Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

me to his side. I try to pull him back for more, yet he holds me back and I know now is the time for the truth to come out. A part of me wants to shift, to just run away and then it occurs to me, he could do the same so then no one can stop us from being together. He shakes his head as if he read my thoughts.
    "Whatever it is, we will get through this together. Do you understand, Nico? Together."
    Oh how I want to believe that. I close my eyes for a moment to gather my thoughts. Almost immediately I hear the shouts; someone is coming and we are both naked. Oh dear gods, this cannot be happening! I know those voices. It is Queen Elena and her body guard Sergei. That man is a monster without a conscience. I sit up quickly, the two of us frantically throwing our clothes on despite it being far too late. I can see them at the lake's edge; Elena, Sergei and my father.
    Everything happens so quickly, there is cussing, shouting. Thomas is trying to protect me by putting me behind his back but is not fast enough. Sergei has something in his hands. He is throwing it on us. My eyes are stinging with what feels like fire; I am unable to see anymore. I am so scared. Dear gods, what is happening? I try to wipe my eyes but they are burning, with tears streaming down my face; I can no longer feel Thomas near me. I reach out blindly, searching. Then my father is in front of me yelling at me to stop. He is grabbing me roughly, yanking me by the arm. I stumble and nearly fall several times.
    I am so afraid; not for myself– for Thomas. Thomas has no one to protect him.
    "Father, please! Stop! I cannot see!" I shout, but he does not listen; he just keeps dragging me with him. Suddenly, I find myself back in our vardo, the wagon used for our living quarters. My eyes are still burning but at least I can make out my father's face now. He is not happy; which I expected. I know what my destiny is, what it has always been; the deal my father made with Elena twenty years ago.
    "Your behavior appalls and sickens me Nicolai, it is not natural what you and Thomas have been doing. Do not try to deny it. Sergei saw what you were doing before he came back and told us."
    I could not believe what he just said, I am enraged beyond words.
    "He did what? He had no right to spy on us!" I spit out through clenched teeth.
    I want to say more but my father cuts me off just by raising his hand to me. It is never wise to speak against my alpha. He grows quiet for a long time. I know he is contemplating my fate so I wait, my eyes drifting over the contents of our wagon. All of the furniture and tapestries are in gold, silver, dark browns and orange. Nothing is red because that is the color of blood– a color considered a curse to the Romany people. I like red; it makes me think of love. This is the nicest vardo we have ever lived in, although I know the reason we are here is because of the deal my father made with Elena all those years ago. My future for his, but I really cannot blame him for his choices. When we came to this country I was but three months old, and I am pretty sure the only reason I survived without a mother is because I am a Lion shifter. One of the women from our pride was my wet nurse since my mother had died in childbirth. I know when my father looks at me, he sees her in my face; my dark blond hair, large brown eyes and fair skin. I have been told by many that I am pretty for a man, which makes me feel uncomfortable because women are pretty, men should be handsome and why I am thinking of this now is beyond me, although in times of duress, pointless drivel has a tendency to creep into my mind.
    "We must wait to hear word of Elena's decision, before punishment can be handed down." I look at my father. His personal use of the Queen's name makes me wonder if they are, perhaps, more than friends. It sickens me to think he has stooped to this in order to have a higher place among our people. It is bad enough that she wishes me to marry her daughter and mix the breeds.
    He looks at me in disgust, then telling me to stay put, walks out the door. I can hear him locking it from the other side so I rush to check out all the windows to see if any are unlocked, even though I know that is a fruitless endeavor. My father may be making foolish choices regarding the queen, but I know he would not where I am concerned. So I sit back down on the chair to await my fate, letting my thoughts drift back to Thomas. I know to the depths of my soul that he is