C21 Samantha - I can't stay

I awoke with a start, nearly falling off a bed. The room was bright whites and yellows. Cheery even. Where the hell was I?

Someone had washed me and changed my clothes because I wore a golden gown with a rope cinched at the waist. There was a tray of fruits and veggies on a table across from the bed and a balcony that opened up to a gorgeous sky.

I had a dull headache, but otherwise, I felt okay. Had we made it to Knox’s land? How? He’d been so injured. His wings shredded. I touched my fingers to my lips. I'd healed him, somehow. Or he'd taken my energy. Wow.

And we were free. We were here... wherever here was, it was a thousand times better than the Roulex prison.

I scrambled out of bed, my legs shaky, and went to the table. I gobbled up big, grape-looking fruit and slices of a purple zucchini-type food. A pitcher of crystal-clear water tasted better than any I'd ever had before. Was this heaven?

When I pinched myself, it hurt. Wait. That was for dreams. Did the same apply when you were dead?

The huge, white doors cranked open and I leapt up from the table, quickly wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

When a regal-looking woman with white hair entered and not Knox, my heart flopped. But she was an Angeliminir like him. Her wings were white, though.

"I take it you have rested and recovered well?"

"Yes, thank you." I dipped into a curtsey not sure what was expected of me. "Is Knox okay?"

She waved a hand. Two more winged men entered, carrying swords, but they stood at attention in the doorway.

What were the swords for?

"Sit, sit. I'm Alva and I have some questions for you. But first, I want you to tell me everything from the time you arrived in the Roulex prison until now."

"Thank you for your hospitality, but I don't even know you. Why would I tell you anything?" I sat down in the chair next to the table.

She smiled, the wrinkles deepening around her golden eyes. "Knox said you were smart."

I wanted to ask what else he’d said and ask to see him, but something told me this woman was important, and if I pissed her off, we were in deep shit.

"I am the leader here. Celica, who Knox told you about, is my great, great-granddaughter."

"Oh." I stood up so fast I bumped the table. Half the food rolled off before I could catch it. "I’m so sorry."

"Leave it."

More nervous than when I took my college exams, I spilled my guts out to her, telling her everything. Well, not about kissing Knox and almost having sex, then having oral with him. I was already shaking all over. What if Celica was here? What if she and Knox were having a reunion and he was kissing her right now?

My stomach lurched. "Excuse me."

"And you're sure you didn't have sex with Knox?"

My mouth hung open. "Um... no... not really. Not all the way. No."

“That’s what I thought.” She stood. “You may stay here until you are fully healed, but then you must leave. I cannot tolerate you here and must honor my great, great-granddaughter.”

Tears pricked my eyes. I felt worse than scum like dried shit on someone’s shoe. “Sorry. I’m so sorry.”

She gave me a slight smile and then left. The guards closed the door when they followed her out.

My stomach clenched and I grabbed the nearest thing to me which was the silver dome that lay beside the fruit and hurled my guts into it. When my stomach finally stopped heaving, I felt even worse. I carried the silver domed lid to what looked like a bathroom and after figuring out how to turn on the water, cleaned the lid. I set it aside to dry because I couldn’t find any towels.

Back in the main room, I sank onto the chair. See, Samantha? You did it again. You fell for a married man. But this time, I didn’t think I was ever going to get over him. This time was real, like I’d truly found love, truly found my soulmate.

But I wouldn’t ruin his life. He’d made it home and back to Celica. I could be happy for him even though my heart was being ripped out of my chest.

I choked back a sob and walked to the door. It was better if I left now before things got ugly.

I pushed open the door and Knox stood there in black robes. His hair was wet like he’d showered and even his horns gleamed.

“I was just coming to check on you,” he said, his brow pinched like he was in pain.

Was he figuring out how to tell me that what happened in the prison was a mistake? That he was back with his happily-ever-after wife now? How many times did I have to go through this before I realized getting involved with a married man never ended well from my perspective.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine.” I had to keep this professional, keep it together. “I’m ready to go now.”

“Isn’t it too soon?” He frowned. “It took four healers to fix you. You need to save your strength, rest.”

“Well, I’m good as new now. No need for you to worry or anything.” I shrugged. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go back home.”

“So, you got what you wanted? Freedom and—” He looked at me expectantly, something dark crossing across his silver eyes.

“Look. I don’t know what you expect from me. A reward? I’ll pay you after I deal with my ex-boss and the couple who sued me to put me in the prison in the first place. Maybe I can get a loan, I don’t know.”

“You’re going back to Earth?”

“Of course I am. I can’t stay here.” Yup, being here and seeing him happy and with his wife, every day would be a knife to my heart. “Where else could I go?”

“It’s too dangerous. Stay.” He placed his hands on my shoulders. “You’re safe here. We’ve got a force field that keeps out the Roulex. If you go back before everything is resolved with your boss and the court, you’ll end up right back there in their clutches. I can’t let that happen.”

It took all of my willpower and then some not to lean into him. But I wouldn’t settle for being his or anyone’s mistress. I wanted the whole package. I wanted Knox to myself and not have to share him with anyone else. And I had no right to think like that. “Thanks. But I can’t stay here, not after—not after Celica.”

He flinched like I’d struck him. What did he think? That I would ignore the fact he was married?

“I’ll find some other place to be.” I wiggled out of his grasp and went to the door. No idea where I was going to go. But he was right, I needed a good lawyer before I went back.