Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
VALERIA
W hen I woke up Kai was headed to take a shower. He must have woken up early and completed his workout because his forehead and hair were dripping in sweat. I sat up and he looked at me, “Good morning, beautiful.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, “When did you wake up?”
Kai was holding a glass of whiskey, “I couldn’t sleep.”
“Why?”
Kai took a big gulp of whiskey, “I was thinking about whether you would go with me or not.”
I took a deep breath, “Didn’t you think about whether or not you would go to Eldaria?”
Kai finished his glass and set it on the table. “That is not an option for me.”
“So why do you think the option is…”
Kai didn’t even let me complete my sentence before dashing into the bathroom. I wanted to barge into the bathroom hold him by the neck and ask, “Why the fuck should I leave my family?”
I'd prefer to stay in bed since I didn't want to argue about this any longer. I was sick to my stomach cooped up in this mansion, and I wanted to go out. Although it was the biggest I’d ever seen. I climbed out of bed and went to my room. I freshened up, changed my clothes, and stood in front of the mirror before heading out of the room. You can do this Valeria, whispered a voice in my head.
Kai, Anna, and Eli had already come down for breakfast and they were waiting for me. I pretended to be normal and made Kai believe there was nothing wrong with what he just said to me before heading to the shower. I walked over to Kai leaned in and kissed him. Kai raised his brow and kissed me back. The way he was looking at me I knew he needed an explanation. I sat next to him and started my breakfast. I looked at Kai who was already ogling me. I smiled, “Did you think about what I asked you last night?”
Kai sipped his coffee, “Could you be more specific?.”
I bit my toast, “Letting me go out with Anna.”
Anna and Eli looked at me. “Anna is one of Kai’s trusted people. Please, guys, help me make Kai understand that I am truly not feeling well within these mansion walls. It has been days that I have been stuck here and now I feel like throwing up all the time.”
Anna looked at Kai, “Is she telling the truth?”
I raised my head a bit, “Hello, I am not lying, I do not feel good at all.”
Kai didn’t bother answering, finished his coffee, and was about to stand up when I whined, “Guys, seriously I actually feel nauseated.”
Kai stood up and was about to go when suddenly I started feeling something growl in my stomach, I swiped sweat off of my forehead with the back of my hand as a gush of something was on the way to coming out of my mouth. I immediately stood up and ran to my room. I threw up until I felt myself empty.
Kai followed hurriedly and cleaned me. When I was coming out of the bathroom, Anna looked at Kai, “I think you should allow her to go out.”
Kai’s nostrils flared, but Anna continued, “You aim to keep Valeria safe but it's pretty clear her health is not safe within these walls anymore.”
“When I get back from my meeting we’ll go out.”
I asked, “We?”
Kai looked at me and kissed me on the cheek. “Be ready at 3 p.m.,” and then he left the mansion.
Just a few minutes ago, I felt perfectly fine, and I was wondering how on Earth I could possibly throw up. I couldn't make sense of it. I looked up at the ceiling, thinking maybe the universe was on my side in this bizarre twist of events, giving me a way out of the mansion.
I dropped onto my bed and pulled the cozy covers up to my chin. As I closed my eyes, the thought of finally getting out of the mansion gave me a small sense of relief. My body began to relax gradually, and I fell into a light slumber.
I woke up two hours later and the sickness had passed. I rolled out of bed, got dressed, put on some makeup, and prepared for the day.
Kai and Alex were already waiting for me in the foyer. Kai took me shopping. I liked that until I ran into someone unexpectedly.
I was surprised to see Morgana. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw me with Kai.
"Valeria?" she exclaimed.
"Morgana," I said casually.
She looked at Kai recognizing him, “I didn’t know you were seeing Kai Parker nowadays?”
I held Kai’s hand, “Before you make any plans, let me tell you that he is my fiance and we are getting married soon.”
I looked at Kai; he kept himself composed. Morgana responded, “But he…..he is a human.” She was not able to recognize his lineage under his glamour magic.
Kai pretended to be na?ve, “Human? Is that a problem?”
I was laughing inside, but I played along and widened my eyes at Morgana. “ We are all human. Right?”
Morgana knew the consequences if she didn’t agree with me, so she nodded and stammered, “Of course, I was just kidding,” and then she fake laughed.
Lucien emerged from the shop to our left. I had no idea what the day ahead of me held. He kissed Morgana when she clutched his hand. My heart would be shattered into a thousand tiny pieces if I were the old Valeria, but since Kai came into my life, I couldn't care less.
