Forgotten Royalty (Escaping The Throne) (9 page)

I could hear Damian’s excitement. “Where’s he at? What’s his name?
Maybe we can go see him tomorrow.”

I laugh, “And you said I needed to slow down. His name’s Zeke. He’s in
a home about twenty minutes outside of town. He was in a different home for a
few years, but we had to move him. I don’t remember why. He had stroked and was
in a coma for about three years before he woke up. Dad always told me that
grandpa was crazy.”I wonder why he’s so excited about Grandpa.

“I don’t want to upset you, but what do you know about your dad?”

I got quite for a minute. “His name was Bob. We moved around a lot when
I was little. Then, when they passed away, Aunt Lynn said she wasn’t going to
uproot me anymore, that I needed something more stable.” I was trying not to
cry.

“Sara, I’m sorry. Do you want me to come over there? I didn’t mean to
upset you. Please don’t cry.”

He was always so concerned with how I felt. “I do miss you, but if you
come over and then have to leave again, is that going to make it worse? I mean,
will we be able to handle separating again? I felt how hard it was for you this
afternoon.”

There was a foul smell. Where was that coming from? “Damian, how fast
can you be here?” I was trying not to sound alarmed.

“I’m on my way. I’ll call you right back on my cell.” He hung up and I
just put down the phone when it rang again.

“I got it. Are you there?” The smell was getting worse.

“I’m on my way. I can be there in ten minutes without speeding. How
long do I have?”He must have heard the urgency in my voice.

When I didn’t answer, “I’ll be there in three. Don’t hang up. As long
as you’re talking to me, I’ll stay calm.” As he got closer I could feel the
link getting stronger. “Oh you’re right, that really reeks. I’m about a block
away.” I could feel his heart pounding. He was running.

“Damian, why didn’t you just drive?” I could hear his impatience.

“I thought about it, but then you didn’t answer how soon I need to be
there and decided running was faster. I don’t have to drive around trees that
way.” He was being sarcastic to keep himself calm.

“I love you Damian. I mean that you know?” The phone went dead.

I heard him shouting mentally, “Sara, are you still alright.” It
sounded more like a whisper.

“Where are you? I don’t know what happened to the phones.” I responded
through the link.

His mind was stronger now. “Is the front door locked?”

I thought, “Yeah, but the deadbolt isn’t. Damian I’m scared.” I run to
the front door without even thinking about it and lock the deadbolt. I run back
to my room and get in the closet. “I’m coming up; don’t open the door unless
you sense that I know it’s safe.”

He breaks the link. I can’t hear his thoughts. Aunt Lynn had gone to
bed. I hear scratching on my bedroom window. I start to open the closet door
but stop. Damian said not to open the door. That meant he was coming up the
stairs.

“Damian, please hear me. I think Bane’s outside my window.” I stay in
the closet and the smell surrounds me. If I didn’t know better, I would say it
was in my closet. I hear my window shatter. “Damian, he’s here!”

I hear several dogs snarling in my room. I smell, but don’t recognize
any of them. I can tell that there are two males and one female. The female
transforms and heads to my door. She runs out and opens the front door and I
smell Damian immediately. The males transform and Damian runs into the room.

“I told you they were trying to hurt her.”

The male helping Damian protect me glares at Bane. “Show some respect
for royalty. Do you not know who you stand before?”

Bane looks around astounded. “Royalty, he’s no more than a pup.”

That was his mistake. The male snarls, “You dare disrespect my family
you filthy mutt.”

Damian whales him across the face. He starts to raise his hand to hit
Damian back when the other man steps in.

“Fool, did I say that I was speaking of the pup?”

Damian backs up toward the closet and bows. “My Lord and Lady, I live
to serve you.”

Bane turns in disbelief.

“I am the Lady Katrina Lykaios, daughter of Devon Lachapelle, Crowned
King of the Dragon Guard Clan. Do you doubt my heritage?”

His eyes shot to the ground and he dropped on all fours. “Forgive me
your highness; I didn’t realize the child was under your protection.”

