2 comments/ 15465 views/ 7 favorites Lunacy Edge By: Elizabeth_Ashley Tick....Tock...Tick...Tock. Hailey tucked her knees in against her ribs and arms curled over her head trying to force out the noise. It took her about 10 minutes of groggy irritability to remember she didn't have a tickling clock in her bedroom. When she shifted, where her usual cotton sheets would have crinkled, where the sheets she laid on swooshed. Her head jerked up sharply, her blurry eyes taking in her surroundings. "Where'd my bed go?" She asked to no one in particular in a hoarse voice. "Your old home." Came a deep, masculine voice from behind her. That brought her sense to the forefront. She brought her head around and stared at the sexiest man she'd ever seen in her entire life staring at her with amusement in his deep eyes. "I gotta remember to stop eating cold pizza before bed." She muttered dropping her head again. The chuckle that responded sent a chill down her spine. She ignored it, she'd wake up anytime soon, she was sure. She didn't even wanna try to see what could happen in this dream with that hunk, it would end before the good parts she was sure. "Hailey..." The hunk spoke. She squeezed her eyes closed. "This is real." He said. "Yeah right." she chuckled. "Look at me." He ordered. She let out a groan and sat up again and looked at him. "What?" "Do you really believe I'm a dream?" "Of course not. That's absurd." She said clearly. "You're a figment of my imagination, which my subconscious took and plopped in my dream. That's science, you know." He smirked. "Is it?" He chuckled again. "Think real hard. Concentrate. Is this a dream, really?" She looked annoyed for a moment and then sat back to stare at him thoughtfully, obviously just trying to indulge her dream man. Then her eyes widened at him. "Crap!" "See?" He grinned smugly. "How do you know I'm not a dream?" "My dream people don't have faces. Well...they do, but blurry, indistinct faces. Your face is very clear...." She rubbed at her eyes and stared harder at him. "Where am I!?" Her head swung around staring at the room she was in. The room looked about centuries in the past, and in a different time zone in a millionaire's castle! Her eyes swung around to the huge fireplace, to the four poster canopy bed, to the basin and vanity. It looked like she was on a movie set with no crew. She glanced down at the burgundy silk sheets to find herself naked to the waist and she let out a screech as she pulled the sheets around herself and glowered menacingly at her captor....her very handsome captor. "Why am I nude!?" He wisely hid a grin. "Uh....your clothes were....destroyed on your journey here." "What journey!? Where am I? Who are you? Am I dead?" Her barrage of questions came at him swiftly. "The one that got you here. Esson. Cullen. And no." She glared hard at him. "Why am I here?" she whimpered cowering back against the headboard. His eyes softened a bit and when he took a step toward the bed she froze, making him hesitate before he perched on the edge. "Its all very difficult to explain, but know I'm not going to hurt you. I'm...here to help you, okay?" She seemed to search his eyes before nodding slightly. "Things like this don't happen to people like me. Are you sure this is real?" She whispered. "Yes." He smiled. "I might be having a nervous break down, I've never had one of those before. It could explain the clarity." "You're not." He assured her. She bit her lip. "Could you please start explaining...." "Yes. We're not on Earth anymore." She stared. "You're not an alien are you? Oh geez, they always take farmers, now they're taking nobodies." She muttered. "I'm an alien in a way...I'm not....from a different planet though." "If we're not on Earth, then...we're on the moon?" He chuckled. "We're...on a different plane, so to speak." She tilted her head. "Are we speaking in terms of science fiction planes or....machine birds?" "Sci-fi." He nodded. "Hmmm." She considered. "This is definitely not a dream, I don't get into deep details." "Uh...the reason you're here is..." He rubbed at the back of his neck, a gesture she knew men did when uncomfortable and she tensed. "Yes?" She urged, wanting to get it over with. "To be my mate." He finished eyeing her warily. She grimaced. "Does that mean like...you want me to breed?" He burst out laughing. "I'm not that kind of alien, Hailey." "How do you know my name?" She wrapped the sheets around her more comfortably. They felt nice, she thought wryly. "That also, is hard to explain....I don't want to experiment with your body." He chuckled. "Then....well mate on Earth means....sex, breed....friend in the okay, and you couldn't possibly mean mate in the marriage form so..." She halted at his intense look. "I do mean that way....when I say mate, I mean soul mate." She blinked. "You're not serious." "Yes I am." He disagreed. "But I'm....you're....." Cullen stared waiting for her to explain further. "I'm what?" "I don't know you." She said instead with a firm nod. "We could get to know each other better." He sat closer. She glared. "This is not funny." "I'm serious!" He growled exasperated. "I'm not pretty, why on earth would you want me to be your mate!?" She responded. He blinked at her, shocked. "Who says you're not pretty?" "I'm not. I have a mirror." She glanced around the room. "I had a mirror." She amended, annoyed. "Then you have a disastrous eyesight." He muttered. "I find you lovely." "Lovely? Lovely!? Are you insane?" She blurted out. "No I am not and I am your mate and you are mine. You'll have to get used to it because I finally have you and I'm not letting you go." He sat in a tone that brooked no argument. He rose stiffly and her bewildered eyes followed him as he walked to the floor. "There are clothing in the armoire. I will come for you in two hours. Take a bit longer to look in the mirror there, would you?" He said a bit annoyed, by all accounts as he slammed out of her new room. Hailey dropped her head back on the