Chapter 23

[X] indicates inner conversations

Gabriel's heart squeezed as he watched Nyline turn away from him. As much as he tried to not let her words affect him, they still stung. He planned on following his words and letting her go if she wanted it. However, this was all more difficult than he had originally expected.

"If you want to go back to the fairy gate, I will take you, and pay your way."

"Sophia and Olivia wouldn't charge me," she whispered, and his heart clenched for her in that moment. What she had said earlier about not really having anyone must have been a slight understatement.

"Either way," Gabriel spoke clearing his voice. "I will take you if that is where you want to go. I would hope that you would let me, and my scouts stay with you long enough to ensure that you are safe." She didn't look at him, but shook her head, her red waves bouncing around.

"It's not safe," She confessed, "The second Damien crossed the gate, I was no longer hidden."

"What were you hiding from?" Her green orbs connected with his before she turned her gaze away.

"I don't know honestly… I just know that we were hiding. Not from you or Damien."

"How do you know that?"

"Stolen memories… Ones that I no longer have because John took them back." Her face fell slightly as she pushed some of those amazing red locks behind her ear.

"It sounds like you got into a lot of trouble stealing your uncle's memories?" Her face brightened slightly at the topic, and she spoke without looking at him.

"When I was very young, I would steal everything without even meaning to. Truthfully, I'm a memory kelpto. My uncle knew when I started asking about things that I wouldn't have known, because I was too small at the time. I stole a lot from him and made copies, hid the copies, kept some. He never knew exactly which memories I had taken so he didn't know what he needed back. However, it became apparent that no matter how small I was, I remembered it all. So, he had to start getting creative because he would have to figure out if I had been there as a baby or if it was from his perspective. I think in the end I gave all of them back to him. Except for the two… those I've had since before I could remember, and I couldn't give them away."

"Are you talking about the ballroom?" Nyline nodded.

"And the memory of what happened to Thaul." Her green orbs turned downcast as she looked down at the patchwork teddy in her hands. "Did your kingdom attack my kingdom around our birth?"

"No," He said instantly. "We have zero records of any war, attack, or flux in lesser daemons in our area during our birth." Gabriel watched as she tightened her grip on her patchwork teddy before she forced herself to relax.

"I thought it was weird… That you would show up out of now where to find me if your people had killed mine." There was a moment before she ran her hands up and down her face and let out a breath.

"Where did that memory of Thaul come from?" She shrugged.

"I'm not sure, I've had it since before I could remember, which is weird. I remember everything. I always figured I got it from my uncle, but I guess that isn't right, either."

"Would you let me see the full memory?" His voice was soft, already bracing for her no.

"Maybe one day, but not today…" She shook her head slightly.

They lulled into a silence where Nyline was just watching the scenery and Gabriel was watching her. After several minutes, Gabriel reached over and touched her arm softly making her look at him.

"How about I make you a deal?" She made a humming noise in the back of her throat. "If you end up deciding that you want to leave, then I'll personally go with you back to the human world, my scouts and I will cross the fairy gate, and take you back to your home. Until that moment, accept the maids that Janti picks for you. If you don't like them, you can dismiss them, and we won't assign you anymore." Nyline didn't answer as she continued to watch the trees pass below.

"Why do you want me to have maids so badly?" Her voice was soft, and Gabriel knew that she was tired by the circles that were appearing under her eyes. He wondered if the scout dinner should maybe wait until tomorrow. However, once glance at the deck and he knew that moving it a day forward was something he didn't want to contest with.

"I don't want you to be alone." He said simply.

"So put more strangers around me?" She shuttered, "I think at this point I have enough random people around me that I don't know." Gabriel cocked his head at that. Her words didn't match the shutter and so he focused on her. With just a small nudge he could hear the 'what if's' that were racing through her mind. What if they were two faced? What if they were expecting a prim and proper princess and they were disappointed? What if they didn't like me? What if they labeled her as weird and ended up quitting? The thoughts continued and without thinking Gabriel reached up and cupped her cheek, bending his neck so their foreheads were touching. Just like every time that he'd done this. She stiffened before relaxing into his hold and closing her eyes.

