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wanted to let me go.
    We stayed curled up together in his couch for
what seemed like hours. Neither of us really spoke, we just savored
the feeling of being so close to someone.
    Our moment was interrupted by a sharp knock
at the door. Brokk rose to answer it. I could hear him speaking
sharply to someone outside. When he was through, he returned to the
living room looking very grim.
    “Is everything okay?” I asked.
    “The queen has sent her guards to see if we
have returned. She is expecting you at the palace shortly.” He
frowned.
    I nodded. “Okay, I think that I am as ready
as I will ever be.”
    He took me by the hand and pulled me to my
feet. He stopped just before opening the door and hugged me tightly
for a few more moments. Then we stepped out onto the darkened
street.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Brokk cradled me in his arms again and I
savored the closeness as he carried me.
    The shops along the main street of the city
were beginning to close up for the evening. The merchants were all
busy pulling their wares inside and they did not seem to notice us
as we passed.
    I could not help but to be distracted by the
weight of the heavy ring that now occupied my left hand. I smiled
to myself as I looked down at it and imagined all the possibilities
it could mean for my future. I just did not think that my future
would be here.
    Brokk was great, even if he did kidnap me,
but I longed to be back home in Louisiana. Maybe I could convince
him to go with me. We could have a normal life, and live in a
normal house. I could finish school and see my family again. I
would just have to convince the queen that she did not need me here
and that I had no intention of taking over.
    We neared the end of the street and made our
way up several steps and to the front of an enormous palace. It was
pristine white, a sharp contrast from the darkness of the rest of
the city. On either end was a pointy roofed turret with little
rectangular windows on each side. In the center was a grand arched
doorway with marble steps that jutted out into a semi-circle. It
was beautiful.
    The yard surrounding the palace was lush and
green, and there was an ornate wrought iron fence encircling it.
There were even flowers and shrubs lining the walls. It was
actually a pretty odd site considering that the sun never reached
this area.
    We approached the door and Brokk set me on my
feet in front of it. “This is your true home, Callie. This is where
you belong.”
    “This is it? We are going inside now? I can’t
go inside of there looking like this!” I frantically whispered.
    “You will be fine Callie. The Fae that work
here will take care of you. They will make sure that you get a
proper bath, and something to eat before you meet with the queen.
You are where you were always meant to be now.” He said these
words, but a deep sadness was clearly audible in his voice. He
started stepping back down the stairs.
    Was he leaving? What was going on?
    I glanced back at him. “Does this mean that
you are not coming with me?” I asked.
    “This is your home, Callie, not mine. You
will be fine.” He said with a smile that did not quite reach his
eyes.
    “This is not my home either Brokk, remember?
I do not want to go in there without you.” I hissed.
    Ignoring me, he stepped forward and knocked
on the door with a huge ornate knocker. A tiny window perched at
eye level flew open and a pair of bright green eyes peered out
through the opening. It was quickly slammed shut again.
    There was a bit of a commotion on the other
side of the entrance and finally the large door was opened. A small
girl who appeared to be about my age was standing in front of us.
She was wearing a simple black dress and her reddish brown hair was
pulled up into a loose curly bun on top of her head. She had the
same green eyes that I spotted peering through the small
window.
    “Brokk?” She looked at him in surprise.
    “Bree, this is Callie. The queen is expecting
her. Callie, I would like you to