Closer to my Beloved's Heart

Chapter Sixteen

This chapter references certain subjects that should never be taken lightly. But in this case, it's only for the story and isn't reality...

Jay gasped and sat up in bed, waking Glenn in the process. She dreamed the beast would soon drag Angelica to the Underworld, where it planned to impregnate her! Now Jay couldn't have that.

"What's wrong?" Glenn asked as he smothered a yawn with his hand.

"The beast will kidnap and rape my sister! We have got to do something!" She cried and quickly got out of bed.

Glenn watched her with wide eyes then quickly got out of bed himself, hastily getting dressed.

"Angelica is in harms way because she agreed to be with Mark. So now the beast is after her. She loves Mark. If the beast persists, it will eventually kill Angelica." She said with tears in her eyes as looked to Glenn.

Glenn's mouth ran dry as he remained wide eyed.

"She'll be tortured and killed for loving Mark? Oh Ancients."

Jay nodded. "So she will need our protection."

"Okay," he said without hesitation. "What can I do?"

"Protect Angel and fight alongside Mark and me. You fight to keep her there in Aeroso. The beast will stop at nothing to kill you, so be careful, Glenn."

He nodded as fear and anger snaked up his spine.

"Promise me that you'll stay alive through this mess. Promise me, Jay!" He said fiercely, cupping her face within his hands.

She nodded.

"I promise, Glenn."

He bent and kissed her before she grasped his hands in hers.

"Hold on."

He nodded as the floor disappeared beneath them...

~

I stood there in shock as I stared up at Mark. He just asked me to marry him! What was I going to do? What was I going to do about my career? This all seemed so surreal; being invited to a ball, falling for the Vampire king, and now this.

Marriage, but not to just anyone. This would be a marriage to a powerful and unique Vampire. That part didn't bother me as much as the fact of him being a king and how royal I'd be treated if I became his wife.

But if I declined, Mark would be hurt. But hey, this was my life as well. And with marriage, both parties had to be happy and content with their lives for that lovely union to work properly. Mark was happy about this but was I happy as well? My feelings for him were strong so was that my answer then?

When I could speak again I asked, "What about my career? What about my parents and my sister?"

He grasped my hands in his.

"We could visit your parents and Jay anytime you like and as for your career, well, there are lots of young and older women here who need a new genre of romance to delve into. Angie if you marry me, you'll be my eternal queen and the queen of the Vampires. You'll be the smart and compassionate woman I've yearned for all my life. Please be my wife, my queen."

This was a commitment here, folks. Was I willing to remain here and rebuild my life? To see my parents and Jay whenever I wanted to and to rebuild my career status here? Everything within me screamed yes! Even my paranoid conscience screamed yes! Jay would understand my decision but would my parents?

"If I agree to marry you, will your people approve of me?" I asked then.

"Yes, my darlin'. If you are to spend eternity with me, then yes they will approve."