“This is the most messed up fairy tale ever,” I observe.
The king scoffs. “Princess, a fairy tale would imply there is a happily ever after. I have yet to see that for anyone.”
“But there’s still time,” I stress. “You can go through the portal and find her. You can use the key to get her back.”
“That’s what I’d like to do. If she’d even want to come back to me after all of these years. There must be a reason she never returned. I hope she still loves me.”
“Maybe the key wouldn’t stay with her. My mom said it would disappear and reappear. For all we know Rya did try to take it, but it wouldn’t stay with her long enough to use.” I know it’s only a theory. It’s better than nothing, though.
I stand and reach for my backpack, which is resting on the chair beside me. I unzip it and notice all of my belongings in disarray. Turning to the king, I accuse, “You went through my things again!”
“No, I didn’t. One of my men did.”
“Same thing!”
I go back to my bag to find the key. In all reality, I should have known he’d look through my things. If I were in his position, and was left alone in a room with something I had been in need of for years to find the love of my life, I probably would have ripped it to shreds.
I find the heavy key in its hidden compartment and hold it tight in my hand. My choice is made. This is bigger than me. There is an entire family who has missed their mother and wife. I can’t be the one to keep her from them.
King Azure has waited too many years; I can’t make him wait any longer. Sure I could go back and find her, but she barely knows me. What if once I’m through, the key disappears? Then he’s still stuck without his wife. There is no guarantee. He has a better chance at convincing his wife to return. For all I know, she could have thought he would move on without her. Who knows what she’s thinking? He needs to find her, however. That is, if the key wants him to use it.
I walk to the king. He rises and looks into my eyes. What I see is a man who has been lost for so long without the other half of his soul. My chest aches for him. I hold out my hand, palm up, exposing the key. He inhales a ragged breath. When he reaches for it I close my hand fast. I have to remember the conditions.
“You need to agree to my conditions before I hand this key to you.” He nods. “First, you must agree not to bring any weapons with you. Second, no one will go through with you. You must go on this mission alone. Third, you cannot tell anyone in my land about where you’re from or how you got there. You can say you’re a friend of the family or something if you’re asked. And you mustn’t tell anyone here where you’ve been if you do come back. You’ll have to make up a story about your wife and where she’s been. My world must remain hidden, as must yours, from the people on the other side.”
“I agree,” he states.
“I will help you find something suitable to wear, so that you’ll fit in. I’ll tell you where I have cash and credit cards kept in my home. I’ll tell you everything that I can to help you. In fact, in my phone on my nightstand is Rya’s number. You’ll have to use it to contact her. In return, I want what you promised me. I want immunity. You will not force me to go to my father or Oliver. I will become a citizen of the Azure Kingdom. You will also provide me with all of the same benefits that your children have. Money, a home, everything.”
“Of course. Luke will see to it all, won’t you, Son?”
“What?” he asks, obviously not paying attention. “I’m sorry. I’m still trying to process everything.”
“Alison. She will be your responsibility to protect and ensure she has everything she needs. She will be one of us and treated as royalty amongst our people.”
He tenses and rises to meet us. “Of course. I wouldn’t have let you trade her, even if that were her choice.”
The king smiles warmly. “I already knew that.”
“You did?” Luke questions.
“Of course. I saw the way you looked at her when you first brought her in. I knew she was special to you.”
“You still played her.”
“Yes, and I’m not sorry for it either. I need to find my Rya. I would have done whatever it took to get that key.”
I interrupt. “Oddly, I’m not even angry about that.” I reach for the king’s hand and place the key in it. Surprisingly, it remains solid in his palm. I didn’t know what it would do. “Protect this with your life.”
“On my honor,” he pledges, with the key pressed to his heart, then he turns to Luke. “We have a lot to discuss. I need to fill your brothers and sister in. We need Ryland to take over the throne once I’m gone. We’ll have to devise a plan as to what to tell our people.” Luke nods.
“No one outside of your immediate family can know the truth,” I stress. Hopefully the guards outside can’t hear our conversation.
“I agree,” the king replies. “The less who know, the better.”
Family
We leave the king’s chambers after I pick out some simple clothing for him that should allow him to blend in. Luckily, his hair is done nicely, making him look refined.
Luke and I walk back to his home. We’re to return at sunset for dinner when he will tell Luke’s brothers and sister the plan. While apart, I will be writing down everything I can think of for the king. Instructions on where to go, how to use my phone, and a host of other things. I’m hoping that once he gets ahold of Rya, she will come to him. He won’t know how to use a car and there are no cabs in my small town. I won’t be there to assist him, but I can give him the most information possible. He will have to remain in my home and wait for her.
Once inside, Luke hands me paper and a pencil. I sit at the table and begin to quickly write. He strides to the couch and throws himself onto it. His arm bends to rest over his eyes. The sight of him makes my chest pinch. He’s been through so much this morning. I try to write faster, so I can spend some time with him before we have to go back for our meeting with his family.
When I finally think I have everything covered and my hand is completely cramped up, I fold the paper and leave it on the dining table. Standing, I walk to the couch where Luke hasn’t moved since he laid down. I sit on the edge facing him, and place my hand on the arm he has lying by his side. The one covering his face lifts and he peers up at me. In his eyes I see sorrow, hurt, and hope. Most of his life he thought his mother was dead, and not only is she alive, but he could have more siblings. There is also the possibility that she won’t come back, or his dad for that matter. My heart breaks for him.
He reaches up, gently grips my arms, and pulls me down until I’m resting my head in the crook of his neck. I nuzzle it with my nose and relax in his arms. He’s holding me tightly and I let him. He’s not the only one who could use comfort at the moment. At least we have each other.