head with a pitiful moan. "God Hailey you wake up with a the most gorgeous male you've ever seen and you remind him how hideous you are?" Lunacy Edge Ch. 02 Hmmm, I have to be honest with you readers. I had submitted this first chapter as a shot. I was 80 % sure I was not going to be able to continue at all. As soon as I had pressed enter, and looked over it I thought....Shit. I couldn't decide what to do next, where to go and how. What to write and what not. I'm just a beginner and a panicky one at that. Its been a few weeks since I submitted this, I thought for sure I wouldn't get any responses. I got I think four written responses. They all seemed to want to know what happened to poor, insecure Hailey next and so did I! Still, I had no clue what to write. I couldn't even pull it up because it scared the bejesus out of me. I was a little annoyed at myself, because as a reader myself I absolutely abhor coming to the end of a chapter and realizing the story has not been updated by the author in years and you know, deep in your reader's heart that you will never know what happens next and it, to me, makes me want to scream and slap my computer. But even as I know this and understand it, I could not do it. But luckily, or dangerously I was going through my folder of stories I'm working on to clean it out....I clicked on this story and I swear I was going to delete but I had to read over it once more to see if I could try and by golly I think I can. I'll try, so very hard to. I want to let the person who was confused about what my first chapter was about and if it really was a first chapter know, if they read this, I'm very sorry I did not make it a bit clearer. This was a raw piece of material, I was writing it for myself and I'm sure other authors forget when they write for themselves that other people cannot see into their heads too. I find that a gift and a curse. And I thank all of you who responded positively and wanted more, this is for all of you! ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Hailey Bordeaux sat by the window in the large suite of rooms she now found herself in. She stared at the drapery that kept the sun from her new room. Hailey didn't bother opening them because of how terrified she was of what she might see. She couldn't believe that what was happening was real. She was a simpleton, she was a girl with no real future, she was a plain ignorant girl, this didn't happen to people like her. She came from Louisiana, some small town that was hard to find an ancient map, not to mention a new one. She was middle school drop out for heaven's sake! Hailey thought back on the last day she could remember. It had been sunny so she had enclosed herself in her room reading a book. She hated sunshine. She loved to read though, it was her escape from the world and the people in it. But it was the reason she was so lonely and despairing, she knew. Ever since she had been given a few romance novels and had so engrossed herself in them she had needed more, to learn and to live as the beautiful heroines. She had not thought she could learn so much from reading silly romance books but she was wrong. She had always been a curious soul, and when she didn't understand the words she looked them up, that was the first change. Her vocabulary had become more elaborate, then she would use the words in every day speech and that began her loneliness. No one understood her, words that she found so easy and elegant and oh hell just beautiful were foreign to her family. She didn't have any friends. Her father and her sister were the only people she had. Her father who was a laborer had no need for big words, he liked simple easy ones. Her sister was in high school but probably didn't even own a dictionary. But she couldn't stop reading, reading gave her what she needed. A blind hope for something bigger and better, a love, an adventure, a...future perhaps. Sometimes Hailey looked back on her past and wondered how it had became oh so extreme. Her father had gotten fired, and had thought nothing of it until they were evicted and had to move in with his parents. Even then he did not talk to her, she was a child at thirteen and only a living responsibility to him. She had to share a small room in the rundown, old house that her grandparents lived in with him. Her grandmother had Alzheimer's and had not liked her and thought everything she did was not to be done, so much as walking into the kitchen. She was alone and hopeless. Her father kept silent and frustrated and angry, he got mad when she tried to help him find them a home and a job for him in the classifieds. When her father's friend, and a neighbor across the street had sent her a bag of books she had thought she would be bored but had nothing better to do. It had been overwhelming how much she loved it and had been disappointed when she had run out of books in a week. Then a neighbor down the street had sent her more and she had been thrilled, reading until she could no longer stop but she was happy again. Happier than she had been in a very long time. Ever since she had enclosed herself into her books until it was all she held dear to her, books and stories. Her family didn't understand her, her father didn't really care further than finding her lesser than her other sister. Her sister, Margaret found her interests bewildering but tried to understand, unsuccessfully. After that the family who knew even lesser of her or even tried to understand attacked her behaviors, and her ways. Breaking her mind and soul down till she considered death a better alternative, but found herself too cowardly. And now she found herself thrust from her low world to an unknown world with a dangerously handsome male that wanted her for a mate, she found herself in a terrifyingly real story as she had always wanted. "Be careful what you wish for, Hailey my dear." She muttered with a sigh. Lunacy Edge Ch. 03 "Is speaking to one's self a normal human quality?" Hailey whirled around