Fleeting Hope

Chapter 14

Raven's POV:

I was an idiot.

I blew up at my husband over something so small. My hormones where all over the place, and I took it out on my husband. The guilt was gnawing at me. I felt my heart beat grow faster, as the time passed. 

I paced the bedroom, unsure of how I could ever apologize for my sudden outburst. And how do I explain that it could happen again.

Emma started fussing, making my attention switch back to her. I grabbed her and held her in my arms as I swayed back and forth to sooth her. She seemed to calm knowing I was there, but her eyes where darting off to look around the room, overwhelmed by everything.

"Darling," I whispered. "It's okay. You are safe."

Her little hand gripped mine and my heart squeezed with a new felt pain I had never known. A pain only a mother worrying over her child could know.

The door to our bedroom opened and I sat up straight, turning to face Damian. "I am sorry," we said at the same time.

"No, I am sorry," I shook my head. "I never should have let my emotions get the better of me like that."

"I was insensitive to your feeling. I should have never said what I did," he hugged me. "I am sorry beloved. None of this is your fault. It's none of ours. Neither of us are to blame for this."

"I know," I sigh. "But I hate all of this. Why can't we just live a happy life. Just the three of us."

"Who is stopping us?" He gave a soft smile.

"The world, it seems," I pull away, handing Emma to him. "Explain to me what you know. What are we still doing here? What is causing this mess?"

He looked down at our daughter before nodding in understanding. He understood that I needed to know. That I could no longer be kept out of the loop on something so important. It was past time. So, he began to explain.

"My father and yours planned our marriage since birth. My father knew of your family's magic and created our arranged marriage. He wanted to create peace in this world. Your father believes mine to be spineless and a fool, so your father thinks he has the upper hand."

"And that means?" I have to ask.

"It means your father believes he has you so wrapped around your finger that you will come at his be can call." Damian filled in.

"But I would never," I swear.

"I know and so does my father," Damian nods. "But someone close to my father is a mole and has been feeding your father information for who knows how long," Damian sighs. "And for that reason, it is not safe to go back until I find the mole."

"So how long must we stay in this place? We might not be able to trust your father's people, but can we truly trust your mother? She took our baby from us. She kidnapped her in the middle of the night without a trace." I didn't like the sound of either option. 

"I agree," Damian give a long sigh. 

"So what can we do?" I had no ideas. I was relying on my husband to come up with one. 

"Dear, I know this isn't ideal, but what if we run away? We take our daughter and we run off to a place far from here. We can live in a house near the sea. Or a house in the middle of the forest. Where ever we are, we will be together and far away from evil forces that conspire against us." Damian sounded almost excited at the possibility. 

"Can we really sneak away without anyone finding out?" With all the spies and lies that follow us, surely it would be hard to run away. 

"It will not be easy, but between the two of us, we can manage," he squeezed my hand. "But it is a risk. We both have to be in full agreement." 

"I would follow you anywhere," I said with sincerity. 

"Then I will begin planning. I already have a basic understanding of the guard changes, but I want to be extra sure of all the security measures so we are not caught off guard." Damian handed me back the sleeping angel in his arms and started to pace. 

"What should I do?" I didn't want to just stand around and wait. 

"I hate to say this, but I just need you to pretend to be the doting mother. Do not leave our child alone for a second because if they get wind, they could take her again." Damian looked almost terrified at the thought. 

"Then I shall never leave her," I held the sleeping child to my chest. 

"I will work fast, but when the time comes, be ready to run. Can you run? Are you able?" He looked to me with concern. 

"I might have recently had a baby, but I am still able to fight and run." I assured him. 

"Good," he kissed my forehead. "Also, I would like to note that your confidence is turning me on." 

"Down boy," I smirked. "Wait until we get out of this place first." 

He smirks, kissing me once again before backing away. "I will start," he grabbed a few things from his desk and started walking to the door. "Beloved, please understand that I love you more than anything. What is happening to us now is not because of either of us. The world is just conspiring against us." 

"I love you too," I smiled, feeling much better than before.