"That was a little over the top, don't you think?" She just shrugged her shoulders and picked up the menu.

"You think I was over the top, just wait until Dom finds out." She said smirking like she would indeed enjoy witnessing his reaction.

"Oh no, don't you dare. Draven doesn't need to hear about petty little mistakes. And anyway, what was with the whole future bride thing?" This brought a smile to her face at just the very mention of it.

"Well it is bound to happen...at some point anyway." I laughed at this and she shot me a look over her menu.

"Oh come on, we haven't even been dating a week! And considering how you guys regard time that must only be like minutes." I picked up my own menu and didn't recognise anything that sounded like food. I found myself wishing we had just gone to the food court and ordered a burger.

"Yes, but he has been waiting for you since the beginning so that kind of overrules that idea, besides, what does time matter when love is involved?" She stated, so I decided to give up with a trade mark 'Grrr'.

After giving her the silent treatment for all of a minute she gave me a coy smile before asking, "Do you like your daiquiri?"

I sipped my c.o.c.ktail and thought I might have to be alone with it, it was that good!

"Oh my, this is d.a.m.n good!" She smiled as if to say "Told you so" and we both giggled when she ordered us two more.

"I won't tell Dominic about Claude's insulting you." This shocked me and the only reason I could think of, was that Sophia was now getting used to my way of thinking.

"Thank you, but I really found it funny more than anything else, I mean come on, have you ever been seen with someone like me before or has your brother for that matter?" Her face gave her answer....oh h.e.l.l no!

"Which is why I can't help but think, if you had been sat here with Aurora, then that wouldn't have happened." I said this without thinking how Sophia would react, so when she banged down her gla.s.s I jumped, along with the other patrons.

"Keira! Don't be so, so..." She was trying to contain her frustration at me.

"So what?" I asked weakly "So blind! I never liked Aurora and I couldn't have been happier when my brother finished it with her."

"Why?" Just then we were interrupted by a waiter and Sophia gave our order in what sounded like perfect French and then he promptly went away again.

"I ordered for you if that is alright?" I nodded thinking it was for the best seeing as I couldn't even read the menu and knowing my luck would have gotten something slimy and in a sh.e.l.l.

"Keira, there is something you should understand about Aurora. She may be an Angel, but there is nothing heavenly or pure about her. She is extremely self absorbed and will only do good for her own gain. She has more Demon in her than I, that I can promise you." This shocked me enough for my jaw to drop. How could something so beautiful and radiant have a black heart? And if so, why had Draven been with her in the first place?

"So why was he with her for so long?"

"I have said too much, forget I mentioned her." Oh no, there was no chance of that happening. I shook my head at her before saying, "No way, come on you can't start to tell me what I want to know and then stop. You know Draven won't tell me, so that only leaves you....please Sophia." I was close to pleading and could see my sad eyes reflected in her own.

"Fine, but I really need to learn how to say no to you!" She complained before continuing.

"You must understand... first, that my brother was very different before you entered his life and second, he is extremely used to getting what he wants. He had never known love until you, so you mustn't judge him on his past." When her serious eyes met mine, I knew it was going to be a hard version of Draven to take but I nodded my head anyway and prepared myself for the worse.

"He only used to see women as there to pleasure his needs and very little more. Their beauty played an important part, yes, but he knew it never felt right. He spent his time forbidding himself to get close to anyone until Aurora came. Her beauty captivated him into believing she alone could satisfy his needs and for a while, I suppose she did. She sat at our table as a council member but never at his side where she thought she belonged."

"Wait a minute, you mean no-one has ever sat next to him at that table other than you or Vincent?"

"That is correct." She laughed at my expression. I couldn't believe that something that had seemed, at the time, so innocent was such an immense gesture. I knew that it was probably down to my over emotional state but I felt like crying (Thankfully though, I didn't).

"The idea of her becoming Queen consumed her, so after years of her persistence and Dominic's denial, she took matters into her own hand." Sophia ordered another strawberry daiquiri but I pa.s.sed and ordered water instead.

