Horizon (13 page)

His voice lowered, his tone barely a whisper. “Time will speak for us, love. I’m sorry if you don’t like that term, but it’s how I think of you. I want you in my heart. I want you always. And no amount of bristling from you will change my mind. You think all I’ve been after is your power. Well, I’ve tried to show you otherwise. I have another memory I would like to share. Would that be okay with you?”

I nodded, not that it would make a difference for me, but if it had a chance of helping Zach resolve his feelings, I’d let him do this. His hand lifted to my cheek. His fingers slid over my skin in a caress that made my eyes shutter closed. I could barely take the longing in his touch, but I stayed still.

Flash. I’m in his head again. His mind races back to the day he saw me in the woods. He’s been following me for hours as I run, but now is his moment. I’ve wandered into the borderlands and he can’t let me stay long. It’s too risky with the hellhounds running loose.

This is perfect. The other lords hadn’t arrived yet, and I’ll be his before they have a chance to question his claim to me. He shakes his head, wondering why he thought that. I have his element. My power pulsates through space, beckoning him forward. None can claim me other than him, yet desperation for me takes hold of him.

He can’t wait for me to come out of the shack; he has to see me now. He tiptoes to the window of the broken down hut and peers inside. I sit cross-legged, wet from head to foot, but that doesn’t matter. I’m his salvation. He inches nearer and a twig snaps. He ducks down and another twig breaks.

I make a lot of clatter getting out of the shack, so he’s able to calculate where I will emerge. He races after me, his heart beating wildly in his chest. This is it. I’m his.

He steps onto the path, and I freeze. For a moment fear casts its shadow in my eyes then I respond to him like I should have in the first place. I snake my fingers under my eyes, wiping away mascara, as if I need such a thing to make me beautiful. I’m everything to him and he will make me see how wonderful we can be together. The elements have chosen him for me.

Then he hears them, the girls playing in the nature area. Their giggles abrade his senses; he has to act fast. He turns toward them, willing them to disappear, hating them for interrupting what should be the best moment of his existence.

When he faces me again, he sees it: my face full of fear, my body trembling. He grits his teeth. He can’t take me like this. He won’t make the same mistakes he did with Faine. His heart squeezes at the thought of her name before he pushes her away. He has to think about me: his future.

He gives me a smile, but it is hard to move his face that way when all he wants to do is scream at the heavens. For a moment he considers taking me even with the girls there. The redhead is the only one paying attention anyway. After a moment, he thinks better of it and moves off the path.

Styx will be upset with him. He’s been harassing Zach to take me and get out of the human realm, but all Styx thinks about is reuniting with Bastion. A few more days won’t hurt him. Besides, this is just the excuse they need to visit her.

Zach follows me back to my dorm, watching me slowly calm down. The fear finally leaves my eyes, and he vows to never put it there again. This is the moment he decides to win my love the old fashioned way. He waits for me to get inside the dorm then trails after Natalie. She meets Sam on the path and they sneak off into the bushes to make out.

He waits until they are done and follows the man back to Notre Dame. When the others arrive, he will insist they help him with his deception. It is unusual, but they will not be able to deny his claim on me. Once he’s learned enough, he approaches Sam, dressed in human clothes. He doesn’t normally wear a glamour, but he doubts the guy will understand his battle gear.

And just like that, I slipped out of his mind again. My body lagged behind my mind and only now registered where we were. Zach’s fingers passed one last time over my cheek before he stepped away from me.

I didn’t know what to say. He’d given me time when he didn’t have to. If he had taken me in the woods, Natalie might have filed a report with St. Mary’s College Security or the Police, but no one would have ever found me. Unlike the other lords, I hadn’t been able to resist his compulsion. Our connection was stronger, had always been stronger.

I stared at him, tears leaking out of my eyes. That was a different lifetime. So much had happened since then. How could he expect me to go back to those feelings? I doubted I even could.

