Her Forever

Willa’s POV

“This has to be the most boring thing I have ever done,” I yawned as my father and Elaine continued to play chess. It wasn’t an ordinary chessboard; it had different pieces, such as an actual fae king and queen and distinct ranks of generals and warriors. They had been at it for the past hour, and they both have given each other googly eyes.

I loved them both already in the short time I’ve known them, but this was getting ridiculous. I didn’t need to see my parents wanting to do each other over a chess game. The way they ‘accidentally’ touch each other’s hands and have some crude little jokes secretly made me want to scream. “Can I leave?” I whined, and my father rolled his eyes.

“No, we can’t have you going after Orion, you are my b***d, and if I know anything about our family, you can be stubborn. Besides, you have absolutely no combat training.”

“It’s not my fault; I thought I was a full human,” I crossed my arms as I leaned back in the overly decorated chair dramatically. “If I had known I was some supernatural, I would have trained more with the werewolves, or better yet, join the swim team.” Father let out a grunt of disapproval. He was still upset that he never knew about me, let alone being raised by wolves. My father was grateful that I was protected by the wolves. I’ve already noticed my father’s old ways could not help the tiny bit of hostility he still has towards them. The shifter war didn’t just involve those with shifters but with the Fae, the Sirens, and a few elves. It was a differences war, no one understood each other, and they preferred to stay to themselves. Land territories were fought over, innocent lives were lost during that time. It reminded me of the early days when Europeans tried to take over the Americas and the racism that Earth still deals with.

Luke walked in the room glancing at father, but his stature slacked once his eyes set on me. “Willa! Want to go for a walk around the palace? I haven’t had a chance to check it out.” I jumped from my chair and stood over the chessboard. They hadn’t noticed that Luke had walked in, too busy sucked into each other’s eyes.

It made me jealous that Orion wasn’t here; it made me worry. My parents weren’t worried at all, and it was ticking me off. Did they not care?

I could feel the pain in my heart how much I missed Orion. I complained about how bored I was while they played chess together, but I worried, in all honesty. Complaining about something different entirely gave me something else to think about.

My shoulder slumped, and Luke came over to embrace me in a hug. His head drooped and cuddled into my neck. I started laughing while my father and Elaine looked up. A few tears were threatening to fall, but I held my own; I wasn’t going to cry. I had to be darn queen soon.

“Father, we won’t leave the palace,” Luke pleaded as he took my hand. Father gave a small smile and brought me to his embrace.

“Orion is strong; he will be fine. Even though he is a fae,” he joked. Giving a little sniff and a nod, he let me go. “Don’t leave the palace; Eamon and Brenden are assisting in the guard changes, and I don’t want to hear you both being reckless while they are gone.”

“You forget who is the best at sparing, father,” Luke puffed out his chest. “Besides, the brothers are all in the palace assisting; what makes you think we will have time to do anything fun with those t***s walking around all noble.”

Luke raced me out of the room, gripping my hand tightly while laughing loudly. Once we were halfway down the hall, we began to look in every room. I haven’t had a chance to even look through the rooms of the palace, Orion always had me by his side, and I never wanted to leave his.

“How are you doing?” His voice went somber as I opened another door. This room was filled with stuffed animals, and I’m not talking about the cute, cuddly kind you take to bed. These animals were vicious-looking, and the taxidermist did a great job showing how ferocious they could be. My fingers wanted to touch the armor-plated lizards, but I held back. It only reminded me of the snake that Sibille was. Was Orion going to be alright?

I gripped the shawl that Orion had given me this morning. It matched the color of his battle trousers and shirt. The designs on his armor also showed on the light blanket that covered me. Concentrating really hard, I could almost smell the musky scent he left as he kissed me into the pillow before he left.

Goddess, I missed him. I prayed for an even trade, and Sibille could come to her senses. I had a horrible feeling that it wasn’t going to be the case.

“I’m fine,” I lied as I touched the soft pelt of a saber-tooth-like bear.

“That was a horrible lie,” Luke joked. “Do you think Orion hunted all these?”

