The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (33 page)

“That’s what makes it even worse, it wasn’t even worth it. I should have stuck with the fried dough."

We sat and finished our hot chocolates. We laughed and reminisced about the past and talked seriously about the bakery. There was a lot of work that needed to be done and things to order.

Finally, my dad stood up and went to leave. He gave me a big hug, which I gladly returned. I was so grateful that he came over, and we talked. Even though, my relationship with Mathias was far from resolved, it felt good to finally talk to someone about it.

I had just closed the door when my cell phone dinged, indicating an email. I smiled when I saw the address.
[email protected]

Heyyyy Girlfriend,

The folks and I are all settled in, and yours truly has been given a hero’s welcome. Everyone thinks I saved you guys, so play along ok?

I talked to my future husband, and he gave me your new digits and email. Sorry about that Serena chick. If I know you and I’m pretty freaking sure I do, you're blaming yourself.

Well, I’m here to tell you chica, get over it. Buck up. What’s done is done. You need to move on, and I’m not just talking about the new bakery...love the name, by the way, hello summer job!

I’m talking about recreating your life there. You can't. You have to at some point say goodbye to who you were and embrace who you need to be. You're not just Willa anymore. You’re Princess Willa.

Not for nothing but if I had the real deal title in front of my name, I would be using it all the time!

It’s not just a silly title; it’s who you are, and what you bring to it.

So bring it bitch!

I’m out. Have to go and take a good long snooze.

See you in a few months... ‘Go Willa, It’s your Birthday. We’re gonna party like it’s your Birthday’!

Catch ya’ later Chica

Polly

I smiled and shook my head. Polly was right, in her own roundabout way. I can’t go back; I can only go forward. I had been trying so hard to hold onto who I am. The fact is, I can’t be who I was before I came here. I’m not just a regular bakery owner. I am a Princess. I am a Princess, who people are going to need to lead them, a Princess, who people are going to need to fight for them.

“Hey there,” I said to Cupcake, who came up to nuzzle me. “Want to be beach bums for the afternoon?"

The rest of the afternoon Cupcake and I sat on the beach and enjoyed the beautiful day. I reflected on everything that happened the last few weeks. A wave of contentment washed over me as I watched Cupcake play with the setting sun in the background.

“OK, big guy, let’s get going,” I said. “C’mon boy, oh my gosh, Cupcake, CUPCAKE stay away from the jellyfish, it’s not a toy!"

“It’s amazing how I picked out a dog that is as much as a calamity Jane as you." Mathias’s voice said suddenly. I looked over as he and Oscar made their way elegantly across the sand.

“Can you do something before he gets stung or tries to take it in the house as his new chew toy?"

Mathias put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. “Cupcake, come,” he said forcefully

Cupcake lost interest in his new toy and came over immediately.

“Seriously? Why doesn’t he listen to me like that?" I asked in frustration

“It’s the tone. Not the words,” he answered before he started to pet Cupcake who was looking up at Mathias in adoration.

“I’ll have to remember that." I fumed slightly

“Just talk to him the way you talk to me and you’ll whip him right into shape."

“If only that were the case,” I muttered

“Are you hungry? I bought you dinner." he asked

“Why is it that you are always trying to feed me?" I asked while we started walking back up to the house.

“I don’t want you wasting away I suppose,” he replied with a grin

“What? What was that?" I cupped my hand to my ear. “Oh yeah, those were the sounds of my ass and thighs laughing hysterically."

He just shook his head and continued walking, I noticed Cupcake had again nosed his way over to a lump of seaweed on the sand and was poking through it. Determined to get him to listen I called out in a firm tone. “Cupcake, NO! Come here now!"

Of course, my dog, for some reason, saw my command as an invitation. He immediately started to run over and jump on me. His large body was still on top of me as we fell to the sand.

“Really?"  I asked. “Get off of me."

Cupcake responded by giving me large licks on my face. “Oh good Lord, I am so sending you back to the Alps to be with your peeps."