She looks to her husband. “This is my husband Crowned Prince Curtis
Lykaios, son of Crowned King Richard Lykaios of the Knight Wolves Clan. You
have insulted us by your ignorance. You have disgraced yourself by attacking
our son, Damian. I think that the one who needs protection here is fast
becoming you.”

Wait, Damian is royalty. This is crazy.

“My Lord and Lady Lykaios, please forgive any misconception. I was not
openly attacking the prince. I was simply doing my duty to my own clan.”

The Lady lunged at him and lifted him by his throat. “Silence filth! Do
not assume you may demean the Prince’s word by your treachery.”

I decide that I trust Damian to keep me safe, and open the closet. I
kneel down in front of his parents. “My Lord and Lady Lykaios, if I may speak I
can attest to the events the prince has told you of.”

Damian turns to me and offers me his hand. As I take it, his parents
flash smiles at me briefly.

“I presume this must be young Sara Payano. Have you spoken with her of
your discoveries yet?” His father glanced at him and then back to me. “If you
wish son, but she will know. Young one, you need fear not. This filth will not
approach you again.”

The Lady drops him and turns to me. But Bane is having none of it,
“Wait, I mean my Lord, I have claimed this child as my mate. You cannot keep
her from me.”

Lady Katrina spins around slapping his face. “Insolent fool, you would
dare try to claim a child of such heritage? You have no rights to her, swine.”

I look to Damian; he briefly shares his mind, “This is not the proper
way of speaking in front of my parents in this situation, but I will explain it
all after this is over, I promise.” With that he closed his mind again.

“My Lady, I am promised this child as my mate by her uncle, Zachaeus
Payano, heir of the Taurs Hawk Clan.”

Everyone looks to Lord Lykaios. “Even if that were true, she would
still have a choice since he is not her legal guardian.”

He turns to Damian, “Then I challenge the prince, on the grounds that I
saw her first.” Damian grabs my arm and pulls me behind him.

Lady Katrina growls, “What right do you claim to challenge a prince?
You have no claim to the royal bloodlines and that gives you no claim to mate
with royalty.” Before I can question what she is talking about two more men
jump in my window.

“My lady, you summoned us.” The wolves say in unison as they bow to
Damian’s parents.

She motions to Damian and me. “Chance, take these two back to the
manor. Seth will stay with us. We will be along shortly.”

I look to Damian, “What about…”

He shakes his head, “They’ll protect her. We have to leave.”

Bane snarls, “You wouldn’t dare turn down my challenge? I will take
this to the council.”

Damian turns back but his father raises his hand. “If you truly wish to
challenge my son, you will do it on our terms. It will be at a place and time
of our choosing.”

Bane knows he is fast losing this battle, “I agree to your terms but
respectfully request that key members of my clan and her uncle be present as
well.”

Lady Katrina simply replies, “Have them call at the manor. I will discuss
with your representative our terms. The young one will be with us until then.
Do not try to come after her or her aunt or your challenge and life will be
forfeit.” With that she turns to me, “Child, wake your aunt. I will explain
that we had stopped to meet you and your aunt on our way back from our trip and
someone broke into your bedroom while we were talking. We will invite her to
stay at the manor with us for the moment being. She doesn’t need to be told all
of the details as I’m sure you’d prefer it that way.”

I gracefully curtsy and run to my aunt’s room to wake her. After Lady
Katrina explains most of the night’s events, we pack a few days worth of
clothing and are on our way.

“Dad, I tried to explain all of this to you on the phone. He hadn’t
said anything about her uncle until you showed up. They planned this.”

My father just frowned. “Damian, I’m glad you called us when you
realized he was there. You were very lucky we had made it to town when we did.
You need to decide where you want to go with this. You’ve complicated her
choices by tonight’s actions.”

My mother steps in, “You’ll be happy to know that Sara and her aunt are
both sleeping quite comfortably. I wish we could say the same for us. I’m
laying down the ground rules now Damian. You are not to go in her bedroom
unless that fool breaks in. Until we’ve had a chance to straighten this all
out, you are to refrain from any emotional contact. You must try to avoid using
your mind link with her. That bond needs to fade so that we know her true
feelings. If you cannot follow these rules I will send you to your cousin’s
until this is resolved. If you will not go to your cousin’s at that point, we
will quit helping and you will be on your own. Do you understand me?”

