NOX, page 15
part #3 of The Royal Protector Academy Series
“How long have we been walking?” she asks.
“Half an hour, maybe more. I told you it was hidden.”
This place is special to me. My favorite spot across any and all realms and worlds that exist. Which is why I brought her here tonight, because Serena is also special to me.
And what I am about to do should be perfect.
After helping her over a fallen tree, I walk her to the clearing, surrounded by water and vegetation.
Slowly I remove the blindfold, watching as she blinks away the fog in her eyes, letting them adjust as she takes in the dark forest around us. Confused, her gaze flicks to mine.
I bring my finger up to my lips, signaling for her not to speak. We remain quiet and wait for the silence around us to grow even deeper while the forest falls asleep. A few seconds later, I can feel the trees sleeping and the mystical energy rising, as a surreal hush inhibits the noise of even the air around us.
Then it happens. One by one, pieces of the forest begin reawakening as they come to life and produce a dim glow like night-lights around us. The bioluminescent plants cause the still water, leaves, flowers, moss, and other vegetation to glow in the dark in a bluish-green-purplish glow.
Serena turns in a circle, taking it all in with awe.
“Welcome to Foxfire Forest,” I speak quietly.
“Why are you whispering?”
“We have to, so as not to frighten the foxfire plants.”
“Foxfire, you mean fairy fire plants?”
I nod. “The plants live deep within the trees’ bark. When luciferase reacts with luciferin, it emits light. The plant’s spores travel in the wind. When they land, they thrive on the moss and water, which is why everything has this dim glow to it.”
“This is . . . it’s insanely beautiful, Tristan.” Her quiet tone is full of amazement. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Come on,” I take her hand and we walk towards a larger-than-life tree. Placing my palm on the bark, I conjure a small archway in the trunk toward the bottom. Once it’s large enough for us to fit through, I tug her inside the tree.
When the greenish-bluish light appears, I follow Serena’s gaze to the top of the tree. It’s still, as if frozen, as she takes in the sight of thousands of glow worms waking up to cover the inside canopy with twinkling lights. The worms cling to the roots and vines hanging from the top of the tree, making it appear like a huge glowing natural chandelier.
“It’s breathtaking,” she whispers.
When I look back down, Serena’s penetrating eyes capture mine and instantly, I’m calm. Everything around me disappears, obliterated by her presence.
In this moment, I am physically incapable of taking my eyes off her, and yet, I’m somehow aware that soon a dark, dangerous energy will take my soul from her, leaving her with only my heart, because she owns it.
“You are breathtaking,” I reply.
My pulse begins to beat wildly again, stealing the air from my lungs as her gaze drinks in mine.
Exhaling, I take a knee in front of her and hold both her hands in mine, looking up at her curious expression through my lashes as she wonders what I’m doing.
“The moment I met you, you sparked and ignited something somewhere inside of me. The first time I saw you in that field, dancing naked in the rain, I was sure that in my entire existence, I’d never seen anyone so bewitching. And I was right. You are beguiling in both beauty and intelligence. And while our connection started way before you took your first breath, the fact that we exist, as one, takes mine away every single day.” I swallow, taking a moment because she is staring at me so intensely. “Even in this moment of madness we are living in, I’ve never been so certain of anything in my whole life as I am about my love for you. I promise to protect and love you, until the last bit of life leaves my body. I will love only you, forever, in both our physical existences and spiritual eternities.”
She exhales loudly as I pull out the ring I had made for her months ago, when I renounced the throne and took on the position as chancellor of the Royal Protector Academy.
The band is hematite, my protector stone, designed with vines that match her protector bracelet. In the center is a large princess-cut emerald, her protector stone in the shape of the title that she hates, but wears with honor.
Hidden within the stone is a barely noticeable sketch of the Sun of Vergina insignia—our prophecy. Our link.
