Chapter 35

The palace was as quiet and serene as always when we arrived. The bright sunlight lit up the courtyard and greenery.

I felt a small sense of relief at being away from the darkness I’d felt leaving that house. Not to mention, I was here with Rayne and would soon be with his father.

At least this place felt safe. But along with this feeling of relief was also one of worry about what was to come.

I had been thinking hard on our way here about everything that had happened, scrutinizing it all in my head over and over. While I wasn’t completely certain I believed everything Lucille had been saying, I did believe that she carried a certain fear of her mother.

There was something very wrong about Camille, like darkness emanated from her. But could a Fae carry such a pronounced darkness like I swore she did?

I had this bad feeling that it was more than just her overwhelming spite for those she felt should be beneath her. Not to mention, I feared I knew who might be helping influence it.

Selenia stepped in front of Rayne, looking at him squarely with her hands on her hips. “All right, what gives?! Did you hear that something was in that house that I haven’t?!” she demanded.

“You’re honestly going to stand here and tell me that you didn’t sense anything?” Rayne responded, crossing his arms.

Selenia hesitated a little before answering, “I sensed the tenseness in the air, and yes, something felt a bit odd with Madame Camille, but it could’ve simply been her demeaning tone toward us. I’m certainly not used to someone doing that to me or someone close to me.”

Rayne let out an exhausted sigh. “You still have a long way to go then.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!”

“It means that you missed the darkness surrounding her and that household. It should’ve been very obvious once she decided to show herself.”

Selenia backed off slightly, realizing that she’d lost the argument. I felt a bit bad for her too.

I had also sensed that darkness better than she apparently had. But then, she was still younger, so it was reasonable that she’d had plenty more to learn when it came to those things.

Not to mention, she might’ve been a bit overprotected at times because she was the only girl. “Perhaps, but I was keeping my senses up as best I could, and it’s not like I didn’t sense that something was off.” She pouted.

“No one said anyone was blaming you, and it’s not like those are the easiest to pick up on. That was the first I did too even after watching that place for the last week. But it’s better if you allow me, Rin, and our father to handle it now. If it’s what I’m thinking, then it’s going to be both dangerous and delicate,” Rayne told her.

“Dangerous and delicate?” I repeated, feeling slightly confused by that second part.

“Yes. It’s not often we have to deal with something like this, and I’ve heard that it was disastrous when one tried to invade the Eastern Lands back when I was a kid. It’s probably better not to take too many chances with things,” Rayne elaborated.

“That is true, but this situation may be a bit different than that one was,” we heard Jekia say.

We turned to see him coming toward us. Lana was with him and looked concerned too. It was like they already knew what Rayne was coming to tell them.

“Different? How? Because of Luna being here?” Selenia asked him.

“That is a small piece of it, but it’s better if we speak about this inside,” Jekia answered.

“Are you speaking to Rin about it too?” Rayne asked him.

“Yes. I’ve had Emelio call on him so that he may be here with us. It will be much safer for all of you to be involved and know what’s currently going on.”

I felt the knot forming in my stomach as I heard this, knowing all too well what it may have been. But I wasn’t certain of what I could do about it, especially with the control that had been exercised over me at times now.

We headed into the palace, going to the north parlor where Jekia had us all sit down and wait for Rin. I was doing my best to act normal, yet felt very nervous about all of this.

What was going to happen here? How was Jekia intending to handle things?

Those answers came after Rin and Aurora arrived. That was when Jekia decided to level with all of us and tell us what Emelio had told him.

“So you believe that the incubus that fathered Luna is behind all of the rumors and those attacks against her?” Rin was saying.

“We do,” Jekia confirmed. “While I know that you and Rayne suspected he could have involvement, it took much research for us to prove anything. He’s covered his tracks quite well in this.”

“Indeed so, but that’s not unexpected when it comes to those like him. The incubi may be considered lower-ranked Fallen, but they still tend to be just as tricky,” Emelio added.

“I don’t understand. Why would he be trying to cause me trouble now? I’ve spent my entire life not knowing anything of him. Is it because I’m here?” I asked them.

“That we’re not completely certain of, although we have entertained the possibility. However, part of it may be your age too. You have grown into a young woman, not to mention have entered into an intimate relationship. Those factors alone could certainly attract the attention of one like him and possibly cause him to desire for you to be like him,” Emelio suggested.

