Chapter 2 - The Past

"A Creator's love guides me my heart." He whispered as he watched her eyes tear. Being a trusted member of the guard and the King's best friend meant he had to leave his family.

"My soul, I know why he would choose you but the Loyals are incapable of mercy..." Israel knew being sent to The Loyal kingdom could be dangerous but it was a decision he made. As commander of the Royal Guard and the most powerful lighter in history he was convinced he could survive enemy lands. He knew of their customs from his grandparents and his mission, if accomplished would save the next generation.

"Come Inaya," he murmured to his wife.

He opened his arms to her and she crumbled. Being apart for unknown lengths of time was unheard of for mates. The King's guard also known as the Royal Guard never sent mated males on missions that lasted months. This mission was the exception.

Seeing his heart cry tore him apart. He lifted her chin and brushed his lips over her teary cheeks slowly caressing her face till she giggled as he nipped her earlobe. Her arms went around his broad shoulders and he carried her onto the kitchen island. "Inaya..." he groaned as she kissed his face and neck. She always made the wait long. A male royal kissed his mate only after she let him. A kiss was sacred and even with strong hot blooded males it remained revered. The choice was the females'.

"I miss the days before we mated" , he smiled as she brought her forehead to his.

"I miss them too my love. You played with me, never really giving me the control you claimed I had over you."

Israel chuckled, "the wait was always worthwhile. You always moaned when I finally kissed you and that's a sound I adore."

Her lips touched his and that was all it took for him to lose control. A few minutes later, a baby's cry was heard and he groaned...

"She hates me," he whispered against his wife's breast.

"Israel she needs me now."

"I need you more," he looked down at his bulging pants and she quickly kissed him then ran off. At the stairs she stopped like she would not see him again and murmured, "I love you Israel, always have and always will."

His eyes lit up golden as his power responded to her words. She feared she would never see him again. I will let you know how much I love you each passing day we are apart till I can stare into your beautiful eyes Cora. Tears flowed down her cheeks when he used that nickname to say heart.

That night he planned to love his wife, kiss his beautiful daughter and then set off for Loyal but the Creator had other plans. As he wrote a letter to make his wife and daughter smile when he was away, he got teleported to Loyal in the blink of an eye.

Inaya watched their baby sleep then hurried downstairs to see her husband. Everything was as he left it, nothing out of place yet she could tell he was gone. Her power blazed out looking for some sign of an intruder but there was none. Their home was impenetrable unless someone was invited in. The only person who could have got in was the king but his signature wasn't in the room. The only explanation was that Israel had left without saying goodbye. That afternoon she cried, that night she broke... Her premonitions became her nightmares and her healing gift became a curse. Her only hope was her baby, the fruit of their love.

The days turned into weeks, months and then years. The days were hard, the nights were agonising. She treasured her daughter and memorized every chiseled line and curve of her husband's face and body. She did her duty to the kingdom as a healer and life went on but she never stopped waiting. She never stopped feeling like he sent immeasurable amounts of his power to let her feel his love. It could all be in her mind but every night as she lay on his side of the bed clinging to something of his, a shirt, jacket, weapon, she felt something touch her heart. She knew deep down it was her soulmate fulfilling his promise.