The day of departure had finally arrived, and Clover, her brother, and her cousin prepared to return to the mortal realm. Maribelle and Isildur were overcome with sadness, knowing they would deeply miss Clover.
As they gathered around the flat rock, where the sigil was drawn, Clover was surprised to see the princes join them. She shot her brother a questioning glance, but he remained silent.
Her gaze drifted to the princes, and the vampire prince caught her eye, winking at her. Clover's cheeks flushed a deep red, rivaling the color of ripe tomatoes.
While Clover was still reeling from the vampire prince's flirtation, Titus shot Christopher a deadly glare, as if daring him to make another move. Vernon, however, simply chuckled at the exchange.
Prince Vernon positioned himself at the center of the group and began to recite the incantation to open a portal to the mortal realm. As they prepared for the portal to open, Raven subtly copied the sigil using her powers. The mark materialized as a tattoo on Clover's back, searing itself into her skin with a burning sensation as it became permanent.
The portal deposited them in the heart of the Hallow forest, far from the Hallow river. However, Clover was oblivious to their surroundings, overwhelmed by the intensifying searing sensation that made her appear feverish.
She mentally cursed her situation, having underestimated Raven's recovery time. "Damn, I thought Raven was still in stasis," she inwardly lamented, "but that entity has recovered more quickly than I anticipated."
Clover's vision began to blur, and her legs wobbled beneath her. Her brother, Brandon, quickly wrapped a supporting arm around her waist, concern etched on his face. "Clover, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
"I just feel like I'm catching a fever," Clover said, attempting to reassure her brother.
Prince Christopher turned to Titus. "Why don't you teleport us like you did in the immortal realm?"
Titus hesitated. "I need to know our destination first. I'll have to access one of your memories to determine the location."
Brandon and Bernard exchanged uneasy glances. "With due respect, Your Highness, I won't allow you to search my memories," Brandon said firmly. Bernard nodded in agreement.
Titus's gaze shifted to Clover. "Fine, I'll search Clover's memories instead, since she's my mate and has nothing to hide from me."
"But, Your Highness, you can't do that without her permission," Brandon protested.
"It's okay, brother, I have nothing to hide," Clover reassured him, still struggling to catch her breath.
Titus stepped forward, his hand gently coming to rest on Clover's forehead. As he searched for their destination, he uncovered a memory that Clover had desperately tried to bury. Titus's eyes flickered with interest, but he said nothing.
"Come closer," he instructed, and as they gathered around him, he teleported the group, reappearing at the Levine residence.
Inside the Levine residence, Victor sat beside his wife, Eleanor, in their bedroom. Helena had been bedridden since Clover's disappearance, consumed by guilt over her promise to Clover's mother to care for her daughter. The weight of that promise now felt like a crushing burden.
Mildred, Clover's cousin, also grappled with guilt, having been with Clover on the day she vanished. Eleanor struggled to find the right words to comfort her niece, as she herself found it difficult to cope with the silence and uncertainty.
Victor had suggested therapy, but Eleanor refused, insisting that she would only find peace when Clover was safely back home. To fill the emptiness, Mildred had moved in with them, finding solace in sleeping in Clover's bedroom. The presence of another person in the house brought a measure of comfort, alleviating the oppressive silence.
Mildred knocked gently on the bedroom door. "Uncle, Aunty, I've brought you lunch," she announced, waiting for a response.
"Come in, sweetie," her uncle replied.
As Mildred entered, a familiar pang of guilt washed over her. Her aunt, once full of life and warmth, now lay frail and gaunt, her body weakened by stress and her refusal to eat. The sight filled Mildred with remorse, despite her uncle and aunt's reassurances that she was blameless and the kidnappers were the ones at fault.
Mildred didn't feel reassured, and she quietly placed the lunch tray on the headboard before exiting the room. As soon as she closed the door behind her, she heard a knock at the entrance door downstairs. Knowing that only the Elite Force from the Guardian Headquarters typically visited, she hurried to answer it.
"I'm coming!" she exclaimed, rushing downstairs to let them in. Maybe today would bring good news, she thought, shrugging her shoulders as she reached for the door handle.
As she swung the door open, her eyes widened in shock. Standing on the porch, beaming with a bright smile, was her missing cousin, Clover. Mildred's eyes welled up with tears as Clover opened her arms, and they exclaimed in unison, "Mildred! Clover?"
Mildred's composure crumbled, and she burst into heart-wrenching sobs as she flung herself into Clover's open arms. She wept uncontrollably, overcome with relief and joy.