"What did she do?" I was nearly on the edge of my seat and bouncing up and down like a child.

"Well as you know, Dominic is very possessive and does not share, although it was never an issue with other females." She laughed but I was being blonde.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Oh Keira, don't be naive. Do I need to spell it out to you?" Then it hit me and soon had me hating this conversation.

"What! You mean Draven's been with more than one woman at a time?" Ok, now I felt like crying for very different reasons.

"Keira do not judge him, this is quite common among our kind but you know he thinks very differently now he is with you." This still didn't help with the mental picture I had in my head of Draven surrounded by the most exotic creatures, all there to please his every need. Her words weren't calming my green eyed monster, that was for sure!

"Right," I said in a deflated tone, one she frowned at.

"So, getting back to the story. Aurora, knowing his jealous nature, slept with another in his bed." My hands flew to my face in disgust. I mean, did she have a death wish? Sophia grinned at my reaction and looked delighted at what she was about to say next.

"I know what you're thinking and we all held the same thoughts...what madness of love drives someone to do something so suicidal?" She looked sorry as soon as the words were out of her mouth because of course I could answer this one. Love drives us to do the most extreme actions.

"Sorry...I guess you can answer that one." I felt bad for her as she lowered her head but I just leaned my gloved arm across the table and gave her hand a squeeze.

"Sophia its fine, but you're right, I can understand why love does make us do the craziest things but still, I would never be that suicidal!" I couldn't imagine the level of rage this would have put Draven in, having just seen a minuscule amount when kissing Jack. The thought made me shudder.

"What did he do?" I didn't want to ask but the darker side of me was burning to know.

"It may shock you as it did us all but he did...nothing." She stated simply with only a quaint shrug of her delicate shoulders.

"WHAT!" I shouted this a bit too loud and the rest of the posh diners looked at me as though I had three heads. Sophia giggled before continuing.

"He did nothing, he just didn't care. He told the other Angel that he was welcome to have her. After that she left the council and wasn't seen until years later when she eventually came back to plead for another chance. Dominic allowed her to join his council but nothing more. He changed after the year she did that and none of us knew why....well, until now anyway."

"What do you mean changed?"

"I mean he lost his pa.s.sion for pleasure. He became more withdrawn and didn't take many to his bed. We all thought it was down to Aurora but he would never talk about the reasons for his change. He started once again to do research into finding you but it was not to happen like that. You were always meant to find him, it was in the written fates and you don't challenge the fates." I couldn't believe what she was telling me but if I thought that this was hard to take, then the next question I got answered threw me completely.

"Ok, so you said you thought it was Aurora that changed him but now you know it wasn't, so what did happen? Why that year?" She was once again laughing and she took a slow drink before giving me my answer.

"Because my dear Keira...

It was the year you were born."

Chapter 15.

Cooking for a King After the bombsh.e.l.l Sophia dropped on me I was quiet and deep in thought for the rest of our lunch. She didn't seem to mind, only every now and again she would giggle to herself when she saw my confused face. I mean, could this even be possible. Whenever Draven had mentioned me being the chosen one, I hadn't fully understood what it had meant but now....what did this prove? Did he feel my presence in the world as soon as I was born? I bit my lip at the thought. For some reason what Sophia had just told me, made everything more real...more terrifyingly real!

Once she had paid the bill and we were back in the limo on our way home, she finally pulled me from my mental breakdown.

"Keira please, you look traumatised. Dom is going to be so angry with me!"

"I'm sorry, I guess I just never believed it until now. It's still hard to see why me." I said weakly and even Ragnar looked down at his feet. Sophia took my hand in hers and she looked at me with more love than from a friend...this was from a sister.

