Chapter 983: Raphael Returns

Rowena Roseland sat by the window on her tower. Even though she could return to her beautiful room, she chose to stay here.

She felt trapped and yet incredibly lonely. Her hands rested underneath her chin as she stared out at the night skies and tried not to sigh.

Everything that happened was because of King Draco's desire to achieve his goal—and Rowena was dragged into it. However, there was not one moment where Rowena longed to see Raphael again. She missed him terribly.

And then it happened.

After what seemed to be a long amount of time, Raphael appeared inside of Rowena's chambers.

He sent two messengers to deliver the formal invitation to King Draco but he wanted to see Rowena right away.

Raphael saw his fiancee looking glum and he quietly approached her, right until he was close enough to wrap his arms around her waist.

He planted a soft kiss on her nape and greeted her. "Rowena."

Rowena froze in place, but then realized who it was.

"Raphael?" she asked, startled.

"Yes," Raphael said.

Rowena spun around and engulfed herself into his arms. 

"I missed you!" she cried out.

"I'm here now, Rowena." Raphael gently hugged her and then kissed away her tears.

"Ahh, I apologize that you have to see this." Rowena brushed the rest of her tears and smiled. "You were only gone for a month but it felt much longer."

"It's alright, I've missed you terribly as well." Raphael confessed sincerely. "Every moment I was away from your side, you were the one thing that was on my mind."

"Oh, really?" Rowena chuckled a little. "That seems impossible."

"Anything is possible." Raphael reminded her.

"Indeed. Especially because you are a god," Rowena quietly said.

"But I think I'm missing something."

"Missing something?"

"When a man returns home after a long time, there's a certain greeting that happens, right?" Raphael lightly teased.

Rowena's eyes were a little puffy and red as Raphael gently touched her cheek with his hand.

She couldn't help but smile at his words. Rowena couldn't describe just how fortunate she was to be with someone like Raphael.

Before she knew, Rowena's arms wrapped around Raphael's neck as he pulled her in for a kiss. Their lips touched and soon they started to make out together, Raphael's tongue brushing against Rowena's lips for entrance.

After what seemed to be a long amount of time, the two of them parted away. A string of saliva was visible from where they separated, Rowena wiped the corner of her lips and hoped her face wasn't as flushed as she thought it was.

"Um..."

"So how were things in the past month?" Raphael asked sheepishly.

Rowena led Raphael to one of the chairs and tried not to slip up. She remembered her father's threats clearly and while she yearned to tell him everything—the fact that her father would drag her down and ensure Julian's life was in danger made her stop. Besides… she needed Raphael to keep wanting her so she could use his power to end her father's life.

"Things... were alright," Rowena said.

"Really?" Raphael looked at her doubtfully.

"Yes, yes." Rowena snapped out of her reverie and did her best to sound convincing. Only someone crazy would try to lie to a god, but Rowena was already in on it and knew she needed to play her cards well or risk losing it all.

"Actually, what about you?" Rowena asked. "I do not think that it was easy to convince your father and mother of... us. You're immortal and I'm—"

The easiest way to change a conversation was by asking someone else to talk about themselves.

"Please don't talk yourself down, Rowena." Raphael reached out and grabbed her hand. 

"But…"

Raphael gave her hand a gentle squeeze and kissed the back of her palm. 

"While you are right that there were some hesitations, unsureness when it came to them accepting that I loved you and wanted to take you to Cretea—I'm sure that once they meet you and come to get to know you? They'll fall in love with you, as much as I had fallen for you. You are an amazing woman, Rowena, and I want you to know that."

Rowena's face turned hot. 

Whether it was embarrassment or guilt and shame, she didn't quite know.

However, she just knew that Raphael's parents were undoubtedly upset that a mere mortal like her managed to make their golden boy fall for someone like her.

Rowena faked a smile and continued the

ir talk.

"I... did they make you do something in the past month for them to agree? I don't think a conversation is enough to prove things."

