The Eden Series: The Complete Collection (117 page)

“What did father say? Always beware a woman scorned?” Jameson asked as they started walking.

Callum laughed. “I think it might have been beware women, period,” he corrected.

Jameson sighed. “Yeah, that might have been it. Either way, the old man had a point.”

“He always was wise.”

Aiden walked into the chapel in the Sanctuary, holding the fresh cut on his arm.

“Hey,” Wolf greeted when he walked up to him. “Where’s Logan?”

“Trying to negotiate with a priest at the entrance to allow him to enter without a sacrifice,” Aiden answered.

“I don’t know why I even ask.” Aiden snorted as he followed Wolf to where Elisa was already seated. She looked up as they sat down, her eyes meeting his for a second before looking away. He had the odd sense she was nervous looking at him. He watched as she distractedly picked at the simple, black dress she wore, her gaze averted. Aiden lifted his eyes to meet Wolf’s in question. Wolf shrugged.
So he notices too
, Aiden determined. Had he done something lately to offend Elisa? He didn’t think he had. Before he could ask her anything, a body plopped down on the bench beside him. Logan held a white cloth to his arm, blood seeping through.

Aiden looked at him, eyebrows raised. “How did that go?”

Logan sighed, looking forlornly down at his arm. “Not so good.”

The service was short. With Alistair’s death being so unexpected, there was no one designated to replace him as High Priest. One of the lower priests had done a quick speech for him and led everyone into prayer before letting everyone know where the after celebrations would be held. Elisa waited for everyone to leave before walking over to the side wall. She stood silently, staring at the image that now haunted her every time she closed her eyes. The beauty of it was really quite startling. It surprised her to think she hadn`t noticed the painting earlier, considering that she had been in the Sanctuary so often growing up. Beneath that beauty, however, lay a ugly truth that would destroy lives. Like a present wrapped artfully, wherein lies nothing but hurt and despair.

“He painted this himself, you know,” Jameson said, coming to stand beside her. Elisa tore her eyes from those that stared back at her on canvas to the ones now watching her carefully. She nodded, offering a weak smile.

“He told me that, not too long ago actually. I didn’t even know he painted,” she told him. “I spent countless hours every day with Alistair, and not once did he mention this talent.” She looked back at the painting, swallowing the bitterness at the back of her throat. It wasn’t the only thing he hadn’t mentioned, she thought severely. Though he’d had his reasons, Elisa found herself angry at her mentor for keeping something from the rest of them that should have been disclosed from the beginning. They had a right to know. Aiden had a right to know. And yet here she stood, looking at something that explained so much, knowing what lay behind it, and she was keeping it all to herself. Just like Alistair. Just like the others who had known. What did that make her?

“How are you holding up?” Jameson asked grabbing her attention again. She shrugged. “Do you want to talk about it?”

She turned then, offering him a reassuring look. “I’m fine. Really. It’s a shock but I’m dealing with it. When everything is over I’ll give myself more time to mourn him.”

Jameson nodded in understanding. “Go celebrate his life, don’t mourn his death. He wouldn’t have wanted that from you.” He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze before turning to walk away. Elisa watched him until he disappeared out in to the hall. She looked up at the image of the God and Goddess above her. She hoped that whatever waited for them in death, Alistair was getting the best of it.

Aiden stood against the wall of the tavern, surveying the scene before him. Apparently the Capital was very similar to the Irish side of his family in that death was not celebrated in a room where it was quiet and everyone cried. Nope. It was celebrated in a bar where people drank like fish and sang loud, obnoxious songs out of tune. He turned as someone came to stand beside him.

“It’s nice to see that some things never change,” Callum commented smiling at the King and Turk singing loudly with the others.

Aiden snorted in agreement. “Is it weird for you to be back here?”

Callum considered this for a moment before replying. “Not as much as I thought it would be. It still shocks me how forgiving and accepting everyone is…considering.” Aiden nodded. Callum met his eyes. “What about you? What is it like to be in a world different from the one you’re used to?”

Aiden looked around slowly before turning back to him. “Sometimes I feel more at home here than I ever did in my world. I can’t explain it, but I feel more connected. At home, I always felt like something was missing, or like I just didn’t fit in with everyone else.”

“I know the feeling,” said Callum. His face grew serious. “Jameson plans to leave tomorrow for the east. Do you think we’re ready?”

Aiden was momentarily shocked into silence. He couldn’t fathom this man asking
him
for his opinion, and yet here they were. As he looked over at his friends and fellow soldiers the answer was simple, “yes,” he replied. “I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”

“He’ll be waiting for you,” Callum said grimly.

