Home in Your Arms (9 page)

Tears streamed down Hank’s face. “I won’t let you down, my
one true love.”

Brian’s smiling face faded, leaving the empty sky behind.
Hank wiped his tears away.

He couldn’t believe it. Brian was alive. And the only way to
save him was to get Lexi to the palace. He straightened his red coat. He would
save her at any cost. Even if it meant letting Ian die.

Lexi walked behind Ian, keeping her eyes open for any signs
of danger. With each step she took, she felt as if a noose were tightening
around her neck. She debated mentioning her feeling to Ian but wasn’t sure how
he would respond. Would he think she was crazy? She wasn’t even sure at this
point.

Finally, she asked, “Ian, are you sure this is a good idea?”

He glanced back at her and replied, “It’s our only choice.
The Witches are near so we can’t turn around.” He smiled encouragingly. “Don’t
worry, Lex. We’ll be just fine.”

There was something else on her mind and she said, “About last
night… I feel like we need to talk about what happened.”

“I agree. I want to apologize. I overreacted and I shouldn’t
have treated you the way I did. Do you forgive me?”

Her mouth dropped open and she replied, “Ian, I’m the one
who should apologize. I swear I didn’t mean to summon Andrew. I can only
imagine what you think of me.”

Her face flushed hotly and she looked away. Ian stopped and
pulled her into his arms.

“Lexi, I don’t think any less of you. It just surprised me
that it happened.” He ran his hand through his dark hair. “Andrew and I have
shared women before but with you it’s different. The thought of sharing you
makes me sick. It makes me want to punch my best friend. But if it’s something
you truly want then we can talk about it.”

She didn’t give him the chance to finish as her lips caught
his. Whether he knew it or not, he cared for her. Her heart danced with joy.

“When we get to the palace and this whole mess is behind us,
I propose that we lock ourselves in a room and don’t come out for a week,” Ian
said as a sexy grin spread across his face.

She laughed. “That sounds amazing.” Then she added, “And it
will be just the two of us. No more surprises, I promise.”

Ian took her by the hand and they began walking again. The
sun shone hotly on her back and the air seemed thick. It felt like humid summer
day in Oklahoma. She wondered if anyone was worried about her. After her
parents had passed away, she kept to herself, almost afraid to let anyone too
close.

Her job was also solitary. She did medical coding from her
house and only went into an office once a month to turn in her reports. They
wouldn’t be expecting her for at least two more weeks. She sighed. More than
likely, no one would even know she was gone.

“You okay?” Ian asked.

“Yeah, I was just thinking about home and if anyone even
knew I was missing.”

Ian’s forehead crinkled as he thought and he said, “I’m sure
they do. I know I would miss you.”

She smiled up at Ian. “And I would miss you too.”

A sharp pain spread throughout her chest and she tried to
breathe through it. The Witches were near. She wasn’t sure how she knew but she
did. And they were going to attack soon.

“Ian…we’re in danger—”

“I know, Lexi. I know. We’ll make it to safety, though. I
promise.”

They were silent as they rounded a corner and the sight
before her eyes made her stop in her tracks.

“Oh my. Is that the Enchanted Fields?”

Ian nodded grimly. “It is.”

“It’s beautiful. I didn’t expect it to look like this.”

Flowers grew wildly and untamed as far as she could see. In
the distance, the sunlight reflected off something causing a blinding blue
flash of light.

“What was that?”

Ian eyes lit up. “That’s the wall of Sapphire City. When the
sun hits it, the walls reflect the light. It’s beautiful up close. It also
helps keep away unwanted guests.”

“Is the entire city made of sapphires?”

“No.” Ian laughed. “Only the outer walls and the palace are
made out of the protected sapphires. The other homes and buildings are made out
of stone.”

Lexi turned her attention back to the Enchanted Fields. It
didn’t look like anything she should be afraid of but she wasn’t that naive.
And the feeling of dread was growing in her body.

“What is so dangerous about this area?” she asked.

She prayed he would be honest with her and tell her whatever
it was he was trying so hard to hide. It might help her understand why the
Witches were about to attack.

