I plucked at the floor-length lace gown I wore, grateful that I had been able to get the nerve to go through the wedding ceremony to Prince Anithis. Within moments I would be Princess Anithis Kendall, co-ruler of Mera Lethas. Already the instruments were playing in the main antechamber where we'd be wed. My stomach was a bundle of nerves, butterflies having a field day within me. I couldn't believe I was getting married to an elf-man in a strange world, and actually felt comfortable doing so. I knew it was a desperate measure – a way to keep myself involved in this land so that I did not feel the tug to return home to Boston. No, it'd not be something I'd actively pursue any longer. Going home was not an option for me.
I turned from the mirror to face the main door of my chamber. Any second, a servant would be retrieving me for the ceremony. I took in a deep breath, nervous anticipation filling me to my core. I was ready. Wasn't I? Yeah, I had come to realize I still had a thing for black-skinned Vytex, but he was not my future. Prince Anithis was.
But before I could watch the door open, I felt a hand clamp over my mouth and I sighed underneath it. How many more times would I have to suffer men putting their hands on me uninvited? I brought the heel of my slipper down on my would-be kidnapper, hearing a groan of pain, and spun around to confront him face to face.
It was Vytex!
"Vytex?" I questioned in disbelief, eyes wide in surprise at his presence. He wore a black tunic, silver chainmail glittering over the top and he looked as I remembered him, incredibly handsome; stunningly so.
"My lady Kendall looks ravishing in her wedding dress." His words were full of pain and I could not help but wonder why. "I am here to take you from this place. You cannot go through with the ceremony." I took offense at his insistence to keep me from Anithis. The petty jealousy they had against each other tore me apart on the inside.
"No!" I pushed at his chest, touching the metal links and making them jingle as I did. "I don't want to go." I knew I sounded like a petulant child, but why should I go with him? They'd just try to steal me back again. I was tired of the idea of playing ping-pong against each side. I had to put my foot down and choose. And so I was going to marry Anithis.
"You do not understand, Lady!" Vytex must have seen the determination in my eye as his voice took on a pleading tone. "Anithis will kill you." I began to glower at him at his words. He would stoop so low as to tell me such a lie just to stop me from marrying so he could have his way? And what way would that be? The man could have made love to me that night, but he chose to just tuck me in – like a child!
"You are a Princess, yes, but you are also a Druid Priestess. A Druidic prophecy said a Princess who was also a Druid would fall from the sky bringing prosperity on whomever married her, pure of body. And if they sacrificed her at the light of the full moon on their wedding night, the one who offered her to the Moon Goddess would inherit her powers. Anithis plans on marrying you and then he plans on sacrificing you after the ceremony. It is for your life I take you now. I want you to live, Lady Kendall." His black eyes smoldered, locked on mine and I knew it was not some strange story he had made up. Anithis truly intended on killing me for some stupid ceremonial sacrifice!
"I'm scared." My voice was soft, so soft I was not certain he heard me. But he must have as he gathered me to his chest and held me tightly there, bringing me comfort in an attempt to ease my fear.
"I will not let them do this to you." Vytex released me, much to my extreme disappointment, and pulled me to the back of my room, out of the open door, onto the small courtyard outside. The monstrous winged lizard was happily munching on the roses there and I nearly yelled at the thing for it. Vytex pushed me onto the saddle, but an arrow pierced his shoulder before he could climb aboard behind me.
"Vytex!" I cried out, watching in horror as his face contorted in pain. His hand had grasped at the arrow shaft, the vicious pointed head sticking out, bloody and deadly, making me feel agony in sympathy for him.
"Go on, my sacrifice will be worth it to save you!" He gasped, swatting the lizard on its side. "Vaaaa vaaaa vaaaa!" He cried at the thing, which must have been like clicking a tongue at a horse as it began to flutter its wings, lifting me upward. I thought I had lost Vytex, but the lizard made a sweep back, grasping the Drow within his enormous claws and lifting his master along with us, flying up and away swiftly into the horizon.
I tried to lean over to see if I could get a glimpse of Vytex, but when I did I became disoriented and dizzy, so held onto the saddle's pommel as tightly as I could, scrunching up my eyes so I didn't throw up all over the great beast's back. It was a nerve-wracking journey as I constantly worried about Anithis' men following us. I didn't have the guts to open my eyes and look behind us, for fear of seeing their white flying horses on our tail. Literally.
When we arrived at the Drow palace, it became alive with servants and guards helping ease Vytex from the beast's claws and put him in a sling to carry him to his chamber. There were human and Drow there to fuss over him, doctors I presumed, so I waited in the outer chamber, wringing my hands with worry. They refused to let me see him and he was out of his mind with pain, so I waited anxiously for any word at all.
When it seemed as if I had been in the outer chamber for hours, I finally was called in to see the dark-skinned man. Once more Vytex's beauty struck me as I sat on the edge of his bed, staring down at his purple-black but pale face. He looked as if he was suffering and I sighed in worry for him. When he felt my light touch on his face, his eyes fluttered open and he smiled weakly up at me.
"Thank you." I told him, realizing the cost he had paid to get me freed and keep me alive. The corners of his eyes wrinkled and the edge of his lips rose slightly. "I'm sorry you were hurt." I knew he saw the sincerity in my face, heard it in my voice. I was sorry.
I really liked Vytex.