That’s when I heard it, loud laughter that filled the air. What was even more shocking was that it was coming from Mathias. I don’t know who was more taken aback, me or Oscar, who was looking at his master with a confused expression. The only one who was not looking the least bit confounded was Cupcake, who rolled off of me and went right over to Mathias excitedly.

“Good boy Cupcake,” he said as he continued to laugh while I looked on in amazement.

This was the first time I had ever heard him laugh. I’ve seen him smile and grin a few times, mostly at my expense, but this was the first time I heard genuine laughter come from him.

It was beautiful and seductive all at the same time.

When Mathias looked up, he glanced at my face and his smile died for an instant. His mask went back up again and he smiled in a casual way before coming over and offering his hand gallantly

“Shall we?" he asked

“Thanks." I said taking his offered hand we started back on the journey to my house. I walked up the stairs extremely aware of his presence, yet for some reason, I was also filled with
apprehension. If this was going to be another talk of ‘No we can never be together or stay away from me, but only after I kiss you or suck your blood’ then I was seriously going to use my freaky fire on one of his limbs, like a toe or something unimportant.

“Thanks for bringing me dinner, I haven’t even giving much thought to food lately...Oh, my God, what’s that smell?" I said as I stopped dead in the living room.

“Chinese,” he replied as he went over to the kitchen and started to pull out takeout boxes, “The best greasy Chinese in all of England. I had to fly home very quickly from West London so it wouldn’t get cold."

“You brought me greasy Chinese food?" I asked dumbfounded

“Yes, what’s wrong? I thought you loved greasy Chinese?" he asked

“I do love Chinese food." I answered. “I can’t believe you remembered."

“I’m a vampire. I remember everything,” he grinned

I love his smile, when he smiles; the whole world lights up around me. I wanted to tell him that. I wanted to say exactly what I felt for him, but I was scared to death.

So instead I got out plates and forks and set the table while he brought the food over and sat down to eat.

Biting into my first spring roll in a month was pure heaven. All thoughts of ladylike manners were thrown out the window as I slurped up some Lo Mein noodles and scarfed down some truly delicious General Tso’s chicken.

When I finally came up for air, Mathias was looking at me in amusement. I had almost forgotten he was there I was so caught up in my food happy place.

“Finished?" he asked as he stood up from his chair.

“Yeah, I think I’m good for a few hours." I smiled happily.

Mathias gathered the dishes and went into the kitchen to stack them in the sink. I had caught a flash of something in his eyes when he stood up, and my feeling of contentment was replaced with impending dread.

I got up and sat on the couch with Cupcake and placed my hand on his neck for strength. Even Oscar must have sensed something because he came to sit by me as well.

“So what’s up?" I finally asked him when he came in the living room and stood by the windows.

“I was hoping that you might agree to watch Oscar for me, I have to go away for a while, and I can’t bring him with me."

“How long are you going to be gone?" I asked while my heart started to speed up steadily

Mathias was quiet for a minute before he answered, “I’m not sure, a few months, maybe more.”

Awesome was my first thought as my heart shattered.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Sitting there looking at Mathias was torture. He was leaving. After everything, we had just gone through I hoped that we might have turned a corner. My heartbreak though quickly turned to anger. I was tired of this. I was tired of being on this emotional roller coaster ride with him.

“So that’s it?" I asked quietly fuming. “You’re taking off to parts unknown."

Mathias looked perplexed, which pissed me off even more, what did he think? That I was going to be understanding? Sure honey, you run off. I’ll take care of your fucking dog for you.

“I’m not running away Willa. There are some things that need to be…"

“There are some things that need to be said." I yelled as I jumped off of the couch. “For once you are going to listen to me. I don’t want you to interrupt me or try to intimidate me. You need to let me say my piece. The time for us having an honest conversation is now."

His jaw clenched, but he didn’t say anything, he looked at me with a mix of expectation and fear. I'm sure he would rather I skewer him with my fire then get into all this, but I had reached my breaking point, and I think he realized it.

“Here’s the thing Mathias. I’m sick and tired of you treating me like your own little yo-yo. Up and down, over and again. You suck me in and then pull away before I can even process what happened. You kiss me and then you take off. You act like a jealous lover over Riah but then stare coldly at me. You drop me in the air but then deflate me with your words. You bring me Chinese food, something that I mentioned I loved briefly in passing weeks ago and then tell me you're going."