Ian led her to the edge of the fields. If she were to stick
one foot out, flowers would surround it.

“Look at the flowers, Lexi. Really look at them.”

At first glance, they could have been a hybrid calla lily or
orchid but when she looked closer, her mouth fell open.

A giggle escaped her lips. “Um, they look like…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say it. Each flower seemed to
be different from the next with various shades of red and pink. In the center,
a thick, white liquid filled the flower, almost spilling out.

She tried to speak again, “They look like—”

“They look like a pussy, ripe with cream,” Ian finished for
her.

Uh, yeah. That was putting it mildly.

She blushed and asked, “Why do they look like that?”

“They look this way to lure people in. When the fields are
inactive, the flowers are lovely to admire. Not one flower is the same as
another, just like no woman is the same as another.”

“What makes them dangerous?”

A shadowed look filled Ian’s eyes. “They aren’t dangerous.
They are deadly. When the flowers become active, they began to quiver. The
liquid in the middle forms a pressure behind it and the flowers shakes until it
can take no more. Then, the liquid is released into the air.”

“Oh my god, it sounds almost like an orgasm.”

“It is but that’s what makes it deadly. When one flower
releases, it sends the other flowers into a frenzy. Soon the air is filled with
the liquid and that’s when it overtakes you.” Ian looked out at the flowers. “I
saw it happen one time. A solider went into the fields on a dare. He didn’t
think it would be that bad. He took two steps before the flowers went off. He
was dead in moments.”

“I don’t understand. How does it kill? Is it poisonous?”

She followed Ian’s gaze. The flowers were so innocent
looking. She couldn’t imagine them killing someone.

“Ian?”

“Do you remember how I asked Hank to show me his arms to
prove that the fields were inactive?” When she nodded he went on, “There are
some, like Hank, who have discovered that the liquid from the flowers can be
used as a drug. When injected into the blood stream it’s less dangerous than
inhaling it, though some still snort it as well.”

“What does it do?”

His expression was grim. “The liquid fools your body into
feeling a sexual euphoria it has never known before. If you survive, you will
always crave the feeling. Nothing will ever come close to it, though, so you
will come back to the fields until your life is no longer yours.”

“There are drugs like that where I’m from. One is called
Ecstasy. It sounds like it does the same thing.”

Ian nodded. “The Enchanted Fields are different, though. A
single flower will show you passion you have never known. Two flowers will
leave you high for days. The entire field…well, no one has ever survived.” He
turned to face her, “Lexi, the liquid also affects your body in another way.
People say they hear voices when they use the flowers. It’s the belief of the
Royal Guard that the Witches are behind the voices. It has been used as a
weapon more than once, making someone commit a crime.”

She glanced back to the field. It had to be almost a mile
from where they were to the walls of Sapphire City. She caught her bottom lip
between her teeth.

“Is there any way to tell if the fields have really been
inactive for as long as Hank said they were?”

She hoped that the answer would be one that she wanted to
hear.

“No, there is no way to tell. The only good sign is that the
area is empty. People usually wait in this very spot when the fields are
active. From right here, it’s a contact high and less dangerous.”

A flicker of apprehension coursed through her body. Going
through the fields was a very bad idea.

“Is this really our only option?”

“Yes. I fear our time is running out. The Witches have had
plenty of time to strike and they haven’t. Our luck will only last for so long.”

That was what she was afraid of. She took in a deep calming
breath. In high school, a mile run wasn’t that big of a deal. She ran it plenty
of times, barely even winded. That might be their best chance of getting
through the fields.

“Do you think we should run?”

His bland smile sent a shiver through her and she knew
running wasn’t a good choice but it was the only one they had.

“It’s our only hope.”

“And it won’t set the flowers off?”

“We’ll just have to run faster if that happens.”

“Okay,” she dragged the word out, trying to pump herself up.
“Let’s do this.”

Ian pulled her into his arms and caught her lips with his
own. Their tongues danced together in a wild tango and she couldn’t help
feeling as if he was saying goodbye. She blinked the tears in her eyes away so
he wouldn’t see them.