with a shriek. "God! Could you make your presence known even more terrifying?" He had the grace to look chagrined. "Sorry. I didn't think you were so easily surprised." "I'm not. I was just thinking, is all." She crossed her arms across her chest, clenching the bed sheet even tighter around herself. "You're not dressed." He stated the obviously, moving forward and circling hers. "Or do you intend to wear this to dinner?" "No!" She backed away. "I looked in the armoire. Those clothes aren't mine." "Of course not. I didn't pack anything for you, not that it would have surveyed the journey." "I can't wear that. its not mine and it looks really expensive." The smile on his face faded quickly. "You're gonna be difficult aren't you?" She scoffed. "You take me from my home, and you say I'm being difficult. You want difficult, I'll give it to you." He dropped down into a nearby chair. "What I mean is...you don't need to be so independent here. I'm here for you, whatever you need I'll give you. I'll feed you, I'll clothe you, and I'll shelter you. There isn't a thing you need to worry about here." "Are you serious?" She stared at him. "Yes, of course. Am I smiling?" "That's so sexist!" She sat on the bed. "I don't need you to take care of me, I've worked ever since I could and since then I've done a damn good job of taking care of myself. I don't need a man to survive." She continued. "I had my own food, I had my own clothes and I had my own place before you swept me into this...this....this place!" "This place is your new home." He told her patiently. She groaned. "I don't know anything about you! I don't know where I am, what I'm going to do. You could be sacrificing me to some freaky god for all I know." He laughed. "Not likely." "You want me to accept all of this so quickly, you want me to put on your clothing and go to dinner with you like I've done it every day of my life but I haven't. I might be living in some damn palace or castle by the looks of things but...I will not be some idiotic woman falling into whatever you want. I won't have it." He rose and moved to her and took her hands in his, entwining their fingers. "You do not want someone to care for you?" She blinked at him. "Why would anyone want to care for me?" She whispered. "You're very silly, you know that?" He stared into her dark hazel eyes. "I want to take care of you, I want to love you...I want a lot with you." "You don't know the first thing about me, neither do I of you. How could you know what you want?" "I like what I see in you." He told her. "How did you even find me? If you live here and I live....on an entirely different world...." "Because I was told to look for you there. You are my soul mate, its written in the stars. You just have to take a chance and you'll see." She smirked. "Its nice to know there are stars here too." He kissed her hand. "I promise to...take care of you, Hailey. I will try not to make you feel helpless or dependant upon me. I'm sure there is something that you can do around the castle. I won't buy you any more clothing, but please wear something of what's there. As much as I would rather you naked all the time, I would be filled with a jealous rage if anyone else were to." "How can you be so sure you like me so much? I've just gotten here hours ago and all I've done was yell and scream at you." "I understand what you are going through. I suppose I should have come to you sensibly and asked you to come back with me...but I couldn't chance that you might refuse." Hailey glanced down. "If you had come to me, and had explained everything to me sensibly I probably would have come. I've always wished something extraordinary would happen to me, take me away. This would have made my day if I wouldn't have woken up here dazed and confused like I did." He winced. "Bad choice I made, then." He rubbed her hands then let them go so he could sit beside her. "Probably. But you never know. I always dreamed but you never know until it happens. I'm sorry for being so mean, you've probably done me a favor." "So...you'll be my mate, willingly." She scooted backwards awkwardly. "I wouldn't go that far but...I'm willing to try things out here. Maybe we could just get to know one another?" He stared at her. "Everyone here expects me to mate with you." "You can explain to them, can't you?" He frowned. "I might but everyone will see you as my woman." "This place isn't barbarian is it? I'm not your woman. I'm a woman." "But you are my life mate. I would not have brought you here otherwise. Every man here searches for theirs and gets them. I have done the same, Hailey. The women and men know this and will treat you as such." "You cannot change that?" "No I can't. I don't wish too either, I do not doubt that you and I are meant for each other. If you want to wait and court, then we shall. I will help you along the way." "Court?" She repeated. She chuckled. "What era are you in, Cullen?" He tugged on her hands until she was standing with him. He let go of one hand reluctantly as she grappled at the tie in her breasts. "You will find that we are a civilized people here. We just...use the good useful technology and ignore the things that destroy other people." "Like?" She wrinkled her nose at his back as he moved to open the armoire. "Stuffy dresses?" "I have studied your world for many years. When I was a boy, the grand priestess told me I would have to search out of the realm for my wife. So I studied." He informed her. "Wait, wait. Grand Priestess, that tells me much about your people but why would a grand priestess tell you anything? I mean....grand is for like people of..." She swore loudly. "You're not a prince are you?" She looked distressed. He glanced back at her over his shoulder thoughtfully. "Damien thought all earth girls wanted to be princesses. Nevertheless I am not a prince." "Thank you." She let out a relieved sigh. "The last thing I need is some renaissance prince wanting me for his princess." "I'm a duke actually." He