"I told you before that not everyone is like that. Has any of my scouts treated you like how you think people will respond to you?" She shook her head and he could feel her shoulders fall at that. She was so, so scared of everything right now and trying to come to terms with the fact that her life in the human world was over.

However, it didn't change the fact that she was still fighting it, fighting him, fighting being mated, fighting being back in the aether world. She was terrified of him all the way down to her core and he didn't understand why. He desperately wanted to ask, to figure out the why behind the fear but knew that it wasn't the time. One day he'd ask. It might be as he left her in the human world and returned to Vaccoon.

"Listen okay?" he pulled back so he could see her bright green eyes and placed a hand on the back of her neck. "There are people in this world who are like those girls from your primary schooling, but not all of them are like that. If you let Janti find you maids, I can assure you that you won't have the same problem."

"How can you assure me of that when you can't hear the voices?" Her green eyes scrunched up as her brows drew together.

"Because I have faith in Janti to find the right people for the occasion." She took a deep breath in and Gabriel listened to the music that was playing from her device. He wondered off handedly how she was able to hear him with the music playing directly into her ears. However, it was obvious that she could.

"If I don't like them, do I have to tell them to leave myself?" Gabriel rubbed his thumb over the back of her neck and some of the stress left her face.

"If you don't want to dismiss them yourself then you can let me or Janti know and we'll take care of it." It took her another few seconds before she finally nodded.

"Fine…" She mumbled, her head falling and resting against his chest. "Assign the maids, we'll see how it goes." She lifted her head and looked up into his ice blues. He couldn't help but smile softly down at her, she was so perfect, down to her little nose.

"I'm going to go talk to Delta then, I'll be back in just a few minutes." She didn't respond as she sat on the deck, her back going against the railing, and looked up at the sky.

When he turned however, he held in the sigh as he saw that all of the scouts were surrounding Delta shouting orders at her while she tried to relay each of the messages to Janti.

"Guys!" All the scouts instantly fell silent and looked at him. "Write down your order and give it to her that way please." They all gave him a sheepish smile as he looked at Delta, nodding once. She moved out from the middle of the circle and headed towards him without hesitation. Together they walked across the large ships deck and to the opposite side as to where Nyline was.

"Is everything okay?" Gabriel turned and let out a long breath as he took a moment to compose his thoughts.

"I'm sure it will be." He crossed his arms.

"It's only difficult because you two didn't grow up together. I'm sure that things will get better." Delta spoke softly, her eyes full of concern and he broke into a small smile, then without missing a beat he spoke.

"Janti, I have a task for you." Without another word Delta pressed her hand against his neck allowing his mind to connect with Janti's.

["What can I assist you with sir?"] Janti's very soft voice asked in his normal business-like tone.

["I need you to find me two maids for Nyline,"] There was a long pause. Gabriel waited to see if Janti was going to have a freak out over the task. However, after counting to ten and not hearing anything he continued. ["Listen to me carefully. I need them to be extremely soft spoken and for their emotions to be true. No two-faced people, no one who talks crap behind peoples back, no gossiper, or bullies. Real, honest, people."]

["Prince Gabriel, that's rather specific."]

["Ask Delta for the details, just please try and find them by tomorrow morning by the latest."]

["Tomorrow morning?"]

["Well honestly, I'd rather if you could have them before we got back to Vaccoon but that's not reasonable. So, I'm giving you until tomorrow morning."]

["Is there anything else your looking for in these two? Do you want them to be normal serving people from the castle or something more since there for the princess of Thaul?"] Gabriel could imagine him in one of the hallways in the castle. His famous clipboard in hand as he wrote down what he wanted and started going through the lists of people that he could talk to. He knew Janti and, if possible, he would have the two waiting for them before they arrived. Gabriel knew that, which is why he had mentioned it, but also given him the leeway of having extra time if things didn't work in his favor. He had faith in his butler and knew that Janti could do anything that he tasked him with.

