No Limits

Chapter One

"You don't have to do this," Henry whispered in her ear. Seraphina closed her eyes as he caressed her cheeks. She leaned into his touch as one of his cold hands wrapped itself around her waist. "Come home with me, Sera. I could give you all you could ever want."

Seraphina opened her jade green eyes and glanced at him through the reflective glass before her. The was not the first offer. It was a few years past that he had come to her. A dark king offering his hand, his heart, and his kingdom. Though she loved him, she couldn't take his hand. All to not blind herself to his nature.

She gazed at him with remorse in her heart. "I have to do this. You know as well as I do that we each have our own destinies. I can't fulfill mine if I am with you."

Henry lowered his hand from her face to wrap it around her waist, using both hands to pull her into his hard chest. He laid his forehead against the crook of her neck. "Why do you have to make such valid points?"

Seraphina smiled. "Not to mention, if I died, who would look after our baby?"

Henry let out an amused breath of air as he rubbed soft circles on her large bulge. "True enough. But remember, once they turn eighteen, you're mine."

She spun in his arms to see a deathly pale man, with almost white hair. The man she fell in love with. The almost polar opposite of herself, with her dark skin and mocha hair.

Tilting her head back, she looked up at his somber expression. Wrapping her arms around his neck and running her fingers through his wavy blond hair. "I'm yours."

Henry touched his forehead to hers and looked down at his creation. His first creation. "You both are."

The bell to the shop rang as the front door opened. Henry clenched his jaw as Seraphina sighed. "I have to go."

Nodding he slowly let her go and stepped back into the shadows.

Seraphina turned to face her reflection, straightening her costume before walking through the curtain of beads. Seraphina grew confused as she watched the customer from across the smoke-filled room. "Greetings."

The woman jumped and turned to face Seraphina with wild eyes. "Are you legit?"

Taken aback, Seraphina asked, "excuse me?"

Auburn hair braided, with strays framing her freckled face. Dull blue eyes flicked around the room. She took two steps toward Seraphina before stopping to whisper, "do you really see the dead?"

Seraphina nodded, wondering what the reason was that a woman would ask a question like that in a psychic medium's shop. "I do."

The women swallowed a large gulp and whispered in Seraphina's bejeweled ear, "Are there any here now?"

Doing a quick glance around the room, Seraphina shook her head. The woman breathed a sigh of relief and offered her a hand. "Good. I'm Shania."

Taking her hand, Seraphina shook it. "Sera. Now, what brings you to the shop?"

A breath went through the woman's lips and out. " I have a job offer for you if you're willing."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "What kind of job?"

Shania picked at her already ripped nail beds. "More of an exorcism, actually." Seraphina's other eyebrow shot up as she took a step away. "Not me! See, I'm a historian and was just given the right to enter Woodsford Castle. It's in Wales."

Seraphina grasped her turquoise ring, rotating it around her finger. "That's good news, but what does that have to do with me?"

Shania took another breath. "The castle is haunted, and I would like to pay you to talk them into leaving so I can open it to the public."

After a moment of concentration, Seraphina felt a warm feeling in her belly. "Are the spirits dangerous?"

"Um..." Shania began. "I don't exactly know. I heard from the town people." Seraphina must have had some sort of look for Shania to pursue. "I can pay you upfront, an all-expense-paid working vacation."
Seraphina bit her lip. Shania looked down at Seraphina's tummy. Following her gaze, Seraphina took away her caressing hand from her baby bump.

"I can get you set up with all you need for your baby," Shania muttered under her breath, resolution in her gaze.

Mulling over the risks and outcomes, Seraphina pulled back her shoulders and giving a curt nod. "I'll do it. But we do this on my terms."