Her Forever
(Book 3)- Chapter 31

Willa’s POV

We hadn’t flown for long until we reached the ocean of the Eastern Sea. The water was how I remembered it the day I met Luke; crystal clear. The dark outlines of large fish as well as the rocks on the ocean floor were easily seen even from up in the sky. All and all, it was a beautiful sight, it only made me want to swim that much more in the cool water. Heeding Orion’s warning, I knew to stay away unless I wanted to get suck down into the beautiful abyss with vengeful sirens.

Looking towards the horizon there was an island, I’m guessing it was the Land of the Dragons. The waves were rough here in the middle of the sea, if one tried to come to the island their boat would capsize in an instant. Large white caps crashed down on one another as the sea’s tumult roared. Leaning over to get a better look, Horus gave a warning growl and I sat back up straight in my seating position.

My tears had long dried once we reached the island. Maybe time away from Orion would be good for me, show that I am still that independent person and can take care of myself. I did do it for how many years anyway. I still loved and cared for him but was still brutally hurt of the easiness it was for him to send me away. His face was masked, something he didn’t do with me but today he did. Possibly he was staying stronger for the both of us because he knew I would cry to still be in his arms.

He proved strong and I did leave, not with out showing him how hurt I was. I regret not giving him at least one last goodbye k**s. I worry about him fighting in a war, even though his confident demeanor told me without question we would come out on top.

I let out an angry sigh. I’m so selfish. Get a little bit of attention and now I crave him like child to candy.

Horus descended onto the beach, the sand was thicker than most, reminding me of oatmeal as my feet sunk further into it. It was warm and inviting and I relished every moment of it until Horus started nudging my bac while huffing. He wants me away from the beach.

I took off the bags that Annan has packed for me, there was food, clothing, and other necessities if I needed it but that won’t keep a roof over my head.

“Alright Horus, where is this cabin that I need to go to?” Horus huffed and pushed me into the sparsely spaced, large trees . It was enough space for him to wander with me as we came to an old path. The path was overgrown with moss, trees and bushes but just enough for me to get through with out getting scratched.

Horus was walking slowly behind me and since I wasn’t walking as fast as he wanted, Horus sighed in frustration. “Fine, fine, I can run if you are bored,” I said agitated. I began to pick up my speed until his nose went through my legs and held me close to his face. I screamed being lifted so high, but he only chortled at my silliness.

“If you could talk, this would be a heck of a lot easier. If you have all these magical powers, why can’t you at least do that?” I crossed my arms and held my legs tightly around his snout.

The cabin was small and quaint on the outside. It gave me warm feelings of my own cabin back with Violet’s family but there were subtle differences. This one had shells decorating the outside as well as fishing poles hanging on the side of the cabin. The roof was mostly flat, covered in small, crushed shells and cement. If a storm came by, I doubt any of the cabin would move.

Horus let me down and laid on the ground and curled up like a cat. The sun fell directly on the large area cleared out for the cabin and Horus took that advantage to soak up the sun. His eyes closed and was asleep before I could walk in.

The cabin was studio like, the whole cabin was one room besides the bathroom. The kitchen sat in the far-left corner while the bed was on the right. A small two-seater table and one couch in the middle of the room. It was quite dusty and hadn’t been used in years, so I got to work to clean it with the rags that held my bags together.

By the time I finished, it was sunset. Overall, it was a place I could see myself living in if I had never found Orion. Who really knows how long I’ll be here, so I might get a preview of that. Pulling some bread and cheese from one of the bags, I ate my dinner in silence.

Just two months ago, if someone told me I was to be on a Dragon Island with people hunting to kill me I think I would have slapped them silly. Now, here I am, eating cheese on a Dragon Island and sleeping in a studio hut in the forest. I started giggling. This was all just crazy! On top of it all, I fell in love with the King of Faes!

In all honesty, if my parents did keep me, acted like they cared. I may not even be here. I could be traveling the world with mom or off to medical school where my dad studied. The light in my head went off instantly, all because my parents leaving, I was able to meet my soul mate. The lonely nights, the years of not being cared for, being loved by them was just a twinkle in time compared to the eternity I can have with Orion.

Hearing Horus continue to sleep with his loud light thundered breathing, made me sleepy too. Stripping into some night clothes I crawled into the bed, it was fluffy, soft, and warm. Even though it was comfortable and one of the better beds I’ve ever slept on, there was something missing. I knew exactly what the missing piece was, but he was far away from me fighting a battle that his people deserved. Just a few days of this. I continued my mantra.

I smiled, thinking how he would look on Asland. The silver and gold armor dawned on his horse with his sword high in the air waving around giving orders. Fighting with his men instead behind his army’s lines. Sighing dreamily, I rolled to my back, staring at the walls. I was lucky; he puts up with my bratty attitude. I just wish I could say sorry, sorry I didn’t k**s him goodbye.

Regret and guilt started to consume me as I fell asleep late into the night.

…

The next morning, I was up with the sun. All the crying, self-loathing and guilt racked my mind last night and I was going to be productive and do something fun. If I can’t help Orion, I can help myself by exploring an island not many two-legged people can say they have explored.

Opening the door of the cabin, Horus’ head perked up at attention and tilted his head to the side, examining me. He was a magnificent creature, every time he moved you could see his scales ripple and hints of light beaming from them. The golden sheen on his scales made him look perfectly clean and royal. Fit for Orion, I suppose.

“Come on, let’s go explore,” I beckoned him. Rolling his eyes, he stood up while I continued to walk through the forest. There were several animals that I had seen back in the Fae Kingdom, rabbits, birds, the crazy fairy moss that bursts into bits of light when you step on it. Those were the most fun, every time I came by a patch of the purple stuff I would stomp on it only to hear Horus chuckle behind me.

