Chapter 33
Chapter 3 3
We left a few days ago. The journey feels long when one has a veil of guilt hanging over them.
Dread sinks into every pore of my body.
These are the final days—it’s almost over.
I am happy and smiling on the outside, but on the inside, I am screaming. I feel sick, nervousness taking me hostage. I can’t sleep and I can barely eat, feeling my doom approaching.
Apollo seems overjoyed. I’m sure the scales on the Fairy Godmother radar are above 50 percent now.
The evil is dropping. People are starting to thrive, the blanket of evil lifted due to the capture of Irena and her dark army.
~Will Apollo still want me?~ is the burning question.
I squeeze my eyes shut and take a steady breath. I mean, men in the past have taken the information well and have had ~happily-ever-afters~ . Apollo could be the same.
I think he will take it well enough, but I’m just not sure. Apollo could feel played, betrayed in a sense, like my love was just an act. I hope not.
He might not even believe me. I’m sure Fairy Godmother Inc. will have to give me something to prove to him that I am who I say I am, and not a lunatic.
I gaze out over the ocean as we near land ahead.
I feel arms circle around my waist, making me tense, then I sigh when I feel his lips on my neck. “What has you scowling?” Apollo whispers.
I smile, hiding my inner panic. “Nothing, just glad to get off this ship.”
“Are you nervous?”
I look at him. “About?”
“Our engagement announcement in two days,” he says with a pointed look. Apollo nuzzles my neck, breathing me in.
I swallow.
He is having the engagement party on the same day that I will tell him my big secret. Why would he do that? That just puts even more pressure on me. Maybe Pierce has a gentle way I can tell him.
~Seven women are here from another planet. They were beamed here in hopes to win your dark, wayward heart, so you wouldn’t fuck everything up for the rest of the universe.~
Yeah. I’m sure he will take that well.
“Tell me, Angel.”
I shake my head and force a laugh, spinning around to face him. “Nothing is wrong,” I murmur, and raise on my tiptoes to kiss him. Yum. He is delicious, smelling of fresh air and soap.
He kisses me back and slightly bites my lip, smiling into me. “You know, you can just tell me your secret now. You’re making me nervous that I’m not going to like it. ”
I suck in a breath. “I can’t tell you, ~yet~ .”
“Yes, I am aware. You keep saying that, but you also have been closed off from me since leaving. It pains me to see the agony in your eyes.”
I close my eyes and force a smile. “I just hope you’re understanding.”
He tilts his head at me. “You say you mean me no harm. You say you come in peace, and that you pose no bodily harm to anyone. So why would I not be understanding? How bad can it be?”
“Well…It’s a little bizarre.”
Apollo raises a brow and looks thoughtful. “You have something bizarre to tell me?” He is smiling now. “Were you raised by wolves? You’re really a mystical fairy?”
He levels me a hard stare. “You were once a man?”
My eyes widen in shock. “No!” I smack him on his bicep.
He laughs and shrugs. “You’re making me wonder the worst.”
“No, I am all female.” That’s the only thing I’m certain of at this point.
He grabs me, his hands smoothing over my ass. “Oh, I know you’re all female, Angel. Just teasing you.”
I moan when he kisses me again, hot lips moving over mine, dark eyes glittering. He pulls back and bops me on the nose.
“I must go. I will find you later. Your father wants to meet immediately. I can’t imagine why,” he says with a wink.
Gosh, he is so handsome.
I watch him leave with a sick feeling .
Here we go.
***
I am greeted like I’m some celebrity.
My father hugs me and cries, telling me how sorry he is for Irena. I am escorted by tons of guards like I carry the crown jewels.
To be honest, it’s all a blur. All I can think about is how I am going to tell Apollo. I hug myself, feeling lost.
This is too perfect.
This is a true fantasy come to life.
~The calm before the storm.~ That saying scares me, knowing its truth.
This could all come crashing down in a couple of days. I can’t let myself be happy until I know Apollo will be okay with me being an agent of Fairy Godmother Inc.
I get to my beautiful room only to gasp.
~Pierce.~
“Pierce,” I breathe.
Mort is suddenly beside him.
He looks impeccable in a pin-striped suit, fitted perfectly. Of course, Pierce would have fashionable clothing. The man is all that is elegant and the best clothing designer in all the universe.
“Take a breath.”
I take a breath and say nothing, shocked to see him here.
He leans against the wall with his hand stylishly resting in his pocket like he is in an Armani ad.
“This is your ~End Game~ briefing, and I am happy to say we have done it. The Fairy Godmother is thrilled. She knew it was you all along.” He points at me.