But what if I ended up like my mother: in love with a man I couldn’t have. She’d wiped her memory of the man she truly loved. I didn’t want that. Even if the worst happened, I wanted to remember Heath. I wanted to remember what he’d done for me, for the rebellion, for my family and my friends.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t stand Zach. I actually liked being around him, and in all honesty, if given enough time, my feelings for him would probably start all over again. But how could I let that happen? How could I betray Heath? I had to find another way, but the only chance I had at getting what I truly wanted was to trust the man in front of me. The man who currently dictated my future, and the man who without a doubt loved me fiercely.

We let Bastion and Styx fly the rest of the day while Zach and I focused on training. Not that we had much say-so in the matter, but it was nice to pretend I had some control over my pegasus. I was beginning to think we’d just have to come back for them later because court was about to start, but Zach put his fingers to his mouth and whistled.

The shrill sound pierced my ears, so I covered them, scanning the sky for the wayward duo.

After a few moments, they came into view, dancing on the wind together. The joy in their flight made my heart cave a little toward my stubborn ride. Bastion was holding me responsible for her predicament, but by the looks of her, she should have been thanking me. Zach gave Styx a halfhearted scolding, but we got them in the paddock with plenty of time to spare.

When we made it back into our room, Zach, once again, went straight for the closet. And I’d thought we’d made some progress today.

To my surprise, he came out moments later with a garment bag dangling from a finger. “I know you don’t like accepting gifts.” He winked. “Especially from the dreaded fae, but I’ve got something special for your first session in court.”

A smile tugged on my lips until I remembered another present I’d thought was from him. Ainessa had nearly tripped me up with that one. Trying not to open a bright, shiny box nearly undid me. I was convinced resisting that gift was the only thing that kept her from taking my mind over that day.

“I have plenty of ball gowns,” I said, attempting not to sound too ungrateful.

He chuckled. “Who said this is a ball gown.”

I frowned. “Isn’t it?”

His grin ate up his face. “Come, see for yourself, love.”

I smirked at him, only taking a second to decide. When I unzipped the bag, lavender velvet met my fingers. This wasn’t the thick, plush kind. It was crushed with a pattern of vines and roses embossed in the fabric.

The garment slid easily off the hanger and into my hands. As with anything in Faeresia, the workmanship was divine. I held it out, examining every line, every intricate detail of stitching. The cloak was amazing.

I could have used something like this in Ignis. My smile withered immediately. I shouldn’t have thought of Heath’s homeland, but it was hard not to make certain connections.

Zach inched closer. “I thought it would bring out the softness in your eyes
and
provide cover for you if you desire it.”

My cheeks heated. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

He took the cloak from me and draped it over my shoulders. The weight comforted me more than anything.

Zach slid his hand along my back then gave me a swift pat on the backside. “Best be getting ready. Don’t want to give Valen an excuse to come looking for us, now do we?”

I just rolled my eyes at him. “Give me a minute to find something to go with this?” He nodded but followed me into the closet as if he didn’t trust me to dress myself.

While I searched, he stripped away his shirt. It was harder than it should have been for me to keep my mind focused. I sighed, wishing this wasn’t so complicated, but I was determined to stay true to the man I loved no matter how hot the man standing next to me was.

Finding a dress was harder than it should have been, but I settled on a pale rose ensemble. It wasn’t like I was trying to make a fashion statement anyway.

I blinked the gown on, figuring it was the safest way to change, then went to work on my hair. I’d barely decided on an up-do when Zach strolled out of the closet, still buttoning his shirt.

He wore a suit with a long overcoat that might as well have been designed in the eighteen hundreds. His swagger had returned, reminding me of why I was attracted to him in the first place. He wasn’t making this easy on me; that was for sure.

“Are you ready, lass?” He asked, halting halfway through the last word, the doorway to the closet framing him. His eyes appraised me. “You look beautiful, Rayla.”

I stared at my satin shoes, and said, “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.”

He smiled, which helped ease the awkwardness between us. Marching up to me, he offered his arm, and I accepted without hesitation.

He patted my gloved hand. “Don’t be nervous. It is very unlikely they will call on us in this session.”

“What’s it about?”

“Border disputes.” He continued explaining as we headed for the council chambers. “Eldrea and Ignis share a common border. During the winter months, the land shifts and every year we attempt to divide the property evenly. Problems only arise when key settlements show up on the wrong side of the border. Of necessity, we’ve allowed both Ignisian and Eldrean citizens to take residence in these areas, and sometimes, they argue. It really shouldn’t be too troublesome.”

