The Red String Of Faith

A/N:This chapter is beta by Kylee. Thank you Kylee.
To shadow123 thank you for offering to beta my stories. I'm sorry I have to decline. Maybe next time.:)


Chapter Twenty:

The look on Sebastian’s face showed that he wasn't at all pleased with his dad’s presence. But as the King he would have to bear the man’s presence. “What is your reason for stepping foot in my country Davis?” He demanded in a cold, unfeeling voice.

“ There is a reason why I'm here Sebastian and I already stated it in my messages to you before I came,” Davis answered. Then he added “Its been a long while since I last saw you Sebastian. I can see that time did not change your feelings towards me.”

“Some scars are just too deep to heal,” Sebastian commented in a cold voice. “What made you think that I would forget what you did to me and Theron and Father?” he added.

Davis shook his head. “I never once thought that you would forgive me Sebastian,” he sighed. “Let’s put our personal feelings aside. I came here to ask you why Caelane was targeted and who was the man that murdered one of my men.”

“If you want to know who he, is find out for yourself Davis. As for the reason why Caelane was taken, the answer is simple, he is my consort’s half brother. If you want to know more use that body of yours to get the information you need Davis, after all you are an expert that,” Sebastian commented with a cruel grin.

Davis shook his head at his son. “ Sebastian you have not changed for the better but for the worse. Where is the sweet caring son of mine from back then?”

Sebastian got off his throne and walked over to his dad. “That idiot from back then is dead. The Sebastian standing before you now is a new person. A strong and unfeeling person that you created on the day you left him and his brother, not to mention father. You left us for another man. You are nothing but a whore, a man that got his position as an adviser from sleeping with the last king of Sythia,” he whispered.

Then he walked out of the courtroom, wanting to get as far away from his dad as possible. Past memories came racing back to him at full force. He shook them away and cursed the man for showing up.

Davis ran out of the courtroom into the courtyard. He stared into the pond beneath his feet, his reflection staring back at him. He didn't even realize that he was crying. He recalled the day that he was drugged and Sebastian and his husband found him in bed in the arms of another man. A man he had never seen before in his life. A man who was a stranger to him claiming to be his secret lover.

Tears slid down his cheek as he recalled that awful day. Sebastian and his husband had accused him of being a whore without even listening to his explanation. His whole world came crumbling down that day, leaving him no choice but to leave his two kids. It was only after he left that he found out the truth. He was set up by his husband’s second consort Ander’s dad. By then it was too late, and he was too hurt by the husband that he loved with all his heart. He swore to never forgive his husband for not believing in his innocence.

“Are you alright?” a kind and gentle voice asked from beside him. Davis looked up into kind eyes staring at him with concern. “I'm fine. Thanks for asking,” he replied with a small smile.

Jamie took out his handkerchief and wiped the man tears with it. His kind gesture surprised Davis. Jamie smiled at the man. “I saw you standing here for a long while, staring into open space and I became worried that you might do some thing you would regret,” he remarked.

“Thank you for your concern. May I know who you are?” Davis asked the kind young man.

“I'm Jamie, the King’s third consort.” answered Jamie.

Davis was surprised by what he just learned. “You are the King of Zhanthia’s third consort Jamie?”

“Yes.”

‘This kind young man is Caelane half brother,’ he thought.

Jamie looked the man in the eyes, “Could you tell me that is if you don't mind, I want to know why you wear such a sad expression on your face?”

Eli interrupted the two before Davis could respond to the boy’s question. “Jamie, its time for your lesson with Demetrius.” Eli called out as he went over to the two.

Jamie excused himself and left for his lesson. Before turning the corner he turned back and yelled out to Davis, “It was nice meeting you.”

Davis yelled back, “It was nice meeting you too consort Jamie.” And he meant it. He watched Jamie disappear around the corner before turning to Eli.

“Eli how are you?”

“Fine as usual, Davis,” answered Eli. Then he let out a sigh. “Davis, you really shouldn't come back here. Sebastian’s feelings towards you haven't changed a bit, but if you wait a bit longer I think that Jamie could change his heart and mind and make him listen to your explanation about what really happened that day.”

Davis shook his head, “It’s all over already Eli. I don't want to drag the past back. Let the past stay in the past. I am happy with things the way they are. As long as Sebastian is a good king, I am satisfied,” he remarked. “Eli, could you tell me more about Jamie?” he added.

