“That is not true,” Syndra told her. “Whatever his reasons for doing what he did, he cares for you.”

“It’s not enough,” Cassie whimpered as another tear fell.

“No, you are right, it isn’t. He needs to love you.”

Cassie’s eyes snapped up at Tamsin who had spoken.

“We have much to discuss. We need you to come with us.”

“What about my parents?” Cassie asked as she let Syndra pull her to her feet.

“Syndra will deal with your parents. You are vulnerable and if Lorsan’s entire court watched you run from Trik then they will not wait long to pursue you in order to get back at him for centuries of being the right arm of the Dark King.”

Cassie took Syndra’s hand and then reached for Elora.

“Please let her come with me.”

Elora rolled her eyes. “Like they could stop me.”

Cassie let Syndra pull her towards the mirror and Elora followed, her hand holding tight to her best friend.

When they emerged on the other side, Cassie’s eyes widened as she looked around. Elora openly gaped and shook her head. “We aren’t in Kansas anymore, Toto.”

Syndra laughed at the girls’ expressions.

“What did you expect? We are royalty, you know?”

Tamsin emerged behind them. He watched as Cassie and Elora took in everything around them.

Cassie had never seen such elegant beauty. The room looked as if it had been carved from ice. It shimmered as pillars rose high to the tall cathedral ceiling. Sitting all around, sculptures of animals and people, also looking as if carved from ice, stood proud watching over the great hall. Large, long windows lined the walls, allowing light to pour into the room creating a wonderland of crystals and rainbows. It was breathtaking.

Syndra motioned for them to follow her and Tamsin. They walked through the great hall and out of a large pair of silver double doors containing a beautiful crest carved into them. The crest was of a large tree surrounded by all manner of creatures, both foreign and familiar to Cassie.

They continued on down a long hall as light shined in through windows along the hall and lit their way. Finally Tamsin turned right into another room. As Cassie and Elora made their way in, they saw what they might call a den, or family room.

Large couches formed a circle around a table that held drinks and food. Shelves full of books and odd looking knickknacks lined the walls. The room was painted a light periwinkle blue and candle light white.

“Please have a seat,” Tamsin instructed.

Both girls took a seat on a large white couch and sunk into the softness. Cassie gasped as once again pain tore through her chest.

“Cass, what’s wrong?” Elora asked.

“She is feeling the pain of the separation from Trik,” Syndra explained.

“She’s going to go through what happened in her room?” Elora referred to the first time Trik had left Cassie and she had watched her friend writhe in pain on the floor.

“The pain will come and go because a part of Cassie truly does want to be away from him, but then her soul longs for him.”

Syndra whispered something to Tamsin and then left the room quickly.

Elora looked up at Tamsin waiting for an explanation.

“She is going to deal with Cassie’s parents.”

“Deal with them how?” Elora’s eyes narrowed.”

“Calm yourself, human. She isn’t going to kill them. She will simply suggest to them that Cassie is going to be staying with you for a while because you are going through a difficult time. Lisa will be informed so that she can corroberate the story if they call her.”

“At some point they are going to want to see her,” Elora pointed out.

“Once we have sufficient protection on her she can periodically go back to her realm.”

Cassie took slow deep breaths and then sat up, unfolding herself from the fetal position the pain had caused.

“Am I to stay here for the rest of my life?” She asked Tamsin.

Tamsin sat on the couch across from them and looked at her. His eyes softened as he saw the fear and worry that marred her young face.

“You will never be safe again in your world. I am sorry for that. You were supposed to be bound to Trik and he would protect you and you would…”

“Live happily ever after?” Cassie interrupted. Her words dripped with sarcasm. “I don’t believe in happily ever after, not anymore.”

“I understand your anger Cassie, but I think you need to learn some things about Trik before you judge him too harshly.”

“What things could lessen my anger? What could you possibly tell me that would shed light on why he lied to me?”

“Things that even I had forgotten. I am going to tell you about Triktapic, who he was, who he is, and who he is meant to be.”

“Queue the end is coming music,” Elora said dryly.

“You might want to get comfortable,” he told them. “This could take a while.”

Chapter 13

“Love isn’t supposed to be easy, I know that. Nothing worth having is ever easy. But it is supposed to be honest; it is supposed to be true and unconditional. Love is messy and painful and joyous and not without sacrifice. Love is supposed to conquer all. Is it enough if the love only comes from one side? Is the love of one person enough to conquer the hurt of two?” ~Cassie Tate

Trik stood at the door to the lab. It was taking everything in him not to go after Cassie. He could find her. He would always be able to find her as long as her soul was in her body. Something told him the time wasn’t right. He didn’t know what it was but there was a feeling deep inside him that was directing him to a path he never intended to follow.