For a moment, I let myself hope to see Mom then I realized I would have to see her bondmate, Theran, too, and my spirits plummeted.

As much as it would mean to me to see her, there really wasn’t any point if he was around. She had to act like he controlled her. Considering what a douche he was, I didn’t blame her, but it made interacting with her a bit harder.

“There’s something you should know,” said Zach in a tone I didn’t like.

I kept it casual. “Hmm?”

“There is a possibility Finn and Cassie will attend.”

“Why?” Initially, I’d thought maybe they were representing Ignis, yet something darker wanted to occupy my mind. “They aren’t in trouble, are they?”

He glanced at me sidelong. “What makes you think they would be in trouble?”

It was just a thought that hit me all the sudden. “I don’t know.”

He sighed. “The truth is Cassie’s been causing a bit of trouble herself, and that’s the real problem.”

It’d been so long since I’d even allowed myself to think about my best friend, and now that the thought took hold, an ache crept inside me. I missed her like she’d died, yet I had been the one to disappear from her life, not the other way around.

I didn’t dare hope that I’d see her, but a tiny part of me still shimmered with excitement thinking about it. I wanted the scoop. I’d had no time with her at all since she and Finn were bonded, and I hoped everything was okay.

“What has she done,” I asked after Zach didn’t elaborate.

He chuckled. “She’s demanded the queen step down for stripping Heath of his titles. Made a pretty big spectacle of herself.”

I laughed. “What has Finn been doing this whole time?”

“I suspect trying to fix the problems Cassie’s creating. He’s not been able to keep up that well, though.”

I couldn’t help myself. I smiled. It stretched across my face, creasing my eyes. Cassie was just what I needed right now.

I barely heard Zach when he said, “Drastic measures may need to be taken.”

“What kind of measures?” I asked.

Zach patted my hand. “Not to worry, love. Finn is looking out for her.”

I wouldn’t let anything bad happen to my best friend. Now, I needed to see her just to make sure she was okay.

The bustle of congregating voices greeted us when we entered the council chambers. Thankfully we were a few minutes early, so everyone was still trying to make it to their seats. I scanned the crowd, attempting to look casual while my heart slammed against my chest. When I didn’t see Cassie or my mom, my head dipped low to cover my face. Zach had pulled my hood over my head, so it made the deed easier to accomplish.

Everywhere I turned people I didn’t know welcomed me to court, saying how happy they were to have me here and what a fine addition I’d made to Eirie. I forced myself to return polite wishes and thanks, trying to adopt a casual air.

When we entered our box, Zach leaned near. “Well done. You don’t know how many points you just made. You’re better at this than you think.”

I only nodded, still scanning the dispersing crowd hoping for a glimpse of raven ringlets amongst the lingerers.

What I didn’t want to see was Valen staring at me like a wolf would stare down a dying lamb. He gave me a nod, and I gave him a token smile then glanced away, determined to not look at him again throughout the session. I scooted closer to Zach just in case he’d missed my dismissal.

Zach chuckled. “Keep acting like this and you’ll be the one at the head of the room in no time.”

Blood drained from my face and my heart plummeted. And here I’d thought I was holding my own.

“No, love, that’s not what I meant,” he said. “I’m only saying that you are a natural and it shows. Do you remember what I told you?”

I nodded. “No matter what, stay silent.”

He patted my hand like I was a good little fifth grader then scanned the crowd himself.

I tried not to get irritated by his condescension because there was no way he’d treat me that way on purpose. It must have come out wrong.

The minute I turned away from him, I caught sight of Mom. She sat on the right side of the stage. Her puffy eyes and sallow skin made me worry. Other than Valen’s recently departed bondmate, I’d never seen one of these women show a single sign of fatigue. Were they acting, just like I was?

Mom, although on my side, couldn’t be trusted right now. Ainessa had gotten to her too, which pained me. I’d been so long without her and now I couldn’t allow myself to talk to her any differently than any other courtesan in the place for fear Ainessa would figure out what I was up to.