I had taken a deep breath before I continued. “I know you’re afraid. You believe people will think less of you if we were to explore our relationship but did you see what happened today? All those people on the island came out for Serena, not because she was some vampire that died, but because she was one of them.”

“You think that being the head of security for the Guardian of the Solas inhibits your ability to be with me but I think it’s something much deeper than that. You’ve been holding yourself up to a higher standard all your life, both, human and vampire. You're not afraid of me; you're not afraid of anything except one thing that people will think, including yourself that you are just like your father."

“Well, I’m here to tell you Mathias that you could never be like that piece of shit that you happen to be once related too."

His head snapped up at that and his eyes flashed. “Don’t mention him."

“Why not? He’s the reason you’re like this. You need to stop trying to define who you are by distancing yourself as far away from him as you can. Nothing that you could do would ever be anywhere near as horrendous as something he would do. You are a good man. It’s time you learn to accept that, and accept that yes, you are a vampire but even that doesn’t make you who you are. It’s only a small facet of your life, a small piece in an enormous puzzle."

“Are you done Dr. Willa?" he asked sarcastically.

“No, I’m not. Maybe it’s a good thing that you leave. You need to take some time and figure your shit out, because I am not your little toy that you can play with whenever you like. I’m...”

“You’re a fucking chatterbox,” he said as he came over and grabbed me. Mathias pushed his hands into my hair on both sides of my head and rested his forehead against mine before saying. “I’m not going so I can run away from you. I’m leaving so I can protect you, don’t you realize that?"

“I’m sorry I must be missing something. How could that be a good thing for me?" I said angrily as I pushed him away.

Mathias sighed. “There’s a very real threat, in case you have forgotten of a small matter of a witch and a Fae Lord. Who, need I remind you, want to tear down the barriers and let the Rau in to kill or capture everyone? But more importantly to me, they want to take you, and I am not going to fucking let that happen."

“How?" I asked frustrated. “How is leaving going to allow you to stop that?"

“Winifred and I both agreed that the best thing for me to do was to go recruit any new Guardians we can find. Search out old members of the guard, including Robert, to come back and help us. We have a little over four months until the Fae come here for their spring visit. We need to plan and gather as much information as we can so we can prepare."

“Why don’t we just revoke their invitation? Tell them this isn't a good time to come?"

“That would only prolong it. Eventually, the threat will come here. We need to be proactive about this. If we can throw them off guard by being informed that might work towards our advantage."

“You know they invented these great new things now called telephones and computers." I said

“Some of these people are so far off the map they don’t even use any of those. They seclude themselves away from humans and technology. I have to go. I need to seek them out and dig up whatever I can on this witch and Fae Lord."

“And when you get back?" I asked after a minute

“When I get back we’ll be ready for their arrival,” he replied wearily

“That’s not what I meant."

“I know, but that’s all I can answer right now,” he said holding up his head to wave off my voice when I went to interrupt him. “Willa, you’re right. I need to figure things out and if you want some guy who is going to sit and spill his guts to you then I’m sorry. You're going to be disappointed. I’m not him."

“I’m not asking you to spill your guts to me. All I am asking is for you to be honest with me and stop pushing me away."

“I have a job to do,” he continued. “I have to protect every man, woman and child on this island and that includes you. This is not about me running away from you or anything else. It’s about me doing my job. A job in which you seem to take very lightly, but I do not."

“I don’t take your job lightly Mathias,” I replied. “Christ I’m not talking about your fucking job! I understand what you need to do. You need to make sure everyone here is safe. I get it. I’m talking about us, you and me."

“I’m not some bloody fucking wimp that has these discussions,” he said exasperated as he paced around the living room.

“All I am asking is for you to be honest with me." I repeated.

“I’m sorry. This is all I can give you right now." he said, “I hope that when I return we can continue being friends."

Did he really just say that? “Friends?"