“Will you, Serena Elizabeth Vivian St. Michael, daughter of Abigail and Callan, princess and heir of the gargoyle race, do me, Tristan Armel Gallagher, son of Ophelia and Rionach, prince and heir to the woodland realm,” I pause for a moment, taking in a deep breath before adding, “and son to Gage Gallagher, second in command of the Paris clan of gargoyles”—tears form in her eyes at my acceptance of my gargoyle bloodline—“do me the great honor of being my betrothed?”
With tears streaming down her cheeks, we stare at each other. The moment and silence seem to last forever, before her voice cracks with emotion. “I know of no greater honor that I could have than to be yours. Yes, in every way.”
Standing, I step closer and kiss her.
The second her mouth is on mine, I stop breathing.
Serena shudders in my hands, and I release a half growl, half moan from her reaction. I part her lips, deepening the kiss. Memorizing the way she tastes and feels. Her lips are soft, silky. Our kiss slows, becoming something infinitely more intimate. It’s so easy to get lost in her, lost in the connection between us. The world—the universe and all its realms—cease to exist.
When I pull back, our breaths come out in rough gasps.
Serena’s eyes open slowly, dazed.
I take in a deep breath and slide the ring on her finger.
Serena looks down at it. “It’s insanely perfect.”
“You’re insanely perfect.”
She lifts her hand, staring at it. “I already agreed to take your name. All this wasn’t necessary, Tristan.”
I take her face in my palms so she looks at me. “You deserve everything I can offer you, and more. Especially a romantic gesture and a proper, royal proposal.”
“A simple ‘will you marry me’ would have worked too.”
I shake my head. “Not epic enough.”
“Well,” she laughs. “This is pretty fucking epic.”
“The best proposals always are.”
She frowns.
“What’s wrong?”
“Now we definitely have to tell my parents.”
“With a love like ours, what could go wrong?”
Serena
EVERYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG has since we’ve returned to the Royal Protector Academy. While my family was extremely happy and grateful to see me alive and in once piece, it turns out Tristan was less than upfront with me about just how pissed off my father is at him. It’s bad.
“You piece of shit!” he aims a dagger at Tristan’s heart.
“Dad, put the dagger down.” I lift my hands in the air and jump in between them, frantically looking around Chancellor Davidson’s old office for my family’s help.
“If my daughter wasn’t standing in front of you, I would stab you in the heart,” my father threatens.
“Babe.” Mom takes a few cautious steps toward Dad.
Once she’s next to him, she slides her palm over his arm and pushes his wrist down, so he lowers the dagger.
Gently, she leans into his ear. “Callan, the vein in your forehead is popping out. You know what that does for your skin complexion. Come sit down. Let’s talk, calmly.”
Defeated, he nods. “You’re right, Abs.” His eyes meet mine. “Sorry, pumpkin. I didn’t mean to go all Hulk on you.”
“Or my fiancé?” I add.
My father points at Tristan. “Don’t call him that.”
My mother forces a smile that looks more like she’s baring her teeth at us instead of calming the situation, as she laces her fingers with my father’s and drags him over two chairs before whispering, “You always wanted a son, babe.”
With a curse, Tristan walks over to me and grabs my hands. “It’s going to be fine, I promise.”
“And if it’s not?” My voice wavers.
“Then at least we had last night.” A smile plays at the corner of his lips before we take the two empty seats across from my mom and dad.
I grab the one in front of my dad, just in case he goes Hulk-green again. Both my uncles—Asher and Keegan—and both my aunts—Eve and Kenna—stand behind my parents with their arms crossed, all watching us with mixed expressions.
Zander and Mags were excused to meet up with our friends Ryker and Ireland, and to debrief the protectors who attend the Academy about the Diablo Fairies and Nox.
Things haven’t gone quite how I thought they would when we shared our engagement news with everyone a few minutes ago. I mean, I didn’t think it would go well, but I hadn’t imagined my father pulling a weapon on Tristan.
I glance at my father. He has on a T-shirt that reads DAD—and then underneath—a daughter’s first and only love.
Subtle.
