Chapter 15: Is She Worth It?

“Are you Julian Hayes?” I hear someone from behind me ask in an official voice.

Turning around quickly, I find myself face to face with an officer of the law. I only know this because he has his badge in his hand and is proudly displaying it, so I can see it. Glancing down at the shiny badge, I notice that he is a detective and not just an officer of the law. Apparently, Arabella’s dad has some pull in the police department or something.

This man stares me down until I sense that there is something else that he wants to say. He fakes a smile and laughs before asking, “Are You?”

“Yes. I am Julian. Nobody calls me by my last name anymore. I think the last person who did that was my 6th grade teacher.” I smile as I watch him scan the area and nod.

He pulls out his phone and types something in before I can even see what he is doing. But when I ask, “May I ask who you are and what you are here for?”

He seems so nonchalant and shrugs before answering, “My name is detective Harrison, and I am here because a Robert Fedorov filed a missing persons report for his teenage daughter, Arabella Fedorov. He told me that he tracked her phone to this very place and then when he spoke with you, you acted suspicious.”

My eyes narrow and I start to scowl before I state in a matter-of-fact voice, “Suspicious, he said. Hm. I don’t have any idea what I would have possibly done or said that would have given him that idea. The last time I saw her was when I dropped her back off outside her door and she said she was going to visit a Chris. I believe he is from her school.”

As I still stand my ground, I notice that he decides to back up a few feet and then turns around to look at the castle more closely. Clearing his throat he asks, “Do you mind giving me a tour?” Knowing full well that he would find what he is looking for if I do, I pause for a moment.

Then I reply, “If I did that, I would have to kill you, because some things are best left unseen.” My voice trails off and then I start to laugh while continuing, “Of course, I am kidding. Besides, we value our privacy here. Some of the people who live here, would not take too kindly to me showing you around their private places.”

As I say all this, I am painfully aware of the growing tension between us. I also notice that his right hand moves to his holster and keeps it resting on it till he walks away. He sighs and then states, “If there is anything else you can think of, call the office and ask for me.” As he starts to leave, he stops and pulls a card out of his pocket. “Oh, here. Take this in case you need to get ahold of me.”

He hands it to me, and then he turns to walk back to the officer waiting for him. I watch carefully as he gets into the car and then chats with the man in the car next to him. His eyes meet mine and then he quickly looks away and back to the other man. In this case, it is really good that my gift is eagle sight and I watch as his subtle gestures are an indication that he doesn’t trust me when he nods in my direction.

Finally, I watch as the officer driving backs up and out the driveway. Before I relax, I wait to see if he decides to sneak back a little bit later. While I stand there, I listen to the birds singing and then I see the buck standing off in the bushes. He snorts when he senses my scent and then he stares right at me.

The next thing I know, I hear a loud noise behind me and then I watch as the buck launches itself into the woods, so he can’t be seen any more by me. I smile and then glance down the driveway before deciding to go back to my room and read. Of course, the minute I do, someone always must disturb me.

“My king, we have an emergency. Arabella is gone. Omega Dante made up her meal for dinner and brought it up, only to discover that some how she has disappeared. How can this be?” Beta Harry says in a panicked tone before raising his hands and shrugging.

He is much younger than the men I prefer to keep as part of my security team. He can barely keep up, but he was placed here when the last two betas fought. I needed someone to replace them and now he will just have to learn what it is to be one of my personal security guards.

Not knowing where she would have possibly gone this time, I shake my head and run my fingers through my locks before stating, “Well, this is what we are going to do.” I hesitate for a second and then continue, “Let Beta Oliver and Elijah know that I am coming. I must check somewhere first. I will meet you in the gazebo afterwards so we can search throughout the whole castle and the grounds if I don’t find her. I sense that she is still here, somewhere and I think I might know where.”

He hurries off as soon as I finish speaking and then I make my way to the royal rose gardens. It is a maze and if she went in it, she would find herself lost within a matter of minutes. She won’t find a way out unless I am with her.

As I near the entrance, I sense her. Then I smell her scent on the wind. Before I turn around, I already know that she is behind me and standing there quietly.

Turning around, I see a girl with a frown on her face. She looks like a combination of scared and ashamed. I would swear she almost looks like she wants me to hug her, but I don’t. Even though, it takes all my strength not to when she looks up at me with those doe eyes and says, “I was so scared, I couldn’t find the way out. I am sorry I cause so many problems.”

Oh hell. I can’t possibly be mad at her when she looks like that. Her clothes are all torn, and she has a dirty smudge on her cheek where she must have fallen and rubbed her face afterwards. I lean down to kiss the dirty spot and make a clean one before she asks timidly, “Are you mad at me?”

“Nope.” Smiling like a Cheshire cat, I take her hand and walk her back to her room.

This time when she looks like she wants me and opens her mouth to say something, I shut her down. As I back out of the room before I get into any more trouble, I smile at her and suggest she relax for a while and take a bath or a shower. When I lock the door in front of me, I lean forward and place my forehead against the hardwood. It feels good against my body because it is unyielding.

Resting there for a moment, I hear her moving around in the next room. I close my eyes and then I push off the door and go to my room for the evening. Just before I close my eyes for the night as I lay in my bed naked, I think of Arabella and the way I love her so much it hurts. This one I must be careful with because she is young and uncertain of what she wants.

When sleep takes me, I smile as I dream of the two of us making love all night long. Our bodies intertwined in a loving dance. Perhaps tomorrow will be a better day and she will trust me even if it is just for a minute.