Forgotten Days (Fate's Intent Book 6) (3 page)

“Are you suggesting I spell him? I didn’t want it to come to that.”

“It’s why Madam Carla gave it to you. You slip the spell into his drink and you put the one that will bring you back in yours. It’ll give Adele twenty-four hours to build her hate and she’ll act. It will be tonight.”

I looked over at Zayden’s expression with Adele as the music stopped and everyone clapped their hands for the performance.

“Do it.” Trever whispered as he leaned into me then turned away, leaving the floor. He walked with Adele, leading her up to the main tables and sat on the other side of her father.

I looked towards Zayden and took a breath as I gripped the vials down in my hand. I walked over to the refreshments table and secretly opened them, pouring the clear liquid into a glass of wine and pouring a red liquid into another. My hands were shaking but I discarded the vials and brought the glasses back over to the table. “I brought you another glass.” I set the one that had the clear liquid in front of Zayden and sat next to him.

“Oh, thank you.” He reached for the glass and started bringing it to his mouth as I did the same with mine. I watched him down it all and set it back on the table. “That’s good stuff right there.”

He was very handsome and I let out a flattering laugh as I set my glass back down too. “Indeed it is.”

Zayden looked over and gazed in my eyes for the first time. I have seen him give Adele this look and knew the potion was taking an immediate effect with him taking it all at once like that.

“Whoa.”

I smiled while keeping my eyes on him. “What?”

“I’ve never noticed how attractive your eyes are before. They’re beautifully indecisive between blue and green.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like some dessert? I saw a delicious array of parfaits while I was on the floor.”

“A parfait sounds fantastic. I’d love one.”

“Then I’ll get one and we can share it.”

I smiled to his incredible sweetness and watched him walk around the table. I had one of his friends next to me and Troy was staring at me like something was wrong but I planned cleverly passed it. “Awe. He’s so sweet, isn’t he?”

I took another drink and Troy was still looking a little confused as he turned away. “Ah, yeah. He is.”

I smiled and looked over at the other table at Trever. He raised an eyebrow as I smiled again and did the same. It was working and we both knew it.

Zayden came back just in time and set a wide mouth glass cup down between us that had a layer of cake on the bottom then a layer of fruit then a layer of sweet cream, another layer of cake, fruit and topped with another layer of sweet cream.

“Ooh. That does look delicious.”

“Then here.” Zayden picked up his fork and scooped it into the dish. “Ladies first.”

He held it out to me and I opened my mouth and he put it in. I groaned with pleasure while I chewed it then swallowed before saying anything. “That is so good. You have to try it.”

I picked up my dessert fork and took a scoop out of the dish and held it in front of Zayden. He kept his eyes on me while opening his mouth and I fed him. He reacted the same and didn’t speak until he had it fully swallowed. “Oh, you’re right. I don’t think I ever want to stop eating this.”

I let out another flattering laugh and scooped my fork back into the dish. “Then here.” I gave him another bite and we began playfully feeding each other.

It was a pleasant time for both of us. I put another large fork full in Zayden’s mouth, getting the sweet cream to stick at the right corner of his lips. We both laughed louder and Zayden tried not to choke on it.

I could fix it though. I leaned in closer and licked the sweet cream from his face. Zayden then turned his head and licked my tongue to take it back from me while laughing. I laughed in return and I saw movement at the other table. I casually looked to it while flirting with Zayden and Adele must have been watching. She was walking away, ready to leave the ballroom. I was a little fearful. Everything was happening fast but I knew it would. It would be over soon.

Chapter 7

Adele

What was happening? It was like he had forgotten about me and we just shared a dance. He had some kind of connection to Bianca without even knowing it and I could no longer sit here anymore. I got up from the table in a hurry and without a word. I grabbed my dress and quickly got out of there with my head hung down.

My eyes were flushed with coming tears as I made my way upstairs to my room and I tried to keep them in as best I could but the moment I was inside, they were shed at once. I was leaned up against the back of the door and my breaths were panicky under the harsh thought that I lost Zayden. I didn’t know what to do. I was lost and badly hurt.

“Shh. Don’t cry, Adele.”

I looked up and the transparent image of Ryon was kneeled down in front of me. I had to wipe my eyes to make sure it was real but my tears just kept coming. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to help.” He held his hand down to me and gained his full color. The transparent figure I remembered seeing was gone and it was as if he was really standing before me alive like at the start of this trip. I took a breath just to see it again and took his hand. He helped me to my feet and I just couldn’t look away. “Don’t cry for him. That’ll only bring you more pain.”

“But how could he? I thought he loved me.”

“Something’s aren’t always certain. A person can get caught up in the moment but when it’s over, things go back.”

“I was just a moment to him? No! I wasn’t! I know I wasn’t! I love him!”

“Do you? You have to ask yourself if you ever knew it was real.”

“But I can’t just let it go like that.” I turned away and walked towards the windows.

“Yes you can. You haven’t been with him that long. How would you know that it was supposed to last?”

“It was everything I wanted to believe. Does that make me stupid for believing in it?”

“No. You’re not stupid at all. You’re just hurt and I’ve come to help you.”

“How could you possibly help?”

“I could take you away from here.” It caught my attention and I looked back at him as he stepped in even closer. “I could take this pain away from you. I would never make you feel it again if you were with me.”

“Us? Together? But you’re dead. For that to even be possible, I’d have to—” I paused when I started to realize what it was he was offering.

