Page 31 of Lost Starlight
“Gwendolyn is mother! Peter, Peter is father! Father! Father!”
“You are attempting to give these children a mother and a father,” I said, dumbfounded. It appeared to be true; those pixies were not trulyevil. They seemed to have good intentions, taking children out from terrible circumstances, trying to give them a better life. And yet, living in a jungle? Did they have beds to sleep in, or food? I doubted it, seeing the sadness on Gwen’s face when she spoke of them.
“Yes! Yes!”
“No, they cannot stay here.”
“Wehelp! Help! Help!”
“I know you are attempting to help; however, it is not helping. What can I do to get you to release them?”
“We need!”
“I can help; let Gwen and the children go, and I will come and help, only after I make sure they are all home safe.”
“You? You?”
“I will help, but let them go; let the children and Gwen go.”
“Need help! Help, Help them!”
“Yes, you have helped, but we can help them now by taking them back to Walden. Gwen will help them there, and I will help you here.”
“You will come back? Come back?” they asked.
My heart ached. I did not want to be without Gwen and my family, but I cared more about Gwen than anything else. I always wanted Gwen more than adventure. I touched a hand to my heart. Having seen her there, physically safe but with tears in her eyes? I would have moved mountains, gone to the traitor king’s mountain, myself, if it would have kept her safe. But I would also stay right there. I would stay and take her place if it meant she could be free.
“I will. Take me instead.” I was grateful that Gwen had been pulled far enough away to help with the children so that she could not stop me.
The pixies swarmed around me, chiming a song.
Is it glee? Or are they about to attack?
“We make a deal, deal, deal,” they chimed. “You go now, now. You go, but we come. We come, come for you; for you. We come! We will come, claim your debt! Debt! Debt!”
Gwen returned with a herd of children surrounding her. They looked worn out, filthy, and underfed. No, there was no way they were thriving there, but we would make sure they were taken care of in Walden.
“Peter, what did you do? They told us we could go,” she said as I walked up to her. I took her face in my palms, my thumb dangerously close to her mouth. Her brilliant blue eyes shone up at me. How had I not seen it? Everyone had but me.
I love this woman.I loved her more than I had loved anything ever in my life. She was my starlight on the sea, guiding me to her. Every moment, I waited desperately to see her again—that was love. It was unyielding love. I was still worried about my curse, and I did not want to have anyone tied to my fate—tied to someone who always wanted to leave—but maybe, maybe we could talk about it. Maybe she would be willing to read to me to help my curse for the rest of our days.
All my thoughts and desires pooled up in my mind, swarming like a hoard of pixies on a mission. I looked into her perfect eyes. She had that look of confusion upon her face because I was just looking at her. I had seen her somany times, yet that was the first time I looked at her and saw my future.
Without another thought, I pulled Gwen into my arms and kissed her. She, in all her properness, gasped, and I heard giggles from the surrounding children, so I made it brief. I wanted to ravish her with kisses, but that would have to wait. She melted into me, welcoming the kiss.
Does she truly feel the same? How can I be so blessed, especially when I am a cursed prince?
“Gwen, I—” I said, gasping for breath as that kiss took all the air away from me.
“I know, Peter. Me, too.” Her cheeks turned a very beautiful shade of pink.
“You are free! Free! Free!” the pixies shouted, and not needing to be told a second time, I motioned for Gwen and the lost children to go onto the jungle path toward the beach and then onto the boat, which would take them far away from Pixie Isle.
Present Day
Being back on Pixie Isle was only positive because it meant Gwen and the children would remain safe in Walden. As I walked around the lagoon, I saw that the entire floor of the lagoon was covered in more gems than before–large and small, all of varying colors.
“Peter! Peter!”
