Book 2 - The Bond: Chapter 1

*A year later…*

Galena approached her brother cautiously as he watched Theanna in her mirror. She could see how much pain he was in even though he tried to hide it. Every Daemoni in Ikisat worried for their Prince. Lazerin, his lieutenant, had asked her to talk to Damian. He rarely ate or rested, his punishment judgments even took his lieutenants by surprise in their severity. When he wasn’t ruling Ikisat, he could be found here, with her mirrors.

With a sigh she asked, “When will you end this pain, Damian? The power lies with you.”

“What power do you speak of, sister? Speak plainly, I have no patience for your puzzles,” he growled in response. He missed his Thea and wanted to see her and hold her, but he couldn’t. She’d blocked him.

“She no longer blocks you. She misses you as you miss her. You belong together. This loss... your love is stronger than that pain. Your betrothment is more than just an oath, it’s your destiny!

“She believes your destined union to be one forced onto her by parents she has no memory of. She doesn’t know the truth of the bond between the two of you,” Galena added softly as she looked at him.

Her words made him bristle as he hissed, “Hold your tongue. Enemies are everywhere.”

“Yes, my Prince,” Galena bowed her head at him. “You must end this torment and talk to her or all the realms risk losing you both forever. Remember my vision.”

Damian simply nodded as he closed his eyes and became lost in his own thoughts, his pain evident for all to see.

~~*~~

Theanna waited patiently for her luggage to arrive. It seemed to be her lot in life to always have the last suitcases to come down the conveyor belt. Today, though, they were taking longer than usual. Then she saw why.

Her largest suitcase was stuck. With a deep sigh she looked around and seeing no one, she walked over to the emergency stop button, pressed it and proceeded to climb up the conveyor belt and started to tug on her suitcase. "Come on, you stupid thing. Give me my bag!"

"Here, let me help," a nice smelling man with a sexy Greek accent said from behind her.

Turning around, she blinked several times as she took in the handsome man smiling at her. Shaking herself out of her surprise, she returned his smile and moved out of his way. Moving to the bottom of the ramp, she was blessed with a perfect view of the extremely nice backside that belonged to the handsome gift of a man.

All-too-soon the man freed her suitcase and brought it down to her. "Here you go.”

"Thank you, kind sir!"

"You're welcome. Have a great day!" He smiled at her.

With a sad sigh, Thea watched as he walked away. What she wouldn't give to be like every other human girl. Instead, she had to prove why some called her a hybrid bitch.

She’d been cruel and heartless to the one person who’d loved her unconditionally and didn't deserve it. She’d taken her broken heart and thrown it in his face before running away from him and preventing him from coming to her.

He deserved so much better than her. He deserved someone who loved him wholly and unapologetically. She knew he deserved to be released from their betrothal but she just couldn't bring herself to do that. Maybe she was being selfish, but she still loved him too much to lose him forever. All she knew is that she missed him with every fiber of her being.

Turning the conveyor back on, she grabbed her remaining bags as they came down the ramp and walked out of the airport to the car that was waiting for her. The driver placed her bags into the trunk and then she was finally heading towards her home after way too long.

She’d missed her home, so very much. It was large, larger than she needed by far but it held her immense personal library that helped her with her work. It had a beautiful garden and pool and lots of guest rooms, which came in handy. The best part for her, though, was that Glen Kim had chosen it for her and absolutely loved it as well.

Glen was very special and very important to her. He was the one person who kept her life outside the office in order and semi-sane. He’d been with her since he’d join the Corporation right about the time she left Ikisat. He was a large part of why she wasn't completely lost to her misery.

He loved to tell anyone who asked about his job, “I make sure Thea can function.” He took care of her home, made sure she ate and slept when she needed to, and provided the necessary security. He may not be her blood but Glen was her family.

Thea rubbed her hands over her face at the thought of work. Now that she was back from overseeing another massive translation assignment she was headed back to work at D Corp’s corporate office in Los Angeles and she was sure there were way too many projects currently waiting for her. But, that would be tomorrow, today she wanted to get home, take a shower, take a nap and then maybe visit Mythos to see some friends.

As they arrived at the security gate for her subdivision, the security took one look at her and allowed her to pass. Glen had done his thing and made sure they knew she was coming. She looked around as they drove towards her house. The subdivision was for long time employees of the Corporation and provided a secure place for everyone to live in private, especially important with some of the more interesting Mythic employees.

Finally they pulled into her driveway, and as the driver pulled out her suitcases and opened the door for her, she plastered a smile on her face and gave him a large tip. After declining his offer to help her with her bags, Thea watched as he drove off. As she walked up to the door, Glen came out and grabbed her bags saying, “Plane delayed? You were supposed to be here 30 minutes ago.”

Thea smiled softly, that was her Glen. “No. It just took forever for my bags to show and then a bit of traffic. You know, the usual.”

Glen was an interesting man. At 5’6” he was definitely taller than her but not at all tall, which left him with a bit of a short-man complex. He was a handsome Korean man who was more like one of her girl friends than guy friends and she simply adored him.

“I think they hope these bags will fade in color so they make sure to leave them outside as long as possible, not that I blame them,” Glen complained, again, about her hot pink and orange suitcases. He hated those things. They were just bright and ugly in his opinion.

“Well, I love them and don’t have to worry about someone mistaking them for their bags. Was everything ok when you got here?” Thea wondered as they headed upstairs to her rooms.

“Of course.” Glen smiled as he placed her bags on the bench at the end of the bed. As he started to open her bags and unpack her things, Thea raised an eyebrow as she watched.

Placing her hands on her hips she rolled her eyes. “Have you been watching The Thomas Crown Affair again? Every time you watch that film you turn into the Paul Cheng butler character.”

“Would you prefer I watch Wild Boy and turn into a crazy killer?” Glen snarked back.

“True enough but then you’d give that character serious style and good looks, both of which he was lacking.”

“I would indeed. Now Ms. Crown if you don’t need me I’ll be getting back to the gardens, which were just in the saddest state when I arrived. Will you be going to Mythos for dinner or should I make you something?”

“Maybe I want to make myself something to eat.”

Glen snorted his laughter as he replied, “Need I remind you about your inability to properly work kitchen appliances? I think it’s best if you leave that room to me.”

“One day, I’ll master that room of the house, Mr. Kim. Just you watch!”

“Until that glorious day, Mythos tonight?”

Thea sighed in resignation. “Yeah, I’ll be going to Mythos. After all, I should properly announce the return of Thea Daniels.”

“Then may I suggest you wear this exquisite new outfit that you acquired? It’s truly a head turner.” Glen pulled her latest indulgence out of her suitcase.

“Great minds think alike,” Thea smiled. “Now I think I’ll take a shower to get the airplane off of me and then a nap. I need to fortify myself against all of the happiness to see me again, and of course the how are you, are you better questions. So, if you need me, you know where I am,” Thea said as she headed towards her bathroom.

Glen watched as her clothes were tossed next to the hamper instead of in it. His Thea was never very proficient in the domestic department, but then that was a product of her less-than-normal upbringing and definitely part of her quirky charm. With a worried smile, he placed them in the hamper and headed out of the room. Hopefully being back home she'd start to actually feel the happiness she showed to the world.