Dark of kNight (22 page)

“Drink. It will help.” He smiled.

Taking another sip, I realized that it was better than the first. “So where did you come up with this?” I asked taking another long sip.

“Jason and I discovered it when we were researching the effects of transformation on the body. The body begins to repair itself at a high rate of speed, requiring a lot more than what your cravings would cover.”

“Wow, a woofie smoothie.” It felt so good on the back of my throat.

“Julie, try not to be a comedian. It will only make matters worse.” His voice was cautious.

Finishing off the drink, I handed Daniel the empty glass with both hands. My muscles relaxed and the pain stopped shooting its lightning bolts.

“The pills must be working,” He sat down on the side of the bed.

I nodded. “Daniel, I am sorry for messing up your plans for tonight.”

“The club? Please, do not worry about it. We can go another time.” He tried to assure me with a smile.

“Well, I know how much that meant to you.”

His smile broadened, and then he pursed his lips and touched my hand. “You mean much more to me.”

For a moment, I considered what he was saying carefully. Somewhere deep in my heart Daniel had reached in and stirred more than just desire. Daniel showed me his heart.

He had grown into a very handsome and sexy young man, yet his heart was more beautiful than I had ever seen. Instead of just telling me that he loved me, he actually showed me.

Since he came back into my life, I knew my life would never be the same again. The part that he opened within me would be a hopeless void if he wasn’t there to fill it. Even though I had told him the truth of how I felt, how could I show him? How could I return what he has given me? I knew in that moment, I couldn't lose him. I wanted him forever.

“So what do we do now?” I asked breaking through the warm feeling from his smile. I knew he knew exactly what I meant.

“I have considered a few options.” The look on his face was now serious. “You need to finish your last semester. I have the research clinic in Scotland.” He paused, looking out the window as if his thoughts had drifted.

“Well, I can take online courses. I’ll have to arrange for my things to be moved here. And… ”

“Julie, you do realize that your life has changed, right?” His eyes never left the window. “You can never go back to being, well normal. There are laws you will need to learn to live by.”

“I know what I am. I know that my life will never be the same. I know that there are certain laws I can’t break. We may have to hunt a few werewolves here and there. I’m okay with that.”

He turned his head and stared at me for a moment, as if he was considering my statement. “You have no idea how dangerous this is. It is not to be taken so lightly.”

“Daniel, what do you want me to say about all this? It’s not that I have a choice. In a way, it may sound a little warped to you, but it does give me a sense of purpose.”

The reasoning had set in. All jokes aside, I wanted him to understand that this life meant something to me. Charlotte said that it was my birthright. No, I may not know what it’s like to kill a werewolf, or even fight one. Maybe this was the reason he was so cautious with me.

“Julie, I understand how you feel. I really do. It is just that everything is happening so fast for you right now. There is so much more.” His brows met in a frown. Not of anger, but one which was of concern.

“Daniel, we have time. Between you, Charlotte and Thomas I’ll be filled in.” I touched his hand trying to reassure him in the only way I knew how.

“No. We do not have time. We have until Sunday before the next full moon. Then… ”

“Then… someone is going to have to show me how to fight.” I pushed in.

“No! I do not want you to. Julie, I cannot lose you.”

“It’s our responsibility, is it not?” I retorted.

His eyes grew darker. His anger drew near.

“Listen to me.” I leaned forward toward him placing my hands on each side of his face. The soreness in my joints made me wince a little. “If this is something we have to do together, then we will.”

“You are definitely more than what I expected,” he said smiling.

“And just what did you expect?” I returned his smile.

“You are a lot like your father. He never passed up a good fight.” He took my hands from his face and pressing them to his lips, he gently kissed them.

“Well then, let the Knight bloodlines live on,” I said and we both laughed.

“There is one thing.”

I raised one questioning eyebrow and waited. His lips curl into a grin.

“I guess we need to make everything final.”

“Final?” I blinked.

“Since we are going to be mates, will you marry me Julie Ann Knight?” He asked holding my hands.

Usually when a girl dreams of being proposed to, it’s an elaborate and romantic dream, where the man takes her out to an expensive dinner, or has a romantic evening planned. He kneels down on one knee and gives her a little black box that contains a beautiful diamond engagement ring. This, of course, was my idea of a perfect proposal.

