Who Is My Husband
Scene 15

“YOU JUST TOOK HER AS YOUR WIFE! I had to hear about it from out there! I can’t believe it. You should have talked with us. We know nothing about her. Nothing. So I took it upon myself to test her character, is that really a bad thing? If anything-”

“Reggie!” Trey growled loudly. “This was no one’s choice but mine. I don’t need you to test her character. I already know her character. She is mine. That is enough reason for you to fall in line.”

“How do you know her character? It’s impossible for you to really know her true character. No matter-”

“Careful, Reggie.” Trey’s eyes narrowed on the man. “I do know her character. I trust her. The only thing that is bothering me about her is what is going on with her. She needs help and guidance right now, but I don’t know how to help her when I don’t know what is happening.” He slammed his fist into the table. “I need more time and I am running out of it.”

“You should have waited before marrying her. This is only adding more complications to the equation.” Reggie frowned as he looked at his cousin’s torn face. He didn’t need to wear the mask in front of him and they were in private now.

“No, it doesn’t. I couldn’t let the opportunity pass to get her away from her uncle. Besides, I’ve been struggling with her being there long enough. I couldn’t even wait for her to adjust to me the night I married her. I had planned on it but… well that changed quickly.” Trey ran his hand through his hair and looked at the desk. “I need you to protect her for me when I am not around.”

Reggie sighed and then nodded his head. “You know I will. The house was a fluke. I’ll keep a better eye on her from now on. Would it be better if I took her back? Or do you want me to stay here?”

“No, I need her close. I don’t want to be away from her. Especially with a werewolf after her.” He scoffed. “Find out who he is. I want to know what he wants with MY wife. How does her waking up affect him?” Trey shook his head. It didn’t make sense. Most of the werewolves lived deep in the forest territory. They lived there mainly in their human forms. This area has long been claimed for regular humans. So, the idea that Kailee was magical caught him off guard. And then a werewolf coming into this territory was puzzling.

“I wonder what that phoenix knows… Who do we have that can talk with him? Send a message back looking for someone who can speak with him. Maybe he will tell them what is going on? Maybe he just doesn’t want to jump Kailee into an awakening.” Trey frowned looking at his knuckles.

Her g*****d in annoyance. “You made me snap at her.” Trey looked up to Reggie with annoyance.

“Uh uh cousin. That one is all on you and your temper. If you trust her like you say you do then you shouldn’t have snapped.” Reggie raised his eyes to Trey with a smirk.

“I can’t control myself when it comes to her. Seeing you so close to her took everything in my power not to break your neck.” Trey snorted angrily.

Reggie scoffed. “You know me better than that though. I’m not just trying to get a taste of her on the side. You knew exactly what I was doing, and you knew what I would do. Don’t act like you didn’t. What you were angry at is for a split second you thought she was going to k**s me back. You took her not moving as her permission instead of an act of defiance.” Reggie smirked. “I heard your heartbeat speed up when you found out her powers raged in anger over what I did. You misread the situation.”

“Tomorrow I’ll stay here with her. It’s stuffy wearing the mask all day but I think we need to have a day together.” Trey couldn’t stand wearing the mask for a long time. But he needed to keep his face a secret for more reasons than one. He trusted Kailee with his identity, but it only took one slip up and his plans could be ruined. It wouldn’t be for much longer though.

“Why don’t you use the safe room? There are no windows in there. Or at least alternate between the darkness with no mask and the light with it.” Reggie shrugged. It was the best they could do.

“Hmm that isn’t a bad idea. Have the room set up for me. I want it to be well cleaned.” Trey grabbed his mask off of the table. “Now if you don’t mind I’m going to see my wife.”

Reggie smiled and leaned back against the wall as Trey left. “Might as well get these letters sent out.”

_

Kailee was standing on the balcony off of the bedroom. She washed the weight of the soot off of her and put on fresh clothing. She wanted to go for a walk, but she didn’t feel comfortable with the werewolf after her. So instead, she stood out in the open air. The wind tossed her brown damp strands behind her and gave her a slight chill up her spine.

