Page 19 of His to Claim
As soon as he sees me, he smiles widely and waves. "Hello, Emma! You're alive!"
I run to hug him tightly. He smells exactly the same as always—like sandalwood and mint mixed with sweat.
He hugs me back and whispers in my ear, "I never thought I’d see you again."
"Me neither," I whisper.
Then I pull away from him and smile shyly at him. "How did you find me?"
He shrugs casually. "I followed the portal until it ended somewhere close to your location. That way I knew someone had been taken to this planet. I couldn’t stop thinking about you, Emma."
My heart flutters in excitement. He remembered me!
He pulls out something from his pocket and hands it to me carefully. It's a necklace made of red stones.
The moment I touch it, tears fill my eyes.
It reminds me of the ones he gave me before.
I hold up both sides of the necklace and stare at the design carved on each side. They have symbols that mean 'love,' 'beloved' and 'life.'
“I meant to give this to you back on the ship, right before you passed through the portal but there was no time,” he tells me.
"Thank you, Anil'ha," I say softly.
He nods. "Are you ready to leave?"
"No!" I cry.
Kallena walks over to me and puts a gentle hand on my shoulder. Her fingers feel cold against my skin. "We can't let him take you, Emma.”
I turn around to look at her. She is still crying. "But why? What will happen to me if I go with them?"
She wipes away the tears on her cheeks. "You’ll break Dhakar’s heart.”
Tears start rolling down my cheek. "What do you mean? Why would he care what happens to me?"
Kallena sighs heavily. "Because he loves you."
* * *
Anil'ha watches us intently.When I don't reply, he clears his throat and speaks. "Do you want to come with us or stay here with Dhakar?"
“I… I don’t know. This is all so confusing.”
"Come with me, Emma. Please." Kallena pleads.
I hesitate for a moment then nod slowly. "Yes, okay. Let's get going."
“Not so fast,” Anil’ha shouts at us.
Everyone turns toward him.
He stands tall and proud with his arms folded across his chest. "Let me explain first."
"Okay, please tell us everything," I urge him.
"We have your stupid brute. We have Dhakar. He was captured by our warriors and brought aboard the ship.”
