Chapter Seven

L ord Monroe and Elias arrived in the late morning for their day of fun. Damien planned to take them hunting as she suggested. That didn't help her plan to get Elias alone though, so she insisted on joining them. Neither of them liked the plan – Damien because he thought it too dangerous, her because she hated even the idea of hunting. In the end though, she won the argument which is why she, Damien, her father, Elias, and Luciano all rode on horseback through the forest with a band of soldiers escorting them.

"This was quite generous of you, Your Majesty," Lord Monroe said. "I've wanted to hunt in these mountains since I was a boy."

"Please, Michael, just Damien, we are family now. And you are most welcome, although it was actually Liana's idea to invite you."

Lord Monroe beamed a smile at her. "That's my Liana. She's as smart as they come and even more thoughtful."

"Agreed," Damien said, eyeing her over his shoulder. "And the most beautiful creature I've ever met," he added for her mind only.

"Such a sweet talker. You know, we are already married. You don't have to keep up the act."

"You wound me, Wife. There is no act, for I shall forever aim to worship you with every breath I take."

She snorted a laugh, drawing stares from Luciano and Elias which rode on either side of her. She cleared her throat, cheeks aflame yet again because of that vampire. "It is such a lovely day, is it not? Such a lovely day indeed. I cannot remember a lovelier day than this in the past few weeks," she rambled. "A fine day for hunting as I'm sure there will be plenty of animals out to enjoy the sun as well."

"Are you drunk?" Luciano grumbled.

Damien barked a laugh. Liana glared at them both. "Definitely not. I merely wished to point out that…"

"Yes, we heard. It's a lovely day," Luciano finished for her.

She hummed. "Yes, well, I think here is a lovely spot for me to rest while you males continue on for your hunting games." The group stopped as one when she halted her horse. Damien turned back.

"You will not be left alone out here, Liana," he declared. "You wanted to come on this hunt, so you will hunt with us."

"I'll be fine, Damien. I've got my magic, a contingent of soldiers, and Elias." She turned to her friend. "You'll sit with me, won't you? We still have much to catch up on." Back to Damien she stated, "And with all these soldiers and me, how are you supposed to hunt anything? They'll hear you coming a mile away." Liana already dismounted from the horse. "Damien, you carry on with my father and Luciano. We will be here when you are done."

Damien's glare burned right through her. "You cunning little mage. I detest your plan."

"Why am I not surprised? Just go on, Damien. I am well protected. Show my father a wonderful time before the gods claim him for good."

Lips pulled down, his brows lowered even further. "The lengths you'll go to, my Queen, are quite astounding. Guilting me with your father's death is brutal."

"I know. Which is why I knew it would work. Now go, I've got serious work to do."

Grumbling, Damien led her father off while Luciano stayed behind. Liana would have protested his presence if she thought it would do any good. As it were, she let the servants set up their table and chairs with a spread of foods for an easy meal.

"So, Elias, have you won my sister over yet?"

Laughing, Elias shook his head. "If you wanted to gossip, a simple tea would have sufficed."

"Father needed a day of rest so it was an equally opportune time to get you here as well. Besides, being out here is refreshing." Liana did quite enjoy the forest. It was so peaceful compared to the rest of her life. Among the trees and nature, she felt calm and connected to the world and less like the world was against her.

Elias sighed. "She is as stubborn as ever. I thought I could convince her to marry me now that I'll become a Master, but she will not even hear me out. Ever since I proposed she avoids me at all costs. I'm afraid I've lost my chance."

The defeat in his voice crushed Liana. "She is just scared, Elias," she explained, knowing that it must be that. "You know that females are dependent on whoever they marry. With her being the eldest Monroe, she is also expected to marry well. She likely feels trapped into her decision."

Elias shook his head. "But I gave her an escape. I offered her marriage just the same. I may not be as wealthy as Ranville, but I will be once I become a Master."

Liana patted his hand. "You'd become the fourth Master in this generation, an amazing accomplishment in itself which you shouldn't forget. There must be another way of getting her away from Ranville without any harm coming to him. Damien did offer to send him off to some remote village."

