Stalked (complete)

15

I sprawled across my bed, staring at the ceiling as if it would give me answers. Of course I had to do this on my own; nothing would just give me answers without force. If I had to help Micah by brute force, I would. I would do whatever it took to have him back and return to our original state of bliss.

"Emma?" Drew called my attention.

"Yeah?"

"You have to go to class," he said absently.

I half laughed, "I think this is a little more important."

"You're not going to help him right this second. We haven't even found a way to contact the witches. He would want you to finish school."

Leave it to Drew to be the voice of reason. I just couldn't fathom doing anything besides working on this disaster but I knew Drew was right. Micah would not be happy with me if he knew I gave up on my degree when I was so close.

With a heavy sigh, I wrapped my hair in a messy bun and grabbed my backpack. Drew led me to the usual black SUV and started the drive back to the main city. It was hard to believe I ran that many miles in only a few minutes and it didn't exhaust me in the least. I truly was perfected. Now all I needed was my mate to come back to reality and my life would be perfect. I couldn't help but wonder how long it would take to have him back in life but I quickly realized it didn't matter. I would never give up on him because I loved him. I knew if the roles were reversed he would not hesitate to do the same if not more. I did feel guilty about not being able to do more but Drew was right; I wasn't helping him by debilitating myself. I needed to stay well fed and keep my head clear of any emotions regarding Micah or I would never be able to help him. As soon as I let emotion control me, it was over.

"What are you thinking so hard about, Princess?" Drew asked but kept his eyes on the road.

"Micah," I mumbled. Wasn't that obvious?

"Mhm. I assumed you would be. Try to focus on something else," he nearly pleaded.

I groaned in frustration, "You didn't see that girl. She's perfect."

"Oh I saw her. She is a looker but I know what you're really worried about."

"And what is that?"

"You're worried about him really falling for her and leaving you."

I stayed silent. How did he always know exactly what was bothering me? Was I really that transparent and typical?

"Want to know what he told me the night you met him?"

Dare I know?

"Sure."

"Of course he went on about how beautiful and perfect you are and on and on. But the one thing that really stood out was that he said you made him want to be a better man. He said even if you weren't his mate-which you are- that you would be the type of woman he would want his closest friend to date because you see the good in everyone and bring it to the surface."

"He said that?" I asked timidly.

He nodded slowly, "He's going to come back to you. The bond you two share is beyond one I've ever seen. We just have to keep him from killing you," he said as a bad joke.

"Ha. Ha," I said sarcastically with a roll of my eyes, "Drew, if he does kill me and realizes what he did...don't let him suffer," I asked seriously.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't let the guilt make him disappear. This is his kingdom and he needs to stay in power to protect all these people. If he abdicates, who knows what the fate of the race will be."

He glanced over at me with a lazy smile, "Spoken like a true queen."

I laughed lightly, "Thanks."

"You know, you might not be half bad at this ruling thing," he teased.

I laughed, "The confidence you have in me is amazing."

He laughed, "Honestly, I know you'll be a great queen. Maybe the best we've ever seen."

That left a warm smile on my lips. If I was going to rule someday, I was happy to know I had a good foundation. Rulers are nothing without their subjects as history has proved.

I knew Drew was being honest with me and I could appreciate that. He would always tell me if I was acting irrationally and that was what I needed. I might not have known the ins and outs of this preternatural world but with Drew's help, I could figure out enough to get by.

"Okay, time for class," he said as he parked in the middle of the vast lot filled with mediocre cars.

I groaned, "Fine. But let the record show I didn't want to come today."

He laughed lightly, "Duly noted, Princess."

He and I walked through the packed campus silently, making our way to my first class. I knew I had to come up with some excuse for my professors. I was certain I would be missing a day or two a week and I didn't want them to grow suspicious. What could I possibly tell them that would make them not question me? Well, I could call this issue with Micah a figurative death. It was the death of my hope in people to do the right thing. I knew that was stretching it but I needed to tell the something.

I sat through the hour long class as the professor droned on about the importance of Don Quixote. Honestly, I loved the story but I couldn't even concentrate on something I loved besides Micah. He was consuming every moment of my life and I just wanted this to be over. I couldn't stop replaying the moment he told me he loved her. Logic told me he didn't know what he was saying but something deeper feared the thought he was with another woman. I knew he wasn't in his right mind but he thought he was and that was what scared me.

"Emma?" My professor questioned.

I looked up to realize the entire class was staring at me including Drew.

I straightened up instantly, "Um, I'm sorry, Sir. What was the question?" I asked awkwardly.

He looked at me curiously, "Why is Don Quixote an interesting character?"

"Um..Well, he is kind of heroic."

"Interesting. How so?"

Seriously? Why was he putting me on the spot? I hated answering questions in class.