murmured as he riffled through the armoire. "A what?" Hailey whirled around from where she had begun pacing. "A duke. You mean like, the only other noble under a prince..?" "You know your stuff." He commented. "In all reality, I am only the heir but my father delegates to me much already. I am cousin to Damien, who is second in line to inherit the kingdom. Alexander is first in line, Marius is third and I guess I am fourth. You don't have to worry about being a princess or a queen but a duchess." "Oh no." She moaned softly. "Okay...here." He pulled out a dark sapphire colored dress that didn't look like anything that needed a corset so she was happier. "I could never be a duchess, not that I'm saying I would marry you or anything because I don't know anything about you." "You know I've searched for you since I was a boy and that I know much about your culture and that I'm going to be a duke." "Not the best things, I should know." She huffed. "Perhaps. I don't lie." He informed her, again. He laid the dress on the bed, noting how she ignored it completely in her haste to get her thoughts and new information in order inside that head of hers. He went to a set of drawers and took out the proper undergarments, glancing behind to run his gaze admiringly over her form. "Tell me more about what's out of these doors." She requested. "I've read about your Victorian, Edwardian and all the other eras that you seem to think we belong to because of my speech. The clothing then was ridiculous, you won't get ostracized because you show an ankle or perhaps kiss me in public, I would encourage that actually." Ignoring her snort, he continued. "There are rules, but none as strict as the times I've read about. Your earth if quite restrictive." "Ha! Some might say not enough." "Anyway, I can't really explain it. you have to live it. I will guide you, of course. Are you going to get dressed?" "Are you going to leave me?" "The screen is there." He pointed at a wall screen that she could tell was sheer enough for him to catch her silhouette. She grabbed the cloth things she saw on the bed and went behind the damn thing, tugging annoyed at her trailing bed sheet. "Will I always sleep here?" She asked dropping the sheet and ignoring the low gasp she heard from Cullen. "Uh...there is another room in this suite. Our rooms are accessible to each other, you've been staying in my room." "Why?" She was looking at the clothing now. "Because....I wanted you here. You may move to the other room if you like." She bit her lip reminding herself to think on that later. "What is this?" She mumbled. "What is what?" She jumped shocked at how close he sounded now. "This dress looks shredded." "Its how its been made, fashion or whatever." He eyed her silhouette. She held up the waist of the dress and wondered at the shredded fabric that made strips down the legs. The bodice was formfitting and there were cuts in the fabric where her skin would show. She swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. This dress was one of those deconstruction things she saw rarely. She hung it against the screen. "Cullen, is there anything else?" "That's my favorite. They're pretty much alike but more formal." She picked up the undergarments. "Oh geez, who made these? Hugh Hephner?" "Who?" Cullen asked confused. "So...the grand priestess tells you your, whatever is not in this world so you go searching. You didn't date or anything?" "Date? Uh, sure." "Ohhh." She smiled amused at his wary tone. "Don't want to fess to your maybe future bride that you've tumbled a few wenches?" She caught on to his speech. "I don't remember reading any earth people who spoke like us. Where'd you learn that?" She pulled on the small underwear thankful the back didn't consist of a string. She marveled at how the fabric felt and looked sprayed on. "Reading. Those historical romances, actually. Didn't go digging there did you?" "No. And I have had relationships with women here but...they all knew I wouldn't marry them." "Do all men get these little future hints from the priestess?" "The noble ones, I think. She's a family friend. The non-nobles just...fall in love with whoever." "Why couldn't you have been a damn peasant." She muttered. She picked up the black slip that looked like a corset at the breasts. "Does it bother you that I am noble?" He asked her softly. "Yes!" Damnit, the thing had laces at her back too. She slipped is on, fitting her breasts in them, knowing they were being pushed up in an ''attractive'' way. "Cullen, these have laces." "Need help?" He knew he sounded too eager but he wanted to see her body again, and to have her warmth under his fingers was making his head lighter than usual. She tried, unsuccessfully to tie them behind her back but failed. "I guess." "Are you coming out?" "I might as well. You've seen everything already. She walked out and immediately turned her back to him. She gasped when he tugged the laces tight, pulling her back against his chest for a moment. He pressed his lips to her shoulder. "You look lovely." She shivered, involuntarily. "I'm half naked." "Beautifully." He released her slowly and continued the task. "I won't have to curtsey, will I?" "No." He chuckled. "You will not but you will see some surprising things in the hall." "What kinds of surprising things?" "Ahh...let it be a surprise." "Oh god, kill me now." She murmured. He finished with the laces but let his hands curve around her sides to graze her breasts eliciting a gasp and moved down her sides to her hips. He rested them there and stepped up behind her, closer. "You make my blood heat and my head dizzy." He whispered urgently against her neck. "My hands tingle where they touch you, Hailey. Do you not feel it too? I knew it the moment I saw you that you were for me...I hope you do not take too long denying us." "Cullen." she gasped when his hands pulled her bottom against his hardened flesh. "That is what I want." He breathed hoarsely. "My name on your lips. Hearing the sounds you make when I touch you...I want it all. We could have it now, please. Stay here, forget dinner and we will consummate our soul's meeting." She jerked away. "I do not know you, Cullen." "You could." He tightened his grasp on her. "Not this way, that is not what I want now. Please." He let out a soft sigh and released her gently. "I am sorry, I didn't mean to...handle you roughly." "It is fine, Cullen. But please, let me come to you if I want..." She glanced at him and into his eyes that seemed too dark. "I would like that." He turned away. "There are shoes at the bottom of the armoire. They are like the ones on Earth. You should have no problems. I should go change..." "Okay." She watched him leave, knowing by the stiffness in his body she had not cooled the heat in him at all. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Sorry for the extra long wait. I'm gonna try to write chapters more closely together because it takes a white for them to be submitted. Hope you all enjoy this chapter. I would love to get tips and advice or what you would like to see happen. I want to know what you like and what you don't about this story. So...send me that feedback and don't forget to vote. Thanks! Lunacy Edge Ch. 04 Hailey knocked softly upon her only door and waited for Cullen to open it. She would not be wandering alone anywhere into some far off land she could not dream up in her wildest fantasies. That would not happen. All the time she spent slipping on her dress, and the new shoes that were like the jimmy choos of whatever world she was in. Esson, she thought remembering, she was wondering if all men were so easy to arouse as she had Cullen, or was it typical of the men in this realm. She shook her head, knowing no man had even deigned to give her a second glance nor ask her for a date. Cullen would have to be crazy, or all the women in his hall were ugly ... and fat. She doubted that thought heartily, seeing as how beautiful he was. She leaned her back against the door as she got no answer and sighed. Her problem, she decided. Cullen would eventually tire from her, she would bore him, and he would want to send her back to Earth. That was reality, I get taken to a magical place with handsome arousing men and he sends me back. But she'd always wanted an adventure with a handsome man, just like all the heroines in her favorite books. When she didn't get her happily ever after, with the handsome man offering for her, and then her declaring she was going to give him a baby, it was of no consequence. Wasn't it? The door swung open and she fell into a hard chest and strong arms. She gasped as they swung her around too quickly for her stomach and righted her. She stared into Cullen's eyes and sighed. He looked so handsome, perfect. What was a girl to do? She despaired. "You're going to enjoy tonight." He murmured. She lifted her head sharply. "Cullen, when you said to me that you were sort of an alien, please tell me you cannot read my mind." He frowned at her. "Of course not. That's silly." "Thank you." She breathed. "Thanks ... um, you look nice." And he did. She couldn't describe what kinds of fabrics were here, but they were better than earth's in her case. His looked very humanlike. Black slacks and very dark blue shirt that seemed a little too tight for any kind of formal dinner, that meant good news to her. "Thanks. You look ... nice too." He gave her a weak smile. She nibbled her lips and glanced over his shoulder at the suite of rooms and two doors. One leading to her soon-to-be new room and the hall she assumed. "Are we ready to go?" "I suppose. Are you ready?" "I guess. I'm terrified, lets hope nothing says boo at me, or I'll run back here and lock myself into one of the rooms." He cocked his head staring at her confused. "Boo?" "It's ... oh, come on." She took his arm and pushed him a bit, though she could not have moved his big body an inch to get him going forward. He led her out of the suite and into a very long corridor. "On Earth, people do this ... I guess it starts as a child. Its to scare somebody, they're just walking along or whatever, and a person jumps out and screams boo. It is not a fun child's game. Who the hell even started that, I should like to know, because I'm sure I've got some traumas from just that." she murmured to him. "You speak quickly, and a lot. I never noticed before." He grinned. "I like it." "I thought no men liked chattering women?" She kept glancing behind and beside them and anywhere she could see. "Chattering women are women who speak of nothing all the time, even when silence is encouraged. You speak ... not of gossip, or men, or dresses. What you say is interesting to me?" "How odd. When I talk on Earth, people just look at me oddly." "Even your family?" "They don't understand my dry humor." "Mmmh." He turned out of the corridor and down a set of stairs. She walked carefully on the heels, they weren't that tall, but they were skinny. "How, uh did you know my size feet?" "Good guess." He watched her from the bottom of the stairs in the hall with amusement. "So ... there aren't any stairs in public, are there? I should hate to do this in front of people that have not seen me naked, rage, rant, and for all of a few minutes total." "No more stairs." He took her hands and brought one up to lips. "You really do look spectacular." "Well, uh thanks, I guess." She frowned as she glanced around. "This place reminds me of what I've read described in my books. Its beautiful." "Thank you." "So, uh no curtseying or anything. This is your home right?" "Yes." He pulled her arm through his and led her to a door. "This door leads into the ball room where the tables are set up for dinner, and where the people are. You will see things in there that may shock or even terrify you. Know that I am here, and I will keep you safe, love. Okay?" "Just don't call me love." she whispered, staring at the door in dread that dripped his hand tightly. "Lead on, Macduff." "Cullen." He chuckled