Ascended (32 page)

Authors: Debra Ann Miller

BOOK: Ascended

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Carter held Vie protectively in his arms. He looked down and kissed the top of her head
before looking out at the Tower, off in distance. He knew Dimorte would return; and when that day arrived, he knew he’d be ready for him.
She belongs to me now
, Carter thought as he glared at the Tower.

“Did you say something?” Vie asked him. Carter was surprised
, but realized Vie had obviously picked up on the voice inside him.

“I did
. I said ‘I love you,’” Carter replied, quickly covering for his lapse.

“I love you
, too.”

They lay in each other’s arms looking up at the
seemingly borderless Wyoming sky. Vie thought life couldn’t be any more perfect for her than it was right then; for the first time, she was in a place where she felt completely and totally at peace. Her wish had been granted and she couldn’t wait to begin her fairytale life again with Carter Stone.

After all, every princess did live happily ever after, right?

But f
airytales don’t always end the way they’re supposed to. Down deep, far beneath the surface of the earth, Dimorte sat upon his throne, deep in thought, staring at something he held in his hand.

Odessa entered the room. She kne
lt before the Dark Prince and asked for permission to speak.

“What do you want
, Odessa?” he asked impatiently.

“The same thing that you should want
: atonement!” she replied with hate-filled eyes. “I want her to pay for what she did to my son. To your son.” Her voice grew louder in anger.

Dimorte glared at her and replied, “We will seek our revenge, not on Violet
, but on the person responsible for everything, The Chosen One!”

The grief
-stricken Odessa stood up and shouted, “Violet is responsible, and if you won’t avenge our son’s death, then mark my words, Dimorte: I will!” She stormed out of the room.

Dimorte felt a
sudden chill in the room. Then came the silent words, filtered straight from Carter’s soul to his ears, echoing through the corridors of his mind.
She belongs to me now
.

He stood slowly, poised confidently
, and held something up to the light. It was Vie’s amethyst earring.

H
is grin was menacing as he looked at the precious jewel and said with certainty, “No, Carter Stone. She belongs to me!”