ROSES FOR RACHEL: EPISODES 31-40
Episode 39
I knelt at his side, putting my hands on his arm. He sighed, bringing his other hand to land on mine, then pulling it up, making me stand.
He pulled me around to be standing in front of him and his eyes slowly moved up my ruined dress then to my face.
His face crumpled, and tears began to pour from his eyes as he stood up, pulling me to wrap my arms around him. “Just be here with me.” He whispered into my hair, and I held him tighter.
“I’m so sorry, Calvin.” I whispered back as I felt his body shake.
He straightened his back, holding me at arm’s reach in front of him, looking hard at my face. “I know…I know he was an enormous ass, but…”
“But he was your dad.” I finished for him. “I understand.” I told him, tilting my head trying to understand his new expression.
He sucked his lips into his mouth and closed his eyes, sighing. “I’ll be fine.” He said. “I just never expected this to happen.
I thought he’d always be around to be a pain in my a$s, and that I’d always be a prince, a title with no power. But now…” He paused shaking his head. “I don’t know if I know how to run a kingdom.”
I reached out for his hands, holding them tightly. “Calvin, I know you’ll be a great king!” I insisted. “Don’t doubt yourself.”
He nodded his head. “I don’t want to be like him.” He said after a minute.
“Then don’t be.”
He smiled finally, his dimples making a brief appearance. “I’m glad you’re ok, Rachel.” He said. “I hated not being able to come back to you.”
I shrugged. “You were a little busy.” I pointed out.
He backed up to sit back down in the blue chair, then pulled me over to sit across his lap. “It was…it was madness.” He admitted. “I’ve never seen so much…” His voice dropped off.
“Hundreds of years ago back before my father took the kingdom from an insane king, riots and attacks were normal, but there hasn’t been any uprising since my father had been king.
The people used to love him.” He explained. “He was ambitious and tough. He did whatever it took to make his people happy and to earn their respect, but along the way, he changed, he became complacent with being royal, and he let the people down.”
I nodded, studying his handsome profile while he stared blankly at his hand on top of my leg. I felt so bad for him and I couldn’t imagine what things must be going through his mind now, but I needed to know more about what had happened. “Calvin, what happened? Where did the attack come from, and what happened to…your dad?”
He sighed, his eyes looking far away, like he was seeing it all over again. “It came so fast, Rachel.” He said lowly. “They mobilized after my father made some stupid announcement, but they had to have already had the plan, because it worked too perfectly. They were staying above ground somewhere on the main land, but they weren’t just from Ireland.
They were from all over, all the most influential vampire providences. They were so well organized.” He awed. “They came in, and they just started attacking, anyone and everyone. Ripping people limb from limb, then dropping matches as they went.
A large group of them fought their way into the guard’s barracks and they klled dozens, then took the highest ranked ones, forcing them to give them the code to get to my father’s suite.” He said. “They held him here, tied him up with chains covered in juniper.”
“How did they touch it?” I asked surprised.
“They had humans helping them.” He said quickly. “They tied him up, and all the time I’m trying to break through to get to him, they to..rtured him.
They finally let me in, and they offered me a choice.” He paused. “I didn’t give them the answer they wanted, so they klled him in front of me.” I held his face in my hands.
“What choice?” I asked curiously.
He shook his head. “It’s not important.” He said. “I told them I wouldn’t do it.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
He looked firmly into my eyes. “I…I just can’t, Rachel.” He said. “Anyway, they fled from the suite, leaving me to watch my father’s body burn. Most of them got away, but the guards caught some of them.
They want me to be king, and that’s why they didn’t kll me even after I told them I wouldn’t help them.” He looked hard at my face. “Rachel, I have to kill them.” He said firmly. “All of them.” He sighed, leaning his forehead against mine. “They’ll keep going after people I love, whatever they have to do to get what they want, so I have to leave.”
I leaned away, my eyes wide and heart pounding. “Leave?” I repeated. “What are you talking about?”
“I have to.” He said sadly. “I have to protect you, and everyone else, so I’m going to hunt them down.” He sounded determined, and angry. “We got information from one of the men we captured that the ones heading up this rebellion are in Germany.
I have to go there and I will fight until every single person who would threaten what I love, is dead. They wanted a ruthless king, and now they’re getting one.”
“But, Calvin.” I tried to protest, but he kssed me, then stood us up.
“I know you don’t want me to, but it’s what I’ve got to do. They killed my father, my people, and they’ll kill you if they get a chance, and I won’t let that happen.” He said. “I’m leaving tomorrow night.” He told me and my throat felt dry and my mind started going crazy. “Rachel,” He said, getting my attention back by holding my face tightly, his eyes probbing mine. “I want to marry you first.” He said. “Please say you will.” He smiled. “Marry me tonight, please, baby?”
My heart stopped and my mouth wouldn’t work. “I…um, well…” I stuttered.
Calvin laughed at me, kissing me gently. “Marry me, Rachel.” He whispered against my lips. “I don’t want to leave without knowing you’re mine.”
“I’ve always been yours.” I whispered without even thinking about it. “Let’s get hitched.”
ROSES FOR RACHEL: EPISODES 31-40
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