Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Dara
Smoke fills the room. I can’t see a thing. Looking around frantically, I try to figure out what’s happening. Then a bright light blinds me. I shield my eyes with my hand, peering through my fingers. The bright light gets bigger and bigger, coming toward me. The smoke lifts, evaporating, then she hovers above me like an angel—Anna.
She’s wearing a loose-fitting white dress that’s covered in glitter. It shimmers in the light; she looks breathtaking. Her brown hair is loose and falls beautifully around her glowing face. She smiles at me, and my heart pinches.
“Dara, my darling, you need to finish this. You need to finish him and claim your final stone.” She hovers, moving closer to me. I don’t move a muscle, afraid that she will disappear.
“You will rule Silvia with your warriors by your side. Don’t give up hope. Bring your family back together. It’s going to be okay; we’ll be with you all the entire way. Your parents are so proud of you, Dara, as should you be of yourself.” She reaches out and places her hand on my cheek. My eyes close as I lean into her touch.
“Connect with your warriors. This will guide you to the Ruby. You must bring everyone back together for this to happen. Lives will be lost, but it’s for the future of Silvia—it’s to save our home. I love you, Dara.” Her hand vanishes, and her voice fades away.
“Goodbye, I love you!” I scream, but she’s gone.
Somebody shakes my body and I jolt awake. Oliver’s panicked eyes are the first thing I see. He’s standing, leaning over me. His brows are drawn together. Light streams through the window and I squint.
“What?” I ask, confused.
He moves back slightly and sits down in front of me on the bed. Looking around my room, I find everyone here. Harlan, Jolie, Declan, Blair, Kayla, Alaric, and Elijah are all hovering around the bed, all looking concerned. What the hell? I clear my throat, waiting for someone to answer my question.
“You were yelling and screaming so we all rushed in here, worried. What happened?” Oliver asks, rubbing his hand through his hair.
Sitting up in my bed, I tuck my hair behind my ears. I fill everyone in on what happened with Anna.
Once I finish, the room stays silent for many seconds before Harlan speaks, “It’s a sign from our mother to get back together, to connect, so we can get some insight about the Ruby. It wasn’t just a coincidence that she appeared now. It’s a sign to get moving.”
Everyone nods in agreement. The dream wasn’t like my previous ones, when I had visions of where the stones were. Harlan’s right; this is more of a push to reunite us. We’ve all been apart for too long.
“Let’s meet in the canopy in thirty minutes. Alaric, take Kayla to the training room to get some more practice in. Elijah, go fill Albert in on what’s happening,” Harlan barks and walks out the door followed by everyone else.
Oliver grabs my hand, pulling me up off the bed.
“We need to shower. Preferably together.” He winks, taking me to my bathroom. I don’t argue one bit.
We both undress, our eyes staying on one another’s the entire time. Oliver takes my hand again and we step into the steaming, hot shower. He pulls me to his chest as the water falls around us. He tilts my chin so I’m looking up and his lips find mine. He kisses me lightly at first then before long, he moves his lips down my neck, kissing and biting. My legs become weak, and I want him. I need him. Now.
He takes one of my breasts in his mouth, sucking, and my eyes close. Fuck, that feels good. His hand travels down my chest, going lower and lower until he cups my pussy. One finger then two slip inside me. He builds me up and up until my legs become weak and I’m moaning his name.
“Fuck, Princess, I have to get inside of this sweet pussy,” he growls, biting down on my shoulder. I hum in response. He removes his fingers, placing them in his mouth. He licks them clean and wow. That’s hot.
He spins me around, pinning my hands above my head. His body pushes up against mine. My nipples harden, brushing against the tiles. In one swift movement, Oliver fills me. He grips my hair around his fingers and pulls my head backwards until I’m looking deep into his eyes.
“Fuck, you are perfect. Just made for us,” he says, claiming my lips once again. His thrusts go harder and harder hitting me in just the right spot. My legs start to become weak as we both release.
Pulling back, I lean my head on his chest.
“We’ll figure it out, Princess. Together.” He kisses my forehead.
