Who Is My Husband
Scene 54

“Long ago… the world was protected by the purest and strongest magic…” Alistair sighed and stared into the fire. “They were the world’s gift… a blessing. They scattered themselves over the world in order to bestow their blessings everywhere. This was where things went wrong. Once they isolated themselves, they became more vulnerable. Because they were so trusting they did not realize they were being desired. Something so pure attracted those that were tainted. Ones who dwell in hell’s fire. Before they knew it, they were ambushed. Slowly being wiped out from existence from the world. Picked off one by one. Until… there was only one remaining.”

“They were so incredibly powerful if only they were more aware… I guess that doesn’t matter now. What happened has happened. The last one in existence was Corra, your grandmother. Corra realized what was going on and defeated the demons that were uprising against her. But it was too late. The damage had been done.” Alistair rubbed his hands together lightly and glanced over to Kailee. “In time things returned back to normal. And Corra stayed here and continued to offer her blessings to this forest. She was the protector of the forest. Then she ended up falling in love…”

Alistair’s eyes grew sad. “She fell in love with the forest spirit. An ancient of this forest who shifted into a white stag. Through their love, they had a child, your mother, Meera. But then something happened that never should have happened. The demons attacked the forest spirit in order to get to your grandmother. They pierced his heart with darkness. From this darkness he changed… he no longer was the forest spirit. But he turned into a creature of destruction. One that thirsted for power and consumed those with magic.”

He could see Kailee’s eyes widened as she understood what he was saying. “He turned into the creature we refer to as Bane.”

Kailee gasped and raised her hand up to cover her mouth. “No.” She whispered. For a moment only the sound of the wood crackling and treefrogs sounded. Crickets also played their nightly song. She looked up at Alistair as her eyes watered.

“Corra had no choice but to stop the man she loved. So, she gave her daughter to my parents in secret. She asked for us to keep her existence protected and she was raised as my own sister. And unable to kill the man she loved she instead sealed him…Now the story goes that she died sealing him. But we are not sure if that is what really happened. Maybe she sealed herself too? Or she put herself to sleep as well? No one really knows. But someone like your grandmother could not have died easily…”

“So, if Bane revives…” Kailee looked up at Alistair biting her bottom l*p. Bane would be her grandfather. Would she have to destroy her own grandfather?

“Let your magic guide you Kailee. It can draw from the magic of the past. It knows what must be done. He was incredibly powerful when Corra sealed him. He had consumed so many magical creatures. But it’s been so long now that he will be weaker. You should be able to defeat him with no problem.”

“I was told I had to make a choice? What choice do I have to make?” Kailee looked up beneath her wet eyelids.

“The forest needs you, Kailee. Without the forest spirit, it is slowly losing its safety net. Dying in a sense. You need to choose whether to stay here as the forest protector or to leave us. Your mother ended up leaving us after she met your father… but I know it was a tough decision for her to make. Still, she returned every so often to bless the forest again. This is connected to the choice you make… ”

Kailee shook her head. “Trey is my mate. I won’t leave him. I’m sorry. But maybe I can also bless the forest like my mother did.” She raised her head and looked at Alistair.

“It is enough to barely maintain the magical protection here… but after all these years of not having someone like you around it needs a lot more than the occasional blessing. You see, this forest is special. It is a safe haven for the magical creatures and ancients. It is the only place where a demon cannot enter… for now.”

“It is enough to barely maintain the magical protection here… but after all these years of not having someone like you around it needs a lot more than the occasional blessing. You see, this forest is special. It is a safe haven for the magical creatures and ancients. It is the only place where a demon cannot enter… for now.”

“So I guess I will just have to purify Bane then so he can become the forest spirit again. That will keep the forest safe.” Kailee couldn’t just stay here but with the forest spirit back that would be enough. “If the forest spirit is back then I should be able to return every so often to give this place my blessing, right?”

“Kailee, that will be more dangerous and take more energy.” Alistair shook his head rejecting the idea.

“But it is possible?” Kailee stared at him watching him raise his shoulders in a small shrug.

“I don’t know, maybe it is possible in his weakened state? In either case… you do what you have to do. Kailee… Bane cannot exist. He must either be purified or destroyed. You can’t fail based on having hope to save him.” Alistair watched as Kailee pulled her legs up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around them and leaned her head on her knees.

Bane is her grandfather. She couldn’t just kill him. She would need to learn more about herself so that she could try to save him. And what about her grandmother? Is there a chance that she didn’t die that night? And if she didn’t, where is she right now? She furrowed her eyebrows and then raised her head up to him. He told her a lot about herself except for one thing very important.