Tristan clenches and unclenches his fists next to me.
I shift my focus to the bookshelves behind my family, running the length of one of the walls. Each row is filled with leather-bound books. The sun filtering in from the windows casts squares of light across the rows. Nervously, I count the squares in my head as the silence in the room stretches.
My mom shifts in her chair, catching my gaze before she plasters on a brighter-than-life smile. “What a very romantic proposal,” she blurts out, using her nervous tone.
It’s the one she uses when she doesn’t know what to say or how to respond. I’ve heard it a thousand times over the years, but it’s never been directed at me—until now.
My dad places his hand over his heart, as if in pain.
“And the ring!” Aunt Eve chimes in. Her overly excited voice is loud in the silence of the room, causing all of us to startle. “It’s . . . stunning. Really. It’s just . . .” she trails off, biting the inside of her cheek. “Stunning.”
When she realizes how she sounds, she frowns at herself.
“You said stunning twice, siren,” Asher states, amused.
“I’m nervous. This is awkward.” Eve replies, trying to whisper-shout, but it’s more of a shout-whisper.
“Dad,” I prompt.
“I think I am having a heart attack,” he says, then looks at my mother. “Abs, can gargoyles have heart attacks?”
“Aw, there you are, Callan. I knew you’d make a comeback.” Uncle Asher pats my father’s shoulder.
My mom gives my dad a tight smile. “I don’t think you are having a heart attack, babe.”
He exhales. “I definitely am. Like, a massive coronary.”
“Should we get you some aspirin?” Uncle Asher asks.
“Asher!” Eve swats at his arm.
“What? Supposedly it helps prevent heart attack stuff.” He waves his arm at his brother. “It thins the blood.”
“He isn’t having a heart attack,” she grits her teeth.
“Callan is pretty pale,” Uncle Keegan inserts.
“And short of breath,” Aunt Kenna points out.
I cringe. “Why is everyone here, again?” I ask my mom.
“Hillary said it takes a village to raise a child. This is our village.” Mom grants me her normal relaxed smile.
“I’m raised. And about to get married, so . . .”
Dad makes a strange pained sound in the back of his throat. “I need to lie down,” he announces, crawling out of the chair and laying on the floor, on his back, in front of us.
“Serena, I think you stop using the m-word, yeah?” Uncle Asher suggests.
“By the grace. She’s pregnant,” Aunt Kenna declares. “I mean, why else would she agree to marry the traitor’s son?”
Uncle Keegan shrugs. “Maybe he brainwashed her.”
My head falls into my hands. “This family needs to learn boundaries.”
Aunt Eve laughs. “Boundaries? Good luck with that. Especially with these two as your parents. Get used to it; they’ll be in the delivery room with you.”
“I’m surprised they weren’t in the room giving pointers and cheering you on during conception,” Asher adds.
“I’m not pregnant,” I snap out. “Or brainwashed.”
Dad reaches for my mom’s hand dramatically. “Abs, I think I’m dying. Slowly. That is what this is. All the blood is draining from my heart, which is why I am in pain.”
With an exaggerated eye-roll, my mom smiles down lovingly at him, patting his hand. “It’s okay, baby. It’s almost over. Go toward the light.”
“All right. I’ve had enough,” Tristan stands. “I’m done.”
I jump up and grab his arm. “Where are you going?”
“Anywhere but here, Serena.” He looks down at me.
“Why?”
“Why?” He motions to my dad, who is now pretending to reach for the light. “Do I really have to explain myself?”
“I’m the king, so . . . you kinda do to me,” Asher interjects, causing us both to narrow our eyes at my uncle.
He shrinks back, stepping behind Eve. “Just sayin’.”
Tristan exhales loudly. “Your family is insane.”
I frown. “I know.”
Tristan stares at the carpet, his fingers twitching at his side. “You know what? I thought I could do this, but I can’t. I’m sorry. You are tied to them by blood and . . . I just—”
My dad’s head jerks up, watching us.