I look down, “Yes mother.”

The sun comes streaming into my room as Damian’s mom opens the
curtains. “Good morning child.”

I sit up, “Good morning milady.”

She laughs lightly, “Please here you can call me Kat unless someone
informs you that we are having a more formal function. Did you sleep alright?”
She was so kind.

“Yes m’…, I mean Kat. Is my aunt up?” I begin to get out of bed.

“Oh yes dear. She left an hour ago. We thought you may need just a
little more sleep with all of the excitement. Do you mind if I dress you?”

I looked at her kind of shocked. No one had ever asked if they could
dress me. “If that would please you m’…, I mean Kat.”

She laughs. “Dear Sara, I have never had a daughter. I was just hoping
that you would allow me to possibly put you in a dress. It’s not as fun to
dress a boy.” We both laugh at that one.

“You don’t want to put me in like a ball gown do you?”

She smiles, “Not today. I was thinking more of a sundress.” She holds
up a beautiful blue sundress.

“I would be honored to wear that dress for you.” She helps me put it on
and zips it up in the back.

She has a pair of flat dress shoes to match. “I didn’t see any heels in
your closet last night so I thought you may be more comfortable with these. If
you would like, we can go shopping for some other clothes later this evening.”

I look at her with a huge smile. “I would love that. My aunt never really
took me shopping. She either buys me clothes I won’t wear, or gives me cash to
buy my own clothes.”

She smiles back, “It’s settled then. Now let’s head downstairs, breakfast
is waiting.”

Dad and I are waiting patiently at the breakfast table. Mom said she
was going to get Sara up for breakfast and that they would be down in about ten
minutes. Dad clears his throat as mom enters the room. We stand up and I look
over to see Sara. I’m speechless. I’ve never seen her as beautiful as she looks
right now. My mother had given her a beautiful sundress and has pulled her hair
back into a bun. “Damian, put your tongue back in your mouth son, you’re
soaking the floor.”

I clear my throat and run over to pull out Sara’s chair. “Thank you.”

As I slide her in I lean down to her ear, “You look amazing.” I rush
back to my seat as my mother sends me a warning glance. I shoot her a thought,
“You never said I couldn’t compliment her. You’re not exactly making it easy
you know.” We both laugh at our private conversation.

“Would the two of you like to share with the class? It’s not polite to
have private conversations at the breakfast table.” Dad growls lightly. Mom
sends dad a private thought of her own. “I stand corrected. It’s not polite for
children to hold private conversations.” We all laugh at that. “How did you
sleep Sara?”

She looks down at her plate, “Soundly my lord.”

Mom and Dad are both laughing. “Sara, I’m glad that you are so eager to
please. You can call me Curt here. From what Damian has told us, you’ve had a
very eventful week and unfortunately, it’s not over yet. We would like to try
to link with your mind so that we can see from your perspective the events that
have occurred. I assure you it doesn’t hurt and it takes very little effort on
your part. Will you allow us to attempt this so we can have a better
understanding of what happened?” Dad was desperate for answers but he would not
force her to show them. “If that would help you m- Curt, then I would be happy
to allow it.” He smiles up at her. “It’s settled then. After breakfast, we’ll
retire to the sitting room and begin.”

As we enter the sitting room, Mom informs us that she is going to retire
for a short while to get rid of her jet lag. I knew that meant she had stayed
up late with Dad figuring out how best to handle the situation. “Sara, if
you’ll have a seat. Just sit back and relax.” Dad tries to link for a minute.
“Sara, is there something wrong?”

She looks up, “I’m just having a little bit of trouble relaxing. I’ll
try again.”

Dad watches her as she puts her head back against the couch, she slowly
relaxes her muscles. Dad tries again, still nothing. “Damian, how do you get
this child to relax enough to read her?” He thinks to me.