Moonlight Kingdom

Chapter 5

Ray looked up the castle before her, still in shock that she could actually be here in another dimension, in another city, and with a king. Is he actually telling the truth? She wondered to herself as she forgot about her ankles for a moment and walked toward the large door in front of the stone building. After all, he had brought her through the mirror, the people bowed to him, and he seemed to be telling the truth. If it wasn't for the fact that he had his men spy on her, Ray wouldn't be as uncomfortable as she currently was. The fact he picked her up and carried her after noticing the pain in her ankles brought her to the conclusion that he couldn't be all that terrible. Strange—yes—but terrible—she didn't think so.

Both Ray and Dakota were quiet as Tally led the way to the front door. The door was twice the height of Ray in her heels, and she couldn't help but wonder how the door would open when there didn't seem to be a knob anywhere.

However, her curiosity was met when Tally removed a card from his pocket and swiped it in a small slot hidden on the edge of the door. Before she could ask any questions, the door began to open. Instead of opening from the side like a normal door, it opened like a medieval castle gate—rising upward and disappearing slowly into the castle above them until it stopped halfway, just enough to let the three of them enter Dakota's domain.

Ray stood there for a moment as she watched Dakota and Tally disappear inside. She was hesitant to enter, for being in a person's city is far different than entering their home. There was something intimate about the idea of Dakota inviting her into his castle, and she wasn't sure if she liked it.

"Come inside, Ray," Dakota told her warmly as he emerged into the moonlight once he noticed she wasn't directly behind him.

"I'm not sure," Ray shook her head as she rubbed her arms from the cold.

"You're safe, Ray, I promise you. You're safe with me." He extended his hand, hoping she would reach out and take it like she had previously. However, she didn't move.

"This doesn't feel real, Dakota," she whispered, and both of them noticed the change in the air once she spoke those words.

She had never said his name out loud before, and Dakota breathed deeply after hearing the way it sounded rolling off of her tongue. She said in a soft, breathy that made him want to hear it said over and over again. He swallowed hard as he began making his way toward her—step by step. She wasn't far away to begin with, but the journey seemed as if it took minutes for him to finally reach her.

Once he stood before her, he placed his finger under her chin to lift her dark eyes toward his own. Her eyes were golden under the moonlight, and Dakota's lips parted as he ran his thumb across her jawline.

"It's real," he whispered, and Ray noticed how deep his voice had gotten within the few moments of their exchange. "Believe me. I couldn't dream this if I tried to."

"Me being here, or your life?" She smiled. She tried to break their moment with a joke, for she noticed the way his finger touched her face. Ray already acknowledged that Dakota wasn't the most attractive person, but there was something about him. He made her uneasy earlier in the evening, for he came across as dark and powerful. She knew he didn't want her to know who he was—meaning he was dark and powerful—but she could see there was more under the facade. People seemed to always be hocked when people have something more to offer than what they first show, but that's just humanity. Everyone hides who they really are until they're comfortable with someone. Ray knew Dakota wasn't comfortable with her—nor was she comfortable with him—but standing here in front of his castle with his body so close to hers, his hand on her face, his eyes so dark and mesmerizing, it was a magical moment in all the ways a magical moment could be.