I laughed at myself. If she did manage to figure it out, I hoped she’d tell me. My plan had pretty much withered away once Valen came on the scene. That man was like a knife in the gut. Any amount of twisting I did only made things worse.

Valen called the meeting to order then proceeded to read off grievances from both the Ignisian and Eldrean consulate. When he called Queen Rachel of Ignis forward, I winced. I wanted to give the woman a piece of my mind or more likely a better view of my fist, but that would have to wait. One day she was going to get it, though.

She glided up to the dais, climbing up one step and faced us. “My lords and ladies,” she said in a syrupy tone. “Each year we come to you for guidance on how to resolve our border disputes with our brother court, and each year a fair and just compromise is made. We of Ignis appreciate your generosity and strive to live peaceable with our neighbors.

A grumble erupted from Theran. He stood. “You are intentionally misleading this court, my lady, and I will not stand for it. If your idea of living peaceably includes raids into non-disputed lands and in some cases blatant attacks, you have indeed been away from the mortal realm too long.”

A hum of whispers shot through the room, but Queen Rachael stood her ground. “If I understand the process correctly,” she said in a way that suggested anyone would be a dimwit to question her understanding, “you will have your time to address the court, Theran. Until then, I ask that the court remind you of your place.”

Valen cleared his throat. “No more outbursts or the room will be cleared.”

Was it evil for me to hope for more outbursts? Theran sat down, which made me almost want to like Queen Rachael and Valen both, as if that was really going to happen.

The queen continued, “What my people are seeking is a more permanent solution.”

Whispers started again and pretty soon it was difficult to concentrate on the queen like I was supposed to.

“I’m given to understand,” she said, raised voice, “that the newest member of our court has particular talents when it comes to elemental magic. I ask that she and her bondmate be sent to find a much needed solution to this problem. Now that we have her, shouldn’t we use her abilities to the advantage of all?”

Valen shushed the crowd. “You can hardly expect her to be ready for such a task when even our best Eldrean wielders cannot manage it.”

So now I was just
her
to these people. My power was all they cared about, all they would ever care about.

Zach stood so fast I nearly got whiplash looking at him. “If I may address the court?”

Valen nodded and Zach approached the dais. “Rayla’s power is undeniably the single most amazing thing I have ever witnessed, and although I would love an excuse to practice earth magic, I think this unwise. We still don’t know the extent of control she will be able to reach. As it is, I am using a good deal of my own power containing hers in practice.”

More speculative grumbles reached my ears. He’d never told me this. Was he lying to keep me away from Ignis?

“My lords and ladies,” he said. “Asking Rayla to heal the damage we inflicted on this land to begin with is an unfair burden at any time, but now, when she is so vulnerable is unthinkable. I need more time to train her, for her to develop her talents.”

“None of us knows how long we will have this girl,” said the queen. “We must use her power how and
when
we are able.”

Some people were openly outraged at the queen, yet others nodded in agreement.

One voice reached above the roar of the moaning assembly. “I have firsthand witness to the amazing abilities of this girl.”

I stiffened at the too familiar tinkling voice. When Ainessa strolled out of the hidden room at the top of the dais, I cringed.

What was she doing here? I’d been assured I wouldn’t have to see her again for a long time because in Zach’s absence she was assigned to lead her people.

My veins heated more with every word she uttered. “In fact, on a couple occasions, I have seen her accomplish that which we have believed is unattainable.” She stared straight at me, her bright green eyes boring into mine. “True magic,” she finished.

As if letting the crowd digest what she’d said, she paced the dais. The room filled with a speculative hum. After a few moments, she whipped around to face her audience, her black skirts trailing after her. A slim finger rose into the air until she pointed directly at me. “This girl has raised an unending brick wall, created diamond armor without the designs, and,” she paused, “she has harnessed lightning.”

Gasps erupted all around me. My body tensed as if I was watching a witch hunt, and guess who was the witch? Tabitha made me swear I would not show these people how I could change clothes without the aid of the Altasian machine. She’d made me promise, I wouldn’t use my powers as magic, and here Ainessa was pointing those powers out to the entire fae council. Great.