["Fast runners would be nice, very knowledgeable about Vaccoon, but also versed in the aether world in general. If they grew up in a normal family that would be good too, I think they would fit in better with her if they weren't overly proper. Then, fighting knowledge. Nyline has her own way of getting herself in and out of many types of situations, so someone who could support her would be nice."]

["Prince Gabriel, are you looking for maids or scouts?"] Gabriel paused at that before he crossed his arms.

["That wouldn't be a bad idea…]" He muttered his hand going up and pulling several strands loose of his hair forward he started to spin it around his finger. ["We could end up getting her scouts?"]

["I suppose you are correct sir."] Gabriel made a humming noise.

["I think that's perfect actually. Look for two maids that would also be good as scouts but remember they must be nice people. No bullies, please."]

["Yes sir, you already mentioned that."] Janti spoke sounding uptight.

["Also, pick carefully."]

["You know that I will, now why with the caution?"]

["If she doesn't like them, I told her that she could dismiss them, and we wouldn't assign anymore. It's the only way I could get her to agree."] There was a pause and Gabriel knew that he would be sighing.

["Alright, I will get on this right away. I also need the finished shopping list so that I can hand it over to the maids before I leave the castle."]

["The scouts look as if they are almost done writing it down. I'll get it to you as soon as it's done."] Janti hummed in appreciation as Delta spoke.

["Prince Gabriel, is there anything else that you need of me prior to arriving?"]

["Not apart from the things that Delta has already told you to do."]

["Yes, the guest rooms are being prepared for the Prince of Dunhule and his scouts. I had the designer start on the princess's room directly after you left. It should be finished by the time of your arrival. Then, the kitchen staff is cleaning up, maids will be going out for shopping, and I already have a pair in mind for Princess Nyline's maids. Have I missed anything?"]

["No, it sounds like you've got it pretty well handled."]

["Thank you, sir. Oh, I have also informed your parents that you are bringing outsiders. They wish to speak with you at your earliest convenience. They wanted me to let you know that they understand that you have a lot going on, so there is no rush. Just keep in mind they need to be updated on what exactly happened in Thaul."]

["Will do, I'll talk to them before I go to dinner. Please let them know."]

["Right away sir."]

["Thanks."]

"Gabriel," Delta spoke softly. "Until she asks to be taken back to the human world, don't give up." He smiled at her softly.

"I know. I don't think I'd give up even if she did go back to the human world. We'd probably end up getting really acquainted with the other side of the fairy gate. I honestly, don't want to let her go. She really is the other half of my soul but, I knew that the second I watched her jump from that window." Delta laughed at that and Gabriel couldn't help but crack a small smile. He nodded to her as she turned and went back to the scouts for the shopping list. Gabriel walked back over to Nyline who was sitting with her head on her knees.

"Who is Janti?" She asked opening one of her eyes so she could focus on him."

"Delta's mate and my connection to home."

"If you have another scout then, why are they at home?" Gabriel chuckled at that.

"Yes, Janti is trained as a scout however, he has never gone into the field and since I like him alive, he won't." Nyline lifted her head and looked at him, confusion covering her face. "Janti is my butler and is very happy with that position. He is very strict, but not like how a scout should be but more in the way where your shirt should always be ironed, and that windows shouldn't have finger smudges."

"So then why?"

"Did they become my scouts?" She nodded. "Well, at the time I needed a single scout to become my command center and it just ended up working out like that."

"What do you mean?"

"Well Delta is connected to Adrenell and Shanell, therefore being connected to all four of them. So, when she is with me, she has a switch that she can flip in her mind and can communicate with them like a mate bond."

"I don't really understand, is that normal?"

"Well yes and no. My kingdom is a little different than others. The thing is with royalty in Vaccoon is that we don't actually need six guards constantly around us." His eyes trailed to Damien, "In Dunhule, it is common to have at least one of the three mated pairs with them at all times. This is because they are in a time of peace so Damien, being their prince, spent more time studying then learning how to fight. He tells me he is good with a sword, however, how well he can use it, I don't know. In Vaccoon, we are somewhat at peace, but I not only learned scout skills but royalty in Vaccoon is expected to know much about the outside world as well as our own kingdom. We have to know how to fight and if something were to ever happen, we'd be at the front lines defending our kingdom."