Eli smiled, “If you want to know more about Jamie, I am more than happy to tell you everything you need to know about him.”

Davis smiled, and the two of them sat down on a bench under a tree. Davis silently listening to every word Eli told him about Jamie. His smile keep getting bigger and bigger, his heart leaped with joy that his son loved a young man as kind as Jamie.

After finishing his lesson, Jamie returned to his chamber. A second after he returned, Eli entered the room with his dinner. He smiled and went to sit down on the chair. What's there to eat tonight?” Jamie asked.

“Now that you are carrying, I asked the cook to prepare a healthy meal for you Jamie,” answered Eli.

“Don't you usually do the cooking yourself Eli?” Jamie asked, finding it odd that the castle cook was actually doing the cooking instead of Eli.

Eli let out a soft laugh. “I will be gone tomorrow morning and won't be able to cook for you till I return Jamie. But don't worry, the cook is trust worthy. I made sure of it. I don't want the king to go into a mad rage if something like last time happened to you while I was away.”

Jamie laughed then. “I think I know what you mean Eli.” He picked up his fork and knife and was about to eat when he saw what was for dessert. Caelane loved to eat apple pies he thought.

Eli sat down across from the boy, “What’s with that look, Jamie?” he asked.

Jamie put his fork and knife down, “I was just thinking about Caelane, wondering if he is well.”

Eli reached over the tables and place his hand on top of the boy. “Caelane is a good kid, nothing bad will happen to him. He will be back soon before you even know it.” It took a lot of his effort not to tell the boy the truth about what happened to Caelane.

“Eli do you know that sad man from this afternoon?” Jamie asked before he bit into his food.

“Yes I do. He is the King’s dad.” answered Eli and he waited. Sure enough, the boy asked him the question he didn't want to answer but knew that he would have to tell the boy.

“Why is he so sad then Eli, shouldn't he be happy that he is here with his son the King?”

Eli took a deep breath and told the boy the story he heard from his father regarding Davis. Jamie listen silently to the whole thing. When Eli was done explaining everything to him, he put his fork and knife down.

“It’s funny how we always believe what we see with our eyes without once thinking that our eyes are also weapons that could betray us and lead us to the wrong conclusion,” Jamie commented.

“Jamie what are you trying to say.”

“I will tell you later Eli. I think that Sebastian is the one who needs to hear this more then you. I think that it is time he made up with his dad. I don't want him to regret it later when his dad is no longer with him.”

Whenever Jamie called the king by his name, Eli knew that Jamie was serious.

After Eli left, Jamie sat down in front of his dressing table and ran his comb down his hair, humming softly to himself. Sebastian walked in, closing the door behind himself. He went over to the boy and took the comb from him. Slowly but gently he ran the comb through the boy’s soft black hair.

“Your highness, I got a letter today from Devin. He wrote to me letting me know that my dad was in Sythia.”

Sebastian stopped what he was doing and bent down on his knees. He looked the boy straight in the eyes. “And what is it you want me to do Jamie?” he asked softly.

Jamie put his arms around the king’s neck, “I was wondering if you could send Nicholas there. Devin stated in the letter that he missed his brother very much. And that Nicholas would be a big help in helping him find Caelane.”

Here Sebastian was trying to keep the truth from the boy, but the boy still found out the truth about what happened to Caelane. He really should kill his messenger for delivering the letter to Jamie without his permission.

“Very well, if that is what you wish Jamie. But we will have to wait for Nicholas to return to Zhanthia first before we can send him to Sythia.”

Jamie leaned in and rested the side of his face against the king’s warm chest. “Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me.”

“Anything for you Jamie.”

“Your highness do you believe everything you see with your eyes?” Jamie asked.

“Yes.”

“Can I ask you something your highness?”

“What is it?” asked Sebastian.

“If one day you found me in bed with another man claiming to be my secret lover, would you take their word for it and accuse me of betraying you?” Jamie asked.

“You? Never. Jamie, you don't have it in you to betray me. But I would kill the man that laid his hand on you.”

“Then why do you believe that your dad was unfaithful to your father?” Jamie asked.

Sebastian pulled Jamie away and stared down at him. “You talked to my dad? What did that man tell you?” he demanded.

