Chapter 3 - Max´s Wedding

Charmaine POV

“Mom, do you really have to go?” I asked my mom for the tenth time. I have no idea why, but when they leave the realm I feel anxious.

My dad's strong presence and my mother´s powerful healing one, are always in balance, thus our realm is a happy place to live. Well, happy for most, because I feel trapped, especially when Mom delegates all of the tasks to me.

“Charmaine, how many times do I have to tell you that this is not a vacation…. Your father and I will be attending another realm´s king's wedding. It is a state visit…” Mom pointed out what I already knew.

“Yes, but you are the healer of this realm, and now you will leave me responsible for everything…” I huffed, I didn't want to be the one in charge of the healing facility of the realm.

“We are going to be gone for four days, it is not as if you will have to deal with that forever…” Mom laughed at the end because she knew that eventually, that would be my responsibility.

“Stop whining, and grow up Charmaine… We are princesses and this realm is our home and our inheritance… We need to pull our weight around here…” Ayla butted in. I love my sister, I hate it when she butts in…

My mom kissed our cheeks and finished packing. I sighed, defeated, there was nothing I could do to stop my parents from leaving, and definitely, I was stuck with the healing facility.

Hours later, Mom and Dad called us to the lobby to say farewell. “You girls take care… Ayla, you are in charge… Remember all the counselors and advisors are there to support you. I am only a call away and we can be back in less than an hour…” Dad said, His eyes beaming with pride. Ayla was his favorite daughter.

“Goodbye, girls… “ Dad patted Ariel and mine´s heads.

“Goodbye, father…” All three of us chorused.

“See you soon, my daughters…” Mom opened her arms and all three of us scrambled in a group hug.

“Char… you can do it…” Mom winked my way before turning around and leaving to the portal room.

“Yes, Char… you can do it!... You can do it all…” Ariel said. Her words had a double meaning. My sister Ariel is a magnet for mischief, and she has insisted on me living a little, getting into trouble… I, on the other hand, didn't want trouble, but I wanted freedom.

“I am going to go to the healing center…” I mumbled and dragged my feet out of our home and to the path that led to my destination.

I opened the door, and the same old faces greeted me. “Good day, princess…” The nurses at the front desk greeted me.

“Good mor…” I was greeting them when someone bumped into me and I landed with a hard thud in the ground.

“I am so sorry…” The bright voice of a boy filled the room.

I looked up and I saw him, a bit younger than me, with a broad smile and bright eyes. “Let me help you…” He said and extended his hand to help me up.

His cheeks flushed, “I am Evangel… I am a newfound healer and angel of death.” He introduced himself.

“Hi, I am Charmaine…” I introduced myself.

“You are the princess? The ultimate healer!!” He stuttered excitedly, while I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Here come other people that will look up to me because of my powers, not me.

“Yeah. that's me!” I feigned an excited tone.

“I know right, it sucks that people only see you for your gifts… My dad is only proud of me because I inherited his gifts…” He said, and for the first time in my whole life, I felt like I could talk to somebody that would know how it is to be looked at that way.

“Yes it does suck!” I mumbled, and he offered me his arm, in a gesture of mock chivalry…

“Come on princess… it is time to do some rounds…” He lifted his chin and walked next to me playfully looking like a bodyguard. It made me laugh, he was funny and witty, and behind all that I could see his pain, the same pain I suffered from. The pain that comes with a powerful gift, the pain that comes with the loneliness of power.

Surprisingly, I felt lighter and the shift passed by in a blimp, thanks to Evangel. Aside from Serena, this quirky funny guy has been the first person that has seen me.

Somehow, deep within my heart, I knew that as long as Evangel was in my shift, I would be able to be myself and have some fun… A little beam of light shining in the darkness of my burden.

Dante POV

Maximus insisted that I have to be there. I couldn't refuse, not when he is my only friend. The only person that decided to give me a chance.

He managed to force me to show up at his wedding. I prepared my suitcase, making sure to have my pressed black tux, and white button down. My white gold cufflinks and my shades.

Since I was a kid I realized that the red color of my eyes made everyone around me feel uneasy. While I was in my realm things were contained to everybody being afraid of my psychotic father, but when I started boarding school, the color of my eyes was the result of multiple beatings and bullying.

One day Max suggested I should wear slime shades, and I did. He decided to wear his shades too, and that is how the look stuck with me. I now wear black shades everywhere I go, regardless of the weather or the hour of the day. Those shades were my shield.

I huffed, not happy to leave my realm, but knowing how important it was to my only friend, made me push through my awkwardness and made the effort to attend.

“Desmond, I am ready…” I said to my second in command. Desmond is the son of my father´s second in command, and surprisingly he too, shares the same vision for our realm. It was an easy pick, and we clicked almost instantly. At first, he was a little taken aback by my temperament and my eyes, but with our daily interaction he eased up and now we are a good leading pair.

“Dante… ease up… Have a little fun, you devil…” He elbowed me in the ribs playfully.

I rolled my eyes. Desmond is the epitome of the idea of a true demon. He is flirty, playfull, loves trouble, he is prone to fighting, has anger issues and above all, he is a major slut. I have no idea what he is going to do to be faithful when he finds his mate. Yes, we are misfits, but we do yearn to have that safety and endless love that comes with the bond of a mate, well everyone gets that bond but me.

“I m not going there to f**k every piece of ass that crosses my path, Desmond… I am going to show up, congratulate my friend and return.. That's it…” I said, tasting the bitterness of my words. The envy that coursed through my veins burned me slowly. I wanted what Max is getting, a mate.

