Chapter forty eight

Edward stood up and seeing him standing, everyone’s attention was on him instantly. He smiled and raised the golden goblet he was holding and sipped from it while everyone watched. His eyes flashed red when he put down the goblet but it didn’t take long to return to blue. “Thank you everyone for joining me in celebrating my Queens birthday.”

“Long live the Queen,” everyone said.

Edward smiled and nodded, then glancing at Aliyah, “he repeated, long live the Queen.”

Aliyah smiled and raised her glass to him, sipping from it. No one knew her drink was actually a pineapple juice. Well, they are soon to find out after all. She thought.

Turning back to his people, Edward’s eyes were shining in joy. “However, today is not only the birthday of my queen.” He could see the confusion in everyone’s eyes and he chuckled, his gaze searching for his son and finding him, he said, “Prince Asher, how would it feel having a baby sister?” he raised an eyebrow.

Asher had glanced their way when his father had stood up and now hearing what he said, he didn’t know how to react. He stood staring at his father before his eyes went to his smiling mother and without a word, he teleported and appeared right in front of her. “You are pregnant?”

“Surprise,” Aliayah laughed.

Hearing the conversation, everyone now knows what was happing and an applause started, followed by series of congratulations. Naomi watched as Asher jumped in joy before hugging his mother and kissing her cheeks. Then turning to everyone, he yelled, “I am going to be a big brother!”

Everyone laughed at his words but his joy was contagious and Naomi found herself smiling and silently congratulating the queen as every where was filled with joy and laughter. It was a happy news that turned a happy party into a marvelous one.

***

“Do you really have to go?” Aliyah asked as Naomi, Asher, Irene and Rasmus stood in the living room, ready to depart to the human realm.

Naomi smiled, “I will come back, hopefully.”

Aliyah chuckled and grabbed her hand, “I will see you in four days. The ceremony would be holding here, I can’t wait to introduce you as the Lady in court.”

Naomi smiled shyly and glanced down, she felt Asher’s hand on her back and shivered. Since their talk last night, even though he revealed some scary things to her, she could say that she has gotten closer to Asher. He was pretty wasted yesterday after the revelation of the queen’s pregnancy so they didn’t get to talk again last night but he has been quite touchy and supportive since this morning and it was starting to make her feel like she really have a boyfriend now. The thought of it alone was making her blush over and sensing the man tightening his hold on her waist, made her knew he knows what she was thinking about.

“Alright, hurry up now. Irene, come back soon,” Aliyah said.

“Of course, I just want to speak with her father,” Irene said and Rasmus placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Goodbye mom, see you soon,” Asher kissed her forehead and she stood on tiptoes and kissed his, making everyone laugh. Irene created a portal and they stepped through it, waving at Aliyah.

The portal opened at the edge of the woods, right behind Naomi’s house and she gulped, wondering how her father was going to react to her absence for three nights straight. “Don’t worry, he will be happy to see you, trust me,” Asher said with a smile. Grabbing her hand, they walked on to the cottage and Irene and Rasmus followed.

Approaching the house, Larry threw open the door, “Naomi,” he called and Naomi stiffened, her movement paused. Larry started running towards her and she closed her eyes, expecting the beating she knew was coming but she found herself enveloped in a bear hug. Strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her up and spinning around. She opened hers, not believing what was happening but sure enough, her father was hugging her. When he put her down, he didn’t let her go. “I have missed you, how have you been?”

Naomi couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. This was the first time her father was hugging her. This was the first time he was smiling so happily to her. This was the first time he had shown so much care and love towards her and she found herself not knowing the best way to react. All her life, she has known of his scoldings, his beatings and his curses but never for once has she experienced his sunny side, his happy side and right now, it was like she was meeting him for the first time.

Asher could feel every emotion that was passing through Naomi and glancing at Larry, his gaze turned murderous. How much has he damaged his daughter that would make her react like this to him hugging her? He just wanted to hit the man but he still had to remind himself that he was Naomi’s father after all.

Irene placed a hand on his and he glanced at her. She shook her head to him and he heaved a sigh, forcing himself to calm down. Eventually, Larry took his attention to them and finally welcomed them inside the house.

“Sit down please,” Larry said and turning to Naomi, he said, “get them something.” Now sitting down too, he said, “I have been expecting you since morning, with the sun setting, I thought you wouldn’t be coming back again.”

“We had to wait till sunset,” Asher replied.

“Oh, that’s okay,” Larry nodded. “I hope my daughter didn’t give you any problem?”

“No, none at all,” Irene smiled. She of all people knew the man wasn’t acting with his eyes and she also knows that to get what she wants, Asher will have to remove his compelling on him. Thinking to that, she glanced at him.

Receiving her glance, Asher sighed, he knew what was expected of him but seeing how the man acted to Naomi and how she behaved, he was tempted to let him stay like that forever. However, he also knows that forced love won’t last. He will have to let the man grow to love his daughter on his own, or he will beat him to do so. In over all, he can’t use compelling him to achieve that.

At that moment, Naomi walked out of the kitchen with a tray of glassed water. She already knows Rasmus wouldn’t take it but her father doesn’t know that.

‘I am going to remove my spell on your father,’ he said in her mind and she froze on her spot. Her eyes glanced at Asher sharply and he saw the reluctance in them. The fact alone made his heart bleed for her. How can someone prefer to have their father under a vampire spell? That is to show in great length the damage he has done to her. ‘Don’t worry, you have me now and I will never let anyone hurt you ever again. You have my promise as a prince and your mate.’

His words were sunshine breaking into her world of ice and her eyes watered over. He nodded at her, his gaze not leaving hers and she felt the tears threatening to fall. Smiling, she nodded back at him and placed the tray of water on the table. Standing back to wait for her father to regain his senses.

Seeing her resignation, Asher turned his gaze at Larry and with his eyes flashing red, he watched as the man stilled from what he was saying and his gaze looked hazy for some seconds before it cleared over and the smile on his face washed away. He glanced firstly at Naomi and roared, “what are you doing standing there, go take a seat.”

Asher wanted to step up but Irene placed a hand on him, forcing him to withdraw his dangerous aura.

Naomi smiled, guess that is the end of the affectionate father. She shook her head and withdrew to sit at the far end of the room. She could hear what they were saying but it was obvious that she was not allowed to speak. She felt a burning gaze on her and turned to see Asher staring at her. She didn’t need to be told that he was trying his best to be calm. So smiling, she nodded at him, silently telling that she was okay and that they should carry on with what they came to do.

“Mr. Clayman,” Irene said, her serene voice bringing warmth into the cold room. “My name is Irene Ichabod and this is my husband, Rasmus Ichabod. Over here is my nephew, Asher. Your daughter’s boyfriend.”

Larry glanced at Naomi sharply and she shivered at his cold glare before his gaze turned to Asher. Asher refused to be pushed into a corner by him and so increase his own intensity. However, with his glare came with the house going down a few degrees and Larry shivered, glancing away immediately. He didn’t know why but he felt like he should not offend this boyfriend of his daughter’s. How could such a young boy have such an icy stare?

“We have come to ask you about Naomi’s mother and her origin,” Irene said and at those words, Larry looked up instantly.

Author's note:

Happy new year guys!

May this new year bring us the best of it 🙏 ❤