“He told me nothing Sebastian. I didn't even know he was your dad when I approached him to comfort him when he was crying. Eli was the one who told me that he was your dad.”

Sebastian’s face softened. “Did you say that my dad cried? Why on earth would he cry?”

“Because you hurt him Sebastian. This I am sure of. Sebastian, as your consort, let me give you a word of advice that I learned from a kind old man who looked after me a long time ago.”

“And what is that?” asked Sebastian with his arms crossed in front of him.

“Don't believe whatever you see with your eyes as the truth. The truth can only be seen with your heart. Your eyes can lie as well as tell you the truth, but it is your heart that will never betray you,” said Jamie.

Sebastian was speechless, and so was Eli who just happened to enter the room at that very moment. Words could not express how he felt about the boy’s advice to the King. And from the look on the King’s face, Eli knew that Jamie’s words had hit him hard. He quietly put the jug of water down and left the room. Outside the door, Eli suddenly recalled the conversation he had with Conor that day. He only now came to realize that his and Conor’s eyes had lied to them. What they were made to see was what Ran wanted them to see. “Thank you Jamie. Now I can face Conor,” Eli whispered.

Sebastian scooped the boy into his arms and carried the boy to bed. “Jamie what would I do with out you? Tomorrow you and I will go and see my dad. I will listen to his side of the story.”

“Your highness, that is the right thing to do. Promise me that you won't jump to the wrong conclusion about another person again without finding out the truth first.” Sebastian nodded. They made love twice then fell asleep in each other arms.

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Caelane stared in awe at the beautiful cottage before him as Ray dismounted from his horse and reached up to help him down. A old woman with grey hair came out of the cottage. Caelane looked up at Ray.

“Are we sleeping here tonight?”

Ray nodded his head and led the boy inside the cottage. He pushed Caelane down onto a chair in the room as the grey haired woman placed two cups of tea on the table. He turned to the grey haired woman. “We will be staying here tonight,” he said in a hard voice.

The grey haired woman nodded her head and went into one of the rooms to prepare it for the two. When she returned she found that the young one had dozed off sitting up. “The room is ready,” she said.

Ray scooped a sleeping Caelane up and carried him inside the room. He put the boy to bed and came back out. He sat down and drank his tea. He looked at the grey haired woman. “You know who I am, so I am just going to cut right to the chase. I need you to remove the stupid curse from the boy and still have him remain as he is.”

“Anders do you know what you are saying?”

“Don't lecture me old woman. Just do as I say if you want to keep living.”

The old woman laughed. “Very well Anders. If you insist this much then I will tell you how to get rid of the boy’s curse and still have him remain in that form.”

“Just tell me god damn it.”

The old woman leaned back against her chair. “It’s very simple Lord Anders. All you have to do is let the boy drink a potion made out of a rare snow lotus mixed with the water from the spring of Aria.

Ray stood up and without saying a word, he went into the room and gazed down at the boy. “Why do I desire you? I have seen many great beauties but they have never affected me the way you do. What is it about you that makes me want to keep you by my side? It certainly isn't your look that I am hooked on, I am sure of it. There is something else about you that I can't put a finger to. Something that draws me to you. And the only way for me to find out what it could be? Is to keep you the way you are.” He bent down and was surprised when the boy suddenly opened his eyes and stared right at him.

“Are you going to kiss me good night?” Caelane asked innocently.

Desire like he had never experienced before hit him full force at the boy’s innocent question. He leaned down slowly giving the boy time to push him away. But Caelane didn't push or move away from Ray. He closed his eyes and waited for his good night kiss on the brow. Ray’s mouth gently touched the boy’s soft lips. He kissed the boy for a good five minutes. He finally forced himself to pull away when he felt like he was about to lose control of himself. “Good-night boy,” he whispered and left the room

Caelane’s face was filled with confusion. So were his eyes. That was not a good-night kiss at all. His father and brothers never kissed him good-night like that. Not to mention that his stomach was fluttering like crazy and a strange and scary feeling had come over him. Why did Ray kiss his mouth? A thought came to Caelane’s head. Maybe Ray’s father and daddy never gave him a good-night kiss before and this was the reason why he kissed his mouth instead of his brow. If that was the case, he would have to show Ray the right and proper way to give a kiss good-night. He fluffed his pillow and went back to bed.