Page 133 of Valpar

“You will never have to return to that life, Calliope,” Fairy Godmother said firmly, her eyes full of unwavering determination. “I want you to close your eyes and concentrate on your new memories. The ones when you first woke up in Bergarian for the first time.”

I bit my lip, not wanting to listen.

She nudged me and tickled my cheek with my hair. “Go on, or you’ll get spanked later.”

I let out a giggle and closed them.

“Remember your family. Theresa and Birch, they are your parents. Your real family. Osirus and Melina too, hmm?”

I nodded and thought of them. They were my family. They alone already outweighed a lot of my darkness, my torment ofthe past. My heart did not feel heavy or empty. It was becoming full and light again.

“Oh yes, don’t forget Simon,” she added, playfully.

“Never, I would never forget Simon.” I shook my head.

She tsked. “And someone else. Who else is important to you?”

My heart felt so full it almost exploded. Valpar. For the first time in my life, I knew what love was when I was with him. Romantic love, the love where you feel so deep you know that when you are with a person, no matter the past, they are your future.

Valpar found me half-way across Bergarian and fought a witch for me. He put up with me running away and claimed me over and over again.

Valpar was my new home. He was my light.

I opened my eyes and Fairy Godmother nodded with a smile as I recounted the memories of my new life in Bergarian. She watched me intently, her eyes reflecting pride and reassurance.

“You have come so far, Calliope,” she said softly, her voice filled with warmth. “You have found love and family, in a world far away from the darkness of your past. Hold on to those memories. Let them guide you.”

Valpar was my anchor to this new world, where magic existed and love wasn’t a foreign concept. He saw me, truly saw me, and loved me despite my past scars and the darkness that threatened to consume me before I even remembered it. His love was a beacon of hope in the shadows of my past, guiding me towards a future filled with light and happiness.

As I focused on the new memories that I had experienced since coming to Bergarian the memories of my past didn’t seem so dark. Looking forward, I only focused on happy times with my extensive family, and a mate waiting for me for when I wake.

Chapter Forty-Three

Valpar

I watched as pinkcolor faded from my miresa’s hair from root to tip. I tried to grasp it–like holding it would stop its change from pink to black. It was like the darkness was settling inside her. Once it reached the ends of her hair, my heart became slow rhythmic beats. Not that I was calm, no.

It is the opposite.

If anyone thought they had seen me angry before, they were sorely mistaken.

I knew I could save my female from a witch, from a fairy and a pixie, but there was one thing I could not save her from and that was the memories of her past. I knew there would be a day when I would have to watch while she suffered alone. The only thing I could do was to stay by her side and give her the support she needed.

And my little fairy needed me. She needed to know I would be there for her no matter what she had chosen, no matter what she remembered. I was her male, and I would stand by her thick and thin.

I did not get the chance to soothe her fears. I prayed to the Moon Fairy above that my miresa knew this, that I would be with her always.

The area that surrounded me went quiet. No one made a sound, no one moved, not even the fluttering of the wings of the fae or the sounds of the dark birds that caw in the dark forest.

“Where. Is. He?”

I turned my head slowly to the king. He knew what I sought: the male who had given my miresa her memories before she was ready. Before I could comfort her or let her know what she may see.

Osirus’ gaze landed on my miresa and back up to me. He stepped back, along with Melina, who had her lips pursed into a thin line. A soldier held the pixie by his wings. He was flailing about, his mouth moving, but only the sound of bells escaped his lips.

“What is he saying?” I stepped forward, my body thrumming with an indescribable need to end the pathetic soul’s life.

Osirus glared at the pixie, with his fists at his side. “To let him go, that the human deserved it.”

---