“I’m so sorry that you were thrown into our chaotic world,
Lexi. You don’t deserve to be in this much danger.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “Ian, everything
happens for a reason.” She looked up at him. “And when we get to the palace, we
won’t have to worry about the Witches ever again.”

He wouldn’t meet her gaze as he nodded. She tried not to let
it bother her but it did. He didn’t think they were going to make it. Something
cold touched her back but she ignored it, wanting to savor the moment.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“As ready as I will ever be.”

“Good.” He paused and then added, “If something happens to
me, you have to promise you will keep running. Do
not
stop running until
you can touch the walls of Sapphire City.”

She started to protest but he stopped her with a single
look.

“Promise me, Lexi.”

She looked at the ground. “I promise.”

A relieved look flashed in his eyes as she glanced at him. “Thank
you.”

It suddenly hit her. He knew the Witches were close and he
was planning to sacrifice himself to make sure she was safe. The thought of
losing him made the breath leave her lungs.

She might have promised to go on without him but that didn’t
mean she had to keep her word. If he didn’t have to be honest with her then she
could go back on her promise and save him.

“On the count of three,” Ian said as he took her by the
hand. “One. Two. Three.”

They both began to run and he didn’t let go of her. The
flowers slapped against their ankles but she didn’t look down. Her inner voice screamed
for her to turn around but it was too late.

The wind began to blow behind them. The whipping current of
air caused her hair to cover her eyes. She knew the Witches were causing it.
The once silent air now screamed around them as fiercely as it would during a
blizzard.

“Fuck,” Ian cursed.

It was only one word but it said volumes. Without being told,
she let go of his hand and picked up her pace. She tried not to look at the
flowers surrounding them, knowing the wind would soon awaken them.

Ahead, the walls of Sapphire City became a beacon of hope to
her and she focused on nothing but them.

“Halfway there,” Ian said from behind her.

She knew he could pass her with ease but he stayed a step
behind. She wanted to risk a glance behind her but her fear wouldn’t let her.

The wind howled around them, angry that they were making
such good progress. For a split second, Lexi swore she could hear a woman’s
voice on the wind.

“Hurry,” the voice moaned. “Your time runs out.”

She knew that voice and it had never led her astray before
in her youth. It was the voice of her mother. Lexi didn’t need another warning.
She pushed herself harder than imaginable knowing this was her last chance to
get to safety.

Behind her, the world erupted in small explosions. She could
smell rain and wild roses in the air and every once in a while she caught the
musky scent of Ian’s skin. She knew the flowers were releasing their liquid.

The flowers in front of her began to sway back and forth and
then began clenching as their climax built.

“They’re about to blow,” she yelled.

Ahead of her, she could see a man standing near the edge of
the Enchanted Fields. He was pacing back and forth in an anxious manner.

“Help!” she screamed at him.

“You must hurry,” he called and she realized it was Hank.

Seeing him ahead gave her hope. If he had made it through
then surely they would make it.

“Get her out of here,” Ian called out behind her.

Hank nodded and ran toward her. He reached her in a moment
and picked her off her feet.

“I am so sorry,” he said as her carried her out of the
fields.

She wondered what he meant. She looked over his shoulder and
her heart stopped in her chest. With each step they took, Ian fell farther
behind. He had been right behind her.

“He’s using himself as bait,” Hank said as he ran.

“Why?” she asked. She could hear her own heart breaking in
her voice.

“They hate you. But they want to destroy him.”

Hank’s feet reached the hunter green grass where no flowers
grew but he didn’t stop.

“Wait. We have to get Ian.”

“No. It’s too late for him. He’s not important.”

She tried to get out of Hank’s arms but his grip was too
strong. She watched in horror as three women appeared in front of Ian. She
couldn’t see their faces but she knew they were the Witches. He stood still,
waiting, and Lexi held her breath. They didn’t attack him. Instead, the wind
blew in strong gusts and the flowers all around Ian erupted, shooting their
liquid into the air.

“Ian!” she screamed. “Use one of your weapons. Don’t just
stand there.”