and pushed the door open and led her in. Hailey stopped at his side and stared in awe around the room. It looked like pictures and video she'd seen of the amber room. More likely, the reconstructed one. It was beautiful. There was amber and gold everywhere. The candles flickered, there were beautiful mirrors all around. The firelight made everything in the room sparkle, and she gasped at the wonder of it all. All while she only barely glanced at a petite woman with faerie wings, a prowling black sleek panther, very tall gorgeous men, and even more beautiful women like she saw them everyday. Cullen was standing in front of her, holding her face in his hands as she gazed about. "You don't look like you're about to faint, but you do look flushed. Are you okay?" "Its so beautiful." she whispered. "Is this really real?" "It is, and it will be yours ... whenever you decide you want it, Hailey." "People are staring at me now, aren't they?" But she just looked up into his eyes. "They are. You are breathtaking." "Do you have to introduce me or something?" She held her hands together tightly. "They already know who you are. No." "Can you do me a favor?" "Anything." He murmured. "Anything for you." She closed her eyes briefly and inhaled a deep breath, air was scented with his nearness, but she just waited until the warmness that enveloped her when he said that faded. "Sit me down on a chair and ... act as if I weren't here." "What?" Cullen shook his head. "No, I cannot, I feel like I am really alive now that you are here with me, at my side. I cannot ignore your presence even if I had wanted to." "Please. I would like to watch you, and your people. Just watch. I do not think I could just ... be normal right now. I would like to observe..." He gave her a pained look. "I want to show you to my family, Hailey, my love. I want to show them who my woman is, you!" He whispered fiercely. "They know who I am, as you said. They know you brought me here and what you intend. They know so much, let me know something, anything, by watching." He glanced behind his back at his parents, who were watching with watery eyes, he knew. They had waited as long as he, and she wanted them all to wait longer. But he understood her need, though he had never felt the need to watch others to know ... he could understand her need to. He leaned down and kissed her cheek and turned, leading her to a lined up set of chairs and sat her down. She stared up at him with gratitude. "Thank you." "I will go speak to my parents and my sister ... you will be okay?" "I will be fine." She assured him. He stood there a few moments longer than necessary because he did not want to leave her. It was not like earlier, when he had left her to get dressed, those two hours he had spent angry and frustrated at her stubbornness. Now, he longed for her desperately, but he understood her and that made it even harder. He caressed her cheek, and walked away. When he walked over to his parents and his sister, they were all watching Hailey over his shoulder. His mother finally turned to him. "Why is your bride not at your side, son?" "She is not my bride yet, mother, not officially" His sister, not but 2 years younger than him. "She's refusing you? Shall I speak to her?" "She's not refusing exactly, she's ... resistant. She's willing to ... see things through, to a point." "She demands courtship?" His father asked. "She doesn't demand it. She thinks, I will tire of her. That I do not know her at all. But I want her fiercely." He glanced back at Hailey, surprised to see her idly stroking his pet, Nata the panther, her head resting on Hailey's knee. "Nata likes her." His father said approvingly. "You will have to convince your lady of your feelings. There is naught else you can do." "Can I go speak to my sister?" His sister rested her hand on his arm. "I do not think so, Anna. She feels shocked, numb, I think, from all that has happened. She wants to get used to our home, first." "For sure." Lana, his mother pressed a kiss upon his forehead. "You have found your mate and I approve." "I approve." His father's deep voice rumbled. "I approve." Anna giggled. Cullen nodded, with a smile. "I am lucky. I shall find Damien and speak to him." "Tell him he owes me a dance." Anna told him haughtily. "Of course." He smiled at her and left to find his cousin. Hailey was smiling at the panther, whom acted very much like a house cat to her. She had always loved cats, her only friends mostly. She was startled when someone sat down beside her, she glanced sideways at the fair beauty that sat there. "You are Hailey." The voice that came out of the blonde woman's mouth was not as beautiful as her face, it was icy and curt. "I am." She sat up straighter. "You have me at a disadvantage. I do not know who you are." "You are the one who thinks Cullen is hers, I am the one Cullen truly belongs to." She retorted. "Calliana." Hailey dropped her eyes to Nata's and brushed a hand over his hair, wondering silently how foolish she was to think she had to wait until Cullen realized he did not like her at all. Surely he would have someone who wanted and deserved him more than she. Even if that person was a bit icy. "Oh. I think you misunderstand." "Misunderstand that Cullen is mine?" Her face hardened. "I am not arguing that point. It would make much sense." She smiled softly as she looked over Calliana. "No you misunderstand that I think Cullen is mine, I know he is not mine, and never will be." Calliana frowned. "What is the meaning of this?" "I just mean ... I know he is not mine, that I am not right for him. You probably are." She nodded slowly. Calliana stared at Hailey with growing warmth. "I admire a woman who knows her place. When will you be leaving?" "The thing is, Calliana, I have told Cullen this. He does not believe me, he thinks to change my mind, but I will wait until he realizes that I am not for him. He will eventually realize perhaps you are, but none such as me. You understand?" "Slightly. You