“I’m counting on it.”

She was drunk. It was actually amazing that she had always looked down on those who drank in excess, and yet she had now been drunk more times in the last week than she had in her entire life. Elisa made her way through the tightly packed tavern to where Logan, Wolf, and Moose sat. She noticed Aiden standing off with Callum. They appeared to be having a very serious conversation, so she steered clear of them.

Placing the four mugs on the table, she all but fell into the empty chair beside Wolf. He looked over, amused.

“Feeling a little tipsy?” he asked, fighting back a grin.

She narrowed her eyes at him, but her voice held no menace when she answered. “A little.”

“Well we’d better enjoy it now,” Logan butted in. “This will be our last night of drinking ourselves stupid. Jameson plans for us to leave tomorrow.”

“It’s about time,” Moose muttered into his cup. “Who knows what they’re doing to Lily.” He looked over at Aiden despairingly. “I’m afraid what we’ll find when we get there. And what it’ll do to him.”

Elisa’s heart sank. She knew the forest people were abnormally strong, but Aziz wasn’t just any other human either. He knew magic no one else did. The urge to get up and storm out was overwhelming. Too bad she didn’t know where to go. None of them did. It was the unspoken issue amongst them all. Yes, they were leaving tomorrow. Sure they were heading east. But where? Once they got past the Giants Hills and into Ramel then what? Aziz wasn’t well loved by his native people in the east. Even they feared him and his powers. She doubted anyone there could offer them his location. It felt like they were headed off on a wild goose chase.

The mood at the table had plummeted. Elisa reached out to drink more ale, but was stopped by Wolf’s hand gripping hers.

“Let’s go dance,” he suggested, pulling her up with him. They pushed their way through the crowd until they made it to the dancing area. The band was playing a popular jig, their pounding feet on the old wooden floorboards creating a thumping beat that vibrated right through her. Despite the fast pace of the song, Wolf pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist so she was effectively trapped. She gave him a questioning look. He simply continued to rock them slowly back and forth.

“Everyone is looking at us like we’re weird,” she noted.

“Maybe you. For me they’re just admiring my charming good looks.”

She snorted. “You are so full of yourself.” He pulled her tighter, dropping his head to run his nose lightly over her neck. She shivered at the feeling. She felt him smile against her skin.

“All I want to do is be alone with you,” he whispered in her ear. His voice had changed from playful to serious in a matter of seconds. Her skin broke out in goose bumps.

“Then let’s leave,” she replied softly so only he could hear her. He straightened giving her a heated look. Their eyes locked. A hand slammed down on Wolf’s shoulder breaking their trance.

“Are you two having a staring contest?” Logan asked, giving them a cheeky grin.

“No,” Wolf answered, annoyed. “I was thinking about all the things I
wanted
to do to her, before you so rudely interrupted.” Elisa felt her face burn at his words.

“You make me sick.” Logan gaged. “Seriously.”

Wolf and Elisa turned to give Logan withering looks, but, of course, they had no effect on him.

He grinned again, slapping them both affectionately on the backs. “Well, I’m bored, so I think we should all get out of here and do something fun.”

“We were planning on it, right before you –”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Logan interrupted Wolf, waving him off. “Before I interrupted you.”

“What are you three up to?” Aiden asked, coming to stand beside Logan. “You two look about ready to kill him,” he added, motioning his head in Logan’s direction.

“We are,” Wolf answered. Elisa could see humour dancing in his eyes, despite his stern voice. She admired their friendship.

“I was just suggesting we go do something fun,” Logan said facing Aiden. “What do you think?”

Aiden scratched his chin thoughtfully. Elisa couldn’t help but laugh at his serious face. He gave her a quick wink before answering Logan. “How about we head over to the training arena? I’ve been itching to get you back there since the first time we fought. I owe you a black eye.”

They all laughed…well, except Logan. His eyebrows shot up while his face took on the eager look of a challenge being accepted. “Is that right?” he asked, rubbing his hands together. “If memory serves me right, that black eye lasted a day,” he pointed out.

“You afraid to take him on again, Logan?” Elisa piped in, her smile widening at the look of outrage on his face.

“Never!” he scoffed. “You think you can take me now, warrior?”

Aiden laughed. “I’m not the same boy you fought back then. The question now is, can
you
take
me?
” Wolf broke out into laughter, his eyes alight with excitement.
Boys
, Elisa thought with a shake of her head –
always competing.