However, everything in my life for the past two weeks was different from anything I had ever dreamed. Why should this moment be any different? I sat on my bed, dressed in a nightshirt and could barely move. The agonizing pain rendered me helpless. The man that I had grown to love in such a short time, for whatever reasons, sat beside me and had just asked me to marry him.

It was as if destiny threw us together on purpose, and we didn’t have a choice. I knew in my heart Daniel was my mate. It was more than apparent. He was right, it was something that was going to happen and we just needed to make it final.

“You knew this was going to happen didn’t you? After all those years?”

He nodded. “How?” I asked.

Daniel paused for a moment looking down at our hands, then back to me. He spoke softly. “Some of us have certain gifts. Yours is your dreams. Mine? Well, it is hard to explain. There are certain things that I know will happen. I never know exactly when, but eventually they happen. I just have to sit back and wait for it. Like you.”

“So you knew when?”

“I knew when we were teenagers. I was eighteen and you were fourteen. It was the night of your birthday party when Casey had dared me to kiss you.” His expression changed to one of sadness. The event must have been a painful memory.

I thought back for a moment. That was ten years ago and he remembered it. Vaguely the memory came back to me. It was not the kind of kiss you would remember, at least not for me anyway. There were several friends over and we all were having a great time. Remembering somehow Casey had challenged me to kiss Daniel. Apparently, she knew then that her brother had a secret crush on me.

“When my lips touched yours, I had this
knowing
that you would be mine. I did not know when. After that I never wanted anyone else but you.” His voice rang the agony of years. It was as if a bell had been tolled. The sound of the heart rang loud and clear. The message was clear. The agony behind those years Daniel waited for love.

“Wow.” I breathed. “Do you do this on a daily basis?” His gift was now my focus. How could he have known such a thing, that I would be his forever by one single kiss?

“Sort of. It has become a way of life for me.”

“I thought life was supposed to be full of surprises. Doesn’t that take the surprise out of life?”

“Well, not really. It is a surprise when you know something is going to happen, yet a bigger surprise when it does. No, I guess I am grateful for the gift I have. It has brought me many nice things. Like you.” His voice was soft and velvety again. His eyes were dreamy as he looked into mine.

“Well, in that case, I guess I have to say yes.” I smiled thinking to myself that this man will be all mine one day. It was not the same
knowing
that he had, but it served its purpose. I knew this was sudden, but at this point what did I have to lose. Daniel did indeed love me. I knew without a doubt I was in love with him. He was a good man and somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew that I would never find anyone like him again. It was a good choice, if I had one.

“Good,” he said and gentle kissed me. It hurt for his lips to even touch mine. “Sorry.” A slight redness appeared on his cheeks when he smiled.

“Well, I guess we have to decide on the details. How about April, next year? I need to finish college and then… .”

“Jewels, April is fine. I would rather it to be earlier. Scotland… ”

“I would rather stay here. I mean, Scotland?” I wasn’t too thrilled with the idea of moving.

“It is very beautiful there. Rains a lot, but the fishing is good,” he joked.

“Well, I… ” I guess I was saved by the bell from my protest when the doorbell rang. Daniel left to answer the front door.

A few minutes later, a set of footsteps were heard coming up the stairs. The brief chattering of voices remained low and unrecognizable. Soon Daniel appeared in the doorway with Casey behind him. She stood there for a moment with a platter covered in plastic wrap. It didn’t take long to guess Charlotte sent over food.

“Mom sent over beef enchiladas. She figured you two wouldn't be coming over to eat.” She held the plate up.

“Here let me take those to the kitchen.” Daniel took the plate. “Would you like me to bring you a plate back?” He paused and looked at me.

“No, I’m not hungry. BUT, I will take another one of those shakes.”

Casey walked over to me with a glow on her face. Gently she sat on the side of the bed and smiled.

“So, you got your first run last night. How do you feel today?” She asked casually.

“Painful.”

She nodded. “It always is the first time. Dad had to carry me around to the bathroom. There was no way I could walk. My whole body ached.” She laughed.