"What is the history with the King and Ranville? He seemed ready to kill the man when we spoke the other day." Elias sipped his wine, his eyes probing.

Liana tried not to flinch when the memories of that cell flashed through her mind. Magic surged ready to protect her. Instead of falling into the memories of her childhood, she looked at Luciano. His sturdy gaze held hers, offering a silent anchor to keep her from spiraling. It was in the past, she told herself. It was all in the past and it could not hurt her now. With a deep breath, she reeled it all back in, far quicker than she'd ever done in the past.

"It more so has to do with the previous Master Ranville and something he had done to someone Damien loves. That is not the point though. What matters is Charlotte."

Luciano mumbled something and threw back a slice of meat, not bothering to engage in conversation.

"Liana, I know you mean well and just want to help. Please just drop it. Charlotte has made up her mind, that is the end of it. I will return to Sapphire Cove, become a Master and eventually find someone that will love me back." Elias picked at his own food.

The man before her now was not the same person she knew. When they were children, it was them against the world. Elias brought her on so many adventures, had so many radical views just like her own. They were equals aside from her power. The man sitting here now though was not someone she recognized.

"What happened to you, Elias?" she questioned, her voice quiet. Luciano paused with his drink halfway to his mouth, eyes darting back and forth between them. "You were so bold and daring the last time we were together. You never would have given up on Charlotte."

Brows furrowed, Elias said, "I grew up, Liana. We were reckless children with a naive view of the world. Nothing we thought was true. Never do we truly get what we want, nor do things always work out for the best."

"Don't give up hope," she said, refusing to let go of the young man she once knew.

"Hope?" He barked out a derisive laugh. "I gave up on hope the summer you never came back. I realized then that life would be just one big disappointment after another. I fooled myself into thinking that if I could at least make something of myself that it would hurt a little less."

Tears filled her eyes which she quickly blinked away. "I'm sorry I never came back to Sapphire Cove. My uncle…"

"I know," he cut her off. "I know what he did, and I don't blame you for never returning, I blame your wretched uncle. As I said though, just the first in a long series of disappointments."

"Yes, but that does not mean you must give up on all the things you want. You can't let this world harden you." She hated that she had any part in his despair. Elias had been such a good friend to her when they were children. He was kind to her. He was the only kid in the city that would play with her, go on adventures and practice magic with her.

He scrubbed his hands over his face in quick, jerking movements before tugging through his hair. "Are you seriously saying that to me?" he exploded in a fury.

Liana jerked back in her chair while Luciano sat to attention.

"You are telling me not to let this world harden me?" he asked incredulously. "Are you not the same Liana that scorned everyone and everything from the very first day I met her when she was just a small child? Are you not the same girl that was tougher than stone, who had realized far too young what this world was like and fought against every wrong done to others, no matter how big or small?"

Her tears returned, too many to control.

"From the moment I met you, Liana, I knew you were broken by this world."

She clamped her teeth together, a tear slipping through her tight control. "I am not broken," she refused.

"Not anymore, at least not like you were. And your defense against it all was to cut yourself off from everyone except to help those in need. It was always Liana against the world, and I was just along for the journey."

She swiped angrily at her tears. "The point of your self-righteous monologue?" she spat.

Leaning back in the chair, he let his head fall back and took a deep breath. When he looked back at her, Liana had crossed her arms, her eyes like stone. "I apologize, little Ana. I did not think I held such a grudge against your disappearance. I have missed you a great deal in these past few years. You were always such a force of nature, a bright light in my life." She looked away and he sighed. "Sincerely, I apologize for my outburst, and I did not mean to upset you. It was a bit ironic though what you said, and I was upset."

She sniffled then cleared her throat. "I am not broken," she reiterated.

"No, you are not. You have changed as well since we were children. You seem happier, softer even. I suppose the King has something to do with that."