“Orion says whatever they kill, they eat; however, I noticed that full-blooded faes like to eat lighter meats. I can’t tell you how much I miss eating cows.” Luke scratched his scalp in question.

“Cow? Ohhhh! The animal on Earth. They say ‘moo,’ right? We have several textbooks about Earth animals. I heard they have excellent meat if bred and fed correctly. I’m personally getting sick of fish myself.”

“Yes, they do, and I need me a good steak every once in and awhile. Amora from a dragon shifter tribe says she is willing to send me one since they farm them. If you are good to me, maybe I’ll let you have some,” I chided as I pushed him towards the door.

Luke turned suddenly away from the conversation. “Do you smell that?”

“Huh? Smell what? Did talking about juicy steaks trigger you? I know I could go for one right-“

“Shh,” Luke put his hand over my mouth while grabbing me with the other hand. We ran out of the room and down several hallways.

“Luke, what are you doing?”

“Goddess, it smells amazing,” he breathed in again.

“The kitchen is in the opposite- oh gods,” I breathed. Could sirens smell their mate? Faes look into the eyes of the soul, werewolves could smell, can a siren?

“Quick, look around the corner, tell me what you see,” Luke ordered. We were both pinned up by the wall, breathing heavily by the sprint he made me keep up with. His eyes were dilated to a vertical slit, like a freaking shark. Can my eyes do that?

Putting my hand over my beating heart, I looked around the corner to see who his mate could possibly be.

Sammy. He was guarding Alonso and Molly’s door.

Holy Mother of Pearl, Sammy was Luke’s mate.

“Luke, are you gay?” I asked, surprised. He has never told me he was; I just assumed he was straight, which was dumb on my part. He kept saving the women from the land, so I automatically thought…

“I… I…” Luke fumbled with his words as I turned to him. I grabbed his hands and held them close to me.

“It’s alright if you are, I would love and care for you all the same. Is that what you are worried about?” Luke’s eyes wouldn’t look into mine as he chewed on his bottom l*p. Luke was a beautiful siren; the blue streaks in his hair and the few scales that started to appear on his neck were gorgeous. He was embarrassed, but he shouldn’t be. This was how he was born and wired. Why would I shame him for it? Would father? He couldn’t go back on what the goddess had given him.

“Luke, you should go to him. Sammy has looked for a long time for his mate.” I gave a gentle squeeze.

“Sammy?” he whispered. A large growl behind my ear startled me; I felt the hot breath of an animal tickle my ear. Instantly realizing the situation, I stood to the side, letting Sammy look into the eyes of his mate.

Sammy’s eyes were black; his wolf came forward as Luke looked longingly at him. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I backed away, and Luke grabbed my hand. Luke trembled as he held it. Squeezing his hand in return, I tried to let go. “It’s alright; Sammy is a good wolf. He will take care of you.” I almost wanted to cry; my big bro just got his mate, and to a decent wolf too!

“Mine,” Sammy pulled Luke into his embrace. Sammy’s muscles were much more significant than Luke’s and certainly towered over him. Crazy wolf genetics. Sammy immediately put his head in Luke’s neck while Luke stiffened at the sudden intrusion.

I need to get out of here before they mate in the hallway.

Pulling my hand from Luke’s with a bit of force, Sammy glanced towards me, giving me a thankful smile. Backing away, I readied myself for the long walk back to the room that Orion and I shared.

The palace grows so much more significant when you are alone.

It was well into the late afternoon, time had flown being with Luke, and now I’m stuck with my thoughts of Orion and how he was doing. Taking my time walking back, I glanced in mostly guest quarters, storage, and even maid and butler supply rooms. Having a whole room dedicated to bed linens is funny, but it made sense on the grand scale of things. Turning away from the rooms, I headed to the large stained glass window. The tops of the windows had bright colors that cast a beautiful painting on the marbled floors as the suns began their descents across the horizon.

It crossed my mind to visit Juliet; she must be feeling the loneliness too. Annan refused to let her leave, and she didn’t mind. She had fought for a long time and was still recovering herself. Being sure of my decision, I went to leave when I had an eerie feeling. The back of my head burned like someone was watching me.

