Arranged (56 page)

Qwinn caught her before she hit the ground. Only moments later, she opened her green eyes and found Qwinn peering down at her with a worried gaze. It was strange, but she could feel him…almost as if she could feel what he was feeling. It felt like his heart beat inside of her own chest, next to her heart. It was as if they shared one body. He smiled uncertainly and she was almost certain he felt the same thing.

"What happened?" she asked in barely a whisper. She was surprised to find that her whisper carried in the silence. Every villager was quiet, waiting; still on their knees, but no longer chanting.

"We have been bonded. My power is now shared with you and we are one spirit," he breathed, almost as if afraid that if he spoke too loud, this moment would disappear. She felt the same way.

Qwinn slowly brought her to a stand, his hands never leaving her. "You are my wife. Ahanu has blessed us."

Alison smiled; she could feel his love beat within her chest. It was strange, this feeling of power. She knew she would have to learn how to control it as Qwinn did.

In a matter of days, her life had turned out much differently than she could have ever imagined. This new chapter of her life was definitely going to be an adventure and she planned on taking every step of this adventure with Qwinn, as his Queen, his beloved, his bride.

Before she could stop herself, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He surrounded her waist as the crowd cheered and picked her up, spinning her while kissing her back.

The music began again. Qwinn held her close as the Elders nodded to them and left them on the stage. The dancers quickly returned, ignoring their presence. Qwinn pulled her mouth to his. "I love you," he whispered for her ears alone. And this time she knew without a shadow of a doubt that she loved him too, with all her heart.

This was her destiny.

Alison took a deep calming breath as the large gates opened slowly, revealing the tunnel that lead to the outside world. Her heart was pounding nervously, and she knew that the man next to her could probably sense it. Qwinn squeezed her hand encouragingly and began to move forward.

Ever since they were bonded, they could sense when the other was having intense emotion. Some days it was annoying that she couldn't keep anything hidden from him without tremendous effort, but it was nice on days like today when she had no words to explain how she was feeling; he just knew.

She felt like she hadn't been to the surface in centuries, in reality it had only been five years. Five amazing years that she had spent learning the ways of her people and how to control what Qwinn had given her during their bonding. Ahanu had chosen to give her the power of telekinesis. She was still getting the hand of moving things with her mind. As of yet, she could only manage small things. Thankfully, Qwinn and the elders were patient tutors.

It was amazing all of the things that could happen in five years. After much convincing from all parties, Qwinn allowed Vin to ask for Adalia's hand. She acted surprised when he proposed. Their wedding was beautiful with the backdrop of the harvest celebration. By that time the next year, they welcomed their first child.

Larius had graciously accepted the permanent position of being her bodyguard and Naliya had been promoted to lady in waiting. They began to meet each other more openly and though they insisted they weren't serious, Adalia and Alison were planning for another wedding.

Alison had fallen deeply in love with Qwinn. Deeper than she ever knew love could go. He truly was her perfect match and for all those years, she had wanted nothing more than to produce an heir for him. And for years she worried she was barren. Qwinn insisted that he loved her nevertheless.

It seemed however, that Ahanu had other plans. She smiled as her free hand smoothed gently over her swelling belly. Now she found her womb full, of not one, but two babies. Twins! The life growing in her was the most special thing to happen yet.

With children on the way, it was now Alison's turn to protect her family. She could feel how anxious the plan made Qwinn, but it was something that she had to do.

Foresters were drawing nearer to their home with each passing year, cutting the trees to create space for factories or homes. Alison planned on selling her father's factory and claim her inheritance in order to purchase the land surrounding their home, forever creating a safe haven for the Vidarian's.

Even though her father wouldn't be around to see his grandchildren, he was still with her, surrounding them in safety.

Larius moved forward and pushed back the wall of moss, letting in a stream of daylight. It was sunset, but after years of living in Vidar, the light stung her retinas. This was what she was the most nervous about, seeing the sun. Would she miss it once they returned?

Today, she would face her uncle Jackson, but this time as a woman who knew her worth, not some lost little girl. With a deep breath, she took the first step out into the light, feeling the sun gently caress her face through the canopy of the trees. The babies in her womb kicked with excitement. Who knew that life for an orphaned child would turn out to be so incredible? She was loved, a queen and now a mother.

She squeezed Qwinn's hand and began the familiar trek to her uncle's manor, to face her past and to conquer it.