Chapter 25

Elena’s POV

Gasping, I answer. “She tried to hurt me over King Harvey!”

“She is very mad at King Harvey and you. She is so upset she keeps trying to kill herself. We are struggling sedating her!”

I am speechless at her words and can’t help but to look around for King Harvey.

Looking around, I see a whoosh of red and see King Harvey standing in front of me, he takes the phone for me and hangs up, then pulls me into his chest and holds me closely.

“I have missed you.” I say into his stone chest.

“As have I.”

“Where were you?”

“Forgive me, Elena, a meeting called me away.” Soothingly, he runs his hand through my hair, and I rest with him on the bed.

“That phone call…” I start.

“You are safe, Elena.” King Harvey promises.

King Harvey bends down gently and kisses me on the cheek as a greeting. The warmth of his face against mine makes me shiver and he sees it.

Throwing the phone down for a moment, I allow myself to be brave and wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him lightly on the lips.

Taking no chances at wasting a kiss, he pulls me into him, and I drop the phone. The kiss he dips me into is long and passionate. By the time I open my eyes, King Harvey has lowered me onto the side of the bed and stands over me.

Another kiss explodes between us, and I melt entirely, pressing my hands to the sides of his warm face.

“Elena,” King Harvey gasps softly. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too, where did you go?” Feeling comfortable, I run my fingertips lightly through his brown hair and watch his stone face melt.

“Beta Tom needed to update me on what was going on with your father.”

“Oh.” My heart drops and he nuzzles my face as I frown.

My sister faintly chatters in the background, but when she mentions Jane loudly, I grasp the phone and press it to my ear.

“Jane is saying that she wants to kill you to get to King Harvey! She is howling, Elena! Are you safe?!”

King Harvey’s grip tightens on my protectively and I am trapped to his chest. Unable to breathe, I wiggle away a few inches to breathe.

“I am okay, Emily! King Harvey is with me.” I address King Harvey now. “Emily told me Jane is at her infirmary unit threatening to kill herself because you rejected her and is planning to kill me.”

King Harvey’s eye now become cold stone. “Thank you for telling me, Elena.”

After one fast kiss, King Harvey goes downstairs.

I have no time to wonder what he is saying or doing, all I can hear from the phone is Jane’s continued howling and screaming.

Picking up the phone I hear, “I will kill Elena and restore my honor, then take King Harvey!! It is my right!”

The sound of scrambling and medical jargon filters through her screams of rage, then dead silence greets me.

“Three grown men to take her down, Elena.” Emily sighs. “Please stay with King Harvey, close. Stay safe. I love you; bye.”

“I love you too.” I reply.

Emily hangs up and I sigh to keep myself from screaming into my hands and falling to pieces. Hearing Jane scream so violently rattles me to my core, I know my reaction is delayed, yet I find myself in King Harvey’s arms when he returns to the room as I sob.

The cold fear of Emily being killed by her freezes me more than the thought of my own death.

I buried our mother, digging a grave with my bare hands, I can’t do the same for my sister. I just can’t.

King Harvey rocks me as I sob, holding me tight.

“What can I do to help you?” King Harvey breathes.

“I need Emily to be kept safe.”

King Harvey nods. “Arrangements will be made. Unfortunately, I am cutting this vacation short to set everything right.”

“That is fine.”

I would give up anything to keep my sister safe. In a flash, King Harvey has our bags together and guides me kindly down the stairs and to the car.

We sit in silence, and I know he is thinking about everything that has happened. Even in our shared silence, King Harvey leans over and holds my hand tightly, relaxing me slightly.

Once at the castle, he takes me straight to his study and has me sitting across from him and his oak table.

“Elena. Are you okay?”

“…terrified.”

“No harm will come to you. Or your sister.”

I bow my head out of relief. “Thank you, King Harvey.”

The smile he gives me is calm, but a sea swims in his eyes. “I promise.”

Suddenly, King Harvey stands and pulls a simple emerald, green sheath from his belt. He hands it to me in silence, still smiling.

I hold the familiar weight of the blade in my hand and know it is the knife I stole from the party with Sally. He has had a sheath made for it, so I can use it if I like.

“Thank you, King Harvey.” I say with a smile.

King Harvey moves to stand in front of me but kneels to stare me in my face. “Elena, I have a blade just like it, see?” Stepping back, he brandishes his sword, which is a simple thick blade, meant for war. An emerald, green shine that matches the grip of the knife shines on his sword.

“Yes, I see the shade is the same. It is beautiful, King Harvey.”

He grins. “I have another gift for you.”

“Thank you, King Harvey.”

King Harvey pulls a stark white bladed dagger, with a wolf head at the bottom with an emerald, green grip out of the left side of his belt and hands it to me proudly.

“For you, so we match.” King Harvey speaks rather simply, but happily.

It makes me smile, and his eyes brighten.

“This is so beautiful, are you sure?” I whisper in awe as I rotate the dagger in my shaking hand.

“Yes.”

I blush as I slip the blade in the small pouch, he gave recently.

“Should I go to school?”

“What for?” King Harvey returns to his seat, then shuffles his papers around as if looking for something then looks up at me. “You are doing well in your studies.”

“Thank you, King Harvey. I would like to pretend everything is normal and thank Tula for our vacation. To throw off Katy.”

King Harvey’s eyes sparkle with momentary wonder. “You are very smart, Elena. Go to school. I shall take you.”

“Thank you, King Harvey.” This time, I blush and let him see it, to see him smile lovingly back at me.

We get to school in a matter of minutes, I hate untangling my small hand from King Harvey’s, but I have no choice. A quick kiss on the cheek goodbye, and I am rushing to Tula’s locker. She stands at her locker, fiddling with a lock.

“Tula.” I greet from behind her.

“Hi, Elena!” She pulls me into a bear hug and whispers in my ear. “Did you hear about Jane?”

“Yes.” I whisper back in her ear, hugging her tight. “Emily told me.”

“You better watch your back!” Tula releases me then blushes. “So…how was your weekend?”

“You could have told me it was a couple’s retreat!” I hiss between my teeth.

“I thought you two were together!” Tula blushes deeply as she covers her face with her hands. “I am SO sorry, Elena! There are so many rumors, ugh, please forgive me!”

“…I know… you are right, but you almost killed me from fear!”

“I am sorry…” Tula says.

My phone starts to ring in my pocket, and I see it is my sister calling. Fear stuns me.