"You sound exactly like my father in that regard," Raphael chuckled. "Of course he doubted me. He assumed I was merely infatuated and proposed a series of difficult tests—"

"Difficult even for you?" Rowena raised a brow.

Raphael cleared his throat. 

"Well, when your father can bestow and take away powers—or request me to not use them while I was trying to prove the sincerity of my feelings towards you, a task does become difficult."

"Oh."

"For gods like me who have grown up with magic and power at our fingertips, to have it ripped away from us is difficult. And it was why I believe my father presumed that I would quit and give up. Perhaps I'd realize that my feelings were nothing more than a foolish young god's whims. However, every moment, every second, and every task, you were the only thing on my mind, Rowena."

"Raphael... I don't know what to say," Rowena smiled weakly. 

She didn't deserve him.

"You don't have to say anything at all. I'm just happy to be reunited with you again." Raphael smiled and held her hand. 

Rowena tried to blink back her tears.

"And after this, once we're married—you don't have to worry about anything else anymore. No more parents who keep pushing their wills on you, no more evil people who try to devastate your life for their wicked purposes—I will be there for you and we will get through this together. That is my vow to you, Rowena Roseland. Through thick or thin, I will always be by your side."

.

.

.

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From Missrealitybites:

Seeing how awful Rowena's father was, I am happy to know that in her next life Rowena met a loving and doting father in Mars Strongmoor.

By the way, we are close to the end of this story and I can't wait to go back to the future when Harlow remembers everything, be reunited with Raphael, and returns to Draec to her parents and family.

Once Harlow's story ends, I can write my next two books with relief. I have two planned. "The Beast Prince Replacement Bride" (historical fantasy romance similar to "The Cursed Prince") and "My Daddy Long Legs Is A Vampire" (contemporary billionaire story, similar to "The Alchemists").

To give you an idea of what my next story is like. This is the synopsis:

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THE BEAST PRINCE'S REPLACEMENT BRIDE

A centuries-old curse bound the ruler of Westerland, The Pendragons, to the House of Delorean, a small noble family in the East. The Pendragon heir could only have children with women from Delorean.

That's why, every few decades they would ask for a princess to be sent to Westerland to marry a Pendragon heir. Sometimes, the marriage would turn into love. However, most often, it would not.

The women were only seen as tributes to the Pendragons and machines to produce the next heirs. In exchange, the Delorean would get protection from their enemies.

However, one day, the princess who was supposed to be sent to Westerland decided to run away with a knight she loved. She didn't want to marry the new Pendragon heir who was rumored to be a scary and ruthless beast.

The Delorean had to find a replacement bride within one day. Fortunately for them, and unfortunately for Ines, they found the young woman thrown in front of their castle all of a sudden. She was milking cows in her grandparents' farm in Midwest when she was suddenly transported to this strange new world.

Still confused about what was happening, Ines was forced by the Delorean to lie to the Pendragons that she was their daughter, otherwise, she would be killed.

She was sent to Westerland to meet her husband, whom she married by proxy, to consummate their marriage. Ines tried to stall and find ways to escape but all her efforts failed until she met Aleric Pendragon.

It was love at first sight on her part.

Sadly, on their first night together, Aleric firmly said he would never mark Ines as his mate. He only needed her to bear him an heir because of the curse that bound his family to the Delorean. He already loved another woman.

How would Ines survive life in the enemy's den, at the same time love a man who didn't love her back? Could she save herself before the Pendragons realize she would never give them children because she was NOT a Delorean?

Can she return to the modern world? Would Aleric finally love her back?

** The story will have a lot of angst but also will be very thrill

ing and sexy.

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Anyway... I haven't written a single chapter for that one. I feel guilty about writing a new story when I still owe you this one. So, let's wait for June. Once Harlow's story is coming to a close, Ines' story will start.

By the way, have you read "The Alpha's Replacement Bride" and "Odette & The Cursed King"? Those two are my current favorite stories and I love love love the male leads (Rion and Liam) from both books. If you need a good read while waiting for my books, those are really good choices.

Please read the books and see me in the comment section. I need fangirling buddies!