"Then you are the only one. No one else doubts why. You are beautiful and in more ways than one. Aurora is beautiful yes but her soul is ugly and it shows on the outside. Your soul is pure and it radiates off you in every way. In this she will never be able to compete...you are out of her league and of this, she is painfully reminded every time she see's you sat by my brother's side." For the first time I couldn't help but feel sorry for her. It must be a hard pill to swallow.

"Poor girl" I said but Sophia couldn't contain her outburst. She laughed so hard it nearly brought tears.

"Oh Keira, you are funny! She does not deserve your pity. She is the creator of her own undoing. She knew about the prophecy and that one day you would come. She never really loved him anyway...it was the power she loved. There is no one in this world or the next, that she could love more than herself." I now knew why she seemed to hate her so much. After all, wouldn't I be the same with Libby if Frank had been the same way. One of the reasons I loved Frank so much wasn't how he treated me, no, it was how much he adored my sister.

Ok so now I was feeling slightly better and she could tell as now I was smiling to myself, so she added something more that sealed the deal on my mood.

"Anyway you think she is beautiful but she does have a team of girls who get her ready every night, but you drive my brother crazy without having to work at it! Why do you think it is that he won't allow you to come to my private room? He gets insanely jealous over you, far more than he ever did when he was with Aurora." I couldn't help the huge grin that split my lips and strangely Ragnar started to relax more at the sight. He raised his head up and smiled to himself. It was an odd reaction for him to have but I just shrugged it off.

When we got closer to town I decided it would be better for her to drop me off at home before I got my supplies for tonight's meal. I thought it was one thing going clothes shopping in a blacked out stretch limo but to the supermarket....a tad much. Plus I couldn't really see Sophia pushing a trolley around the frozen food section.

We pulled up outside the house and I thanked G.o.d that no one was home and I knew Libby and Frank must still be sorting out his uncle's insurance for the 'ruined' cabin. Ragnar grabbed all my bags even when I protested and he was by my front door waiting before I could walk two steps. Then I remembered what I wanted to ask Sophia before she left, I turned round to find the window already down and her sat there waiting.

"Yes?" She said as though she knew there was something I was forgetting.

"How did you know?"

"I am finding it easier, the more I am with you, to read the signs. You wanted to ask something else about my brother?" I shook my head and smiled before asking the all important question.

"What does your brother like to eat?" I don't know why but I found myself going red when I asked.

"Anything hot." She said making me laugh at her answer.

"You mean spicy hot?"

"Use your imagination honey! See you later." And with that the window went up with the same evil grin on her face that I was getting used to seeing. I found myself still smiling as I walked up the steps. Ragnar eyed me curiously and when I put my hands out to retrieve my bags he just nodded for me to open the door. Well, he was well trained that was for sure I thought as he followed me in.

"You can just dump them there." I said but he c.o.c.ked his head to one side that reminded me of a dog that doesn't understand a command. Then I felt guilty for thinking it.

"Dump?"

"Yeah, I mean you can just put them down over there." Ok, he must have thought I meant throwing them away... hehe.

"Would you like a drink?" He actually smiled at me but then it fell straight away.

"No, I will be outside waiting." And with that he left to guard the house. I couldn't understand why one minute he was nice and then the next it was like I was an annoying bug buzzing around that he wanted to swat. It seemed to be my year for not understanding men.

I grabbed all my bags and ran upstairs with them but like true Keira style I tripped and landed on my knee.

"b.u.g.g.e.r!" I said out loud and then I heard Ragnar burst through the door and was next to me in seconds.

"What is wrong?" He asked looking down at me, seeming very cramped in the narrow staircase to my attic room.

"Nothing, I just tripped." I was holding my knee, rubbing it knowing that it was going to leave a bruise. Then I let out a shriek as I felt myself being picked up by the waist and carried into my bedroom. He plonked me down on the bed and I turned and looked up at the giant who was ducking his head to fit in my room.

"Umm... thanks!" I said feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. He frowned and then knelt down but he was still higher than me. He lifted my leg up and it started to sting.

"Ouch!" I said but he just smirked at my baby like behaviour.

