Chapter Four Saraya's POV

I stood transfixed on the spot. My attention was solely on him. My heart thudded faster in my chest. The only sound evident in my ears was my breathing. 

How this was possible was beyond me. It was him, the man in my dreams - Dane! And just like every single time I had dreamt of him—except when he was setting my body ablaze with passion—he was scowling at me. He acted like every single person in the room was invisible as he marched and came to stand just by the altar. He didn’t attempt to climb up. It was evident there was no reason for it. He was tall enough to tower over us all even with our advantageous few inches of elevation. 

“Really, Saraya? Isn’t this taking ‘let’s see other people' too far?” he said. His voice was exactly as I remembered -- deep, rough and sexy. His exotic hazel eyes were as intense.

“I … ” I croaked, searching his mesmerising gaze. I found I couldn’t get any words out. 

He reached forward to wrap his fingers around my forearm, causing my skin to tingle as he drew me closer to him. My chest quivered. He brought his face to my face level, so his eyes were burrowing into mine. “Did you let this … son of Gala, touch you?” he asked with gritted teeth.

“What?” I uttered in a barely audible voice.

“You heard me!” he said. His voice was low and grave.

“You mean Jamie?”

“Yes, Saraya, the human. Did you let him touch you?!” he literally snarled at me now. I swallowed. Wondering why he would refer to Jamie as ‘the son of Gala and the human’. Does that mean he wasn’t a human?! 

I took a calming breath, mustering the courage to speak. “Not that it is any of your business, but no, we decided to wait,” I replied with a bravado I was far from feeling. 

“Good.”

“W - why?” I stammered.

“Because you just saved his life!” he snapped.

“What – What do you mean?” I asked. He ignored me and turned to the five Priests,  bowing on the floor and praying. 

“There is no need to invoke the human God, I only came for what is mine!” he yelled. The murmurings stopped instantly. I took a fast, shaky breath. ‘Came for what is his?!’ the words resounded in my head. ‘Christ, what is happening?!’  

I thought to myself -- or at least I thought I did. But then he jerked a gaze at me, glowering and said, “Don’t you dare bring him into this!” 

I swallowed -- hard.

“Sir, Uhm, please who are you and why have you interrupted our wedding?” I heard Jamie say and I darted a glance his way. I had almost forgotten he was there. He had been quiet all the while. He too must have been shell-shocked and when I took a glance at the rest of the people in the church, I found he wasn’t the only one. Our friends were looking on with their mouths literally agape. 

“What is happening, human, is that you are this close," he paused, gesturing, "to getting your heart plucked out of your chest, and held in my hand till it stops quivering,” he replied in that unique way of his of enunciating words which somewhat made it more impactful and intimidating.

Jamie gasped and skittered backwards, tripping over his own foot. 

“Jamie!” I called out with concern and tried to go to him but the steel-like grip around my arm didn’t give. I reverted my gaze to him. 

“Let me go, he needs me!”

“Really? Is this the life you want? Is this what you want? To spend your life with this … human? To choose a second chance mate?” he demanded in rage. My chest shook. Although he sounded angry, there was an underlined vulnerability in his words that made me pause.

“You sound like there is another life … but this is the one I know,” I said with feelings, searching his gaze.

“This is the one you chose, Saraya," he replied, sounding somewhat hurt. "And if this is it for you. Then you will do us both a favour...”

“What favour?” I asked hesitantly. 

“You will set me free—”

“Set you free, I don’t understand," I replied with trepidation. An unexplainable ache constricted my heart. 

“You will,” he promised, tugged me by the arm, making me swing towards him and then he lifted me up–like he did at the time in the alley–and placed me over his shoulder. 

“What are you doing?!” I screamed.  A gasp echoed in the room. 

“Taking you back home, where you belong!”

“Wait, what?! Let go of me!” I screamed, struggling to get off of his shoulder. 

Jamie made the attempt to get up and he turned in his direction, pointed a finger at him and snarled, "Do you have a death wish?!" 

Jamie slowly lowered to the floor, darting me an apologetic glance. He looked terrified and he should be. Dane was quite a sight. Attempting to even face off with him would be nothing but sheer madness. 

He marched to a corner of the church and said, "Take us home, Saraya."

"Wait, what, how?! I don't even…" I said but then he hoisted me off of his shoulder, holding me up by my waist and then he drew my face close to his. 

"Do it! Or else, I will go back there and separate your Jamie's limbs from his body!"

'Gosh! This guy may be unbelievably and out of this world attractive, but he was such a bully and lacked manners!' I thought as I scowled back at him. "Leave him out of this!" I yelled, leaning close to his face. 

"Take. Us. Home!" he replied.

"Are you aware you are annoying and a bully!"

"Do it!" he snapped unexpectedly, jerking his face even closer still, causing my heart to lunge with fear in the wall of my chest. I don't know how it happened, perhaps it was the fear he geared in me, but I found myself engulfed in a blue flame as I flinched and then glowered at him the more. I wasn't even aware of what was happening. I was focused on him and the obnoxious manner he was treating me. 

"You are rude!"

"And you, little one, are getting on my last nerve!" he yelled. 

The feeling to do him bodily harm welled inside me. I felt my skin tingling and my breathing came laboured and fast. 

"Stop -- yelling at me!" I screamed. A blinding light engulfed us both. I gasped. Before I could blink. I felt in motion -- in a dazzling, speedy way. 

Fear clutched my heart and in reflex, I reached forward and wrapped my arms around his neck. Holding on for my dear life.