edward opens his mouth, before biting his lip, and closing it again as he makes a noise in the back of his throat.
I refrain from rolling my eyes at both of them, before staring my father down. "I am still pure. I have not been nor did I ever plan to be with a man. Much less did I plan to bond with a dragon. But it has happened. There is nothing to be done about it. So, what are the consequences of this?" I asked, tensely.
I was prepared to die if that meant my son would not be harmed, but I could only hope that someone would watch over him if I ceased to exist. I didn't care about myself at the moment. I would fight for him.
My father sputtered for a second before the older gentleman sighed, "Dragon law states that it is forbidden for a youngling to be produced in any way other than in a bondmate ceremony. Their law states that this child must be annihilated." He said.
Edward tensed, as his eyes turned the familiar shade of blue. "Absolutely not! No one is going to lay a hand on my son!" He roars, as he takes a protective stance before me.
Author's Note:
Fae Realm: Elysianth
-Leader: Charles and Renata
-Sectors: Luminea, Amethysta, Elysuim
Dragon Realm: Vespera
-Leaders: Carlisle & Esme
-Sectors: Xavian, Azariel, Nyxara
Elvan Realm: Formenos
-Leader : Obadion& Agada
-Sectors: Cyth Shaers, Yo Caelora, Eena Tirion
Mermaid Realm: Ocecia
-Leader: Triton & Odina
-Sectors: Narayanton, Haeseamar, Arrenara
Witches Realm: Angmar
-Leader: Eliphas & Gwendolyn
-Sectors: Oclitria, Ucisos, Aeccenara
Demon Realm: Isengard
-Leader: Agares & Mara
-Sector Runevior, Nylander, Zephyrus
Angel Realm: Luminaris
-Leader: Cael & Aniela
-Sectors: Celestia, Zephyrine, Aurethia
Human Realm: Estrade
-Leader: Cole & Constance
Note:
There are no sectors for the human realm because they're countries, which is common knowledge.