There was a lot going on in Kailee’s life right now. The magic in her body was perplexing, the werewolf wanting her was frustrating, and the secrets kept from her were annoying. But deep inside she felt a need to be around Trey and this confused her. She did not want to be the girl who just fawned over her new lord and husband. She didn’t like this odd sense of comfort and security that was coming from him. And she didn’t like that when she was mad at him, she still wanted him close. It was bewildering. She felt like she needed him to protect her from the darkness that was after her. Well, that might just be her wishful thinking. Whatever this darkness was she felt like it was connected with her. If she awakened… would this darkness also wake up? Maybe it was nothing. She hoped it was nothing.

In her mind she could see it’s form though. She could see the towering black smokey creature with sharp jagged teeth. It’s white eyes looking at everything and nothing. But seemed to be searching for her. She wondered if there was anywhere in this world she could disappear that it wouldn’t replace her. She was so deep in thought that she didn’t hear the footsteps approaching from behind her. When she felt a hand land on her shoulder she spun and jumped. Her heart was racing as her eyes flashed widely behind her.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Trey looked at her and could see the fear in her eyes. He took a step towards her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his chest. “I’m not going to ever let anything happen to you. You are safe here.”

“That’s what Sparks said too.” Kailee said quietly. Now that she was close and against his chest, she could smell the faint scent of cedar and honey again. And even though she didn’t want to, she relaxed into him.

“I guess he is a smart phoenix then.” Trey took his hand and ran it through her hair. “Your hair is wet. You are going to get a chill. Let’s step back inside.”

“Yeah but he won’t tell me anything.” Kailee pouted as Trey led her back inside. “Everyone likes keeping secrets from me.” This was a jab at Trey too.

“I don’t like it Kailee. I don’t want to keep secrets from you, and I promise one day I won’t. I’ll tell you everything.” Trey turned her body to face him. She couldn’t see his lips from the full faced mask he was wearing but he was frowning. “I wanted to apologize. I was wrong. I do trust you. What Reggie did was on his own accord. He wanted to test your resolve and obviously try to confuse you since you do not know my face. He was trying to get you to think that me and him were the same. And I’m sorry. I overreacted. I panicked and didn’t read the situation correctly. I was wrong.”

Kailee sighed with a soft smile on her lips. He apologized for some reason… she didn’t take him as the kind to apologize. “Thank you. I know exactly what he was trying to do but I already knew he wasn’t you.”

Trey tilted his head to the side. “How did you know that?”

“Well… last night I had another episode and I fell asleep in his arms. He held me all night long.” She stopped for a moment as she heard the throaty growl come from Trey. “But that’s how I knew you weren’t the same. He didn’t hold me like you do. It felt different.” She said the last part quietly and shyly. She was trying to be honest, but the truth was a bit embarrassing.

“How was mine different?” He asked, smiling behind his mask.

“It doesn’t matter they just were.” Kailee looked up at him and shoved him playfully.

He caught Kailee’s wrist and pulled her into his chest. “I hope you are saying you enjoy my touch more…” He stared at her and a wide smile formed behind his mask when he saw her nod her head. He hugged her tightly and wished he could k**s her right now. “Thank you for your honesty, Kailee. I need it. I get possessive and vulnerable when it comes to you.”

“You don’t strike me as the vulnerable type.” Kailee smiled into his chest.

“Only when it comes to you. You are my biggest weakness Kailee. You alone can cause my downfall.”

Kailee frowned. She didn’t want to be his weakness. She didn’t want herself to be a tool that could one day bring him harm. Maybe this was the reason he kept himself masked. If no one knew what he looked like he could always have anyone wear the mask. It was a way to protect who he was. And then she wouldn’t accidentally reveal his identity. Which got her thinking. He must be doing some pretty dangerous things if that was the case.

“Are you putting yourself in danger?” Kailee’s small voice asked above a whisper.

Trey chuckled. “I don’t want you worrying about anything. Everything is going to be alright.” Trey ran his fingers through her hair. “How about we spend the day together tomorrow? I have a room without windows that we can alternate from. Wearing the mask all the time can be a bit hard. It’s smothering. But if we alternate between rooms then we can spend some time together. What do you think?”

“I think that sounds like a wonderful idea.”