I stalk toward Tristan. “Don’t do this.”
He shakes his head, staring into my eyes. “I want you to know, to feel how much I love you. I would do anything for you, raindrop. Anything. Believe me when I say that.”
“But—”
“Anything but them,” he whispers.
“So that’s it? You’re just going to walk away from me? Because of my family? After all we’ve been through?” I yell.
Tristan closes his eyes.
“Look at me,” I demand.
He opens his eyes and stares into mine. “I have given them absolutely no reason not to trust me. I live to protect you. They haven’t even given me a chance to show them that. To this clan, I will always be a traitor’s son. The protector who put their blood, their heir in danger.”
I grab his hand tightly. “I don’t feel that way.”
“But they do. And they are an extension of you.”
“So that’s it?”
“This,” he motions between us. “It’s over. I’m done. I’m walking away. It isn’t because I want to, but because I can only handle so much rejection and distrust from your clan.”
“You aren’t someone who gives up,” I attempt.
“They’ve forced me to give up.”
“Fine.” With a trembling lip, I pull the ring off my finger and hold it out to him. “I love you,” I whisper.
Tristan slowly reaches out to take the ring.
“Tristan, wait a minute,” my father says, and gets up off the floor. He walks over to us and takes the ring out of my hand, holding it tightly in his.
“We’re all going to die,” Asher whispers behind us.
I glance up, looking at Tristan. His eyes narrow.
My father steps slightly in front of me, separating me from Tristan, and folds his arms across his chest. “I’m still pissed that Serena was kidnapped. But not at you. Not anymore. You brought her back safely, and sacrificed yourself to do so. For that, this clan is now in your debt. All that aside, you should have come to me and asked me for her hand. I would have totally said fuck no, but still, I should have been asked.”
Tristan dips his chin. “Understood.”
“I know we exchanged some harsh words the last time we saw one another.” Dad pauses and sighs. “Well more like, I yelled and you took it, but Serena is my daughter. My only daughter. I deserve the rights and respect that come with being her father.”
“Yes, sir. You do,” Tristan agrees.
“Good,” Dad nods. “We agree then.” Dad turns to Mom and grins brightly. She gives him two encouraging thumbs up like he’s a toddler before he turns back to Tristan, less stern.
“Dad—”
“I’m not done, pumpkin.”
“Okay,” I exhale.
“At the end of the day, it’s Serena’s choice. And because the universe has a cruel sense of humor, my daughter picked, and loves, you. Believe it or not, Gage has always been considered a member of this family. The crazy-ass member who drives us all to drink and kill ourselves, but he’s still a part of this clan. Which makes you one too. We call him a traitor, but it’s done out of love and respect. I know it doesn’t always sound like it, but it is. And . . . Abs is right. I have always wanted a son. Granted, in my head his name was Thor, but your name starts with a T, so we can make that work. Maybe you’ll let me call you Thor?”
“No.”
“As a nickname?”
“No.”
“It’s a good nickname.”
“Still no.”
“We’ll table it for now.”
Tristan exhales roughly. “Fine. Tabled.”
“Can you peel potatoes?”
“What?” Tristan asks, taken aback.
“We have family dinners every Sunday. New members peel the potatoes. Ask Gage if you don’t believe me.”
Tristan looks around, confused. “I guess.”
“You guess, or yes, I can peel them?”
“Yes. I can peel.”
Dad rubs his thumb over his bottom lip, staring at Tristan for a moment before turning to me.
Leaning in, he lowers his voice to a soft whisper. “Are you positive? You really, really, really want him?”
“I do.”
“Forever?”
“Yes.”
“This isn’t like when you were ten and you wanted to sell Uncle Keegan at your lemonade stand because he sneezed on you. If Thor sneezes on you, you will still have to love him. Forever means . . . forever, pumpkin.”
“If Tristan sneezes on me, I promise to still love him.”
“Even if the sneeze contains a virus and you get sick?”
“Even if I get sick.”
