Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two
Read Heiress: Birthstone Series Book Two Online
Authors: Melanie Atkinson
The Birthstone Series
Book Two
Melanie Atkinson
Copyright 2014 Melanie Atkinson
Ebook Edition
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Summary: In Book Two of the Birthstone Series, when it comes
time for Aylen to return to her homeland, Sai is forced to remain on the island
of Vairda. Alone, Aylen must face a new world, a difficult quest, and weeks of
gem training. Meanwhile, Sai takes matters into his own hands and decides to
cross an ocean in order to be with the girl he loves in spite of being warned
that it may cost him his life. Through their unique journeys, Aylen and Sai
must both make painful choices, and in the end, the consequences that follow
prove to be more than they bargained for.
Cover model Sydney Passmore
Edited by Ashlee Enz
For Dad-
Who didn't teach me to sword fight, but taught me to laugh at
myself and helped me grow a thick skin (which was probably more useful anyway).
I gripped my sword in my hand, crouched low, and prepared to
spring. All I needed was the signal. I tried to tune out the noises around me-
the multilingual conversations between the birds in the canopy, a monkey
chattering at my intrusion, and the soft swish of wind as it swept through the
trees.
Finally I heard it; the faint, hollow call of a conch in the
distance. I leapt up and began to run, darting into the trees like a dragonfly
in flight. I zigzagged through vines and brush, hacking at them with my sword
as they whipped my face and arms. Using instinct to guide me, I tried to estimate
where the conch whistle had come from and headed in that direction.
When I spotted a small animal trail, I followed it, hoping
to avoid a few swipes from the smaller branches. I didn’t get far before I
heard the snap of twigs to my right.
I flung myself to the ground and scrambled beneath a shady
cluster of giant ferns. As I lay perfectly still, the footsteps slowed. I held
my breath. They crept closer. Silence fell around the jungle as the other
person halted. I cringed, knowing he could see the bruises I’d left on the vegetation
and I imagined his eyes sweeping the ground, searching for clues to my
whereabouts. I heard him place one foot in front of the other with slow caution
until he positioned himself too close. It was the perfect opportunity. I
whipped my hands out, grabbed his ankle, and yanked. With a grunt, he flipped to
the ground.
“Not again!” he yelled as I sprang from my hiding place and
jumped over his fallen body. He reached out to grasp my legs but I leapt
through his fingers. Before he could stop me, I’d already disappeared into the
forest. It wasn’t long before I heard his ragged breaths as he crashed through
branches and bushes behind me. I laughed in glee. I was faster. I’d
always
been faster.
I skipped over protruding roots and dodged the whip of a
vine that hung in my way. I scanned the forest, in search of some sort of sign
that would tell me I was headed in the right direction. A moment later, a large
figure dropped out of the tree in front of me. I reared back startled, until I
registered who had intercepted me. Haran! I’d been trapped.
Sai tackled me from behind and I toppled to the ground. With
a chuckle, he planted a hasty peck on the side of my face and scrambled to his
feet before taking off again.
“That isn’t fair!” I hollered after him. I pushed myself up
and shoved past Sai’s friend. “Haran was only supposed to hide the flag!”
Sai let out a triumphant laugh and raced through the thick
copse of trees. The flag was nowhere in sight. I guessed Haran had hidden it
somewhere on the beach and Sai was already headed in that direction.
Soon, the soil transitioned to soft sand beneath our feet
and our breath became more labored.
With as much energy as I could muster, I burst forward,
rounded several trees, and cut through the forest in a different direction.
Moments later, I reached the small sandy cliffs blocking my view of the ocean.
I raced toward them, undeterred. When I reached the top, I half fell, half slid
down them. I was on the beach before Sai.
He appeared behind me further down the shore. I sprinted
toward the flag as it flapped in the ocean breeze.
“You cheated!” Sai hollered, breathing heavily between each
word as he ran. “The shortcut is off limits!”
“That changed when you got Haran involved!” I yelled over my
shoulder. I was mere yards away.
Seconds later, I jerked the wooden pole from the sand.
Dropping my sword to the ground, I laughed and waved it around.
“You ready to fight for it?” I asked as Sai approached.
“No,” he panted. “I’ve had enough sword practice this week.”
He placed his hands on his knees and bent over, wheezing.
I eyed him skeptically while he attempted to catch his
breath. When he still struggled for air a minute later, I rolled my eyes. “Sai,
stop messing around.” I took a cautious step toward him.
“Just . . .trying . . .to . . .” he sputtered.
I took another step closer. That’s when he lunged.
“Win!” he said. He wrapped his arms around my waist and knocked
me to the ground. The flag pole snapped in half and flew from my hands.
“That was completely unfair!” I pretended to put some effort
into trying to free myself but Sai’s arm, stretched across my midsection, made
it easy to give up.
“I didn’t think we were following rules today.” He propped himself
up with one arm and kept me pinned with the other.
“Maybe not, but I still won.”
“You sure about that?” Sai leaned closer, his face inches
from mine. I sighed happily while my heart thudded behind my ribcage.
“Definitely.”
With a throaty laugh, Sai leaned down and pressed his lips
to mine. Freeing one arm, I reached up and draped it around his neck, bringing
his body closer. He responded with several more kisses.
