Valley Of Glamorgan (26 page)

I was pulled from dwelling on the dream when
Sal’s deep gruff voice filled the room. “I trust you slept well,”
he asked as he handed me a plate full of eggs and toast. My face
grew red as I shook my head in response at how I had slept; I
didn’t want to talk about it, especially to him. Sitting down
beside me with a thud he let a haughty laugh escape. And despite
myself I couldn’t fight the smile that slowly spread across my face
as I thanked him for the breakfast; all the while trying to rid my
mind of the images filling my head.

“You had the same dream,” Sal suddenly said.
Surprised, I dropped the plate on the floor hearing the glass
shatter around my feet. As I reached down to pick up the pieces I
cut my hand against a broken piece; another thing to add to the
list of things I shouldn’t attempt to do without eye sight.
Embarrassed, I tried to make a joke as Sal jumped to his feet,
returning seconds later with some sort of soft towel to press
against my hand.

Although I had tried to ignore the question
that had caused me to drop and break the plate I blurted out, “Yes!
I did dream,” and I put my head in my palms, rubbing my eyes being
careful not to move the cloth wrapped around the cut on my
hand.

I could sense Sal pacing the floor. “I am so
sorry princess. I was hoping that I could get you out of here
sooner, so that you wouldn’t have to be subjected to my animal
thoughts,” he stressed.

“Wait? What are you talking about Sal? What
does your animal have to do with anything?” I asked suddenly
worried by his demeanor.

Taking a deep breath he replied, “Princess,
I am cursed. That is why I live up here all alone. I chose my
spirit animal poorly and now I have to live with the choice.”

I was confused. “What the hell are you
talking about Sal?” I asked him.

Reluctantly he replied, “My animal wants a
mate so badly that he tries to convince any female I come into
contact with that they are in love with me,” and he hung his head
in deep shame.

Suddenly I felt a lot better as it dawned on
me that I hadn’t had a vivid love making dream about another man
because I wanted someone else other than Declan. It was because
Sal’s animal was so restless without a mate; it would do anything
to get one. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him. How would he
find true love if every girl he was around was tricked into
thinking they loved him. “I am so sorry,” was all I could manage to
say, “That is why he led me here; he thought I could be your mate?”
Sal didn’t say anything as I knew that was the reason, and even
though it was a sad situation, I was still grateful as he had saved
my life.

“What is your spirit animal? Is it a
mountain Lion?” I asked, “I note living in the mountains feels more
like home to you.” After all it made perfect sense to me but it
didn’t make Sal’s predicament any less difficult. Although I knew
he might not accept my help, I knew I was going to try and help him
when we got back to the castle; maybe Willow would know what to
do.

Not long afterwards we set off. Sal hadn’t
been lying when he had told me it was a long hike down the
mountain. Throughout the journey I could sense his spirit animal;
it was restless and it kept trying to pull me towards him by
sending images of yellow, beckoning eyes, just as it had in the
dream. As I now knew what was causing the urges, I was able to
tolerate and resist easily.

The closer we got to the village the more I
could sense where I was. The smell of freshly baked bread from the
local bakery lingered on the air. Finally Sal told me we still had
about a mile to go It had been eight hours since we had left the
cabin we walked nonstop, other than to take two bathroom breaks and
a few stops for water. All of a sudden Sal stopped, right in front
of me, and before I could stop myself I slammed into his back.

“I am sorry Princess,” he said. “Please, you
have to listen to me,” he pleaded, sounding as if he was out of
breath and struggling to get the words out. “You have to run! Just
go straight forwards! Don’t stop.” I didn’t understand what was
happening until I heard Sal let out a loud shriek, then I knew he
wasn’t there anymore for he had transformed into his animal spirit,
the mountain lion.

I realized as if he had spoken the words out
loud himself, that the Lion would never let me leave the mountain.
It was sick and restless; convinced that I could still be his
mate!

Hoping I still had a good enough head start
to make it I set off, but a blind girl running from a mountain lion
isn’t exactly a fair race. I slipped and tripped several times
before finally feeling my feet hitting level ground. On and on I
ran, screaming with my arms outspread, hoping the men at the gate
would hear me; sure enough they did! They also saw Sal running
after me and I knew that unless I did something quickly they would
kill him. They didn’t know that there was an innocent man under
those long claws slashing the air around me or the long sharp teeth
waiting to dig into my skin and drag me back up the mountain. I
knew I had to save him.

Suddenly I was met by familiar arms. It was
Knoll who picked me up and kissing me on my cheek he declared as he
spun me around, “It’s so good to have you home. Have you been
hurt?”

“No, I’m fine,” I reassured him, trying to
get his attention to the situation at hand. “Don’t let them kill
him!” I said pointing in the direction of where the yelling and
screaming was coming from.

“But Mina he is dangerous,” declared
Knoll.

“But you don’t understand Knoll; please
don’t hurt him, he can’t help it!” I pleaded for him to trust me
and being the good man he was he rushed to the office and grabbing
a tranquilizer gun he managed to shoot the mountain lion;
reassuring me he was fine.

Relieved I didn’t know where they took Sal
but at least he was alive and for now that had to be good enough.
Quickly I explained what had happened from the start until the
moment I had come running and screaming into Knoll’s arms. For the
moment I was kept in the guards building next to the gate as it was
the safest place for me; surrounded by the valleys strongest
guardians. Sitting on the fluffy deep blue couch I remembered the
last time I had been here. As I sat I couldn’t help but to relive
my odd experience with Sal. I couldn’t imagine getting sick from
not having a mate.

Finally Knoll returned and sitting down next
to me he said, “It was a good thing you saved him you know?” I
nodded my head, just feeling relieved that Knoll had trusted me
enough to take matters into his own hands. “It is truly sad when a
spirit animal goes crazy,” he said sighing at the thought.