We continued walking on the same path for about an hour, there were plenty of stops along the way looking at sleeping dragons underneath the tall trees. Dragons napped, a lot. They reminded me of cats and how they loved to sleep but also had that fiery spirt about them when they wanted it. There were a few small dragons playing with each other, nipping at each other’s tails, and rolling in the moss. When I tried to approach, Horus would immediately put out his claw in front of me and keep me away.

The trees started to disappear, and the light shown brighter, I could hear splashing and the rushing of water in the distance. Once we went toward the sound we arrived at a beautiful spring. The small waterfall barreled down several levels of rock and stone that glistened as the crystal-clear water fell into it.

Immediately thinking of Violet and our last encounter together I sighed heavily. I missed her and I hope she was alright. Feeling the cool water on my feet I had a rush of excitement. Swimming sounded so good right now. I smirked, there are no other people here so I should be fine, only Horus and he’s a dragon, who is he gonna tell? I’m not near an ocean so no danger here. Famous last words.

Ignoring the thought, I strip down to my bra and underwear. Running towards a rock and finally jumping in I let out a small scream of laughter. Horus purred deeply in his throat as he sat by the waters edge. Both claws were one on top of the other, giving him more of the cat like appearance.

I laughed and swam back under the water, swimming towards the bottom. The rocks were different colors that looked polished. One would look at them and think they were polished jewels for a royal treasury. Picking some up and bringing them to the top, I looked at them in the sun. The one I picked up was a royal blue color, a sapphire. My eyes were memorized by the color until I heard a voice behind me.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” I screamed and threw the rock back in the water behind me and started swimming to the shore, only to be grabbed by my foot.

“Hey, now, not so fast.” I’m splashing like a mad woman while Horus hisses a laugh. My fear becomes wonder as I stopped struggling. If Horus isn’t rushing to the rescue, maybe I’m alright. Turning to my attacker I see none other than Luke.

“Ya see? That’s better.” The shock on my face was apparent as he throws back his head and laughs. “You are a strange one, I can’t figure you out.” Luke grabs my hand and pulls me to a near by rock so I could sit on it. Being fully aware of my situation of just wearing a bra and panties, I grab my legs and hold them to my chest.

“Now what is a pretty girl like you doing all the way out here?” He smirks as he leans on the rock with his elbow.

“That’s none of your business.” I snapped.

“Someone grew a spine, eh?” Luke swims backwards and lays on his back. “Must be something serious to get special permission from the dragons to be out ‘ere.”

“Then why are you out here?” I asked.

“I’m not considered a ‘two feet,’ hence the ‘fin,” he takes his hand and waves at it nonchalantly.

“Oh,” I sighed. “Well, what are you doing here?”

“That is a good question,” he puts his hands behind his head. “Every time you enter the water, I’m called to you. Not like a mating call, just a call. I sense your presence and I’m not sure why.” He hums.

“If that is supposed to be some crazy pick-up line, it won’t work,” I huffed.

“Princess, you are beautiful but I’m not ready to start a war with the faes against the water dwellers. Besides, you aren’t my type.”

“Well, good.” I huffed. “How are you here anyway, this is a fresh water source and you are supposed to be in the ocean!” Luke flicked a few stray leaves that were in the water away from him.

“All water leads to the sea, princess. I could swim up a stream or take some underwater caverns from the ocean, which is what I just did.”

Luke swims around on his back while Horus watches intently, a gleam in his eyes danced over to us as he looked between the two of us. A large grin showed all his beautiful sharp teeth.

“What’s with him?” Luke asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

“Anyway,” he rolled his eyes, “tell me about yourself Willa. I need to figure out this situation between us or it will drive me mad.”

“I don’t think I should be talking to you,” I crossed my arms. “Orion said you were dangerous.”

“Yeah, what else did the little King say about me? That I abduct women and make them stay in my harem?” I blinked a few times and nodded my head yes.

“HA! Damn fool. Doesn’t learn from his own experience?” Luke throws a rock that pegs off a tree. “You have heard his rumors, right? He had s*x with so many women, uses the then throws them out like yesterday’s garbage?”

“Yes, but he didn’t really!” I came to Orion’s defense.

“Same rumor ‘ere, Princess. The only girls I take are the ones that ask to be taken to get away from abusing men or looking to start anew. They all have found their mates down here and never return to the surface. I guess the goddess has a funny way of presenting them to me while I look for my own damn mate.” Luke takes another rock and throws it harshly against another tree.

“I never thought of it like that, I guess I was quick to judge. I’m sorry. This whole world is new to me. Don’t know who to trust and who to stay away from…” my voice trailed away while Luke raised his hand.

“It’s fine, he thinks that way because he saw me take one of the fae girls that was running to the water, she was trying away from some rutting wolf that wanted to claim her as his chosen mate. I had told her the day before I would take her, she was just screaming for me to take her quickly.” Luke’s face was forlorn, his mind was taking him to another place. I had a strong urge to comfort him, a man I didn’t know. His blue-green scales were a bit darker than what they were the first time I met him.

“I’m so sorry, Luke. I had no idea. What you did for those women, that is very heroic of you to take them in like that.” Luke scoffed.

“Doesn’t really matter. I just don’t want them to end up like my father did.” Luke bit his l*p harshly but gave a sinister smile. My own mother wasn’t my father’s mate all for political gains pushed by her. Once she found her true mate though, she left him, she left us.”

My heart broke for Luke. He may have family full of brothers and a father but knowing loss of a family member was something I knew all too well too.

“Your father still cares for you, doesn’t he?” He nodded his head. “Very much.”

“That’s good,” I whispered.

“And you?” Luke pried. “Surely they were upset when their daughter got taken by a Fae,” he snickered.

“Nah, they didn’t care,” I mumbled.