Forgotten

Chapter 9

Another short chapter, guys. Sorry about that.

Chapter Nine

Kale passed up in down in his room. The sound of his shoes was all too familiar. "I don't really know that it was her, Esme! But something inside me just, I can't explain it. Its like I can feel her!"

Esme got up from the chair she was sitting in. "It's her magic that links you together. This means she is back."

Kale growled, the hatred for the one who made him a monster was evident on his handsome but scarred face. "Why? What could she possibly gain from trying to hurt Dauphine? What does she want?" He growled again, feeling the Wolf come alive, trying to get out.

He shook his head trying to calm down. He thought of Dauphine and suddenly smiled. Those curious brown eyes that revealed her darkest secrets and emotions. She was like an open book. Honest. Good.

Esme examined her king. He seemed at peace. She wondered what he was thinking about.

Then she realized. It was Dauphine. She had stolen Kale's heart. She brought that light to his eyes. All thoughts of the maid had been replaced with Dauphine.

Esme smiled. Her king won't deny the young princess and the thought of their wedding made excitement bubble up inside of her.

Still thinking about his blonde princess, Kale turned. Before he could speak, however, there was a knock on the door. He frowned. "Yes?"

The knob turned and Eduar entered a slight blush on his face. "My king?"

Kale smiled nodding for him to continue. Eduar took a deep breath. "I wanted to ask your permission to..." he blushed a deeper shade of red. Kale frowned again and then suddenly realization hit him. It was Alexis. He was in love.

Kale laughed. "Well? What is it Eduar?"

Eduar seemed to turn an even brighter shade of red as he stuttered. "I would like to ask your permission to marry."

Esme uttered an exciting laugh. "Oh, Eduar! How wonderful. I knew all those hours you spent with the young Alexis talking about books was going to lead somewhere good!"

Kale smiled as well shaking Eduar's hand. "Of course you have my blessing. I couldn't stand in the way of love!"

Eduar smiled, thanking Kale with a warm hug. He felt excitement and dread in him as he realized he had to actually ask Alexis now that he got his King's blessing. He closed the door behind him. How hard could it be, but as he descended the stairs and saw her walking to him her nose in a book, he realized he was probably going to make a fool of himself.

Back in his room Kale couldn't stop smiling. He hugged Esme and sank down into a chair. "I feel so happy, Esme. This is so unreal though. It shouldn't be real. I'm a cursed man, but my heart is filled with love."

His expression turned somber. "And now that girl, the maid, that witch, she's back. But why?"

Esme sat down and placed her hand on his arm. "My king, don't you see. She wanted you miserable and as long as you were she was happy, she stayed away.

"Now, you're happy, you're in love and that is breaking her hold on you."

Kale shook his head. "Just because I'm in love doesn't break her hold on me, I'm still a monster. You told me that true love could break this curse. True love. No one could ever love a monster."

Esme looked at him and for the first time in his life Kale felt himself cringe. Her stare was scolding and her voice was even more furious. "Kale! You listen to me. Don't you see? Are you blind? Dauphine has always been open with her feelings for you; though she never said it an idiot could see that she loves you!"

Kale opened his mouth, but Esme didn't give him a chance to talk. "And as for the Wolf, how long has it been since you shifted? Look at what happened just before Eduar knocked."

Kale frowned looking down, Esme's words were starting to make sense and it scared him.

"You were angry and I could sense the Wolf surfacing, but then you thought of Dauphine, didn't you? And what happened? You calmed down."

Her words scratched into his mind, "That's why the maid's back." Now his fear was replaced by dread, "She won't see you happy. She's back to stop Dauphine from breaking through your walls."

Kale shot up, growling. Esme jerked back, shocked at Kale's sudden outburst. He didn't see it though, the fear is her eyes. He started pacing again, feeling the Wolf get stronger as his resolve faded. "She wants Dauphine! But she won't get her! Dauphine is mine! I love her and I'll kill that witch before I ever let her lay her dirty hands on my love!"

Esme backed up into a corner as Kale flew out the door, he passed Eduar holding a smiling Alexis. The watched him storm out the castle and heading to the forest all the while making horrible noises.

Eduar turned his head to look at Esme, who was now coming down the stairs. He smiled at Alexis, kissing her on the cheek. "I'll be right back, my love. Why don't you go check on Princess Dauphine?" Alexis nodded and turned to find Dauphine. Eduar turned to Esme, worry reflected in his eyes. "It's been weeks, what happened?"

Esme shook her head, dread filled her heart. "He realized that he loved her."