"I guess that makes since. So, you have one scout connect to three other's and you always have them with you and have a connection open? So, if you keep Delta with you at all times, then you can easily talk to the rest of your scouts?" Gabriel nodded.

"Only in my parents' case they are the command center. With me its Delta."

"But why?"

"The connection to my scouts would have to be made after the connection to my mate was made. If I had connected with my scouts, then I would never be able to connect with you." Nyline felt silent at that. Her eyes going to the patchwork teddy in her lap.

"But, how did you know I would come back?" Nyline's voice was barely a whisper as she spoke.

"I personally didn't, but my parents knew. I'm not sure how or why but they knew that eventually you would come back and they gave me the choice. It's different than how my parents fight but we make it work. I was gifted with the rare trait where I can hear one's thoughts when I tough their skin." Nyline scoffed.

"I'm not sure how touching people and seeing into their mind is a gift." Gabriel cocked his head to the side.

"You misunderstand, I can only hear their voices not see into their minds." Nyline fell quiet again. "It's why I always have gloves on." She nodded as if understanding.

"I get that. Its why I dress in layers. Less changes of touching people on accident, seeing into their mind, or stealing their memories."

"Oh," He grinned his tone turning teasing. "So, it's not that you hate everyone?" She cracked a very small smile.

"No, oddly enough I don't hate many people. I understand people easily and know them better than anyone else. It's just that with me stealing memories, I can't physically touch anyone." Gabriel made a humming noise.

"I agree with you. I guess mine is a little less invasive than I originally thought but the worry of touching people is something that I grew up with as well." Nyline hummed. "So, with the amount of times that I've touched you, have you stolen more of my memories?"

"When you do that thing, where you touch our foreheads, I don't steal anything, but I do get flashes of images. I'm usually trying to listen to what you're saying and not get pulled into them though, so I'm not sure what I saw. When I was sleeping before, yes I stole one." Her lips formed a thin line. "The only one that I've copied is the memory of when Dashiner returned from the human world." She paused. "I should really give him that memory back." Gabriel grinned and without pausing he shouted across the deck.

"Dash!" The blond scout turned and looked at him. Gabriel made a 'come over here' motion with his hand.

"What's up boss?" He looked at Nyline who was now blushing.

"Nyline has something that she'd like to give you." Nyline looked down at the deck before she reached up into her mouth and pulled out the grain of sand. Then without looking at him she held it out.

"What's this?" He put his hand under hers and she dropped it into his palm.

"Something you lost." Gabriel said quickly.

"Or I stole…" She muttered, looking at him from out of the corner of her eye. He could only raise his brow before he glanced at the other people on the air ship. When he was sure that no one else was looking he sat with his back to the main deck, hunched, and looked into the memory. His eyes dilated as his conscious was sucked inside. There was a moment, before he pulled his mind from the memory and just looked at her. His yellow eyes holding emotion as if he wasn't sure what to say.

Nyline let out a 'oof' as Adrenell used her movement and hit Nyline as they toppled over. Adrenell was holding onto Nyline tightly. Nyline looked stiff and uncomfortable but didn't tell her to get off.

"Really guys, don't worry about it." Nyline mumbled and Gabriel knew that she was responding to their inner words.

"Don't worry about it?!" Adrenell asked loudly, sounding shocked. Gabriel reached over and pulled Adrenell off Nyline, then pulled Nyline back into a sitting position. "You saved his life!" She whisper shouted.

"Lady Nyline," Dashiner spoke in a solemn tone. "I'm sorry for batting you out of the air." He looked sheepish but Nyline only laughed.

"Don't worry about it. Uncle John was there to catch me." Her face fell slightly but she tried to keep the small smile up. Dashiner tried to smile as well, but Gabriel could tell that he was sad about Jonathan leaving as well.

"I'll try my hardest to catch you if you ever need it." Nyline smile grew just a tiny bit more.

"Thanks Dash." He bent and wrapped his arms around her for just a second before he let go and stepped back, his eyes going to Gabriel.

