Their Princess

Chapter 97

Raelynn's Pov

A familiar scent had me surrounded in its warmth. I breathe in greedily, wanting every bit of his scent within me. I know who this scent belongs to. I don't have to open my eyes to confirm it.

As my sleep slides away and I become more conscious of my surroundings, I hear the thunder rumbling outside the car. Daddy presses me closer to his chest and rubs my hand in his larger one.

“ This is not fair! I want to see her too!” 

“ You did see her an hour ago!” 

“ Yes, I did. But you didn't let me hold her. I want her in my arms, too.” 

Why is Rey shouting?

“ Be quiet. You're waking her up! You can hold her at home. Not right now.” Daddy hisses.

“ Why not now!” Rey complains loudly, dismissing Daddy’s warning.

“ You know why, Rey!” Eli snaps. “ Have you seen yourself? You're in a half drunk state. I can smell alcohol right from where I'm sitting. Do you want that scent marked on her?!”

Rey doesn't reply. he just keeps grumbling under his breath. I open my eyes to see Daddy already looking at me with a soft and tender look.

“ Hey.” He whispers.

“ Hey, Daddy.” I beam at him.

“ Did we wake you up, baby?” Eli asks from the driver seat.

“ No, Eli. I'm just hungry. When will we reach home?”

“ We can grab something for you on the way.” Daddy suggests. The offer is tempting, but I want to eat Neri’s food. It's been so long. So, I politely refuse. “ Okay. We will be home in 15 minutes. Then you can eat all the food to fill up this little tummy.” Daddy tickles my sides, making me giggle.

It's a comfortable silence until Eli asks the most awaited question. 

“ How was it, baby? What happened when you were there?”

I sigh, recalling all the events that led me to Harlin’s lab. “ When your father handed me over to Harlin. He immediately started to prepare me for the experiment, fearing you guys would find me in no time. It took him two days to get the machine moving, and when it did, he put me in it. He was confident that I would safely teleport and come back within 2 hours.”

“ Yes. He recited the same. But I meant, did they take good care of you on Earth?”

I frowned, not understanding what he meant, and then it all clicked. Of course, they will think I would have landed on Earth. Where else would I go if I wasn't on Ethna.

“ I didn't teleport to Earth, Eli.” 

Vehicle screeches on the sidelines, making me yelp in surprise. “ Eli, Careful!” Daddy shouts from beside me, holding my head in his hands that was about to be banged on the side.

“ Sorry.” He cuts off the engine and turns. “ Where were you, baby?”

“ Did Harlin capture you and lied to us?” Rey asks, fuming with anger.

“ No. He didn't.”

“ Then what happened?” 

“ I don't know. I'm not sure.” I tell them honestly, looking at my hands. “ I don't know what place it was. It was just……….. Dark. No matter where I turned or how much I blinked my eyes, it remained dark and…. Cold.” I shiver at the memory.