“So, what did we learn from this little exercise?” Sai sat
and reached for my hand to help me up.
“Even those you love will cheat against you to win.” I
nudged him in the ribs and looked down the beach for any sign of Haran.
Sai read my thoughts. “He won’t be coming. He had chores.”
“How is he?”
“Not too bad, I guess. He’s restless. Faema . . .,” Sai’s
voice trailed off but I nodded knowingly.
“It’ll take time. For everyone.” My words carried a note of
uncertainty but Sai made no indication of having noticed.
It had been almost a year since things had changed
drastically in Vairda, and most of the islanders were still getting used to the
new way of life since the mainlanders had invaded the island. Some changes had
been immediately embraced, like the limited use of Sea Gems amongst some
Vairdans. Nethran leaders also visited the Vairdan islands often and were
eagerly welcomed even though in the past, Vairdans hadn’t accepted outsiders
easily.
Other changes, however, had not been as easily accepted by
some Vairdans. While my family, once considered outsiders, had been received
into the community, my relationship with Sai was still frowned upon. His
parents had always hoped he’d attach himself to the island chief’s daughter,
Faema, but when that hadn’t happened, they’d set their sights on other Vairdan
girls- girls Sai had no interest in.
Meanwhile, Faema refused to give up on Sai entirely.
Although Haran cared for her, Faema had brushed him off in hopes that Sai would
someday lose his taste for the “freckled foreigner”, a nickname I tried my best
to ignore. But my relationship with Sai had always gone much deeper than what
most could see. We’d been best friends for over a decade, and last year, when
the mainlanders had come to the island, we’d fought for the island’s safety and
freedom side by side. And Sai had saved me in a way no one else could have. He
was the only person who could reach me when my mind had been consumed by the
powerful gems I’d been forced to use to defend my family and the island.
Now, a year after the mainlanders had been removed from
Vairda, Sai and I and many of the younger generation had adjusted to the
changes. We had accepted that someday, we would possibly have to defend the
island from the mainland again. We prepared for this by mastering our weapons
and keeping in touch with the sea dwellers who helped guard our island. The
older Vairdans, however, didn’t want to believe their land could ever be in
danger again. The war had been traumatic for the peaceful little nation and
most just wanted to get back to life as they’d known it before.
“I think it’s more than our relationship that bothers
Faema,” Sai said. He positioned himself so we were back to back. He laced the
fingers of one hand through mine and we sat, spines pressed together, looking
out at the water.
“What then?” I leaned my head back and rested it against
him.
“I think a lot of people are worried about the future of the
island. Have you spoken with Aluce lately?”
I grimaced. I’d purposely evaded the mainland woman for
several months, knowing full well it would infuriate her.
“No. The last time I spoke with her, it was the usual
lecture.”
“Let me guess; ‘Get your head out of the clouds.’ ‘People
are counting on you.’ ‘You’re failing in your duties and responsibilities.’”
“You forgot,
‘The island isn’t your home. Miranasch is.
You have to go back now.’
”
“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Sai asked, a note
of alarm in his voice.
I didn’t know how to answer. It was a subject we’d avoided
for most of the year because neither of us wanted to talk about the possibility
that I would leave the island. At the moment, life in Vairda was everything I’d
ever hoped for and the idea of leaving for a war torn land was something I
feared.
“Aylen?” Sai asked again. “You don’t agree with Aluce,
right?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“You don’t?” Sai withdrew his hand and turned to face me.
“Your home isn’t on Vairda?”
“It is. My home is where you are. But I know I’ll have to go
back to Miranasch. My grandfather knows the islands exist now and he knows I’m
here. Any children I have will be here and my bloodlines will always be a
threat. He won’t be able to help himself. He’ll come back, and next time I
don’t think he’ll be so easy to get rid of.”
“We haven’t seen anything from the mainland in a year. He
may realize that you don’t want his throne. He may just leave us alone if we
don’t interfere.”
I sighed and bit my lip, afraid to express the thoughts that
had begun to plague me in recent weeks. Aluce’s words had sunk in over time,
more than I’d wanted them to, and some of what she’d said made sense.
“He’s never going to leave us alone. He’s not that type of
person. But even if he did, he’s still enslaving nations of people.”
“And?” Sai urged.
“And just because we’re comfortable and safe in Vairda
doesn’t mean I can forget about people who aren’t. Those are people I’m related
to. People who are counting on me.”
“Aylen, you’ve said yourself that it’s too much for one
person to handle. Even using the necklace is too much. How can you be
responsible for saving an entire nation?”
I stared past the ocean and into the horizon and wondered
how far I would have to go before I found the mainland. Usually I avoided such
thoughts but lately they’d taken over my mind like a noxious weed. Thoughts of
returning to Miranasch seemed to choke back other areas of focus until my brain
felt consumed with only the mainland. I hadn’t expressed this to Sai but it had
begun to terrify me.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle it if I don’t go,” I
finally said. I whispered the words so softly they almost dissolved in the air
before Sai heard them.
“Is Aluce’s guilt trip doing that much damage?”
I shook my head. “It’s not her, Sai. She does make good arguments
and she’s fairly forceful. But you know I don’t trust her enough to do whatever
she says. I never forget that she has her own selfish reasons for wanting my
help.”