"He has a good heart. Even though everyone thinks he is ridiculous, he believes he is being noble. Like when he refers to the prostitutes in such a polite way, I felt like that showed how naive he is. He always believed he was on a quest to be this great knight-like person even if it was only sheep he fought."

The professor laughed lightly, "True but what about his fall to madness?"

"He can still be a good and heroic person even if he isn't in the right state of mind," I responded defensively, "Besides, at the very end he seems to come back to reality and take his death heroically. He knew he did good things in his life even if everyone else laughed at him."

He nodded absently, "I'll agree with that. So, homework for tonight, start Beowulf and I'll see you guys next week."

As the rest of the class started to leave, the professor walked up to my desk, "Would you mind hanging back for a minute?"

I nodded and motioned for Drew to go on ahead.

After the class emptied he sat at the desk next to me and clasped his hands together.

"What's going on, Emma?" He asked, "You're one of my best students but you're disconnected right now."

I rubbed my face in frustration, "I know. I've just have a lot of personal things going on."

He nodded absently, "Okay. I would hate to see you not graduate."

"It won't come to that," I assured him, "I'm really trying to get it together."

"Anything I can help with?"

I shook my head, "Not unless you have a cure for sever amnesia."

"Ah, I see. Someone close to you was in an accident?"

"Yeah...I'm having to watch over him and make sure he doesn't make any rash decisions," I trailed. It wasn't entirely false. I did have to make sure Micah didn't make any stupid calls like put a hit on me or kill me himself.

"That is a daunting task especially being this close to graduation."

"Yes...I'm not going to ask for any special treatment but I did want to let you know I might be missing a day or so a week."

"Honestly, your grade in this class is already so high you could probably stop coming and you would still get an A."

"Good to know. It won't get to that point," I assured again.

He nodded, "Alright. Let me know if you need anything," he said as he stood.

I nodded and half smiled, following in standing. He grabbed his briefcase and laptop holder while I finished packing my notes. As we walked out together he placed his arm around my shoulders in an attempt to show me some comfort. I smiled lightly at him in thanks.

"This will pass, Emma. You'll be okay."

I nodded and waved goodbye as he left in the opposite direction.

"What the hell was that," a familiar, deep and authoritative voice demanded of me. The power of his voice sent a sensual chill down my spine as I whipped around to face the imposing figure of my mate.

"What?" I asked confused.

"You will never let another man touch you again. Do I make myself clear?" He asked though I knew he wasn't leaving room for argument.

"I thought you have a mate," I taunted.

"I do."

"Then why do you care if Eric puts his arm around me?" I knew that by using my professor's first name Micah would be even more irritated. This could either go really well or really, really, bad.

"All you need to know is that he is not allowed to touch you. If I catch another man-"

"Another man besides you?" I asked skeptically.

"I love my mate," he said tightly,"You would do well to remember you have one out there too and not compromise your honor by having a fling with your educator."

I couldn't help but laugh at the audacity of this man! He didn't want me but no one else could have me either. I wasn't sure if provoking Micah was the best idea but he was pushing me.

"You have the gall to question me?! You talk about me compromising my honor but here you are, demanding I not let a man touch me!"

"I am your king. You will follow my orders."

"I most certainly will not in regards to my love life."

Before I could think to react, he had me pinned against the wall with jealousy surging beneath his carefully composed mask.

"Would you prefer it if I killed him to eliminate the issue," he asked deadly and low.

I couldn't process his question when he was this close to me. All I wanted was for him to ravish me until I begged for a break.

"I-I..."

"You what?" He asked, finally really looking at me. His eyes traveled over my body finally resting on my eyes.

"Please...don't look at me like that," I whispered.

"I will look at you however I please. You will submit to your king," he said darkly.

I set my eyes in a deep glare, "I will not. You love me, Micah," I said as I gripped his suit jacket.

I hadn't planned on kissing him but I pulled him in and kissed him in a way only his true mate could. He gripped the back of my neck pulling me as close as possible. He instantly responded to my lips thankfully. I missed him so much and even if he killed me for this, I would die happy.

He gripped my thighs, wrapped my legs around his waist. I couldn't help but push further onto him, to run my fingers through his incredibly soft hair. Everything about the way he responded to me screamed pure passion; how could he not feel the connection we shared? It was as if I was bursting at the seams with desire for him! He had to at least recognize something wasn't right about the woman he was with now. There was no way they had this on any level.

All too soon he pulled away and left me feeling cold and alone again.

"You can feel it, can't you?" I demanded.

He looked at me as if trying to understand what was happening. He was so damn stubborn though I doubted this would make him a believer.

"When you're ready to accept me as your true mate-again-you know where to find me," I said as I grabbed my backpack and made my way to my next class.