Marie leaned against the balcony in her room. Lost in the scenery. She gazed into the distance trying to recall what happened the night she passed out. It had been days since she lost her power and she felt hopeless.
Her room had become her haven that she retreated to until she could find the reasons for everything that happened.
The only person she allowed in her room was Mabel. Something about Mabel calmed her. If Marie would trust anyone it would be her.
Sargon tried visiting her and inviting her to have meals with him, but she refused. She needed to find out what happened. She needed to stay away from everyone until she learned more.
Sargon had shifted into his wolf that night so his recollection of what happened wasn't as clear as Marie had hoped. His role was to protect everyone if things got out of control and that's exactly what he did. He did not remember much more than she recalled from that night, so being upset with him was pointless.
She thought about Sybil. How could she block her power from afar if she was the chosen one? Sybil would have had to be in the same room with her if she would try anything. This made no sense. Was there someone else trying to take away her power?
Marie read her mother's spellbook from back to front, several times, but she didn't find any answers. She tried to cast a spell to see if she could reach her mother, but she couldn't. She felt all alone and scared. How could she protect herself without her magic? If anyone who knew she was the chosen found out she lost her power, she would be in real danger.
Walking back into her room, she decided to take a shower and get ready. She looked at herself in the mirror and was more pleased with the way she looked than when she first woke up from being unconscious for five days. Her color had returned, and the dark circles under her eyes were disappearing. She began looking like herself again.
She put on a cobalt blue dress and combed her hair into a ponytail. She put on a touch of makeup and was ready. She knew exactly what she needed to do.
"Do you know where Sargon is?" Marie asked Mabel when she saw her as she walked out of the room.
"I believe he is a meeting with the council. He should be finished shortly. Do you need something, my lady?"
"Yes. Can you have Sargon meet me in the garden when he is finished with his meeting?"
"Of course. I will let him know."
"Thank you, Mabel." She said as she left her room.
Marie continued down the halls after giving Mabel instructions. She knew this encounter would be difficult, but it was necessary.
Her heart sank as she stopped at Harold's room. She couldn't wait on Sargon to take her to see him. She needed to see him now. The guard allowed her into the room and closed the door behind her without any questions.
She walked into Harold's room over to his bed. He lay there in his wolf form breathing steady but asleep. Marie tried to feel his energy with her hands hovering over his body, but she couldn't feel his wolf or his human. She couldn't feel anything.
She fell into the chair next to Harold's bed and let her face fall into her hands as tears erupted. Lifting her head from her hands, she placed her hand on Harold's arm and moved closer to him.
"I am so sorry, Harold. If you can hear me, I promise you I will find a way to fix this. Just hold on a little longer. I know you can do this. I know I can do this." She whispered, then stood up and left.
After leaving Harold, Marie walked to the garden and head to the swing. She always felt free swinging in that spot. A few moments later, Sargon appeared in the garden behind her, slipping his arms around her waist as he stopped the swing.
"I have missed you." He whispered in her ear as he grazed his lips across her cheek, placing sweet kisses on her, trailing down to her neck. Marie's core tightened and her heartbeat pounded at his touch.
The effect he had on her was so strong, it didn't matter whether she was marked or not. She knew their bond would not easily be broken, no matter what happened.
Sargon began pushing the swing gently. "I thought it would take forever for you to speak to me again." He said.
Marie remained quiet for the moment. She enjoyed Sargon pushing her on the swing as her thoughts flowed through her mind.
"I need to leave. There are things that I need to take care of that I cannot do here." She said, plainly.
"What is it that you need that I cannot provide?"
"There are some things I must do alone. I have lost my magic and I need to go back to where things make sense to me. I will be in danger if I do not get it back."
Sargon remained quiet and thoughtful.
"Marie, you do not have any power. If you leave, I cannot protect you. If anything happens to you, I could never forgive myself. Are you sure there isn't another way?" He questioned her with a furrowed brown.
"There is no other way. You cannot protect me from the forces that are out to destroy me. I have to figure things out my way and that cannot be done here. I will return as soon as I find out what is happening to me."
"My greatest fear is losing you." He said, with a pain in his voice that broke Marie's heart.
"I wish you could be there with me, but you can't. It makes no sense to put us both in danger. You have a kingdom to run." She said.
Sargon was at a loss for words. He couldn't imagine not being with Marie after all that had happened, but she was a witch and he had to respect what she felt she needed to do.
"Alright. Whatever you need to do, I will support you. I don't agree with this, but it is what you want. Please do not hesitate to call me if you need anything at all."
"I won't." She said as he pushed her swing in silence.
"Will you take the car?" He asked breaking the silence.
"No. I will need one of your men to drop me off. I don't need any sign of royalty around me for this." She replied.
"I will take you myself."
Marie knew it would be more difficult with Sargon taking her home, but she wouldn't refuse. She respected his feelings and knew that somethings were just unavoidable.
They spent a little while together in the garden until Marie left to her room to pack her things.
After packing her things, she left to meet Sargon towards the front entrance of the castle. Before she could get far with her things, Sargon's guards arrived and took them away from her and carried them to the car.
Sargon opened the car door for her, ushering her into the seat. He then walked around to enter his side of the vehicle to begin their journey to Marie's home.
The drive was silent most of the way while Sargon held Marie's hand as he drove. The drive seemed shorter than when she drove herself. She didn't mind since she felt a longing for him. Her body wanted him desperately, but she fought the feeling as much as she could. Now was not the time to be reckless.
Sargon pulled the car over into the driveway of Marie's quaint home. The sun had begun to set, casting rays of gold and pink over her land.
"This feels so wrong to me." Sargon said with a clenched jaw.
"I know, but this is the only way I know that I can at least try to find answers."
"I feel like I should be here with you. I don't trust what is happening. Someone is trying to harm you and it's driving me crazy that I cannot help you."
Unable to contain herself any longer, Marie lifted herself out of her seat and straddled Sargon. She grabbed his face in her hands, kissing him deeply. Sargon grabbed the back of her hair taught, pulling her tightly to him as she pressed her body against his, widening her straddle.
She reached for his buckle eagerly, releasing it as she allowed him to be exposed to her. Reaching between her legs, he shifted her underwear to the side as he slid two fingers into her. She tried to hold back her moans as she lowered herself onto his fingers, covering them with her warmth. Removing his fingers, Sargon lifted her up slightly as he slowly entered her.
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly as she rocked back and forth on top of him vigorously, taking him in entirely.
Sargon placed his hands on her bottom as she rocked while he pushed her deeper onto him as she released a cry while he filled her up. "Don't stop." She whispered breathlessly.
Sargon could feel that she was already at her peak as he wrapped his arms through hers, pulling her down on him firmly, while she released all over him. Seconds later, he released, as her body collapsed onto his.