Zane was lost in his memory of his time with his grandmother he did not see Bella enter his room.
She walked over and watched him with his face in his hands.
Zane looked up and with just a smile she crawled into his lap and they sat there quite for some time.
"Where's your book?" Zane finally asked.
"In the rose room." Bella said leaning on his chest.
"What me to read some more?"
Bella just shook her head no, "No, not right now. You need me."
He then kissed her head and pulled her closer. "Thank you."
They stayed like that for about an hour before he carried her to bed.
As he was in the shower Bella got her book and started to read.
♡♡♡◇◇◇♡♡♡ THE WATER OF LIFE cont.
Meanwhile the sick King waited a long while for him, but he did not come; and the second Son asked leave to go too and seek the water, for he thought to himself, "If my Brother is dead the kingdom comes to me."
At first the King refused to spare him, but he gave way, and the Prince set out on the same road as the elder one had taken, and met also the same Dwarf, who stopped him and asked him, "Whither ride you so hastily?"
"Little dandyprat," replied the Prince, "what do you want to know for?" and he rode off without looking round.
The Dwarf, however, enchanted him, and it happened to him as it had to his Brother: he came to a defile where he could move neither forward nor backward. Such is the fate of all haughty people.
Now, when the second Son did not return, the youngest begged leave to go and fetch the water, and the King was obliged at last to give his consent.
When he met the Dwarf, and was asked whither he was going so hurriedly, he stopped and replied, "I seek the water of life, for my Father is sick unto death."
"Do you know where to find it?" asked the Dwarf.
"No," replied the Prince.
"Since you have behaved yourself as you ought," said the Dwarf, "and not haughtily like your false Brothers, I will give you information and show you where you may obtain the water of life. It flows from a fountain in the court of an enchanted castle, into which you can never penetrate if I do not give you an iron rod and two loaves of bread. With the rod knock thrice at the iron door of the castle, and it will spring open. Within lie two lions with open jaws, but if you throw down to each a loaf of bread they will be quiet. Then hasten and fetch some of the water of life before it strikes twelve, for then the door will shut again, and you will be imprisoned."
The Prince thanked the Dwarf, and, taking the rod and bread, he set out on his journey, and as he arrived at the castle he found it as the Dwarf had said. At the third knock the door sprang open; and, when he had stilled the lions with the bread, he walked into a fine, large hall, where sat several enchanted Princes, from whose fingers he drew off the rings, and he also took away with him a sword and some bread which lay there.
A little farther on he came to a room wherein stood a beautiful maiden, who was so pleased to see him that she kissed him and said he had freed her, and should have her whole kingdom, and if he came in another year their wedding should be celebrated.
Then she told him where the fountain of water of life was placed, and he hastened away lest it should strike twelve ere he gained it. He came next into a room where a fine, clean covered bed stood, and, being tired, he lay down to rest himself a bit. But he went to sleep, and when he awoke it struck the quarter to twelve, and the sound made him hurry to the fountain, from which he took some water in a cup which stood near.
This done, he hastened to the door, and was scarcely out before it struck twelve, and the door swung to so heavily that it carried away a piece of his heel.
◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇
Zane leaned on the door frame watching Bella read. Her lips would move slightly to the words she was reading. He wanted to kiss those lips. How did he get so lucky to find such a beauty when he had been a beast most of his life.
As he was watching a text came through.
'Need a meeting almost done with set up'
It was from Betty so he sent a quick reply. 'Tommarow at 1'
'Ok, see you then'
He then put the phone on the night table and crawled into be. Bella smiled and put her book down and snuggled up to him and they fell asleep in each other arms.
Through the night Zane dreamed again. This time he was a beast and his beauty was running through the forest. Wolf's were chasing her and she was bloody. The faster he ran the farther the gap would become. His heart was beating faster. He had to save his beauty.
Soon the darkness over came him and he could hear her cries of pain. Where was she, he could not see anything. Then a light appeared and there lying in a puddle of blood was his little beauty. He pulled her close. Her lifeless body made him cry out into the night.
Why could he not save her? Zane then woke up covered in sweat gasping for air.
Bella as fast asleep next to him. He got up and took a shower and changed his clothes. The sat next to Bella watching her sleep.
He had to keep her safe. No one was aloud to touch her.
Bella woke and seen Zane sitting there so she reached out and pulled him back into bed. She kissed him and soon their passion was ignited and he made love to his beauty and soon they were both back to sleep.