As Mildred hiccupped on Clover's shoulder, Bernard teased, "I see you've never liked me. You won't even welcome me back after nearly a year away. What a sister I have."
Mildred playfully retorted, "Ooh, shut up!" and wrapped her arms around Bernard and Brandon, kissing their cheeks.
That's when she noticed they weren't alone. Behind Brandon and Bernard stood the most striking men she had ever laid eyes on. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she realized she was staring.
"Ooh, sorry! Come on in," she said, hastily stepping aside to let them enter the house, her eyes darting away in an attempt to compose herself.
"Nothing's more beautiful than a family reunion," Christopher said with a charming wink at Mildred, who blushed and hid her face on Clover's shoulder.
Titus shook his head, amused by his friend's teasing, but also feeling a pang of sympathy for Mildred, who had already caught the vampire's attention.
Mildred disappeared upstairs and returned with her uncle, Victor, in tow. However, Victor stopped midway on the stairs, his eyes fixed on the group below. There, in the center, stood his beloved Clover, the little angel he thought he had lost forever.
Overcome with emotion, Victor rushed down the stairs, Clover meeting him halfway. They wrapped each other in a tight, tearful hug, reunited at last.
"How I've missed you, my little one," Victor said, his voice trembling as he wiped away a stray tear. "I thought I'd lost you forever."
"I'm home now, Dad. Don't worry anymore," Clover reassured him.
Victor's eyes welled up with gratitude as he hugged Brandon and Bernard. "Thank you for bringing my daughter home safely," he said, his tone sincere.
Clover's expression turned concerned. "Dad, where's Mom?" she asked, a frown forming on her face.
Victor's sigh was heavy with emotion. "She's in the bedroom, but she's not been well. In fact, she's never been the same since your disappearance. You can go see her, but I must warn you, she's... different now."
Clover nodded and left with Mildred to visit her mother's bedroom. Once the girls were gone, Victor turned to his son and nephew, his eyes questioning, as he looked at the newcomers, but the boys remained silent.
With a sigh Brandon stepped forward and he gestured for them to sit down in the sitting room, he beginning the introductions. "Let's get started, Dad. This is Victor Levine, my father," he said, turning to the guests. "And, Dad, these are the princes from the immortal realm."
Brandon gestured to each prince in turn. "From the left, we have Prince Vernon from the Shifters' Kingdom, Prince Christopher from the Dreamwalker Kingdom, and lastly, Prince Titus from the Dark Kingdom, who is also my sister's mate."
Victor's eyes widened in surprise. "What mate?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
"I know, Dad, but there's nothing we can do when the fates have decided," Brandon replied, a hint of resignation in his voice. He paused, collecting his thoughts before continuing, "Bernard has also found his mate - the girl who took care of Clover when she stumbled into the immortal realm."
Prince Titus's voice was filled with conviction as he addressed Victor Levine. "Mr. Levine, I know you don't trust us, but I truly care about your daughter, and she'll be my queen when I ascend the throne." His words conveyed a sense of sincerity and responsibility, as if he was genuinely committed to Clover's well-being and their future together.
Victor's concern deepened, and he addressed Titus directly. "But Clover's still young to have a husband, let alone be a queen,"
Victor's question hung in the air, a direct challenge to Prince Titus's intentions. "How long are you willing to court her before marriage?" he asked, his tone firm but concerned, as he awaited the prince's response.
Prince Titus's response was direct and to the point. "For a month, then I'll proceed with marriage," he said, his words implying a sense of urgency and determination, leaving little room for debate or hesitation.
"That's too short, and she just returned from god knows where, " Her mother would still want to spend time with her."
Prince Titus's expression turned frustrated as he explained his situation to Victor Levine. "I know, Mr. Levine, but my father, the Demon King, gave me a year to find my mate, and I'm running out of time. I have only three months left, and if I don't bring my mate to him, I'll be forced to marry someone I don't want," he said, his voice laced with a sense of urgency and desperation.
With a sense of resignation, Victor sighed and nodded in understanding. "I'll discuss this with my wife and consider your proposal," he said, his voice measured. He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of respect towards Prince Titus, before looking up again.
"Prince Titus's expression softened as he addressed Victor Levine. "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Levine. I promise I won't keep Clover away from you. I'll always bring her here in the mortal realm for visits," he said, his words a gesture of goodwill and reassurance.
As the princes departed, Victor couldn't shake off the feeling of melancholy that settled in. He knew that he and his wife would only have a short time, just a month, before their daughter would leave with Prince Titus to the Immortal Realm, and the thought filled him with a deep sense of longing.