“It sounds sensible enough, but what can we do about this?” Rayne inquired.

“Well, we have mostly quelled the malicious rumors,” Rin reminded him. “Our biggest issues would probably be the recent attacks against Luna and the perceived influence this demon could have over at least Madame Camille. There are a lot of possibilities of what he might do with those.”

“Camille has a lot of power in these lands and among the houses too. It could spell a lot more trouble,” Lana lamented.

“True. I have been thinking about that, and I wonder if perhaps it would be better for us to disband the houses until we have this matter settled,” Jekia suggested.

Lana strongly disagreed. “I believe that may cause more harm than good, Jekia. A lot of creatures revere the matchmaking houses and they do play a pivotal role in the villages and towns. Not only do they train the girls to be strong and proper ladies, but they also assist families with different needs or through hard times. There could be much unrest if we disband them even for a short period of time, not to mention many questions of why. Would we be willing to tell them of the issues that have arisen, particularly our suspicions of a demon being involved?”

Jekia nodded solemnly. “Good points, my love. It wouldn’t be in our best interests to have too many know that a Fallen is trying to operate among them. It always tends to cause panic.”

“True, and to be honest, I would much rather not have to involve others if possible. My father’s issues should be with me alone,” I spoke up.

“That’s understandable, but you’re not facing this alone. You are mine and I won’t allow that,” Rayne reminded me.

“Don’t say it so possessively, Rayne. Luna is part of our family and your beta, so what happens to her involves all of us,” Selenia corrected him.

“She knows what I mean!” Rayne countered, looking a bit exasperated again.

“It’s simply how we speak. You know we mean no harm by it,” Rin concurred.

“I’m not worried about how things are worded. I know Rayne’s heart in this and all of yours. I just feel bad that I’ve brought all of this trouble. It’s honestly the last thing I expected either. As I said, my father never wanted any involvement with me before, and I still don’t understand his aim now. Is he hoping that he will get to you all through me?” I wondered.

“We can’t say for certain what his goals are, but we don’t intend to allow him to continue trying to interfere and influence you. We are a family unit, and an attack against one is an attack on all, not to mention I don’t relish the idea of a Fallen traversing my lands, even if he is a lower one. I intend for him to be driven away, whether I must use force or not,” Jekia told me.

“Let us hope that it doesn’t come to that. It’s always quite a risk to fight with any of them, even for one such as you, my lord,” Emelio stated.

“True, but I’m not going to be too concerned over such things for now. Instead, what do you think of what I’ve offered you for now, Rayne?” Jekia continued.

I looked at Rayne. “What offer?”

“He wishes for us to stay at the palace until this is resolved. Typically, it is a better idea for us to stay together whenever there are troubles like this. That way they can’t as easily target just one,” Rayne explained.

“It’s similar to what Rin and I had to do when the troubles with the Golden Queen began. While it couldn’t prevent everything, it did help narrow some things down,” Aurora added.

“I know you don’t like the idea of having to stay here again, but it may be safer for Luna until your father and Emelio can have that demon driven out and sort out what is happening with Madame Camille’s involvement,” Lana told Rayne.

Rayne frowned, huffing as he ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t imagine I’m going to have any real choice in this.”

“Not if you wish to protect Luna. You do know what may happen if he can get to her. Like it or not, her bloodline is still part Fallen, and with that, he will try to exorcise power over her, perhaps even force her into things that could have her driven away to his realms,” Jekia warned him.

That was enough for Rayne to give in, though he still sounded begrudging as he did. “Very well. I won’t allow her to be taken away from me, so I’ll do what I must.”

I did feel bad over all of this, especially knowing that Rayne’s greatest pride aside from having me was having his freedom away from the palace and his family. It wasn’t that he didn’t love them. He simply wanted to do things on his own as much as he could.

My father’s involvement in all of this had essentially forced him right back into what he’d felt for a long time was a cage. This bothered me a lot, and I resolved that I’d talk to Rayne in private a bit later.

I also wanted to make sure that things were okay after the disagreement we’d had the night before. We still hadn’t resolved that one either.