“I can make that painless too.” He held his hand out to me and looked deep in my crying eyes as his image faded back to the transparent look. “Take my hand and forget your pain. You don’t need this life. There’s a better one waiting that we can share—forever.”

I was looking at him and all thoughts were running through my mind. Thoughts of Zayden and Ryon’s offer. I didn’t know what was right but the longer I stood there, the longer I couldn’t anymore. I just wanted to get away and my hand slowly reached for Ryon’s.

Chapter 8

Jaylyn

I felt that cold death I did when I discovered Ryon was really dead and it worried me. “Hurry! He’s with her!”

Ruby, Troy and Darius were behind me as we went up to the second floor and I opened Adele’s door.

Ryon was in there with her and Adele was reaching her hand towards him.

“Adele, what are you doing?”

Her hand came down when she saw us but her eyes were still watered. “I can’t stay here.”

“You know you can still fix this.”

Ryon laughed. “Fix what? Zayden’s award-winning betrayal? It’s not worth fixing.”

“What are you doing? This has nothing to do with you. You shouldn’t be here.”

“No.” Adele cut in. “I’m the one that shouldn’t be here. I knew I never belonged here and this explains why.”

“But you know better not to listen to anything Ryon says.” Ruby replied. “All he’s ever wanted to do is keep you from Zayden.”

“You mean protect me from him but I never listened and look where it’s gotten me. I’m going with him.”

Everyone reacted at the same time. “What?!”

“Adele, why?” I asked. “Do you know what that would mean? You’d have to be dead to go with him.”

“I know.”

“But you can’t do this! Zayden loves you!”

Ryon laughed again. “Great argument.”

“Stay out of this.” Troy said, stepping forward next to me. “Adele, she’s right. He does. He’s just not himself.”

“Not himself! Did you not see what I was seeing? You were sitting right there!”

“Yes, we saw but we know there’s an explanation. You just need to—”

“I just need to leave!”

“No.” Ruby interrupted with a hateful tone. “You’re just running away like you don’t even care to try and fix this. That’s not you. I know you still love Zayden and the Adele I know wouldn’t run when things got hard. She’d fight for what rightfully belongs to her.”

“Ruby giving advice.” Ryon smiled. “How amusing.”

“Why are you doing this?” Ruby asked. “Thought you were getting out of the way?”

“And I thought Zayden was actually smart. I guess we were both wrong.”

“I think it’s best if you go.” Darius snatched.

“I’ll only go if she tells me to.” I turned my attention to Adele and she just stood there, looking at us.

“Fight for him.” I muttered.

“How many times are you willing to get hurt?” Ryon cut in.

“You know it’s not always like that. There’s more good than bad.”

“She’s lying. You could always tell.”

“He’s the one lying.” Troy said. “He just wants you to give in to him because he’s selfish. This won’t save you.”

“He couldn’t know without experiencing it. There’s a better place. Zayden-free.”

“We know you really don’t want that.” Darius said.

“Things can change.”

“If you’re going because of Zayden then I say that’s foolish.” I said. “Think of everyone else that loves you. Your father—us. We’re your family. You’re not ready to leave us. You know that.”

She did nothing. I didn’t think we were going to ever get through to her until Ruby said one thing that changed it all. “There’s still a plan. There’s still hope.”

Her eyes lit up like she remembered what she already had planned for Bianca. If Zayden was truly just not being himself then he would come back to her the moment she was taken out of the picture and things would be back to normal. It was hope and it was there that she made her decision. “I’m sorry. I can’t go with you.”

Ryon laughed almost silently behind his closed lips and stroked her hair. “You’ve passed the test. I’m proud of you.”

“What?”

“I never would have let you come with me, Adele. You just needed to see how much you belong here and I applaud your friends. They truly are loyal.”

“Will you ever grow up enough to stop the games?” I asked.

He laughed. “Probably not but you can’t say I didn’t help. Now you know what to do and nothing will stop you.”

“Thank you.” Adele replied.

Ryon nodded lightly, almost as if he bowed to her and he was gone from sight.

“Good to have you back.” Ruby said.

“It’s the dress. It brings evil.”

“Quite lovely though.” Darius smiled, looking her over.

“Watch it. It seems your new Queen is an evil genius.”

He looked at her oddly. “Kathryn?”

“She made me where it.”

“It’s still nice.” I said. “And the top is just gorgeous.”

“Oh, yeah.” Darius smiled happily.

Adele laughed and had to turn away. “Okay. That’s enough.”

“So, this plan?” Troy asked. “What exactly is it?”

Adele looked back like she had no intentions of spilling anything but Ruby smiled. “It’s about Bianca.”

“You’re really going to kill her?” Darius asked. “I’m just assuming that’s where this is going.”

“Smart assumption.” Adele smiled. “Just ask yourself what you would do.”

Darius paused for a moment and looked at Ruby. “Yeah. You’re right. Kill her.”

“Then I will but I’ll wait till after the banquet and catch her alone. Please don’t make it obvious or breathe a word of it.”

“Of course we won’t.” I said.

“Good. You can go back. I’ll be up here waiting.”

“You’re not coming?” Ruby wondered.

Adele huffed and turned away. “That’s the last thing I want to see. Just go. I have to get out of this dress before it brings me more bad luck.”

Ruby looked over at me and we both smiled. “Bad luck, huh? Like your kiss with Trever?”