“Alistair… what exactly am I?” Kailee asked as Sparks settled in a bit closer to her.

“You are the original magic of the world. The purest light that has ever existed. You are the last of your kind… the last unicorn.” Alistair smiled at her.

“I am a what?” Kailee’s eyes were wide as she stared back at him.

He nodded his head slowly. “You do need to know one more thing about yourself. About the choice. Unicorns are not natural shifters. Your grandmother and grandfather changed forms together in order to be with one another. Once your power awakens you will need to make a choice about your form. This is when your decision takes effect. You will have to decide… to live as a unicorn or your human form. From my understanding, you can’t switch back and forth on a whim. But you are more powerful in your unicorn form since it does take some of your magic to maintain another.”

“So, you are saying if I choose my human form that I can never shift into a unicorn?” This wasn’t a heavy blow to Kailee. She has lived her whole life as a human. The only thing that concerned her was that she wouldn’t be as strong. Would she need this strength to fight against Bane?

“If you shift into your unicorn after choosing to be human then that is permanent. If there is ever a time… like fighting against Bane, that you need more strength, you could shift back into a unicorn. But it will be lasting.” Alistair rubbed the back of his neck. The little sparkles of embers from the fire flickering around them as the cool breeze floated in the air. “There isn’t a lot of knowledge about you. When your grandmother died, we could only tell your mother what we knew. And that is all I have to tell you. You will have to discover yourself on your own.”

“I have another question…” Kailee asked quietly. “Those who live in the forest realm feel separated from the rest of the kingdom. But I a married to the prince of this kingdom.” She lifted her gaze and looked between Oliver and Alistair. “I am his mate as well. Will this make a difference? Can we unite together as one kingdom?”

Oliver was the one that smiled this time. “The forest realm will always follow you. You are our queen and the rightful ruler of Monog. I think we would all feel a lot better with you leading the kingdom.” He lifted his hand and pointed to the tree line. Dozens upon dozens of tall shadows stood at the tree line. “These are my kinsman… more elves. All strong warriors that will be at your disposal if you ever need them.”

“The werewolves of this realm will also fight with you. But as Oliver has said, the whole forest will answer your call.” Alistair admired Kailee at this moment. She was acting so normal over everything she was hearing. Like she was listening to an ordinary story. She was calm and collected. These were qualities of a natural leader.

“When you first came to me Alistair why were you so… grumpy? I thought that was your personality, but you seem different now.” Kailee watched the sheepish smile on his face.

“I had been waiting to bring you back here. I was days away from collecting you only to have you snatched up by the dragons. And I knew your magic was awakening, and I could help you. Instead, they ended up suppressing it while they tried to figure it out. I am sorry about how I acted… I was frustrated… how bad is the pain now?” He noticed the small changes in her body position. Even noticed the small beads of perspiration forming on her forehead. The antidote would have taken effect now and her magic was coming forward.

“I’m here. Sorry I am late. I have been trying to keep the ancients at bay.” A sweet voice called out as she ran up to them.

“Perfect timing Leeta. The antidote is working, and it is time to take the cuff off of her.” Alistair said looking up at the forest fairy.

“Perfect timing all around. Once you are fully connected with your magic you need to calm the ancients so they can go back to rest. They are unsettled knowing the forest spirit is gone. Which is why Corra put them to sleep in the first place.” Leeta walked next to Kailee and knelt beside her.

“I don’t like this… I think we should wait for her mate.” Oliver frowned looking at Leeta and Alistair. “She is going to be in so much pain and he can help her through it better than us.”

“He will be in pain too. I don’t see how he will be able to help her in that condition.” Alistair looked back at Oliver who only continued to shake his head.

“Think of your own mate. You know how the mate bond is. Think about Kailee and what is actually best for her in this situation.” Oliver could see he had gotten through to Alistair with that line.

Alistair knew if it was his mate it wouldn’t matter what pain he was in. He would still be comforting her. And this was on their level. A unicorns mate bond would be different. Maybe they were connected more? He nodded his head slowly. “We can try to wait… but soon this is going to come to a head whether we take the cuff off or not.”

Kailee could feel her insides started a slow deep burn that was only intensifying as time went on. Sparks suddenly took off into the sky and hovered above them like a lighthouse shining bright. Hopefully, Trey was already on his way for her. She hoped he was okay… The last image she had of Trey flashed through her mind. Yes… she was going to have to kill Jane after this.