Despite his kind words I asked him, “I can’t
help but worry. What is going to happen to Sal now?”

Placing his hand on mine Knoll explained,
“There are a few options. Either we lock him up for the remainder
of his life or we try to remove his animal, which is painful and
could cause him to die. The other way is to find him a willing mate
which will ease his animal and allow him to live in peace.”

“Well then, that is just what we have to do;
find him a mate. Besides I can’t see how any of those other options
are even viable,” I stated seriously.

Knoll began to laugh and I almost cried as I
had missed the sound so much. “I thought you would say that so I
have a few people on it,” he responded and I sensed he was smiling
at me.

As happy as I was to be with Knoll I was
getting weary and wondered why my family or Declan hadn’t rushed to
see me? “Where is everyone?” I questioned.

“They will be here soon Princess. They have
been in town searching for you. We hadn’t even thought they would
hide you so close, it was really rather genius,” he explained.

“Well, I think it was rather idiotic of
them,” I spat out,

“I got away and that was partly thanks to
Sal, so please make sure he finds a mate.” I had meant to say it in
a more friendly way but it sounded like an order. ‘My first order
as a princess.’ I thought to myself.

If Knoll sensed any difference in me, he
didn’t say, just reassured me that he would do his best before
excusing himself from the room. I knew I was safe now as every
available guardian was either in the building or standing outside
and a person would have to be crazy and carry a death wish to try
and harm me here. With that in mind I lay down on the comfy sofa
and slowly drifted to sleep. Thankfully this time, I didn’t have
any odd dreams about romantic connections with a strange man and
the darkness was more comforting than intrusive. When I woke up and
stood to stretch I had a feeling of feeling more rested than I had
in days.

“She is awake,” I heard someone call and
finally I was standing surrounded by my family.

Liam welcomed me into his strong arms,
hugging me tightly. “We have to stop meeting like this,” he joked,
trying to ease the tension around me and I loved him that much more
for it.

I think I was surprised even myself when I
threw my arms around him tightly and declared, “I missed you
Dad.”

He stopped squeezing me and resting his head
on top of mine he declared, “Me too Mina Bear. I would have
searched to the ends of the earth to find you.” I was about to tell
him that I knew he would never give up on me, I found Eleanor
pulling me into her arms.

Although she didn’t hold me tightly like
Liam had but she made her motherly presence known. “I am so sorry
we let this happen to you baby,” she said as she gently moved some
hair off my face before letting me go and stepping back to allow
the only other two people I was waiting to see.

Thankfully, the next one was my sister, who
hugged me and then pushing me away to arm’s length she looked me
over just to make sure I was really there. “I am so glad you are
home,” she whispered as she grabbed my hand and placed it into
someone else’s.

Familiar warmth surged through me and
without him even speaking I knew who stood in front of me. You
could say it was really by a process of elimination but still I
would have known the lines that made up that hand anywhere. Quickly
he pulled me into a deep passionate hug, holding me closely and
stopping both of us from breathing for a moment. “I am so sorry,”
he whispered next to my ear, “I was such a jerk. I should have
never left you.”

Although I had been mad at the time now I
was glad and happy. If he hadn’t left me alone then they would
surely have killed him because he would never have let them take
me. “I am just so glad to be home,” I told him. And as he gently
lifted my chin I wished I could see his eyes as he bent down to
kiss me. Only lightly, not wanting to start a full make out session
in front of everyone, for which I was grateful as neither of us
were big fans of PDA.

Chapter 16

It felt so normal being home, as if I had
never left. Everyone had been so welcoming although I now had a 24
hour guardian detail yet this time I didn’t want to talk my way out
of it. Even I knew it was obviously too dangerous for me to be
unprotected so I was happy that everyone thought so too.

Almost a week had gone by since I escaped
the small cabin. I was looking forward to seeing Willow for the
first time since I arrived home. Thankfully Declan had agreed to
escort me to see her. “She hasn’t been out much since you were
taken,” explained Declan as we walked along, “She blames herself,
because you gave your life for hers.”

I nodded my head saying, “I did and I would
do it again any day for she is my friend and that is what friends
do.”

Declan stopped and wrapping his arm around
my waist said, “No Mina. Most people don’t see it like that. You,”
he said as he kissed my nose and continued walking, “are just an
amazing person.” As we reached Willows door the smell of smoke
still lingered, although Declan assured me that her house looked
good as new.

“Don’t exaggerate. I don’t think this place
has ever looked new,” I heard Willow’s voice say as she opened the
door and invited us in. I laughed, and in that moment, even without
my sight and with some crazy people trying to kill me, I actually
felt as if things were okay.

By now I was growing accustomed to being
blind. All my other senses seemed heightened as they aided me,
thankfully during times like these. I was ok with places I was
familiar with but as I shuffled across the floor I realized that
Willow had been moving things around. Where there used to be a long
wooden table sat pressed against the back of her sofa, which I knew
should have been no more than ten steps ahead, I felt nothing but
air. Sensing what I was doing Willow linked her arm in mine,
quickly pulling me towards her new sitting area. I suppose I should
have known that her furniture would have been burnt during the fire
and that she had to replace it. I wondered what it looked like now.
I was always finding myself wondering what my surroundings looked
like. My memories had aided me in finding my way around my own room
and home but they were beginning to fade and I knew I would soon
lose the memory of sight.

Breaking into my thoughts Willow gently
placed me on what felt like a small arm chair then I could hear her
footsteps as she walked away.

Declan was first to break the silence. “When
will she get her sight back,” he asked Willow. That is the one
thing I love about him. He is always so direct and forthcoming,
never wasting time with small talk which he always claims is due to
the guardian part of him. But I had a feeling it was just a part of
who he really was.