My heart constricted at his words. I wasn’t being selfless. I was being one hundred percent selfish. I wanted it gone, all of it—the agony, the pain, the anguish.
“Are you sure about this, my child?”
Smiling sweetly at my father, I turned to see my mother’s face. She looked troubled. I didn’t know if she knew about what had happened or not. The way she looked at me, had me faltering. Was my decision causing her pain? Could I really do this to her? What if she didn’t want me gone?
But then her face lit up with the most breathtaking smile. My mother was stunning. She was giving me her permission, her acceptance.
“I’m sure, Father,” I finally said. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
With a quick nod, he patted my shoulder. “Then it is done. I will set the wheels in motion. May you make a world of difference, Arianne. And your mother will be there as your spirit guardian. Even though you will never know she is actually there, she will be watching over her beloved daughter.”
Smiling, we all had our last embrace. I was going and I couldn’t be happier. Soon, I wouldn’t feel the pain anymore. I was going to be a baby. A sweet, innocent baby girl who would grow up with a new family and make new friends. I was ready. More ready than ever before.
Let the sweet ignorance begin.
The memory faded, leaving me heartbroken and alone. I now knew that Alexander had never betrayed me. But I couldn’t understand why he took the blame for what his brother did.
“I did it to protect you.”
My head snapped up to find my Alexander—my Stephen. The door was shut and I knew I didn’t need to open it again.
Rising from the floor, I faced Stephen. “What do you mean?”
“The same night we were together was the same night Simeon was with Elizabeth. He followed me and knew what we were about to do. To get me out of the way, he went to Elizabeth. He had always known that Elizabeth held a torch for me. He used the fact he was my twin to his advantage. He wanted me punished. He wanted me out of the way so he could get to you. He knew that if I denied being with her, I would have to prove where I was. I couldn’t do that to you. I had to protect you, Cassie. I had to make sure you were safe from any harm, any punishment your father would unleash. I took the punishment he gave me because it meant our secret would be safe. Your honour needed to be shielded. You had mated with me and he never would have forgiven you for that.”
Walking towards him, I held my hand out to touch his face. “You took all this pain for me? How could I ever repay you for that, Stephen? How could I ever begin to make up for all the hurt I’ve caused?”
Taking my hand, he pulled me close to him. “Don’t you understand that you already have? You remembered, Cassie. You were so strong and determined to fight for us, you remembered everything. Knowing you’ve done that is all I need.”
Finding his lips, I desperately wanted the release of our pain. We were like two star-crossed lovers doomed to fail, doomed to be apart. We defied everything and everyone in our path, refusing to give in. We could be together now, couldn’t we?
Pulling away, I looked into his eyes. “Why aren’t you with me? I’m still dreaming, aren’t I?”
Nodding, he searched my face and stroked my hair. “I will have to go to the Council now and await their decision. We just have to be patient one more time, Twinkles.” He winked.
“I love you more than words can say,” I whispered.
Stroking a strand of hair behind my ear, he leaned down and kissed my hand. “I know you do.”
Feeling the tears burn, I had to say it. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, Stephen. I’m so sorry I ever doubted—”
“Shh,” he uttered, placing a finger on my lips. “You don’t have to be sorry for anything. I’d do it all over again if I had to.”
We grew silent for a while, just staring into each other’s eyes. A low murmur of a song could be heard in the distance. It was the sounds of Taylor Swift’s and Ed Sheeran’s voices echoing all around us.
Pulling back, I smiled at Stephen. “Even in my dreams you can play me this song?”
“It’s not in your dream, Twinkles. You’re waking up. You’re radio alarm is playing our song.”
Feeling him being yanked from me, I panicked. “Stephen!” I screamed, not wanting to wake up yet. I was being pulled further and further away from him, and the pain grew faster and harder.
“Don’t worry, Twinkles. Just remember—you are all my yesterdays.”
Waking up with a jolt, I heard those words being played back to me. “All I know since yesterday is everything has changed.” I let the words sink in as the tears fell down my face.