Who Is My Husband
Scene 61

There was a light foggy mist in the air. The sky was still grey as the sun hadn’t quite risen yet. Horses were being prepared for their ride when Reggie felt someone grip his arm. He was pulled back behind a bush and he glanced to see Will holding him.

“Reg… are you sure about this? I can go and you can stay here.” Will whispered quietly, keeping his grip on his arm.

“Will… stop. It’s fine.” Reggie shoved him back in agitation. His eyes pierced against Will’s eyes ferociously telling him his words were unwanted.

“It’s just that I’m concerned…”

“I said I am fine Will.” Reggie growled lowly. He squeezed his fingers into a fist as he set his jaw.

“Reg, I’m just saying you don’t have to go and force this. I can go.” Will ran his hand through his hair as he shifted his weight to his other foot.

Reggie let out a low g***n. Will just wouldn’t let it go. He looked over at the people moving around in the dusk. “Look… I need to be near Trey and Kailee. Now more than ever. The other stuff… I’m okay with it now. Honest. I appreciate it, but I’m fine.”

Will nodded his head as he let out a heavy sigh. “Alright then.”

Reggie stepped away from Will. He didn’t need to talk about this stuff. He was fine now. He was used to it. It had taken him some time, but he could see them together again. At first, he couldn’t. He could only be around them individually and when they were together it became painful. But he was certain this wouldn’t bother him now. It has been enough time.

He shook his head in annoyance as he walked back to the horses. They wouldn’t be taking a carriage since they planned to shift once they were far enough away. They would leave the horses loose and fetch them when they returned.

“I’ll go grab Orion and then we can go.” Grum said heading back to the barn. Orion was Grum’s favorite horse and he had cared for him since he was just a foal.

“If you are riding Pearl who is Onyx for?” Lance asked as he led his horse up to Kailee.

“It is for Bethany, the one we were telling you about last night.” Kailee smiled as she pet her two horses.

“What are you pouting for Trey?” Lance chuckled, noticing the dark look on Trey’s face.

“I wanted her to ride double with me, but she wants to ride her own horse…” Trey turned his head giving Kailee a sad dejected look.

“She’s always riding Trey’s horse. Give her a break.” Reggie said with a chuckle.

“I’ve never rode on Trey’s horse…” Kailee’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what Reggie was talking about. She saw a cheesy grin spread over his face and she sensed her ears beginning to get hot. She felt warm arms slip around her pulling her into his chest.

Trey buried Kailee’s adorable red face into his chest. She looked so delicious when she got embarrassed that he couldn’t scold Reggie for it. He leaned his head down and pressed his lips on to the top of her head.

“It’s okay Trey. She will be riding your beast when we switch off of the horses.” Lance chimed in with a smirk.

“Unless she wants to ride my beast.” Reggie grinned widely.

“Ugh, can you boys grow up?” Kailee said, muffled in Trey’s chest.

“Who is picking on my girl?!”

Everyone turned their heads to see a tall woman with ivory skin and light blonde hair walking up to them.

“Bethany, you made it.” Kailee stepped away from Trey and smiled up at the girl

“Of course I made it. You need someone around who can actually protect you.” Bethany smirked as she looked up at the other men. “Not just people talking about having their beasts ridden.”

“Sounds to me like someone has never went joy riding before.” Reggie leaned back on his heels and smirked at the new girl.

Bethany rolled her eyes. “Really? Now aren’t you a special ten-year-old type of clever.”

Grum started walking to them in the distance. He was patting his brown horse on the neck when he suddenly froze. He lifted his head up testing the air before snapping his gaze towards Bethany. The two locked eyes for a moment.

Bethany sighed and blew her hair that was in her eyes. “Perfect.” She muttered in annoyed sarcasm.

“Bethany?” Kailee asked, following her gaze to Grum.

“I’m dedicated to protecting Kailee. That is my only concern. I don’t have time for mate games.” Bethany’s voice was laced with venom.

Grum chuckled lowly and shook his head. “If I knew there was already a mule here I wouldn’t have brought Orion out.” His eyes flashed darkly at Bethany.

Kailee’s eyes shifted between the two. She could feel a tension rising between them.

Reggie chuckled. “Quite the ladies’ man huh Grum? I’m pretty sure finding your mate usually doesn’t go like this.”

“Trey and Kailee are my only concerns. I don’t need to be bothered with anything else either.” Grum said in a low growl. He set his fiery gaze on Bethany and a scowl formed on his face. He hoisted himself onto his horse with his stony face.

Trey cleared his throat a bit uncomfortably. He looked to Bethany and then to Grum. “Look. I am not going to play match maker or anything like that. But just sit on this for now, okay? It sounds like you both have the same ideals in mind too so maybe you two can form an agreement.” He could see Grum beginning to protest, and he shot him a stern look. “I won’t force you to accept your mate. But I am forbidding you to reject each other at this time.” He turned his glare over towards Bethany. A dark black aura stretched out over him. He could see it was affecting Bethany as well as she struggled against her king. “Is that understood?”

“I follow my own orders. But I don’t feel the need to rush anything either. Let’s just each do what we are supposed to do.” Bethany said, meeting with Trey’s gaze. She felt Kailee’s hand land on her wrist and the pressure instantly vanished. She looked down at her. She was giving her a small smile.