think to make Cullen see he is for me?" Calliana found this girl very strange and very stupid, but did not comment. "Well no, that would be his choice. All I know for certain is that he will not choose me. I just have to wait and..." Her eyes softened. "Cullen is a kind man, no man has ever been kind to me before." "You want to enjoy him while you can?" "I hope to. You see, when I return to Earth I will be unlikely to find love where I live ... I should like to have happy memories. Cullen is sort of my chance for them. I'm not trying to steal him from you, honestly." "Good." Calliana stood, looking decidedly smug. "Good luck." She walked off quite happy with her situation. She scratched Nata under her chin. "I wonder if Cullen likes her? Maybe he's doing this as an option ... I guess I am being a bit selfish for wanting some romance, huh?" She jumped back a little when Nata bore down on her, rubbing her head against Hailey's neck. "She likes you." Hailey glanced up at her second visitor. She assumed, now, that she wasn't going to be able to keep a low profile. "Hello." She said quietly. It was a man that looked slightly like Cullen, but fairer. "I'm Alexander." He sat beside her. "Was Calliana bothering you?" "Oh no." Hailey shook her head. "You are Cullen's cousin, right?" "He talked about me? That shows what a imbecile he is, to speak of another man while in the presence of such a lovely woman." He chuckled. Hailey bit her lip. "Uh. I ... I've never spoken to a prince before." "Are there no princes were you come from?" He looked surprised. "Well, not in America, but there are a few well known ones in other places. There is no monarchy I in America." She said. "Pity." He ruffled Nata's back. "Its good Nata likes you, since she shares Cullen's bed, too." "Excuse me?" She blinked. "Well, once you two are married..." "Oh, we're not getting married." She hastened to assure him. "No, no." He cocked his head looking at her strangely. "Why not? You don't want to be a Duchess." "No, but that's not it, exactly anyway." She let go of Nata and let her curl around her feet. "Cullen and I are not suited to each other." "You don't like him?" "I don't know him." "So you're up for grabs, want to be a princess?" He grinned. "How do I get back to Earth?" She asked nervously. He chuckled. "Don't run off. Cullen is a good man, he will be a good husband." "Hmm. What if some woman kidnapped you and brought you to earth and told you were to be her husband, Alexander?" She asked him, cocking her head in imitation. "Do you see it that way?" He asked, laughing. "At first. Now ... I'm not so sure. But Cullen is not for me. He is more suited a woman like Calliana, she's beautiful and ... I suppose has been trained to be a countess or princess by the looks of things." "She was, but Cullen hates her. You see, Calliana is mean and spiteful and cold as ice. Her family planned since she was a babe to be his bride, but Cullen has disliked her for years." Hailey frowned. "She seemed certain they were for each other." "She wants what she cannot have." Alexander said firmly. "I told her that I would leave here soon. That when I left, Cullen would take whoever he wanted ... that is his choice. She thought I was trying to steal him from her." "Aren't you?" "No. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm an Earthling." She chuckled at herself. "You are an odd woman." He told her. "You seem perfect to me, for Cullen, of course." "But you don't know me either." She pointed out. "How long do you earthlings court before marriage?" "It varies." "You know, I will find my bride on Earth as well." "oh..." "Do you know her?" He asked eagerly. "I don't have many friends, sorry. Maybe my sister, but you don't seem her type. She would love the princess bit though." "Cullen's parents are like you and he. She was from a different world than he, they married 3 days after she arrived. They felt it, immediately. You don't feel anything for Cullen." She paused, not knowing how to answer. She was saved by Cullen's arrival. "Trying to seduce Hailey, Alexander?" "Not all. She does not know my soon-to-be-bride, I fear. That makes it so much harder to locate her. I had hoped yours might make my journey easier." "Cheater." Cullen stared at him expectedly for a while, until Alexander took the hint and gave Hailey his good-byes and left rather quickly. She nibbled on her lip thoughtfully. "He's nice." She told him. "Yeah, he is." He sat down beside her. "I didn't think you would be given a chance to sit by your self for any amount of time. I see Nata has taken a liking to you." "That's her name? I like it." She ran a gentle hand over Nata's head and along her spine, making the panther purr delightedly. "Are you having fun?" "I think so. it all feels surreal, I'm watching a faerie dance with a ... a...?" She cocked her head, puzzled, as she stared at the couple. "That would be an elf." "I thought they were very short" "Tall actually." He chuckled. "She's very pretty, the wings are beautiful." "I suppose." But he hadn't even glanced that way, staring at her. Hailey made herself stare ahead and not look at him, it was too dangerous. The way he was around her, things he said and did were a risk to her sanity. She glanced around the ballroom at all the beautiful, otherworldly people, and her plain self, even in such pretty clothing. Can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, she mused to herself. She wished she had the confidence that Calliana had, she was forward and went after what she wanted ... like Cullen. She wondered if she was more confident, would men actually want to be with her, normal men, decent men, who weren't dukes and as beautifully spoken. Who were ... normal and plain like her, a man that would actually make sense to be with her. "Are you still there?" Cullen nudged her bare shoulder gently. She finally glanced up at his beautiful face, just another reminder of what she wasn't and couldn't ever be for him, no matter how much he