Morgana looked at Lucien, “Lucien, do you know Valeria is getting married to this gentleman?”
She mouthed, “Human,” and thought Kai and I didn’t notice.
Lucien and Kai shook hands and I could see that the news hit Lucien hard. The veins on his temple started to bulge, “Oh? How do you guys meet?”
Kai looked at me and leaned back against him, “I work in his office. I think Morgana can fill you in on the details since she seems to know so much about my boyfriend.”
Morgana looked at Lucien, “You know about Kai Parker. Right?”
Lucien nodded, “The guy who owns Parker Tower.”
Morgana pointed at Kai. “That’s him.”
I pasted a vicious sweet smile on my face, “By the way, Morgana, Lucien thank you so much for betraying me. If you guys hadn’t betrayed me I would have never met Kai.”
Morgana opened her mouth, but I looked at Kai, “I am hungry I think we should go home.” I looked at them, “I meant your place where we live together,” and then we left.
Kai asked when we walked away from them. “What was that?”
Then I told him about their betrayal and the reason I joined his company. When we got back home Kai asked, “Does it still bother you that Lucien is with Morgana?”
I shook my head and headed to my room. “Lucien is my past. For a time, his cheating tormented me. But since the moment I saw you I never bother to think about him anymore.”
Kai grabbed my arms, pulled me back, and said. “That’s sweet, but where are you going?”
I raised my brows, “To my room?”
Kai pointed upstairs at his room, “It’s there.”
I pointed to the right, “But all my stuff is in there.”
“No, your stuff is upstairs now.”
I smiled and kissed him. “So we are going to sleep together now and forever?”
Kai kissed me back, “No, tonight you are going to sleep alone. I have meetings so I’ll be in my office.”
“But it’s so late!”
Kai nodded, “Yeah, but tomorrow is a full moon so…,” he raised his brows expecting me to understand the rest.
“Is Alex going to drive you or will you drive yourself?”
“Neither, I have an office here in the mansion as well.”
“But where is it?”
Kai nudged me toward the stairs, “I’ll show you another time, but right now I have to go.”
When I got to the bedroom I climbed into bed and I started thinking about Morgana and Lucien. The expressions on their faces still made me smile. I never intended to introduce Kai as my fiance to anyone. I don’t know what had gotten into me, but I wanted to tell them. I wondered now why Kai hadn’t asked me why I lied to them.
I was in a deep sleep when my phone started to buzz. I sat up and turned on the lamp to find my phone. I forgot to take it out of my bag so I climbed out of my bed and rushed to my handbag. The phone continued to ring and when I took it out Luke’s name flashed across the screen. I took a deep breath and picked it up, “It better be something big because you’re waking me up at 4 a.m.”
Luke responded in one breath, “Someone has complained to the US council that Valeria Davis is getting married to a human and the order has called Dad and you to show up at the council tomorrow morning.”
My eyes got wide open. “What?”
Luke asked. “You were listening, right?”
I grunted, “Of course but…why….what? I mean, to be honest, I don’t even know what to ask.”
“Dad’s reaction was exactly like yours when he received the summons.”
“But who could…,” and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I realized this was about what I told Morgana and Lucien last evening.
“Hello….Hello, are you there?”
“Fuck fuck fuck,” I cursed and took my hand away from my forehead and opened my eyes, “It must be Morgana or Lucien, or maybe they filed this complaint together.”
Luke asked me for the details and I told him about last evening’s encounter. “Shouldn’t you have told them that you guys are strictly friends ?”
I clenched my jaw, “If I had known they were going to file a complaint I would have never told them Kai and I were together.”
Luke taunted, “Congratulations on announcing your wedding in council tomorrow.”
I sighed, “I am trying to figure out how to attend Council without saying anything to Kai. He already has a lot on his plate.”
“Yeah only problem is you live in his place and you want to go out without telling him.”
“Are you my brother or the enemy?”
“I am your brother who is the only one of us who thinks rationally.”
I snarled, “Yeah, I know, how you got drunk and food poisoning in Vienna -- rationally.”
Luke stammered. “Except that.”
I looked at the door, “OKai listen just tell everybody that this summons shouldn’t reach Kai.”
“Then how are you gonna come to the council?”
“What time is it??”
Luke’s voice went far away. Hey guys what is the time of the council meeting?
Now clear again, “Yeah, it's 1:30 p.m. sharp.”
I exhaled, “Alright just tell everybody about Lucien and Morgana and I’ll be there around 11 a.m. Bye.”