Liana grunted. "If I were foolish enough to love a man, then I suppose he could be partly to blame for the change in me." She knew he had everything to do with the change in her. Before Damien, she was a hard, unyielding female that scorned most everything, especially ridiculous mage traditions, simply out of habit. The only thing that mattered to her was defying the patriarchy, practicing magic and helping those in need.

A chuckle escaped him. "There is the Liana I knew."

Conceding, Liana dropped her hands into her lap and picked at her nails. "I was broken. I was harsh and narrow-minded until Damien made me see reason. I'm sorry if I pushed too hard about Charlotte. I love you both and want you to be happy."

"Liana, I am blessed to have you care for me, and that you would fight so fiercely for me as you would your own family. However, with Charlotte, I think our fight is over."

Liana didn't want to give up. She knew something didn't feel right with the pairing. There was nothing else to do though. It was Charlotte's decision. Well, it was Ranville's and her father's decision, but Charlotte had made her wishes clear.

"I suppose you are right. We shall leave her be." Liana filled her plate and picked at the food. She reached out to Damien to check in. "How is it going?"

"Nothing yet. Your father is enjoying the lovely day though."

She smiled at his gentle mocking. "Excellent. My masterful plan is working then."

His response was delayed. "Is something wrong?"

Frowning into her cup, she shot back at him, "How could you possibly know that?"

"You sound off."

"We are speaking in our heads. How could you tell?" It angered her that she was such an open book to him.

"Liana, my love, what has you upset?"

Taking a breath, she let it calm her. "We shall speak on it later." She cut the connection. Surprise halted her when she found both men staring at her with questioning looks.

"Did you just have a fit or something?" Elias asked. "Your face went all blank then you looked angry."

She cleared her throat and plastered on a smile. "No fit, just thinking." She really had to work on keeping her face blank when speaking mind to mind with Damien or else their secret would not be a secret at all.

***

When Damien and her father returned after an hour of hunting with a rabbit and one bird in tow, Liana couldn't help but smile at the excited flush on her father's cheeks. His eyes were bright and his steps light.

"Such a splendid day, Damien. I thank you for the invite," he said while they mounted their horses once more and the servants cleared the table and chairs.

"You are most welcome, Michael," Damien replied, the air around him just as jovial. "It was an enjoyable afternoon, even if the animals missed the memo that they should be enjoying the lovely afternoon."

Liana glared over her shoulder at her husband's teasing while Luciano grunted a laugh.

"I wonder, Your Majesty, if anyone has taken the time to tell you tales of Liana's youth?" Elias said with an evil smirk. "She was always up to something."

"Sadly, no one has thrilled me with tales of my wife's younger days. Please, indulge me, Elias," he said while being his most polite and pompous self.

Liana looked back and forth between her father and Elias. "If either of you says a word…"

Elias jumped into his storytelling while they rode back to the castle. "Liana thought she was the toughest, most powerful being on the planet at the age of six. She walked around Sapphire Cove like she owned it and didn't have a care in the world."

"Huh, she does the same through my castle halls," Damien teased.

"Expect retribution later," she growled into his mind.

"What should I start with, Liana? The explosion at the cliffs or the flood at the barn?" Elias teased.

Her father sputtered. "Explosion? Flood? What trouble did you get into?"

Laughing his head off, Elias enjoyed her torment.

Liana groaned. "Nothing to worry about now, Father."

"Explosion at the cliffs, if you would, Sir," Luciano interjected.

"Oh, by the gods," Liana groaned and hid her face in her hands.

"It was a gorgeous, sunny day, much like today, when Liana and I went to the cliffs for some fun. Our friends, Diego and Dahlia, joined us as well. It was low tide, so we were playing on the sand below. The vampire girl chased us around showing off her speed and the shifter boy showed off his panther form. Liana and I were lobbing harmless spells at them while they tried to dodge. It was great fun until Liana stopped dead in her tracks and Dahlia ran into her. Luckily, neither suffered injuries. Liana said she felt a burst of magic from behind the cliffside."