genuinely seemed to want it. "I was just thinking, sorry. Did you say something?" "No ... you looked sort of blank and pale. You want to go for a walk, we could go to the gardens." He couldn't imagine she could get any paler, but she did. "Out? You mean out there?" She pointed at the French doors where she knew outside was. "I don't think so." "Why are you afraid?" He smiled, looking too amused for her tastes. "I'm not afraid, I'm ... cautious." She bit her lip, staring at those doors apprehensively. They led to the unknown, not exactly where she wanted to be. He tilted her chin towards him. "I'll protect you. I won't let you out of my sight, promise." She glanced at him and then the doors. "Is there anything out there that would be hazardous to my person, that you could not fix readily?" She asked him severely. "Not a thing, unless you are allergic to beautiful flowers and plants and ... moonlight." "You can see the moon?" She looked a little more enthusiastic. "Its like earth, but cleaner and much, much more magical." He rose and pulled her up by her hands. She reluctantly let him lead her through the dancing couples, while she smiled awkwardly through their stares and smiles, relieved when Nata followed them too. Never a bad thing to have a panther that liked you around, right? "When you say magical, do you mean like fairytales?" She followed him out the doors, closing them quickly behind Nata's long tail. "I suppose, do you mean like Cinderella ... I've read that." "Yes, my concern is when do the evil sorceress or big, bad wolf come along?" "Do you always see the negative in the positive?" He frowned at her, disapprovingly "I inherited it from my father." She answered, trying to look over his shoulder. "Where are the flowers, I can't see over your giant shoulders." "I don't have giant shoulders." He chuckled. "I'm five feet tall, 3 inches ... you're a giant." She muttered and gasped when he turned his body sideways so she could see. "Oh, its magnificent." A sea of moonlit flowers and creatures of earth, that seemed to lean towards the two of them fantastically. The radiance of the plants' glow amazed her deeply. She glanced up at Cullen to find him watching her in a genuinely warm gaze. He made her feel uncomfortable and ridiculous, so unwilling to let him make a comment that surely would distress her further, she moved away from him and deeper into the wonderland that was his home. She automatically began to compare this garden to gardens she'd seen on Earth. Surprised, she noticed a multitude of flowers of the Earth variety. Roses, Tulips, orchids, begonias, and lilies, and hundreds of others mingled together. But there many more she didn't recognize at all. She gazed up at the moon and just stared at it, trying to find a semblance of normal, something familiar. She loved the moon, always had. The glow and mystery of it ... Cullen reminded her of the moon slightly. There was an aura about him that drew her to him, and he was indeed a great mystery... Lunacy Edge Ch. 04 "It suits you well?" His voice whispered down her spine and she shivered involuntarily, she wondered how often that was going to happen to her when he spoke. She turned towards Cullen, disturbed to find him closer than she thought. "All flowers suit me" "If you were to stay here, with me ... you could have every flower I could find at your feet." He murmured, eyes intensely hot. She cleared her throat. "I thought we weren't going to talk like that ... I haven't agreed to marrying you, remember?" "Wishful thinking." He reached out and brushed a stray hair behind her ear. "Am I unappealing to you?" "You're not from Earth." She hedged, fidgeting with the hem of her dress. "Am I so different?" "Lets just say if a man from Earth look like you, he wouldn't be noticing me." He frowned. "Are male earthlings idiots?" "Some." She laughed, nervously. "I ... there are plenty prettier women that I, Cullen. Millions." "I doubt that." He slid his hands up her hands and onto her shoulders, trapping her. "I find you the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." She scoffed, but he continued before she could retort. "When you smile, it's ... gorgeous, I've never seen a woman smile like you do. With your whole self, it makes me want to make you smile forever. Can I?" He caressed the bare skin he held. She shook her head slowly. "Please don't ask questions like that, its not fair." "I've been waiting for you all my life, is it fair of you to make me wait any longer, Hailey?" He sighed and closed his eyes. "I apologize. That was ... uncalled for. I respect your wish to wait and get to know me. I just feel as if I know you all I need to. I want you so badly, I ... I'm impatient. I'm sorry." "Its okay. I wish that I could just help you, and give myself to you as you want, but I can't. I really don't know you at all, and it is difficult for me to believe that you really want me. I do not need reassurance of words but something different. Perhaps we should just let things happen as they will." "I can't help myself when I am near you I want to take you in my arms and..." He pressed his forehead against hers. "I want to hear you sigh with pleasure from my touch, to call my name out in need ... to rip the..." "My grace! Your father has sent me to summon you for dinner, my grace." A voice called out loudly. Cullen cursed under his breath. "I'm sorry." He stepped back and dropped his hands to his sides, hating to see the dazed confusion in her eyes as he did so. He reached out and took her waist in his hands, and pulled her body against his and kissed her. Before she could respond in kind, he pulled away breathing heavily from just that small kiss. Wanting her badly, and knowing she could not give him what he desperately wanted, he took her hand and led her back inside, hoping that getting to know the real him and accepting him wouldn't take too long. * Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy it. And an special thanks to David for editing!