It was good to see her smiling and laughing like her normal self. Her new relationship with Nathanial must be going well.

“Daniel had to pick me up off the floor earlier.” I laughed. “Of course, it wasn’t nearly as embarrassing when he had to carry me to the bathroom to pee. Casey, I thought I was going to die!” We both laughed.

“Julie,” she paused, her expression turned serious. “I want you to know that I’m happy for you and Daniel. I mean,” she looked carefully over her shoulder, making sure no one stood in the doorway. “I’m really sorry for the way I’ve been behaving lately. I don’t want you to think it had anything to do with you.”

“Casey, I never did… ” She held her hand up. Casey reminded me so much of Charlotte.

“No, listen.” She spoke quickly. “Nathaniel is great, really. We get along wonderfully. I’ve never been so happy. He’s,” she paused and checked over her shoulder again.

“
Different,
” she whispered. “Mom and Dad would never approve of him. Julie, I just don’t know what to do.” Her eyes pleaded for help.

“What do you mean different?” There was a distinct change in Casey’s expression. Her body became rigid. She’d been hiding more than just the relationship from her parents.

“I … I can’t say right now, however, I promise you will know. Julie, he truly makes me happy,” she pleaded. “Please don’t say anything.”

I nodded. “I promise. Eventually you’re going to have to tell them if you continue seeing him.”

“I know, but not just yet.” She cut off when Daniel walked back in the room.

“Well, did Julie tell you the news?” he inquired as he walked in the room with the tall milky liquid that I craved. My mouth watered while my lips eagerly waited to wrap around the straw.

Casey looked over at Daniel when he handed me the glass. Again gingerly holding on to it with both hands, I couldn't wait to devour the milky substance.

“What news?” She turned to me with a quizzical look.

“We are getting married.” Daniel declared and sat down on the side of the bed.

Casey’s eyes widened with surprise. Her arms flew open as she reached for me. My heart leaped as I gripped the glass carefully preparing for the embrace. In a flash, Daniel’s hands reached for the glass and locked his fingers around mine to steady it as her arms folded around my shoulders. Surprisingly, we didn’t lose any of the milky contents. I closed my eyes while the pain from her hug ran through my body.

“I’m so happy!” she squealed. Backing off, she suddenly realized my pain. “Oh, Jewels, I’m so sorry. I forgot.” She eased back away from me.

“It’s okay.” I lied. It took a moment to gain control of shooting pain.

“Way to go brother!” She punched him in the shoulder. “Mom and Dad will be so excited. Have you planned on a date?”

“Well, we have a lot to do, Casey,” he said cautiously. “Julie needs finish college. Then we have to make arrangements for jobs, and I have the clinic in Scotland. We are thinking probably April.”

“April, huh? Well, that will give Mom plenty of time to prepare. Oh, we’re going to have to have an engagement party.” Her face brightened. “Then plan the wedding, pick out dresses and oh, yes the wedding gown.”

“Okay, you two. Let’s just take this one day at a time please.” I managed take another sip.

Casey had returned to her normal self. Maybe under normal circumstances I would’ve shared their enthusiasm. However, due to my condition, it was all I could do to maintain a conversation. The drugs had won the fight over the last few minutes. Planning a wedding wasn’t my top priority of things to do at the moment.

Daniel and Casey chatted in a conversation all of their own. They hadn’t noticed that I had dozed off at least a couple of times. It wasn’t until I heard Daniel gasp and his fingers grabbed the glass that remained in my hands, that I fell asleep.

“Uh-oh,” he said and grabbed the glass from my hands. “We almost had a mess.”

“Sorry,” I said weakly.

“Casey, come on, she needs her rest. I think the medicine is working.” Daniel’s voice trailed off in the distance as my eyelids became heavier. Closing my eyes, it didn’t take long slip away into that wonderful thing called sleep.

TWELVE

It’s amazing how unaware we are of what we do and say while we’re sleeping. A few people sleep walk, a few may talk and even a few people laugh aloud. Curiously, my suspicions are that it may have to do with whatever the individual is dealing with at that particular time in her or his life. For me, I’m pretty sure my theory was evident.