Liana stilled, her hands falling back into her lap as she remembered that day. She had been running with her friends when she felt something odd, like the most powerful magic she'd ever sensed before.

"Against all of our advice, she started throwing spells at the rock, chipping away at it. Until eventually, she threw a spell that exploded. Knocked us all off our feet and when the dust settled, there was a grand cave left. The tide rose quickly though so we had to wait and go back the next day to explore." Elias looked to Liana. "That cave has become a legend among the younger kids. They call it Luna's cave because of the glow that comes off the obsidian stone in the ceiling making it look like the night sky."

"I'd forgotten about the cave," she said in a whispered voice. "I'd forgotten a lot about Sapphire Cove," she admitted, her mind whirling with memories of the past. She couldn't believe she'd ever forgotten considering they were some of the most amazing times from her childhood.

Elias shrugged. "You moved on from that place. There were bad memories there."

"But there were far more good than bad."

"What did you feel that made you stop?" Luciano interjected.

When she recalled that power now, she realized that it was familiar, that she had felt it again… the night Juno came to her. No one else could know about it though.

Keeping her answer vague, she hoped her message got through to Damien and Luciano. "It felt like my magic but far stronger, like a different version of myself." Neither of them reacted, their faces blank. In Damien's mind she said, "It felt like the Goddess Juno."

He gave the barest hint of a nod that he understood.

Lord Monroe and Elias guffawed. "Someone stronger than Liana?" Elias croaked. "Who could ever…" his teasing drowned out when she heard a vicious growl come from behind her. In the next second, Damien stood a few feet in front of her horse, an arrow clutched in his hand. An arrow that was bound for her.

Without any direction from her, magic erupted from her, a shield surrounding their party in the span of a blink. The arrow snapped in Damien's hand before he tossed it to the ground, his vampiric impulses taking charge as he looked out into the forest. Their soldiers tightened ranks around them, everyone accounted for.

Damien hovered before her, his body as still as death, his senses tuned into their surroundings.

"Grandfather, do you sense anyone?" Damien asked in a gravelly voice, his fangs in the way of normal speech.

"I don't sense anyone or anything out there."

Liana startled when someone grabbed her hand. It was only her father coming to comfort her. Damien glanced back at her, his vampire in full control. Icy blue eyes were consumed by black pupils but turned back to normal when he found her safe.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" her father asked, standing beside her horse.

Mouth drier than sand, she could only nod while her heart galloped out of her chest. That arrow had been meant for her.

"They've got to be out there somewhere," Damien growled. When he strode to the edge of her shield and passed beyond it without hesitation, she screamed when an arrow hit him directly in the chest. She fell out of her saddle, flashes of Charlotte getting impaled by an arrow just the same assaulting her mind.

She shouldn't have worried though because a flash of gold surrounded Damien, the arrow shattering into splinters on the ground. Her magic… her protection charm saved him, just as she intended it to all along. He disappeared with his speed, Luciano following after him. Four soldiers went as well, the rest getting closer to her. She tried to go after them, but her father held her back.

"You've protected them as best you can, sweetheart."

"Your Majesty, we must move quickly," Sasha instructed.

"I will not leave my husband," she declared.

"It is protocol, Your Majesty. We must save you if the king is indisposed."

Sasha's words nearly cut her heart out. She had to remind herself that Damien wasn't dead though. She protected him. He'd be fine.

"Keep up your shield, Your Majesty, and ride as fast as you can back to the castle, we will be running right beside you."

Torn with indecision, she could only look between Sasha and her father. All she wanted to do was go after Damien to help with whoever attacked them. She knew he would be able to focus better if she were safe though, he'd said so many times before.

With a defeated sigh, she nodded. Her father jumped back into the saddle of his horse, and she spurred her own on, keeping her shield up as they sprinted on the trail. Terror and guilt gnawed at her chest. She shouldn't have left Damien, her soul screamed at her for doing so. Even if he thought it better for her to leave, she couldn't disagree more. It felt so wrong to leave him behind. It felt like she was leaving half of herself in that forest.