Beneath the surface: Forbidden love

Marisela

The next morning, I was startled awake by a cold breeze. I immediately sit up and look to the couch only to find it empty. Kael wasn't here. I look around the room and notice that the balcony door is open. I get out of bed and walk towards the balcony. Kael is leaning against the railing, his back is to me. I could feel the tension radiating off of him in waves.

"Good morning." I say to him as I stand beside him on the balcony.

"Good morning princess," he greets without looking at me. Something about him seemed off. He was distant.

"You normally wake up this early?" I ask gesturing to the sunrise.

"Sometimes" he says, "when I can't sleep." Finally, he turns his gaze to me.

"I apologize if I woke you."

"Oh no, you didn't," I tell him looking at the sunrise. "I also couldn't sleep."

I felt his gaze drop once more and turn to look at the sunrise. For a few minutes, Kael and I were both lost in our own heads. Eventually, he clears his throat.

"I asked the servants to bring you up breakfast when you are ready, then later I will take you to your room." He tells me. I look at him and nod gratefully. Kael turns to walk back into the bedroom, but stops halfway.

"Just because you're my mate Marisela," he starts,"you're allowed to reject me if this is something you don't want." His voice sounded far, painful almost. A little part of me broke having to hear him say that. I wanted so badly for him to look at me. But I couldn't begin to understand how hard this must be for him to say.

Did I want to reject him?

Do I believe in soulmates? Well, my mate is standing right in front of me, surly that means something.

"Kael," I say walking towards him, "I don't know anything about werewolves or mates, or whatever this is," I point between us, "I just need time to to come to terms with all of it and see if it's what I want." I notice his eyes grow dark, his back tense. "You don't know me either, and I'm- I just-" I sigh taking a deep breath, "I just need time."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Kael, using that as an excuse, goes to open the door, only to find a servent bringing up breakfast.

It's way too early for me to eat something.

When the servent leaves, Kael joins me on the balcony once more with the food.

He's eyes are back to normal, but he's still distant.

"I have to leave you for a few hours, but I will return in the evening." He says, "I know I said I will take you to your quarters, but this is quite an urgent matter. I will link Cory and Maria to help escort you once you have eaten and ready to leave." With one last cold glance at me, he grabs a shirt and walks out the door, leaving me once again, alone.

I couldn't begin to fathom what had just happened. But I knew I was hurt. Kael was distant. And I hated it.

I decided that I wasn't going to sit around here in his room any longer, so I pushed aside whatever it was that I was feeling about Kael and made my way to the bathroom to have a quick shower. When I was done, I looked to the clock and saw it was 7:30am. The tray of food still sat idly in the middle of the room. I decided to eat as much as I could and wait for either Cory or Maria to arrive.

A few minutes had passed and there was a knock at the door pulling me away from my thoughts.

I walk over to the door. Cory and Maria are waiting patiently outside.

"Princess." They both greet.

"Good morning." I say.

"Kael had to attend an urgent meeting, so he's asked that we show you around the castle." Cory says. My face falls slightly. I really wanted Kael to be the one to show me around the castle.

"Come on, let's get you to your room first." Maria suggests. With a smile, I take her hand and we leave the room, Cory following behind us.

I give Maria a look as if silently asking if she said anything to Cory about me, luckily she gives a small smile and shakes her head "no". I was grateful because I wanted to tell Kael first, I just wasn't sure when I will tell him.

Our first stop was my bedroom. It was still exactly the same as I had left it the day before. I quickly excused myself while Maria and Cory waited outside for me. I grabbed a fresh pair of clothes. It was a quick in and out, and before I knew it, Cory and Maria are showing me around the castle, they took me to every floor and almost every room.

This enchanting castle boasts a symphony of architectural wonders across its many floors. The ground level greets visitors with a grand foyer, adorned in opulent tapestries and marble floors, leading to ornate ballrooms where noble gatherings unfold beneath the sparkle of chandeliers. This floor also held a meeting room, the room that Kael is currently inside of.

Ascending the majestic staircases, one discovers the richly appointed living quarters, adorned with sumptuous fabrics and antique furnishings.

The upper levels were my favorite. They offer more private retreats, from cozy libraries to serene, sunlit chambers overlooking lush gardens.

At the very peak of this splendid castle, a lofty tower stands guard, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding lands. Each floor of this magnificent abode is a testament to a bygone era of luxury and refinement.

Currently we are outside walking in the gardens. We are on the other side of the garden, the side that had a view of the ocean. I had never been to this part of the garden before.

Maria and Cory were telling me about the kingdom, and all the places I should visit. They also spoke so highly of their King, which I admired. They told me stories about him from way back when they were growing up. I also learnt that Dimitri was Kael's closest friend, and Cory and Maria joined the duo a little later.

After a while, I see Kael approach us in the distance. The closer he got, I noticed how tensed his jaw was. Dimitri is behind him, looking just as tense. Instantly I could tell something is wrong.

"Alpha." Cory and Maria bow in respect to their King. They nod in acknowledgement towards Dimitri.

"Would you all, please give the princess and I a moment." Kael says turning to to Dimitri. Kael and Dimitri look at each other as if having a silent conversation, from what Cory told me earlier, they are mind linking each other. As soon as Cory and Maria leave, Dimitri follows. And once again I am left alone with Kael.

"Kael is everything alright." I ask. Kael just stands there, as if having an inner battle of his own, watching me as if he could see right through me.

"What's going on, Kael?"

"Marisela we need to talk about what happened at the orphanage." He says in a serious tone.

"I got your doctors report."

And that's when it hit me like a cold bucket of ice. This conversation was bound to come up, and I had put it out long enough, it's been two days since it happened. I should've known I couldn't keep my secret for this long.

The look I give him confirmed whatever suspicion he had about me. The look in his eyes, gosh those eyes. We're much darker and scarier then I'd seen.

"Your blood reports came back, and the doctor found something strange," He begins, I take in a sharp breath, "he says that you are not human."

"You are not completely human either, are you?" He questions, but it sounds as if he already knows the answer he just wants me to confirm it.

This is it.

I have to tell him who I am.

I take a deep shaky breath and stand up. I walk over to the railings looking over the ocean. Kael follows me a few feet behind but doesn't say anything. Instead he watches me, waiting for me to say something. With one last deep breath, I turn to him.

"You told me about who you are, I couldn't judge you or be upset with what you told me, because....." I sigh, "because I'm not exactly who you may think I am." I can feel his body tense beside me. But I don't stop.

"My family, like yours, is different too. I'm different. Many people don't know about my kind, because we are a very rare species." This time, I finally look at him, "in fact so rare that I only know my mother and I to be this kind." He is watching me with his jaw tensed and his face void of any emotion, waiting for my confession.

"I'm a Siren, Kael."

I watch as he takes a few steps back and my heart instantly drops.