Turning around quickly, I see one of the doors to a guest bedroom being cracked open. Squinting and taking slow steps to the gold and white decorative door, I covered myself with my shawl a little tighter. The heat of my face was still on fire. Orion’s smell engulfed me, giving me the extra bravery I needed to check the other side.

The heat grew to blazing scorch as I touched the door to open it until a large hand gripped my shoulder and pulled me back. An enormous scream was thrown from my mouth as I turned around and punched the intruder in the jaw. I kept swinging as I heard them g***n and kicked them in the crotch. I was too afraid to open my eyes and kept swinging.

“Oi! Willa stop!” My eyes flew open only to see a jumbled mess of red hair on the face of the brute.

“Eamon! I am so sorry!” I reached for his hand, but he pushed back and scooted his butt across the floor.

“Ey, stay where you are! You are dangerous! What the f**k was that about!? You about kicked my cave hunter clean off!” Eamon grabbed his crotch and m****d. I had completely forgotten about the door as it stood there wide open. The burning stare I felt was no longer there.

“I’m so sorry!” I turned around to get on my knees. “I thought you were someone else!” Eamon’s face was scrunched up with pain as I helped lift him off the floor.

“Let’s get you to a chair and rest,” Eamon put his arm around me as I helped guide him to a sitting room before I took one last glance at the darkroom door.

Nothing, there was nothing there. Was it all just my imagination? I could feel the heat linger on my cheeks as I sat Eamon down. A nearby servant was dusting a vase as I approached her. “Can you please get us some ice? I might have kicked Eamon in his ‘private area.” The servant girl glanced over and started giggling. With a quick nod, she ran from the room to get some ice.

Heading back over to Eamon, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. A scream left me as the pain radiated from my body. Grabbing my shoulder, I looked for b***d. There was nothing there, but there had to be something wrong!

“Willa, what’s wrong?” My father had run down the hall. We weren’t far from my room, and my cries must have startled them. Eamon had stood up, hand still on his crotch as he was reaching for me.

“AHH!” I screamed again; the pain was now at my other shoulder as I collapsed to the floor. “What is wrong with me!” I yelled as I violently thrashed. “I can’t get up!” The pressure was unbearable; both shoulders stung as the pressure started to let up.

“Orion, he’s hurt,” Elaine whispered as my father picked me up from the floor as my head dangled from his embrace. I thrashed a bit, yelling to let me go. I felt my strength returning as my father sat me on the couch.

“I must go to him! Let me go! He needs me!” Eamon put both hands on my shoulders to keep me in place. Several of my brothers rushed into the room.

“Go find Orion and his warriors. Take the horses from the royal stable!” Something is wrong!” He bellowed. My brothers fled the room, slinging on their tridents on their backs. My heart was racing, telling me to follow but the strength that Eamon had surpassed my own. I continued to struggle as my father glared at me.

“You cannot go Willa. You will stay here where it is safe. Orion will be able to handle this; he has his finest warriors as well as Annan and his father.

“Last chance, Eamon or I will drive your nuts to the floor,” I growled. Nothing was going to stop me from getting to Orion. Eamon chuckled. “Wrong side of the couch, sweetheart.” I huffed as a slight grin began to form.

I took in a deep breath and concentrated with all my will for them to freeze and sang.

I got a brand new attitude.

And I’m gonna wear it tonight

I wanna get in trouble

I wanna start a fight

Na-na-na-na, na-na, na

I wanna start a fight

Na-na-na-na, na-na, na

I wanna start a fight!

So, so what?

I’m still a rock star

I got my rock moves…

Everyone in the room began to freeze, my own father looked at me in panic, I ripped my arm from Eamon’s hold and sprung my wings out with a flip of my hair.

My shawl fell to the floor as I flew down the hallway, leaving my frozen parents behind. I wasn’t about to sit around and wait for Orion to come home or wait until he succumbed to some power hungry b***h. I was going to take back what was mine.