I frown. “How? And it’s not over yet.”
He grins and I think his teeth sparkle. “True, you still have one more obstacle. How did she know it was you? Your rare eye color.”
He nods to the chair next to the window. “You might want to sit for this.”
Dread sinks in.
Coming from Pierce, that is never good.
I find the chair and numbly sit.
Pierce glances at Mort then back to me. “You are the lost daughter of Galleon.”
I snort. “Yeah, I think I know that by now.”
He shakes his head. “No, the ~real ~ one.”
I stare at him.
I laugh and smile. ~This guy~ .
Pierce smiles too. “I am being serious.”
“Wait.” I stand. “What are you talking about?”
“Sit.”
I sit, panic welling in my chest.
“This is quite rare. It’s only happened once before, in fact, but our Fairy Godmother knew immediately.” He continues, “You fell through a portal as a small child, sent by Irena’s black arts.
“And Fate brought you back to your rightful place. Pretty amazing, if you ask me. This job never ceases to mystify me.”
I am breathing hard.
No way.
Not possible.
“You are not from Earth, but from here. Your supposedly heartless mother never left you in Texas. You were wrongly banished,” he says. “You were found by the fire department and put into foster homes. ”
“I don’t believe it.”
“I have your DNA. Your biological father is the King of Galleon. We did not need to fake anything.” He tosses some papers on the desk with a wink. “Read it if you want.”
“You could have faked them.”
He laughs. “No reason to fake them, there would be no reason for us to lie.” He leans against the wall.
“Trust me, I do not have time to make up fake scenarios such as this. That is not what we are about, and I think you know that.”
I glance at the papers that confirm my hysteria. “How?”
“Irena should have just killed you.” He smiles. “Glad she didn’t, but looks like Fate had other plans for you. You were destined to come back.”
Mort says, “That, I was not expecting.”
That means the King is my ~real~ father.
Emotion stings my eyes. I’m not sure how to deal with this information. I have a family? Family is so foreign to me, never having had one. I feel a tear stream down my cheek. “This is a lot.”
I feel dizzy.
Pierce nods. “You’re a tough kid, you’ll get through it.” He winks at me. “This is very good news for you—someone without a family now has a real one.” Pierce smiles and walks over to me.
“And now we have to talk about your last day here. I do not have a lot of time for I must see every girl here still.
“If you win Apollo’s heart in the end, the other females have the choice to stay or go. It’s our little ~thank you~ for their participation.
“It’s a surprise in the end for them, if you will. They do not know this until I talk to them. ”
I wipe another tear, feeling like I am in the twilight zone. “There is a lot resting on me then.”
“A lot—so don’t mess up.”
I blink at him.
“All contestants will meet at dawn by the South Shore. This is not negotiable, by the way. Our Fairy Godmother ship will leave after first light, which is roughly seven o’clock.
“All the contestants will be aboard, including you. The only way you may get off is by Apollo coming for you.” He continues, “If he is too late, then the magic ends. Game over.”
I swallow, feeling my nerves take flight. “How am I to convince him?”
He nods and pulls something out of a blue velvet case. “This is called the ~Darling Medallion~ .” Pierce holds up the most beautiful necklace I have ever seen.
It is a diamond heart necklace, with a large cobalt crystal center. It sparkles and glimmers like tropical water in the bright sunlight.
“It’s beautiful,” I breathe.
“You are now a Fairy Godmother ~Darling~ , which is a high honor. This necklace is your gift for winning the competition—if you can convince Apollo, that is.
“You shall wear it with pride. This medallion can never be broken, and it allows you to get in touch with Fairy Godmother Inc. if the need should arise.”
“You still keep in contact with all of the winners?”
“Yes, we are very fond of our Darlings. You have a lifelong relationship with us. We are family here, and we never abandon anyone.
“Did I mention we have a killer Christmas party that all Darlings are invited to? Though last year the Sexy-Santa elf set Cinderella’s dress on fire .
“No joke. Elves cannot drink whiskey—they burp fire, as it turns out.”
My eyes widen in shock.
Unbelievable.
I shake my head. “How does this necklace help me with Apollo?”
“When the time is right, let him touch it.” Pierce continues, “This will give him a very real vision of who we are and that you are telling the truth. It’s a very ~convincing~ vision, and he will not doubt you.”
I bite my lip, then nod, and I take the necklace from Pierce. It shimmers and sparkles, the weight of it making me feel as though it will shatter if I drop it. He helps me clasp it around my neck.
“I have faith Apollo will come for you.”
I pray he is right.
“Otherwise, we are all out of the business.”