Honestly, it felt a bit overwhelming when I thought about it. There was just so much going on at once.

We ended up using the room Rayne had called his as he’d grown up. It was situated in the East Wing of the palace, a large room with nice white birch furniture and a large canopied bed.

There were three windows on the far side of the room with a cushioned ledge so that one could sit beside them, and the room was decorated in blue and white.

“Well, I can’t say this was what I hoped would happen, but at least things could be a bit safer here, especially with Emelio watching over us,” Rayne was saying as he opened the doors to the large wardrobe so that we could put our clothing away.

I stepped over to the windows as he spoke, looking out at the reddening sky as the twilight began setting in. “I’m sorry about all of this. I never would’ve thought that my father would come after me after you brought me back here,” I apologized.

“There’s no need for you to apologize. You have no control over what he does, and I’m not overly worried about it. We’ll take care of things and get back to our lives soon enough,” Rayne assured me.

I looked down, holding my skirt. “I know you didn’t want to come back here like this. Even if this was out of my control, I still feel like being with me forced you back,” I went on.

“Stop blaming yourself for things. I wouldn’t stay if I didn’t want to, and I don’t feel like this has necessarily forced me back here. I probably need this as much as you do,” Rayne confessed.

That had my attention, and I turned to face him. “Why would you say that?”

“Because I know I’ve been running away from things.” Rayne stopped what he was doing, walking over to me. “I told you before that I’ve been running from all of this, and I’ve continued unconsciously running from things even after we met. But I won’t lose you because I’m weak-minded. I don’t deserve you if I am.”

There was remorse in his eyes, and I recalled the things that he’d told me before. Maybe I had still missed some things about him, although I didn’t feel like he was any kind of weak.

“Wanting to escape what you think is confining you isn’t weak, Rayne,” I informed him. “You’re also not weak if you can stand up and face what you feel are your mistakes. Besides, you are doing everything you can for me, whether you really want to or not.”

“I’m not certain that it’s that I don’t want to be here. Maybe I just didn’t feel like I fit in until now,” Rayne admitted.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

It seemed a bit odd when I considered his relationship with Rin. After all, Rayne was Jekia’s biological son. Why wouldn’t he have felt like he fit in with his own father?

Rayne noticed my confusion. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m not making a lot of sense,” he said. “What I mean is that it felt like I was stuck where I was, whether those feelings were warranted or not. It’s something I’ve thought a lot about recently, and I know I need to stop looking at life that way. Father’s always been right about things happening when they’re meant to.”

“Like meeting me,” I surmised.

“Exactly,” Rayne caressed my face, giving me a gentle kiss. “I’m sorry too. I know I haven’t helped you much in this, and I’m going to change that.”

“I don’t hold any of that against you, and I’ll never blame you for anything that’s happened. No matter what comes, I know you won’t abandon me,” I told him.

“I won’t ever do that. I’ll protect you with my life.” Rayne pulled me into a comforting embrace. “I’m sorry about how I acted over you going there too. I should’ve handled that differently instead of getting mad about you refusing to back down. I guess I’m still working on that too.”

I giggled. “Maybe we both have things we need to keep working on, including talking things out. But it’s fine. At least we can make up afterward.”

Rayne pulled back a little, flashing me a sweet smile. “That reminds me, now that it’s the two of us, there was something I wanted to give you.”

I watched as he pulled a small box from his pocket and knelt on one knee in front of me. Upon opening it, he revealed a stunning silver ring adorned with delicate leaves and a pale stone that shimmered and shifted colors in the light.

“Rayne…” My voice trailed off in wonder as I stared at the beautiful ring.

“I was finally able to find this moonstone and have the perfect ring made for you. Now you and I can always be connected by this. No matter where you go or what happens, I’ll always be able to find you and come to you,” Rayne told me as he slipped the ring onto my finger.

I saw the gentle flash deep within the stone from the power he’d infused into it and my heart fluttered. This gave me hope that things were going to be okay.

Rayne did love me, so much that he’d made sure I had this incredible ring to strengthen our connection.

“It’s wonderful. Thank you so much,” I whispered as I knelt to hug him.

Rayne firmly hugged me back, placing a gentle kiss on my temple before whispering to me, “Everything will be all right. I’ll always protect you, no matter what comes.”