Ancient Guardians The Legacy of the Key (43 page)

He pulled back to
face her, his expression somber. “Reece, if you choose to reside in Pemdas
indefinitely, I must know your feelings about my chosen appointment. I cannot
allow you to be misled into believing that a relationship with me would be like
any other normal one.”

Reece looked up at
him, confused, unsure of where this was all going. Of course she was not afraid
to love someone of his importance. Yes, it was different, exciting, and
demanding all at once. She knew that she would need to eventually find balance
in all of it, and most importantly, admit to herself that she was loved by a
true prince. That was the hardest part for her, given she did not necessarily
view him in that way. It was not his place in this world that she had fallen in
love with. She fell in love…with him.

She tried to
arrange her thoughts into words. “Levi, I understand that you will one day
stand as ruler over…this entire world.” She laughed at the thought, and went
on. “I know I don’t have a firm understanding of what that will require of you
day to day, but I want to do everything I can to make that responsibility
easier for you. You don’t need to worry about that scaring me. I love you so
much…you should probably be more worried about that instead!” She teased.

Levi’s
eyes danced with amusement as they remained locked onto hers. He grinned down
at her, and softly called for Areion.
Leaving already? What did I say?
Levi
continued to stare into her eyes, never once turning to look for the horse.

“Levi?”

He reached down to
her face, tenderly letting his hand caress her cheek. “You are so beautiful,”
he said. She felt his gaze through her entire body. “You must know that I love
you with my whole heart. I’ve loved you since I first saw you, and I want to
spend the rest of my life loving you more the next day, than I did the day
before. I am unable to imagine my life without you, and I have no desire to do
so.”

Reece’s eyes
widened at the realization of what was happening. Her mind swam with the words
he declared to her. Never did she imagine that love like this truly existed,
and never did she imagine it would find her. Levi turned to the waiting horse
behind him, reached into a pocket in the saddle, and quickly returned his eyes
back to hers. He slowly led her away from the horse, and stood with the
magnificent view behind him. She could not speak, but it was the answer in her
expression which encouraged him further.

Levi’s eyes
glistened, as he reached slowly for her hand, his features showing his passion
and love for her. He closed his eyes, as he brought her delicate hand up to his
mouth and softly kissed it before returning his adoring eyes to hers. “You are
the only person my heart has ever desired, or will ever desire.” His lips
turned up into a tiny smile. “I’m afraid you have fallen in love with a man
with very little patience. I usually waste no time in securing what I want; and
that is you, Reece Bryant, more than anything. Would you please grant me the
greatest honor I could ever receive, by becoming my wife?”

Tears filled her
eyes, tears of joy, and love, and utter happiness. His words echoed in her
thoughts—
Would you please grant me the greatest honor I could ever receive,
by becoming my wife?
—she stared down, absently shaking her head from side
to side.

Levi’s eyes
crinkled up in laughter. “No?”

She laughed, too,
reaching down to his bruised cheek, staring at him with more love than she ever
knew she could feel. “Yes, Levi. Of course, yes.”

He stood, towering
over her, smiling brilliantly. He went to kiss her, but stopped and took a step
back. “I almost forgot,” he said, as he laughed softly. “I arranged for my
mother to slip this ring in Areion’s saddle pouch. It was my grandmother’s.”

Reece looked down
at the brilliant blue and silver-like stone, blurred and wavering by her tears.
“Levi, this is the most beautiful…” Before she could finish, his lips were on
hers.

He kissed her
deeply and passionately, and she returned the kiss with just as much desire.
They became lost in each other. Later—how much later, Reece didn’t know—Levi
jerked, and suddenly pulled away. He stood back, eyes vivid in their color, as
if he were seeing something invisible to her.

“What is it, Levi?”

He looked down
toward her and grinned. “I know where the stone is.

Epilogue

Simone

Simone gracefully walked the halls of the Palace,
trying to ease the frustration of being cooped up inside of it. She had grown
tired of the one woman she despised. She felt that if she had to spend another
minute in that girl’s presence; she would likely choke her. 

What did
everyone see in Reece Bryant anyway? Why didn’t they treat her like the
simpleton she was? The ignorant girl is so agreeable that it’s annoying; and
yet, everyone adores her for it. Watching her walk around the Palace, dressed
formally as if she was a woman of Pemdas, was nauseating. She’s an outsider
from Earth, brought here for her protection. Earth! Of all places! Now she
roams the halls of the Palace freely, as if it were her own; and why? Because
Levi and Harrison need a pet project? Disgusting. Reece Bryant should be made
to live among the residents of a simple village; possibly with a lonely family
who is in need of some company. To have anyone from Earth residing in the
Emperor’s palace is unacceptable.

Her smile?
Nothing would please me more than to see it slapped off of her pretty little
face. Well, naturally she’s wearing that senseless grin all of the time, she
has the two most sought after men in the land catering to her every need. The
entire scenario was infuriating, and now Lillian and Catherine agree that she
isn’t so bad after all. What do they know, anyways? The girl could charm her
way into friendship with everyone else, but she will never befriend me.

Simone exhaled in
frustration; all of these thoughts were consuming her like poison. Reece just
needed to leave this place.
Soon enough
, she thought.
Father has been
in meetings constantly, making great efforts to rid that pest from our land.
Soon enough.

As Simone was
crossing through the foyer, the back door opened swiftly, revealing Levi’s
hasty entrance. Her heart skipped a beat.

A broad smile
crossed Levi’s face when he noticed her. Simone’s breath immediately caught; he
had never looked at her in this manner before. She could never recall a time
where he had ever smiled so brilliantly. He was always so reserved, and yet,
commanding. It was what Simone loved about him, the opposite of his annoying
and insufferable cousin, Harrison. Now, here Levi stood before her, and he was
smiling so brightly,
for her?

