Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 26

Dawn's fingers tightened around Nikolas'. On the ride over, they had decided to tell their families about the marriage first. Depending on their reaction, they would tell them about the baby. But now, as all eyes glared at them, she didn't want to tell them anything. What she wanted to do was run.

Nikolas sensed her apprehension, and he lightly caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. He was a little nervous about facing their families sooner than they had anticipated, but he knew that he could handle it. He also knew, whether Dawn realized it or not, she could handle it, too.

"Where the hell have you been?" Dara asked. "Mama has been worried sick about you!"

"I..." Dawn began.

"Nikolas, where were you? Antonio said that you were here last night, but I can see now, that you were not. Where have you been all night?" Stefan asked.

"Antonio? How dare you? What gives you the right to have me followed?" Nikolas asked, his brown eyes flashing with anger.

"I dare because I am your regent and until you are of age-"

"Uncle, I AM of age. I'll be eighteen in two months! I don't need nor want you or anyone else following me around. I have told you before that I am not a child!"

"However, your actions betray you. We will not discuss this here any further. This is a private matter and-"

"And private matters are for family only. Is that what you were about to say?" Nikolas asked.

"Nikolas..." Stefan said warningly.

"Well, Uncle, there is no need for us to make the long journey back to Wyndemere to discuss our...private matters," Nikolas said. He smiled faintly when he felt Dawn give him a small squeeze which comforted him and gave him the strength of Hercules.

"What do you mean?" Stefan asked as he moved towards Nikolas and Dawn.

His eyes narrowed to slits when he saw the medallion as it peeked through the opening of Dawn's denim work shirt. Without thinking, he raised his hand to touch the medallion, but quickly dropped it when he saw Dawn flinch.

Nikolas felt Dawn's reaction and looked questioningly at her. He released her hand to wrap his arms around her shoulders.

"What is the meaning of this?" Stefan asked quietly as he took a step back from the young couple. His eyes bored into them for the answers.

"What is the meaning of what?" Dara asked, moving away from Alex to stand before the couple.

"Of this," Dawn said as she lifted the medallion from her chest so that everyone could see it. She was embarrassed about her reaction to Stefan a few moments before, but she was determined not to let it show. In order for their families to accept what they were about to tell them, she had to be as strong as Nikolas and she had to show it, too.

"What's that?" Dara asked, moving to take a better look at it.

"It's the Cassadine Medallion," Dawn and Stefan said simultaneously.

Dara's eyes narrowed and for a brief second, she looked at Stefan whose gaze was locked on the couple. She then turned her attention back to her sister. "Why do you have it?"

"Because I'm a Cassadine now, too," Dawn said as she wrapped her arm around Nikolas' waist.

"You're a what?" Dara asked, in outrage.

"You heard me. I'm a Cassadine now, too. Nikolas and I are married."

Carrie who had remained silent throughout the initial part of the conversation realized that the pamphlet she found in Dawn's bedroom wasn't just idle reading. Her baby girl was having a baby. Carrie felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her as she listened to Dawn's words, but even that didn't bother as much as Dawn's reaction to Stefan. Dawn flinched as if she thought he meant to strike her. Now more than ever before, Carrie had to know exactly what happened between her daughter and her husband and whether Carrie had been blind to more than what she had previously thought.