Page 89 of The Heir
“Life has a way of testing you to see if you’re ready for the next level. My life would have been so much simpler if I hadn’t married your father, but he’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“Why?”
“Because he has helped me grow in so many ways. Your brothers have done the same for you. I’ve explained to you about forgiveness, but your brothers have given you opportunities to practice. Like that time when you had saved your dessert and they ate it.”
Making a soft sound, I indicated that I remembered. “I was so angry.”
“And then you forgave them.”
“Yes.”
“We can talk about values such as love and forgiveness but it’s not until we get to practice them that we truly grow.”
“But Thor is arrogant.” My voice revealed how drowsy I still was.
“Do you know anyone who is flawless?”
“I know you.”
My mom kissed my hair. “You’re sweet, but I have my issues as well. We talked about that. Sometimes my love for humanity can blind me. Don’t forget I let your father believe that he was under a spell in order for him to gain empathy. It wasn’t the most honest thing to do.”
“You did him a favor.”
My mother didn’t answer and as she kept circling my back with her fingers, I drifted off a little bit.
“I’ll let you sleep some more, sweetheart.”
In a slur, I mumbled, “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, darling.”
As she walked out, I was sucked in by another confusing dream, exhausted from my brain’s constant activity.
In this dream, Thor was naked and dancing with a group of three French sirens, one more beautiful than the other. Even though they spoke in French I understood them perfectly when they said, “He’s ours!”
My eyes locked with Thor’s. Not even when one of the women touched his crotch, did he break eye contact with me. As they danced around him in their naked beauty, licking his nipple, and rubbing their breasts against his side, he challenged me, “If you want me, come claim me.”
“He’s ours,” the women repeated in sync.
“No, he’s mine!” The minute I spoke the words, the sirens evaporated like clouds of dust. Thor was standing alone now, still watching me. As soon as I took the first step toward him, I realized that I was as naked as him.
“Put it down,” he said.
Confused, I looked to my hands and saw a sharp knife.
“You don’t need it.”
For a moment we stood gazing into each other’s eyes. For once his expression was soft and relaxed.
“I know you carry it to protect yourself, but you wouldn’t be able to stab me anyway. You’re too kind to hurt others. That’s one of the things I love about you.”
Raising my hand, I studied the knife, wondering where it had come from.
“It’s time for us to lay down our weapons. I already did.” His gaze fell to a small pile of knives on the floor that hadn’t been there before. “You can trust me.” Stepping closer he held out his palm. “Give me your knife.”
CHAPTER 22
Proof of Bravery
