Chapter 242 What's Best

“Don’t,” Alice demanded. “Where are they?! What have you done with these missing kids!”

“It wasn’t me, Alice. Granger did this all on his own.”

“Bullshit! Nothing ever happens without your knowledge,” Alice said.

“I appreciate how highly you think of me, but I assure you, I am not happy about this situation either. But, unfortunately, I underestimated the level topsy to Granger’s turvy.”

“You gave him control of me, without even knowing what he was capable of?”

“I didn’t give him anything,” Holden growled. “You were stolen.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?” Alice hissed.

Holden let out a heavy breath.

“Please be reasonable,” he said calmly. “It’s time to come home, Alice.”

“I’m not coming back,” Alice said firmly.

Holden was quiet.

“Are you with him?” Holden asked. “Your ‘sweet boy’”

Alice clenched her jaw, and she looked around instinctively. He wasn’t watching. He wouldn’t have hesitated to come for her if he knew where she was. She licked her lips before speaking.

“Yes.”

“Let me ask you, Alice, what means more to him? You, or his sister?”

Alice swallowed.

“You know where she is?” Alice asked..

“I do.”

“Tell me.”

“Come home.”

Alice closed her eyes and clenched her jaw.

“No.”

“The missing children are with her too,” he said. “From what I know of Granger, it seems unlikely he will let them leave peacefully.”

Alice took a shaky breath. Her eyes filled with unshed tears.

“I want my memories.”

“Alice… let’s talk about this when you get home.”

“No,” Alice shook her head. She glanced back at the entrance to the house. Axel was still asleep; she felt the steady beat of his heart. “No, if I agree to come back… I get my memories.”

Holden sighed.

“How can I trust you?” he asked. “If you remember that boy, how do I know you won’t just run off again to be with him?”

“I’ll swear it to you, I will make an oath to the Goddess.”

“That means nothing to us, Alice.”

“Well, I won’t let you break my mind… not again.”

Holden was quiet. She heard him smack his lips.

“Fine,” he said. “But, Alice dear, if you break your promise, if you run away, or get in the way of our plans… I will make sure your sweet boy finds his old friend again.”

Alice gasped. His fiery eyes flashed in her mind, the blood. So much blood. She knew if she didn’t return on her own, that was who would come for Axel. Alice swallowed down her fear.

“Fine. I promise. Now tell me, where they are.”

***

Alice sat on the bed beside him. Axel was still asleep. The peaceful expression on his face made her heart ache. She reached out to him, brushing a stray hair back from his cheek.

He looked up at her and she gasped.

“Where are you going?” he whispered, grabbing her hand and pressing it softly to the side of his face.

Alice smiled at him.

“I need to go,” she said.

“Are you running away?” he asked.

“I’m doing what’s best,” she said sadly.

“Not for me,” he said, placing a gentle kiss on her wrist.

Alice gave him a pained smile and held back the tears that threatened to fall.

“Not for me, either,” she whispered.

Axel sat up, he pulled her into his lap and held her.

“I told you,” he whispered, pulling back her hair to reveal the healing mark on her nape. He kissed it tenderly, drawing a shuddering breath from her. “You are mine.”

Alice turned in his arms, straddling him. His arms reflexively moved to rest on her hips.

She pushed away the hair that fell along his shoulder, revealing his own healing mark. She ran the tip of her tongue over it.

Axel moaned softly, his hands on her hips squeezed gently and he lifted his hips up against her. Alice smiled as she felt his arousal.

Staring into his eyes, she smiled. Bringing their mouths together and pouring her love into their kiss.

“I am yours,” she whispered against his lips.

Alice lifted herself on her knees, reaching between them to pull back the blanket that covered Axel’s naked body.

She licked her lips as she saw him on display for her. She wanted to take the time to lick, bite, and taste every part of him. But, unfortunately, that was not possible.

But she would make sure their last moments together were memorable.

Alice untied the sheet she had wrapped around her body, the only thing covering her.

Axel smiled with satisfaction as she unwrapped herself for him like a birthday gift.

She moved closer, pressing her breasts into his chest in order to capture his lips once again. Axel didn’t need any further prodding. With one hand laced into her hair, he pulled her closer, deepening their kiss.

Alice felt the heat pooling between them, the ebb and flow of their bond pushing the pleasure they each felt into each other. She was already so close to her ecstasy, and they had barely begun.

Axel moved his hand down along his own body, reaching for his erection he adjusted himself.

Alice gasped as she felt Axel’s movements. She let out soft pants as he traced the head along her already sensitive opening. Lubricating himself while driving her wild.

Axel’s mouth moved down along her throat to that healing mark, he ran his tongue over it and Alice almost came from the simultaneous sensations.

He touched the mark gently with his tongue. Then, he lined himself up to enter her and placed his lips over her connection to him.

The anticipation alone made Alice feel like her body would erupt at any moment.

“Mine,” Axel whispered.

“Yes,” Alice replied, just a moment before she screamed out in pleasure as he at once thrust into her and bit down on her mark.

Her vision went white, her body thrummed with bliss and euphoria. Alice had never in her life experienced anything like it before.

Her hips moved on their own, meeting his thrusts with vigor and delight, she rode the waves of ecstasy that came with each thrust, feeling him buried deep inside of her.

Alice felt him grow even bigger. She leaned forward, running her tongue over his mark, he held her tighter and thrust himself deeper as his breathing became ragged. Alice smiled as each push sent another pulse of pleasure into her.

She bit down on his mark and he released himself inside of her, triggering another of her own orgasms. They both held each other for dear life as the pleasure rolled over them.

***

“This is Holden isn’t it?” Axel asked as he watched her get dressed.

Axel sat on the end of the bed, already dressed.

“Axel,” Alice said, turning back and looking at him as she pulled on the jeans, she had first arrived in. “You can’t go after him. There is more to him than even I know.”

Axel growled and clenched his jaw, but he nodded in understanding. He felt the fear she held inside, the desperate wish for him to stay safe. It filled him with shame to know that he wasn’t strong enough to protect her, to keep her by his side.

Alice slipped her shirt on and then sat down beside him. Axel pulled her over to sit on his lap and hugged her close.

Alice let out a soft giggle but hugged him just as tight.

“I know why you’re leaving,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I know this is about my sister.”

Alice bit her lip and gave him another squeeze.

“And the kids,” she whispered.

He felt a pang of guilt in his heart. For just a moment he considered arguing. But the children… none of them could accept that risk.

“I’m not giving up on you,” he said. “I will find a way.”

Alice pulled back, she smiled and kissed him tenderly.

“No,” she said.

“Alice, I can’t–”

“I, will find a way,” she said firmly. “You focus on Winter, on the war that’s coming. Don’t come for me, don’t look for me. Stabbings and dragons, remember?”

Axel let out a soft laugh.

“Don’t forget me,” she winked.

“How could I?” he smiled.

“I’m pretty unforgettable,” she smiled.

Axel swallowed hard and pushed back the pain he felt, the sorrow.

“I love you,” he said. “I always have, deep inside.”

She put her hands on his face, holding his gaze on her, as she tenderly stroked his scar with her thumb.

“You have always been with me, and you always will be. I love you, Axel.”

Alice brought them together in a heated kiss, each pouring their regret, their pain, their longing into their last moment.

An hour later, waiting only to make a call, Axel began his journey to the place Alice told him he would find his sister and the missing children.

He was on his way when he felt a sharp disconnect that sent a shockwave through his system. He tripped over himself, falling, and skidding in the dirt as his connection to her was lost, only the familiar emptiness left behind.

Axel howled his misery into the sky.