"What are you doing?" I asked nervously when he started to lift my jeans up but he didn't answer me. He rolled them over my knee and, yes of course, it was bleeding. He put his face down closer to the cut and I pulled back making him growl.

"What are you doing?" I asked again, as he looked like was going to take a slip.

"I am going to heal it. My master will not be happy if he sees this, it will displease him....I, will have displeased him."

"But this wasn't your fault, I'm clumsy that's all."

"Yes I know, he warned me of this, but you wouldn't have fallen if I had carried your bags up here." His eyes met mine and for once they weren't harsh or cold. I bit my lip at the feel of his ma.s.sive hands that grabbed my leg back and pull it closer to his face. He then took a few deep breaths and blew over it, causing it to instantly turn numb and icy.

He wouldn't allow my natural reaction to happen as I tried to pull away. It was impossible to move with his vice grip that had my leg locked. It felt like he was freezing my blood and the skin around the wound. I shivered as it started to run up my leg but then I felt him release me and after a few minutes of being under his control he spoke.

"It is finished, you can open your eyes now," he informed me and I was surprised that I had indeed closed my eyes. I looked down and noticed the blood had in fact frozen and with the softest touch he casually brushed it away like red icy dust to reveal unbroken skin underneath. I was amazed how quick it had taken but I was more shocked at how such a frightening giant could have been so gentle. I was touched and when he was about to stand I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you." He looked to his right where my hand was and then back at me. He looked as if he wanted to say something more but then thought better of it. He lowered his head into a deep nod and then rose from his knees and left without saying another word. I looked down at my knee and touched the smooth skin for myself, there wasn't even a mark!

After I pulled myself together, I got up to put my new clothes away and tidy my room a bit just in case we were spending the night here. I didn't want Draven thinking I was a slob, so I also changed the sheets and let the window open to let some fresh air in. That's when I saw him. Ragnar was below my window with his back to the house and he was staring out to the view of the national park's mountains. He had his arms folded and his head shook slightly before looking at his feet. I didn't know what was wrong with him but I felt bad that it could be because of something I did. I was growing attached to my colossal protector and I didn't like seeing him in pain.

I had a quick cup of tea before ringing Libby to check we were still on for tonight. She sounded stressed out but said it was fine and that they would be home in an hour. I rea.s.sured her again that I didn't mind cooking and I sat down to make a list while I finished my tea. I checked the cupboards for anything else we needed and added it to my list before grabbing my jacket. It had started to drizzle and I couldn't help but raise my head to it when I got outside. I didn't notice Ragnar next to me and when I open my eyes he was frowning at me.

"What, I like the rain!" I said before giving him a cheeky smile and walking over to my truck. I call it a truck because it was a huge Ford Bronco that I could have lived in! He followed shaking his head like I was crazy but this I knew anyway, the only difference was now, I just didn't care. I had Draven in my life and that was worth being a little crazy for.

I felt the truck sink down when Ragnar got in and I started the engine. When it started first time I smiled.

"What, no talking to it?" He asked not keeping the sarcasm out his heavy accented voice.

"Nah she's fine with rain, she just hates the cold."

"You are a different human." He stated like he had just figured me out. I shrugged as I pulled the car round and made for the main road.

"Don't you think I would have to be... all things considering?" Now he was the one to shrug only when I did it, it didn't make the car move! We carried on driving in silence for a while until it was starting to eat away at me so when I finally said something, it came out sounding more like I was ranting.

"What's wrong with you? Is it because I called you a Jerk because you know I'm sorry for that...don't you?" This made him turn to me in shock and I was glad that I had the road in front to keep my attention.

"You think that bothered me?"

"Didn't it?"

"NO, you are a wilful human so it is to be expected." Ok, so if this was the case then what was wrong with him?

"Well if you hate protecting me so much then why don't you just ask Draven to get someone else?" He growled again and I jumped.

"You know there is no need to do that!" I snapped.