After ten minutes in the shower washing up, we reluctantly get out. Oliver wraps a towel around me and fastens it around my breasts. He leaves me alone in the bathroom. Leaning back against the basin, I place my face in my hands. Taking a few deep breaths, I try to ready myself for what’s ahead. I must follow through with Anna’s wish to make her and my parents proud. I won’t make her or my parents’ deaths mean nothing. We will bring Silvia back to its rightful owners. I’m the rightful queen and will stop at nothing to bring James down to his knees. He will pay the price for killing those I love.
I wipe away the tear that falls down my cheek, looking at myself in the mirror. Gone is the na?ve girl I was all those months ago. In front of me stands a strong warrior who will rule Silvia with kindness.
I comb my hair then put it up in a high bun. Stepping out of the bathroom, I find Harlan sitting on my bed, waiting for me. Oliver’s nowhere to be seen. I pull out some clothes from my walk-in robe and get changed while Harlan sits there in silence. Once dressed, I turn around to see Harlan watching me intently. After chucking my towel back in the bathroom, I join Harlan on the bed, sitting down next to him.
Taking his hand, I give it a squeeze.
“Everything okay?” I ask and pull my lip between my teeth.
“Yeah, I guess. Sorry I’ve been distant the past week. I needed to be with Dad to help him through this. He was like me—so consumed with grief that it came out as blind rage. But I managed to talk him out of it, thanks to you. We will make him pay in a better way.” He presses a soft kiss against my lips and leans back.
“How did my mum seem in your dream?” He looks away.
“She was beautiful, Harlan—like an angel. She looked happy. She’s with my parents and they believe in us. She said to take care of you all,” I reply honestly.
“You’re lucky you got to say goodbye in your dream. I wish I’d had the chance to do that.” His voice breaks, and my heart tightens.
“You will, Harlan, in your own way. She wants you to be happy.”
He doesn’t reply; he pulls me onto his lap and hugs me, holding on for dear life. We stay like this for ages. His heart beats rapidly against my chest.
“We better go down and discuss how today’s going to play out. Formulate the plan of attack.” Harlan pulls back, lightly kissing me on the cheek. I nod, getting off the bed and pulling him up with me.
As I’m coming down the stairs, I find the rest of my warriors in the living room. Oliver starts pushing the couches back against the walls, making a clear space on the ground with help from Blair. Declan moves the coffee table into the kitchen area so now the room is just bare carpet. Harlan places his arm around my shoulders, and we take the final step off the stairs.
We sit next to Jolie who’s already made herself comfortable on the ground. Crossing my legs over one another, I sit silently, waiting for everyone to join us. Oliver hums a melody next to me while Jolie has her eyes closed and her fingers resting on her knees. My guess is she’s meditating, trying to clear her head for what’s about to come.
Declan shuts the front door and locks it in place, then he joins us. His eyes find mine and I offer him a smile. He simply nods as he sits opposite me. Harlan and Blair finally join our circle then it’s dead silent for a moment. Harlan opens his mouth to talk, but I stop him by raising a hand. Everyone’s attention is now on me.
Taking a deep breath, I try to relax. “I know we all have been distant this past week due to the tragedy of losing Anna.” I pause, looking at each of my warriors. “She came to me in my dream for a reason. She wants us to connect as one united force to find my Ruby stone and end this war,” I say, raising my voice with each word.
I pause, letting my words sink in and take a deep breath in and out.
“We need to release the pain that we are all suffering from so we can bind ourselves together again. Without being connected to one another as we’ve been in the past, our mission to find the Ruby won’t work.
“We must unite as a team so that we can get closer to finding the stone. I need the support of each one of you. Do I have that?” My eyes fall on each of my warriors as I nervously wait for my warriors to answer.
I need them to find Ruby. Without them, it won’t work.
Oliver places his hand on my knee. “Always, Princess.”
Blair shuffles in front of me, followed by Harlan and Declan. They all put their hands over Oliver’s. I look to Jolie, who’s next to me. She reaches over and places her hand over the guys’.
“I’ve always got your back and my brothers’. We will rule Silvia for your parents and ours.” Her voice comes out strong and so sure that it has me smiling in relief. It gives me hope that we have a chance at freedom.
That we can finish this.