Chapter 5

“Now, my beautiful girl, do you remember when we talked about you going to live with your grandfather and grandmother?” Damian asked seriously, his hold on her tightening ever so slightly as he didn't want her to leave.

Theanna nodded, the smile vanishing from her face. “Because if I stay here in Ikisat, the darkness can hurt my soul and that will make my heart sick.”

“That’s right. Remember when I told you that your grandfather looked like the scary man but it wasn’t him?”

Theanna nodded again, a bit slower this time, not liking where this was going. “You said that he loves me very much and made the scary man go away forever. And when I am with him, if anyone is scary and mean to me I am to say, ‘I want my Prince Damian. Yaeza maeny!’ Then you will come. But I can’t do it all the time, only on special times,” she sighed. “I don’t want to leave! I want to stay with you!” she cried out as she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him tight and burying her face in his neck. She loved the way he smelled. His smell made her feel so safe. She couldn't describe what he smelled like, but to her he smelled of love.

“I know, me too. But it’s not safe for you here,” Damian explained sadly, the pain in his heart easily seen in his eyes as he hugged her to him. “My sweet, sweet girl, if I could I would keep you here forever. But I never want anything to ever hurt you. You’re so very important to me. Remember though, you’ll never be truly alone. Whenever you need or want to see Galena or I, just call for us. We’re your family, too. We love you so much. I love you so much, Zoqa.”

“I love you, too, Dnirya.” Theanna felt Damian smile against her as he heard the word she had learned from Galena. Taking a deep breath before sighing, she asked him, “Promise I can see you again?”

“Zoqa, you’re my precious one. I give you my promise as Prince of Ikisat that I’ll see you soon.”

Theanna leaned back and grasped his face with her small hands while looking into his eyes. “Does Red promise, too?”

Helen watched the scene with her arms wrapped around herself and she fought the tears that threatened to break free. When she heard Theanna refer to Damian's Daemoni form as 'Red' she had to cover her mouth to stifle a giggle at the nickname as she watched Damian turn into his Daemoni form and say gruffly to Theanna, “I swear it!”

With a nod of acceptance, Theanna threw her arms around his neck once again and hugged him tight. As she pulled back she placed a kiss on his cheek and she whispered into his ear, “Look under your pillows later.” Jumping off of his lap she walked over to Helen and looked up. “You’re very pretty and very tall. What’s your name?”

“I’m Helen, your grandmother. I’m so very excited that you’re coming to stay with me and your grandfather for a while. I promise you can see Damian and Galena whenever you like, though.”

Looking back at Damian, Theanna only nodded as tears formed in her eyes. She would miss Galena but Damian was special to her, she didn't want to leave him alone. When he was alone he felt a deep loneliness and that hurt her heart so much. Letting Helen take her hand, she started to cry as she watched him as they vanished from the room in the blink of an eye.

Damian watched as they left and with surprise he realized his eyes were also wet. Quickly drying them, he headed towards his bedroom. With his clawed hand, he raised a pillow up, looking under it as Theanna had instructed. He found a curious picture she’d drawn of what he guessed was the two of them, he wasn't entirely sure.

Smiling, he realized there was something else under the pillow as well. Picking up the strange looking gemstone, it started to glow with power. He suddenly flashed to a memory of her smiling at him. Smiling as he closed his eyes and enjoyed her smile once again, he heard Galena enter his room with her soft footsteps.

“She was afraid you’d forget her. She infused that gem with a memory of her so you wouldn’t.” Galena smiled as she watched her brother, enjoying the changes she was seeing. One little girl had opened his heart and soul like Galena had never seen before.

“We’re bonded, I cannot forget her.”

“There’s more to it, my Prince. She’s your destiny.”

“And my savior...” Damian added as he placed the gem in his pocket and immediately turned and left
the room.

Closing her eyes, Galena once again accessed the essence of her brother and couldn't help but smile at
what she saw... Damian had learned to love.

The next day, Damian decided to check on Theanna using one of Galena's seeing-mirrors. He had a feeling he’d be doing this often. He couldn't help himself. The pull to see her was too strong. It didn’t matter if it was through one of Galena's mirrors.

He focused his mind on Thea and sent that thought to the mirror before him, an image came into focus. He saw Helen introducing Thea to a kind looking older lady who would be her nanny. It was obvious that Thea liked her by the smile she wore when she looked at her, that was until Helen left. Damian found it hurt his heart to see her smile drop and fill her eyes, even for a little bit.

“Thea, I have a friend for you to meet and a special room filled with toys. Would you like to check them out?” the woman asked as she kneeled down before Thea.

“Ok, Ms. Anna,” Thea whispered, tears still coursing down her face as she allowed Anna to pick her up and carry her.

“Now sweet Liam has had a really hard time and doesn't know anyone. He’s very strong of spirit but he’s scared. Maybe you and he could become friends. If you could show him he doesn't need to be scared here, that would be so sweet and kind.” Walking into the playroom, Anna put Thea down as she said, “Thea-mia, this is Liam. Now please wait here with him while I visit the potty, ok?”

Thea nodded at Anna as she watched her walk to the nearby bathroom. She looked around and saw all the fun stuff in the room and the bright colorful pictures on the wall. She didn't care about any of that as long as she had her rag-doll bunny. She wiped away the tears in her eyes and looked around, seeing a skinny boy with blonde hair and scared eyes watching her as she stood there looking at him.

Liam was obviously older than her, appearing to be about ten while she was only five, she suddenly, without warning, just knew Liam was someone important to her. Walking over to him, she smiled at him as she plopped herself down onto his lap, curled up with her bunny before deciding that she was tired so she went to sleep.

Liam blinked in surprise at the beautiful little girl before smiling. Gently he started to pet her pink curly hair as he whispered, “I will take care of you, you will see.”

Damian stepped back as a feeling he wasn't familiar with hit him. Rubbing his chest as if to relieve an uncomfortable ache, he realized that he didn't like this new thing he felt. It was an ugly, dark feeling.

“It's called jealousy,” Galena stated from behind him.

“That's ridiculous. He’s but a child,” Damian scoffed at her. How could he possibly be jealous of a young boy?

“He is but that doesn't change what it is. The boy, Liam, is very important to Theanna on her path to her destiny, but in a way that is very different from you, my Prince. He will love her as only a brother could. Liam James is destined to be mated to one of King Herne's many daughters,” Galena smiled softly at him, hoping to ease his worry.

“Like a brother, of course. Alert me if she needs me,” Damian stated gruffly as he turned and left her room without anything further. Galena could only smile. Yes, his path to his destiny would definitely be interesting to watch. She just hoped neither would falter otherwise it could mean the end of everything.