• Chapter Three-Change of Heart

    The room was dark when my subconscious became aware the next morning. I rolled over in bed and saw him sitting in the desk chair, smiling at me.
    "Good morning," he said, getting up and sitting on the side of the bed, kissing my forehead. Quickly backtracking my mind to the night before, I blushed, causing him to chuckle.
    "Morning," I murmured in response. I sat up and he handed me a cup of coffee, which I quickly occupied myself with so I wouldn't have to look him in the eye.
    "How'd you sleep?" he asked, and I became very aware of his consciousness at the edge of mine, as though it was held back with great concentration.
    "Rather well actually; better than I have in years." I sighed, already regretting the words before they came out of my mouth. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but what are you still doing here?" to my surprise, he just laughed and kissed me, running his fingers along my jaw.
    "I like watching you sleep. You seem oddly...peaceful. It's a side of you I've never seen before," he stated, laying on the other side of the bed. I chewed on my lip while he pulled me next to him, wrapping his arms around me. I looked at the clock and realized it was later than I had previously thought, though it still took me a minute to realize that I was late for class. I quickly untangled myself from his arms, only to be pulled back tighter, and heard him chuckle in my ear.
    "Where's the fire?" he asked, kissing my shoulder. Struggling didn't help, because he was far stronger, and only held me tighter.
    "Let go Lasarn, I'm late for History."
    "Never again will I let you go," he whispered, teasing his fingers along my side. I sighed.
    "Then you leave me no choice," I said, building my powers as a bluff. He turned my head, kissed me once, and let me go, laughing. I all but ran to the closet, pulling on the closest outfit I could find before landing in my desk chair, printing off my Econ paper and stuffing it into my bag along with my books. I made it to the door before I realized that it was Saturday, and I didn't have class. I swore, dropping my bag by the door and sitting on the end of the bed, sighing. Lasarn grinned smuggly.
    "Now don't you wish I hadn't let go?
    "Maybe, just a little." He chuckled, pulling me back into his arms, kissing me gently. I lay my head back on the pillow, my eyes already closing because of the way his fingers traced along my skin, when he spoke.
    "I hope this means you've changed your mind," he murmured, tucking a wisp of hair behind my ear; his fingers trailing along my cheek. I gave him a confused look, and turned around in his arms. He pulled me closer until I could feel the heat of his bare chest through my shirt.
    "About what?" I asked cautiously. He chuckled, reaching behind him, then handing me a small black box.
    "About becoming my wife..." He took my hands in his and opened the box, revealing a beautiful diamond ring. My breath caught in my chest as he slipped the delicate white gold band on my finger, and felt tears well up in my eyes. "Aurelia?" I kissed him.
    "Of course." The smile that lit up his face was enough to take my breath away, and I wondered how I had possibly denied myself this fallen angel. His smile was replaced with a wicked grin, and I had to laugh at his one track mind.
    Now I just had to tell Dasi I was getting married.

    We were waiting in the living room for them when they came home that afternoon. Dasi stared while Daamon growled when he saw who was sitting with me. One thing I used to have to give him credit for, was despising Lasarn as much as I thought I had. Liam just took one look at us, then at his parents, and ran upstairs, and despite everything, I wished that it was that easy for me to escape what was to come.
    "Prince Lasarn...I didn't know you would be coming here today. Might I know the occasion?" Dasi asked, moving slowly from the shock as she took off her sunglasses and stared at the two of us. It was when she looked down at my hand that I flinched at the utterly appalled look on her face. Before Lasarn could even answer, she spoke again. "Aurelia, can I see you in the kitchen please?" she asked as she glared daggers at my fiance. I tightened my grip on his hand for a second and followed my mother into the kitchen.
    "What the hell are you thinking? Not only is he far too old for you, but he's an ELF!" she hissed, and I flinched.
    "Look, I didn't plan for this to happen, it just did. And now that it has, you better get used to it. I'm not changing my mind." I stated, turning back to the living room where Daamon and Lasarn were sitting, glaring at each other. I shot a glare of my own in Daamon's direction and sat beside Lasarn, who wrapped his arm around my waist and kissed my shoulder. A moment later, my mother re-entered the room with a look of complete serenity as she sat down beside her husband.
    "Ok, the fact that the rather large diamond on my daughter's finger has come to my attention. Explain yourselves, now." And just like that, the serene composure was completely gone, replaced by deep and utter hatred.
    "Dasi, Daamon, you've both known my intentions from the beginning. I've made sure of that. I love Aurelia more than my own life, and would gladly give it to keep her safe, and happy. As you also know, I've been asking her for a year to marry me, and this morning, she finally said yes. So, I come to you to ask you for your blessing on our marriage. Will you give us that at least?" I sat in slight shock, as did my parents, when Lasarn was finished speaking.
    "I don't know what to say. We have to take into consideration...your age, your heritage, your..."
    Daamon said, but stopped when Lasarn stood up.
    "And none of that matters to me, or to her, so why the hell should it matter to you? I've waited for centuries to find someone like her and now that I have, I'm not about to let you take her away. Now, I ask you one last time...will you give us your blessing?"

    And while neither she nor Daamon liked the thought of their nineteen year old daughter marrying a four hundred year old Elvin prince, Dasi gave her blessing, and there was no going back.

    That had been two years before...
    Before war was declared on us moments after Lasarn and I were married...
    Before Lasarn was murdered...
    Before I found out I was pregnant...
    Before the city was defeated and the centaurs came into power...
    Before my family was torn to pieces before my very eyes...
    Before my daughter was born...
    Before I, myself, was killed...

    Before I was reborn.