“Good afternoon,
Simone.” Levi greeted her politely.

Simone smiled
widely back to him, “Good afternoon, Levi. This is a lovely surprise, and it’s
nice to see you have returned safely from Earth.”

Levi’s grin
broadened, and Simone could barely contain herself. She never imagined him
being any more attractive than he already was. Her cheeks flushed.

“Thank you. I am
looking for my mother, do you happen to know where she is?”

He was so appealing
that Simone was having a difficult time comprehending what he was asking her. 

Simone cleared her
throat delicately, “Oh yes, of course, she is in the garden room. I believe she
is trying to make Reece feel as if she were outdoors or something.” She rolled
her eyes, “You know, Levi, all of us wish the weather would—”

She was interrupted
when Levi bowed curtly and thanked her. He spun on his heel swiftly, and walked
briskly down the corridor.

Simone thought it
was odd of him to act in such a manner, but did not let it trouble her. The
smile he meant for her was more than enough to give her the strength to endure
Reece’s visit. She smiled as she gracefully walked into the room where Lillian
and Catherine were. Her heart beat rapidly every time she thought of his
excitement to see her.

Upon entering the
room, she was thankful Catherine and Lillian were occupied with fashion
magazines. Simone had no desire to converse with anyone at the moment; she did
not want to remove the image of Levi from her mind. She greeted the young women
as she poured a hot cup of tea to help soothe her nerves. She walked over
toward the windows, sipped her tea, and gazed out onto the snow covered
gardens. Everything was beautiful again.

She looked down to
see Areion patiently waiting for his master to return to him. Simone smiled.
She knew Levi would return soon, and she would watch the man she loved ride off
on his beautiful stallion. The man commanded his horse like none other. The way
he controlled the ferocious steed, and the power and might he used in doing so,
had always captivated her. He was perfect in every way.

She gazed around
the snow covered grounds; it all seemed so marvelous now. It was amazing how a
simple interaction with the handsome Levi Oxley could change her outlook on
everything. She knew she must find a way to steal some time alone with him.

As thoughts of Levi
danced around in Simone’s head; she nearly choked when her attention was
brought back to Areion. His master had indeed returned, but he was not alone.
Reece
Bryant? Is he taking her out somewhere?
Rage flooded her veins, and she
gasped with fury. Lillian and Catherine were too involved in their book to
notice Simone’s reaction.

She was nauseated,
as she watched him help Reece on his horse. She felt as if she would faint as
she witnessed the man she loved lead his horse past her window, and away from
the house. She gazed out the window, outraged as she took in the sight of
Levi’s arms wrapped around the girl.

*****

Simone woke in a
state of panic.
These dreams will be the death of me!
She ran to her
sink to splash cold water on her face. She gasped for air, and tried to calm
herself. “Rachael!” She demanded, “Where are you? I need you this instant!”

“My deepest
apologies, Simone. I did not know you were awake. Allow me to get you some tea.
Was it another nightmare, my lady?”

Simone glared at
the young maiden. “Rachael, you forget yourself! It is none of your business
why I am awake. Why are you not already attending my needs anyway? I will have
you replaced this instant if you fail me one more time. I will be ready for my
day clothes after this cup of tea, so have them ready. Now get out of my sight!”

“Simone?”

“What child? You
are bothering me.”

“Simone, it is
still three hours until daybreak. Are you certain you would prefer to begin
your day already? If not, I can arrange for some tea so that you may return to
a decent slumber.”

Simone exhaled in
defeat.

This was Simone’s
life now, tortured and haunted by the past. Living with the constant nightmares
of why her life was ruined. This nightmare haunted her most, and she was
frightened each time it returned to her. She thought she had completely removed
this day from her heart and her mind. The dream served as a reminder for the
reasons she went to such great lengths to remove Reece from Pemdas.

It was after
watching Levi ride away with Reece, and learning that he had taken her to
Casititor, that she arranged to leave the next morning on a vacation. However,
it was not the vacation that Lillian, Catherine, and the others believed she
was taking. Once Catherine and Lillian were distracted, she searched out an old
friend, Michael Visor. She needed help coming up with a plan to remove Reece
from Pemdas. Michael was perfect; he despised Levi as much as Simone hated
Reece.

Ironically, when
she met with Michael, she discovered that he had already made plans of his own
to remove the woman. It seemed that Michael and a few others weren’t as pleased
to have this wretched girl from Earth among them, either. Her only concern
about the plan was that it required a Guardian horse to cross the barrier. She
knew very well that a Guardian horse would never allow any of them on its back;
not with the malice intended with their actions. Their senses were far too keen
to accomplish the mission.

When she expressed
this concern to Michael, he laughed in response. Then he showed her how he was
able to manipulate his horse into doing whatever he commanded, be it good or
bad. It was perfect; they had their way out of Pemdas, and now they could
easily cross into Ciatris. Her plans to remove Reece were well underway, and
Simone was prepared for success. She was still baffled about where it all went
wrong.

She calmed herself,
and looked toward the concerned young girl. “Just make the tea, Rachael; I’ll
be out in a moment.”

Simone stared at
herself in the bathroom mirror as the maiden swiftly left the room. She was
disgusted by her reflection in the mirror. She would not, however, allow
herself to believe she was falling apart. The Oxley family had since forgiven
her duplicity, but it was not coming without a price. There was not one person
who treated her with the respect she deserved. Fortunately, they all believed
the story she gave them as she feigned innocence, and her punishment was not as
severe as Michael Visor’s would be.