I took my luggage and stepped into the portal. I was greeted by Max. “Hey, Dante!” I am so happy that you are here… He wrapped his arms around my shoulder and patted my back in a playful way.

“Are you ready for tonight?” He asked,

“Tonight? What is going on tonight? Isn't it your wedding today?” I said I was afraid that my best friend had tricked me into some unknown event.

Max laughed, “In my defense, I am the groom… so I may or may not have skipped the fact that the wedding is tomorrow and tonight is my bachelor party…” Max scratched the back of his neck.

“I knew you would not come, if I told you in advance…” Max apologized, in his own way.

“I am here now, so what's the plan?” I sucked it up. He was my friend and has done so much for me, that I could not be mad.

“Great, Lucca and some guys have planned a night out at the bar… It's going to be fun!” Max said excitedly, while I knew it was a terrible idea for me to go, but heck… he is the groom and the king of this realm.

“Let me take you to your room, and I will pick you up at 7 pm so we can have dinner, and then after that we can leave for the party…” Max briefed me.

“Sure…” I almost grumbled,

“There you are!” An excited voice said, and Max slowly turned. His happy and excited face transformed into the face of the man contemplating the love of his life.

“Hey, Rory…” He opened his arms and the small girl wrapped herself around my friend. “Dante, let me introduce to you, Aurora, my mate, my queen, my all…” Max beamed, while I tried to control the nasty jealousy that crawled inside my veins.

“Hi, Aurora, It is nice to meet you…” I said to the young woman. My voice held a little strain, it was not easy for me to get comfortable around new people.

As soon as she held my hand, a rush of energy swooned around me, and in my eyes I saw flashes of her future. I quickly released the contact, and my heart clenched at the revelation I had.

I gulped down my feelings, and the strain I was experiencing for the future of my best friend, and gave both of them a wide smile.

Max had a small conversation with his bride and then turned my way. “I am sorry man, Lucca is going to take you to your room… I need to see something that came up…” He said, giving me a small smile, followed by a mischievous wink.

I shook my head, and patted his shoulder, “No problem…”

A blonde guy showed up a bit later and Max introduced him to me. He was his Beta, he was a kind soul, I could feel it. “I will take you to your room…”

I followed Lucca and he showed me to a guest room. It was a suite close to Max´s quarters. Max knew I am not fond of new places.

“Thanks, Lucca… “ I said and distractedly removed my shades. I thought Lucca had already left the room, but to my surprise he stood there rooted.

“Wow…” He mumbled,

“I am sorry… “ I apologized and placed my shades back on.

“You should stop wearing those… I am sure that eye color would turn you into a chick magnet where we are going… I would gladly be your wingman!” He playfully said.

“I don't know… I'd rather have them on…” I said and he nodded.

“I will leave you to settle, I think Max already told you the schedule. If he is unavailable, I will be here for you…” Lucca said, and his easy going nature, really made me feel at ease.

As promised, Max knocked on my door for dinner and then we headed out for his bachelor party. I was surprised to see that it was a really intimate celebration, a couple of Max´s childhood friends, his Beta and me.

Lucca was a surprisingly good company, he was laid back, funny and just like Desmond a success with the ladies. It was funny to see Max getting drunk, and then when we moved to the private area, being treated by the surprise of the night:strippers.

Max was reluctant while all the other guys cheered. When the girls were done with their performance a couple of guys requested special services and they vanished from the area.

We were drunk, and tired, and by 2 in the morning decided to get back. Max and I, because Lucca hooked up with a girl and was nowhere to be found.

“Tell me, did you have fun?” Max slurred his words.

“Yeah…” I mumbled a little tired to start a lengthy conversation.

We arrived at the castle and I headed to my room. I will never have this, a family, a new chance to happiness, a mate.

I laid down and quickly tried to sleep. The same nightmare playing in a loop in my head. The fiery red-head girl, with creamy skin and her nose covered in freckles, vanished from my embrace, only toi feel the emptiness that her absence provided. Then another girl showed up, a blonde one, bright blue eyes, flawless skin, and she too vanished… then a different one, all of them vanishing and leaving more emptiness than its predecessor.

f**k… I have never seen any of these girls, but I am sure that if any of them were my mate I would hold onto her and never let go…

The next day the wedding was a beautiful one. Max and his bride, Aurora, looked so in love that it hurt.

While I was at the party, a man smiled at me, “Hello Dante… long time, no see…” He greeted me.

I tried to focus my eyes and recognize the man that was addressing me so casually. “I…” I was about to explain that I don't recall having meeting him when he chuckled,

“I guess that you don't recognize me out of my armor… King Engelbert…” He lifted his eyebrows giving me a kind smile.

Next to him stood a beautiful woman, her face oddly familiar. “This is Queen Angelique…” Engelbert introduced his alma to me.

“Nice to meet you…” I extended my hand and she took it. Her eyes widened and she gave me a soft smile.

“It is nice to meet you too, King Dante…” She said, her eyes showing a motherly tenderness that I have never experienced.

“How has everything been going?” Engelbert asked, “I wanted to talk to you, I need to apologize for what happened to your father…” He finished.

“Good… I am already settled into the position, and now I am getting into all the tasks ahead…” I said, “And as for the apology, I should be the one thanking you, you freed me and my people…” I ended.

“Good… just so you know, you will become a great king…” Engelbert said,

“Yes, I have seen it… your future is a bright one, full of love…” Queen Angelique said and I shook my head.

How could they know about the burden I am carrying with me? What can they do in order for me to live a content life? No one can help, and I am sure that the future the queen speaks, is just a dream… and one I can only hope for.