I immediately ended the call and tossed the phone under my pillow as I heard Kai coming towards the room. I couldn’t pretend to sleep because he would know so I walked towards the bathroom. The moment I reached the bathroom door Kai opened the door of the room. I turned around and smiled.
Kai waved a hand, fell onto the bed on his back, and closed his eyes. I rushed to the bathroom and spent five minutes thinking about what I should do to attend the council meeting. Only one name popped into my mind, Anna.
It felt like an eternity waiting for everyone to finish before Kai went to his office. Anna and Eli were about to leave and I cleared my throat, “Anna, could you stay for a while? I am getting bored here.”
Anna shrugged her shoulders, “Sure.” She told Eli to call her if she was needed for the kids.
When Eli shut the door I looked at her and asked hurriedly, “I need a favor.”
At first, Anna refused to stand against Kai, but when I told her that Kai and I were already in a silent battle over crossing the portal and it was my fault for bragging to my ex-boyfriend and best friend that Kai was going to be my husband, she gave in.
Anna sighed, “OKai, but we have to come back soon because today is a full moon and Kai will come back before his usual time.”
Anna told me to get ready and she’d be back in five minutes. I don’t know what she told Eli but five minutes later she was in the car. I crossed every surveillance camera with care and left my phone in the mansion because Kai had put the tracker in it.
When I reached the council, my family was waiting for me outside. I looked at the time and ran towards them. There, we decided how to handle the scenario and when we finished, it was time for our case, and Dad and I were called inside.
I stood in the magnificent hall of the council chambers with my Dad. The chamber was an imposing building made of old stone and covered with beautiful sculptures depicting our kind's rich past. Tall, arched windows let sunlight in, casting a shimmering glow throughout the room.
The Order of the USA had five members and the council room reflected their authority. Four members were sitting in their assigned seats. My Dad's seat, the fifth, was vacant.
Lucien entered with Morgana and she sat where my mom and brother were sitting. Lucien walked towards the chamber with a stern face. He stood against my chamber.
Councilor Marlowe, the council's first member, read the complaint aloud. He had graying hair and piercing eyes. He spoke clearly and authoritatively. "Valeria Davis, you have been accused of having a relationship with a human, thereby endangering our society. Lucien, how did you come to know about this?"
Lucien moved forward, his voice calm and cold, "Valeria told me last night."
The members of the council nodded, Councilor Marlowe turned to face me. "Do you accept this claim, Valeria?"
I shook my head, "No, respected council members, I do not accept this claim."
Lucien's expression twisted in fury. "Valeria, don't lie," he yelled.
Councilor Marlowe held up a hand. "It's not your turn to talk, Lucien. Wait until you are spoken to."
I bowed my head respectfully. "Thank you, Councilor."
Councilor Ingrid, another council member, leaned forward. “Valeria, please explain."
I inhaled deeply. "Honorable members of the council, I understand the seriousness of these accusations. It is true, that I have had interactions with humans, but never with the aim of endangering our society. I've always been careful and discreet."
Council Ingrid asked. “Did you meet Lucien last night holding hands with a human?”
I pressed my lips and nodded. “Yes, council member I did.”
Council Marlowe asked, “Why did you take such a risk to roam around with humans?”
I sighed, “Kai Parker is my boss and we were at an official dinner and my heels broke. So we rushed to a mall to buy shoes for me. That’s it.”
Council Marlowe asked. “Didn’t you work for Lucien’s dad’s company? His dad is Jake’s beta.”
“Due to some personal reasons, I left that job.”
“Can you tell us the reason for quitting your job?”
I looked at Lucien. “Because Lucien had been cheating on me with Morgana. I had to leave the job without making a scene, as I didn’t want any trouble in the community. I never wanted any tension between Dad and Lucien’s dad.”
Councilor Ingrid looked at Lucien as he moved down his head. Now my Dad raised his hand. “Respected members, I would like to say something.”
Council Marlowe nodded.
My dad stated. "My family and I would never do anything to cause harm to this community. I was the one who put up the most effort to establish this law. The punishment for anyone who sabotaged our society would be death."
Council Ingrid responded, “We understand and we had no other option but to call you here to the chamber.”
My dad sighed, “I feel happy that our justice system is the same for powerful members as well. But Lucien shouldn’t take such an extreme step in filing a complaint without any verification. We can’t avoid humans all our lives. They coexist with us and we have to interact with them sometimes.”
The case was dismissed. I looked at Lucien and Morgana who were already looking at me. I smirked and winked. After coming out of the order chamber I immediately ran into Anna’s car and we got back to the mansion safely. The moment we entered Kai was standing there waiting for us.
Oh crap.