Forever & Always

Chapter 10

His dad stopped talking abruptly and looked at Peyton. His face paled as though he's seen a ghost. Well, after all the time Peyton has been gone, it probably felt like seeing a ghost.

"Son?" He whispered.

Peyton's face hardened, but didn't say anything. His father raises his hand up to Peyton as though trying to touch him, but Peyton flinched and stepped back. His father's fell but he put his hand back down.

He looked at my dad. "Thank you, Jackson," he said, "for giving me back my son."

My blood went cold. I opened my mouth and--

"You called him?" Peyton said in disbelief.

"Peyton, I had no choice. You are the prince," my father said.

"No, I'm not," Peyton said, clenching his fist, his jaw muscles jumping. "I haven't been for ten years."

"Royal blood runs through your veins. You can't run away from it," the king said.

"Watch me."

The king sighed. "Your mother misses you."

Peyton's face softened a bit and sighed. "Fine. I'll go, but I'm not going to stay."

"We'll see," the king said, looking as though something was going well as planned.

Peyton turned to me. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. he leaned down and kisses my forehead.

"No, that won't be necessary. She comes with us," the king said.

"What for?" My dad said, wide eyed.

"If she is my son's mate, she will have to learn our ways if she is going to rule beside him. What time is best if not now?" The king said, hooking his fingers together across his chest.

My father looked from me to Peyton to the king. Finally he sighed and said, "Fine, take her."

"Wait. What? Dad...."

"Samantha, don't. Just don't." and with that, he turned and left.

Peyton placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked at him.

"It's not like you'll never see him again," he said.

I nodded again, keeping my head down. Peyton's father opened the door and let me and Peyton go through first. Of course, the king'a car is an expensive one. It's a 2014 Bugati. I hesitated before stepping in. Peyton slid in next to me, still clenching his jaw. I placed my hand over his and face it a gentle squeeze. He glanced over at me and smiled at the corners of his mouth.

His father climbed into the drivers seat, his blue eyes darting everywhere as though he was nervous. He started the engine and on we went. The drive was mostly silent until the last few minutes when the king spoke.

"What were you thinking, running away like that? Do you know what that did to your mother, you ungrateful brat? She wouldn't talk to me for months!"

"And?"