"You were right." His face was calm again, "Loosing one memory is worth keeping my life." Gabriel opened his mouth to speak but Damien shouted over at him making him stand.

"I'll be right back." He muttered before he walked over to where Damien was now looking over the side of the ship. Gabriel followed his eyes and saw that there were several lesser daemons that were keeping pace with the air ship down on the forest floor.

"Is this going to be a problem?" He asked.

"What's wrong?" Nyline asked softly and they both turned to look at her. Surprised to see that she was standing a few feet away from them now. The patchwork teddy under her arm and the knife in her hand.

"It seems that the lesser daemons picked up on your scent." Damien spoke nodding over the ship. She took the few steps towards the edge and looked over. Her face falling.

"Gabriel, aren't you worried about your kingdom?" Her voice whispered.

"No." He said shortly and when she looked confused, he continued. "Vaccoon is surrounded by a barrier that is able to keep any daemon of duke rank and below out of our walls. Then, every citizen in Vaccoon knows how to fight. Directly after they finish secondary schooling, they are enrolled in the military. There they spend the next two years learning how to fight and defend."

"Every citizen?" Damien spoke sounding shocked.

"Yes, so if Vaccoon is ever under attack there not just fighting our military, but also the citizens."

"Everyone?" Damien asked for reassurance.

"There are some exceptions that involve illness, so a very small population are unable to actually be enrolled into the military. However, those are still taught how to fight to the best of their abilities." Before Damien could ask another question Nyline spoke up.

"So, what if they get inside? Is it really worth the bloodshed?" his smile was small at her concern for his people.

"They won't get inside," He reassured. "The barrier keeps them out. They can only enter at certain gates." She nodded as if she understood but Gabriel could tell that she didn't, not really. Then he understood that she wouldn't, not until they arrived.

"What about the people who are on the outside of the barrier?" Her voice was still small as she spoke.

"Delta," Gabriel couldn't help but wink at her as he turned to see Delta walking towards him. "Please inform the guards that are stationed outside of the barrier that we have some followers that they might encounter." Delta cocked her head to the side and walked next to Nyline, looking down. She didn't seem to be concerned and Nyline glanced at her.

"Are you sure?" Nyline whispered to Delta who looked and smiled at her.

"Yes, Lady Nyline." She took a second to think or listen he wasn't sure.

"Alright, thank you." Gabriel crossed his arms watching them.

"This is going to be interesting," Damien muttered, and Gabriel looked at him. "If she just randomly starts talking to mates' conversations." Gabriel grinned.

"I was just thinking that actually." There was a pause as he watched Nyline continued to talk to Delta and he assumed Janti.

"Is it alright with your parents that we're coming?" Gabriel looked at Damien.

"Why would you ask that?" Damien gave him a 'really' look.

"Your kingdom is completely shut off from everywhere else. Even over in Dunhule, we know that no one goes to your kingdom because essentially your boarders are closed to outsiders." Gabriel glanced back at Nyline, watching her interact with Delta with ease.

"I have informed my parents that you will be arriving with your scouts. They have not put up any opposition in you coming."

"Alright, that's good at least."

"If you are so nervous, you could always go home?" Gabriel heard as Damien took a long breath in and let it out slowly.

"I'll be staying. I'm more worried about the crew honestly."

"Why don't you have them head back to Dunhule once we dock?" Damien's face screwed up.

"Then how will we get back home?"

"We have airships, ya know." Gabriel laughed.

"Don't laugh! How am I supposed to know that you guys have airships? Didn't we just talk about how Vaccoon's borders are closed?" Gabriel grinned at him and he sighed. "Are you sure your parents wont mind us using one to return to Dunhule?"

"My parents don't usually go against something once I have promised it."

"That must be nice," Damien sighed. Gabriel could only look at him.

"Is it because your parents are strict or because you don't have a mate?"

"Mate." He said shortly his eyes going to Nyline before they returned to Gabriel. "I'm going to let the captain know what the plan is." Gabriel didn't stop him as he turned and walked away. His eyes going back to Delta as she talked to Nyline. It made his heart raise slightly knowing that his scouts liked her and that she was, slowly, warming to them.