“Come on Bethany. I have my horse Onyx here for you to ride.” Kailee pulled her over to the black horse. “Grum is a great guy… just so you know.” She let her voice come out as a breath as she looked up at Bethany. She couldn’t think of a better outcome for the two of them. She hoped they would be able to work it out. She did find their reaction a bit odd though. She knew from Trey that he could barely contain himself when he knew she was his mate. So how was both Grum and Bethany so hostile to one another?

The group was soon riding off towards the sunrise. They were going to get far enough away where it wouldn’t be alarming to see dragons in the sky.

“So… will this be your first time in the heart of Monog?” Kailee asked. She wanted to know more about Bethany. She glanced in front of them as Grum led the way. He seemed unaffected finding his mate. She wondered why that was.

“No… I lived there when I was just a child.” Bethany said quietly. She looked over at Kailee and smiled. “Just like you I also lost my parents. I was taken in by my aunt. But I was not the tiny girly girl she wanted me to be. She wanted to show me off. Dress me in frills… I’ve always had a warrior’s heart. I was a disappointment to her. Every time she looked at me, I saw it in her eyes. When a cousin of mine came to visit from the forest realm she pushed me off on them. I didn’t know this cousin at all… my aunt was the only other person I knew.” Bethany gave Kailee a shallow smile. “It’s okay though. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was able to truly be myself. And I found a greater purpose. Protecting you.”

“Hmmmm…” Kailee buzzed a sound over her lips in a plain tone.

“What is it that you are thinking?” Bethany asked, glancing over to Kailee.

“Do you think that it is okay for me to be with Trey?” Kailee asked, tilting her head to the side.

“Of course it is.”

“I was just thinking… saying you have a duty to protect me and also using that as a reason to not take your mate… I mean isn’t my purpose to protect the forest and defeat Bane? I know we are just getting to know each other here but I just think your reasonings are not your real reasonings. You see… not to sound insulting but I lived with someone who was always fake. I can tell when something is said that isn’t the whole truth. And both you and Grum were not being honest. Which leads me to believe you have another reason.” Kailee smiled and looked at Bethany who was studying her curiously.

“Very perceptive my lady…” Bethany said quietly looking up ahead.

Bethany didn’t say another word after that, she just looked ahead and rode in silence. Kailee didn’t push her either, her point had been made. That she wasn’t buying the lie. It would be up to Bethany now if she ever wanted to bring it up again. And this time with the truth. Kailee wanted to be Bethany’s friend and she believed the best way to go about that would be to be honest with her feelings from the start. What good did it do to be sweet to her face but inwardly think she is lying? It would be best to immediately address any concerns. Kailee had enough lying and deception growing up to last a lifetime. She did not want to be entangled with it anymore.

“Here should be far enough.” Grum said, hopping off of his horse. He took this moment to take off the horses tack and place it near a hidden chest. Then he walked over to do the same with Pearl. Bethany did the same with Onyx not about to have anyone help her.

Trey walked up near Kailee and kissed the side of her head. “Don’t worry about them. They just need some time.” He glanced over at Grum. “Sometimes a wound may heal but the scars remain.” He whispered the last part next to her ear. “Now are you ready for another ride?” He smirked at Kailee who giggled up at him.

“I hope it is better than the one I got last night.” She grinned in triumph finally landing a joke of her own.

Trey grinned at her. “Doubtful. There isn’t a ride that exists better than that one.”

Reggie snorted through his nose. “Now that’s a lie, but our young prince needs all the confidence he can get in bed so you can just go along with it. Trey, you stud you. I wish I had a stallion like you to spread over my mares.” If looks could kill Reggie would have been mutilated. He chuckled as he walked away, shifting into his orange dragon.

Grum soon shifted into his red dragon, Lance into his green and Bethany shifted into her silver dragon. Finally, Trey shifted, his black dragon towered over all the others. As rightfully it should. A true testament to the difference between them.

“Well I guess this is where we part ways.”

“Hell no am I riding on a dragon.”

Kailee looked down near her feet to see her little gnome friends. “Have you been with us the whole time?”

“Yes, Pearl is such a sweet and refined lady.” Koma said with a big smile.

“Don’t worry Kailee we will be with you at the castle, but we will transport ourselves there.” Pyro said turning his nose up at the dragons.

“Sparks won’t be able to visit you there, but we will always be close.” Grant looked up at Kailee nodding his head.

“But not so close that you have to worry about us invading your bedroom time.” Dio said with a wry grin.

“Anyways…” Grant cleared his throat. “We will be at the castle waiting for you. If you need us call for one of us and we will come to you.”

Kailee watched as the gnomes vanished once again. She looked up at Trey’s black dragon and smiled. “I guess my little stewards will also be looking out for me.”

Trey lowered his head down and nuzzled his nose near her hand. She smiled and obliged him gentle rubbing his fingers over his snout. “Don’t worry you’re my favorite pet.” She leaned forward and kissed him. She watched as his tailed swayed slightly side to side. It reminded her of a dog wagging its tail when it was happy. Maybe dragons do the same thing?

With a deep breath, she walked over to Trey’s side. She felt him help her up with his face again and she settled into position on his back. She looked forward as the gust of wind lifted the beasts into the air. She played with her fingers slightly and bit her bottom l*p. She was going to be heading to the heart of Monog. She was going to meet Trey’s parents… the King and Queen. And while Trey wasn’t nervous about it she was. She hoped they liked her.

It shouldn’t be that important to her right now. Considering they were going there to flush out the traitors, but it was all she could think about. She glanced behind her as her homeland disappeared farther and farther out of sight. Behind her was her old home and in front of her… was her future.