“Yes, I feel that we have started an excellent foundation for a friendship, as well as confidants." he replied stiffly

“Are you fucking with me? I’m not sure whether I want to laugh or punch you." I said. “So let me ask you something, are you even going to acknowledge anything that I just said or are you going simply to ignore it because if you do then it might go away?"

“I heard everything you said. I just don't want to discuss it right now."

“Hmm, I’ll have to remember that one next time you ask me a question."

“Can you do me a favor?" he asked

“Sure what would that be?" I asked sweetly. Kick you in the balls, I asked silently.

“Be good. Listen to your grandmother. Work with her." he ordered

“We actually turned a corner yesterday. I’m fairly confident our relationship will be featured in a Lifetime movie of the week soon." I quipped while trying to hide the searing pain in my gut.

“This isn’t like the Rau; you can’t just shoot your fire at them and kill them. You're going to have to learn to hone your caster abilities and also explore your Fae side more."

“How do you kill or even harm a Fae Lord?" I wondered aloud

“I’m not sure. Ask your father. Find out what you can." he answered. “There have always been rumors about the four Fae Sanctities. They are weapons that were designed to kill each faction of the Fae."

“Isn’t sanctity a religious word? All holy and stuff?" I asked confused

"Yes, and in this case, to the Fae, they are sacred,” he said. “You see, the Four Sanctities were each created as the only way one can kill a Fae. The legend is, each weapon was placed deep inside another Fae realm. So, for example, the Fae Sanctity that was designed to kill a Fire Fae is hidden, let’s say, in the realm of the Air Fae. The one to kill an Earth Fae was hidden in the realm of the Water Fae. Almost nobody knows where they truly are or if they even exist."

“So to kill our big, bad Fae Lord, we would have to travel to each Fae realm, find the Sanctities, and then when we figure out what faction of Fae he is a part of, use the weapon that can kill him?"

He smiled. “Impossible, but yes, that is what one would need to do."

“So what are our options?"

“We have to figure out a way to trap him, bind him up with all the elements, and give him to Queen Sidra. More than likely he would get a slap on the wrist and exiled to his realm for a few hundred years but it’s our best option."

"That’s it? He’s conspiring with a witch to not only kill a few thousand people, but also to kidnap me and strip me of my powers, and he gets some bullshit community service sentence?"

“This is why you need to start working with your grandmother and your father. Find out everything you can. Go to the archives and read up on the Fae. Their world is different from ours; their politics are different. You need to educate yourself on them before you can even think to navigate in their world."

“I don’t want to navigate their world." I replied. "I’m still trying to figure out this one."

“I have faith in you." he said

“So when are you leaving?" I asked although I was pretty sure of his answer; I still had to ask.

“Right now,” he answered. Even though I knew the answer, it still stung. There were still so many questions that were unanswered. Things that needed to be said but weren’t. I knew now that he wasn’t ready for any of this and to push him would be a mistake. I clung to the few words he had said, that he was leaving to protect me. He might have thrown in everyone else’s name in the ring after, but his first thought had been for me.

“So where’s Oscar’s stuff?" I asked looking around the room.

“His stuff?" he brow furrowed

“Where’s his bed, his bowls, and his high dollar food, y’know, his stuff?"

“He’s a dog."

I rolled my eyes. “Don’t worry Oscar." I said to him as he came over to sit by Mathias’s feet when his name was spoken. “I’ll hook you up tomorrow."

“Don’t go turning him into some lapdog,” he sighed

“If he’s anything like his owner that will be impossible to do, you can’t change a tiger’s stripes."

"Well, considering you did a pretty excellent job of taming an animal in a few short days, don’t blame me for worrying,” he said as we looked over and saw Cupcake lying on his back on the couch, paws flapping by his sides, and a low snore coming from his mouth.

“Please, that fur ball doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. The only thing I did was free his gentle soul. Into that." I said after he whimpered and snored in his sleep.

“You soul has to be willing for you to set it free,” he said thoughtfully

“Terrific." I replied. “Would this be the beginning of our double-entendre conversation?"

He knelt down and gazed into Oscar’s eyes, who was looking back at him equally serious.