The Last Witch (Incenaga Trilogy) (26 page)

After an hour of thrashing through the
jungle, the hum of rushing water called from a distance until it grew into a steady roar. Erick’s pace quickened. He pushed through thinning foliage to where moss joined ivy and led them to the edge of a wide pool. A towering waterfall cascaded over massive boulders and splashed into the far reaches of the pool. Colorful birds flew in and out of the wind-blown spray, their calls a jubilant song.

“Isn’t this magnificent?” Erick
called over the roar of falling water.

Emmeline laughed. She held
out her arms, closed her eyes and spun around, feeling the mist fall upon her face. “It’s sensational,” she said. “How did you find this place?”

“I came across it several years ago
while I was hunting. I was alone, so I’m fairly certain I’m the only one who knows of it. Until now.”

He pointed
to the cliffs near the waterfall and beckoned her to follow him. He skirted along the edge of the pool and hopped onto a thick rock ledge that reached from the moss laden ground to the center of the falls.

Following Erick’s lead, Emmeline
climbed onto the wet, slippery ledge and inched forward. To her right the mighty cliff reared its watery face. To her left the pool glistened with clear water. Black fish the size of small children ambled along the bottom.

The
spray increased and they were both drenched, but neither cared. They laughed as they slipped and stumbled their way along the ledge, gripping the cliff wherever possible. More than once Emmeline had to grab hold of Erick to keep from plummeting into the water and each time he was quick to wrap his arms around her. His touch stirred a warmth deep within her, which was always followed by disappointment when he let go. She knew it wasn’t proper that she wanted him to hold on just a little longer, but she couldn’t help her reactions, or find the will to ignore them.

Erick
turned a corner and slipped behind the waterfall, pulling her with him. Behind the falls hid a cavern deep enough to conceal two dozen people. Residual ashes layered the bottom of a shallow hole that had been dug in the center of the cavern. And heaped in the far corner was a stack of dry wood and a few reed mats. Erick reached behind the wood and pulled out a small bundle. Tucking it under his arm, he grabbed a few pieces of the dry wood and began stacking them in the ashen hole.

“Are you starting a fire?” Emmel
ine squeaked, unsure if she could withstand the fire’s siren.

“Are you worried…because of who you are?”

It was the first time he had acknowledged knowing she was an Incenaga. It was a relief, yet surreal, somehow, to be certain that he knew. Their relationship shifted and a wall she’d unknowingly put up, crumbled.

“Yes.
I don’t want to hurt you,” she said.

“The fire consumes you so easily?”

Emmeline nodded.

“You seemed fine at the festival.”

She opened her mouth and then paused a moment. “True,” she said after awhile. As opposed to the fires she had created on her own, the fires with Mahlon and Prince Weldon had consumed her better senses until she had resorted to destruction. She had always assumed it was safer when she was alone. But Erick was right; she had been fine at the festival. It was an intriguing anomaly, one that she would have to explore. But with Erick so near?

A
mischievous smile lit Erick’s eyes. “Tell you what; I’ll just toss you in the waterfall if you start doing anything funny. That should cool you off.”

Emmeline laughed. “Promise?” she asked
, half serious. It wasn’t a bad idea. A toss in the water would keep her away from him, and had a good chance of breaking her from any trance.

Erick
frowned and set to work starting a small fire. She wanted to ask what bothered him, but within moments the fire was blazing and she found herself inching toward the flames.

Before long, the little cavern warmed up and Emmeline was relieved to find the only urge she felt was to warm her cold fingers. She moved closer and held her hands above the fire, letting it warm her shivering body.

“I must look like a washed up rat
,” Emmeline said, chuckling.

“Y
ou are the most beautiful washed up rat I’ve ever seen.”

Emmeline
could feel a blush threatening to color her face, but she didn’t look away.

He
held her gaze and searched her face. Running a hand through his hair, he smiled and let his gaze fall back to the fire.

Emmeline’s stomach clenched. T
he intensity of her reaction to him unnerved her. Why did she feel such fierce disappointment when he looked away? She had never felt so alive with someone before and so dead when they were away. With Erick she could forget the makings of her nightmares. Shaking her head, Emmeline turned her attention to the dancing flames.

Her thoughts drifted
to her father and she wondered if he was warm enough or if he had enough to eat. He was a good man who didn’t deserve to be thrown into prison and used as leverage. He deserved to live.

She
thought about the Crown Prince she had yet to meet. A Prince respected among the servants and prized by his father. A Prince who valued life and peace over riches and power. He was also a good man who deserved to live.

Her face
contorted as a sense of unease swelled inside her. Her fists tightened and her knuckles turned white, her fingernails leaving marks in the palms of her hands. She couldn’t condemn either one to death. Suddenly, she remembered she wasn’t alone. Taking a deep breath, she tried to relax. She didn’t want Erick to see her this way, nor taint his happy world with her endless troubles. If he thought something was bothering her, he would start asking questions. And if he asked, she was feeling vulnerable enough to tell him. She was desperate to talk to someone and perhaps receive some advice. It would be too easy to confide in him.

But he couldn’t know. He
shouldn’t
know. Mahlon had proven that nothing and no one would get in the way of his plans. If he was willing to a kill a beloved prince for what he considered the betterment of Dolmerti, who wouldn’t he hurt? Emmeline shuddered. She couldn’t put another innocent man’s fate in her hands.

Forcing her face
to relax, she strained to open her fists. She stole a peek through her eyelashes to see if Erick had noticed her rigid behavior, hoping he was just as engrossed in the flicker of the flames as she had been. Her heart sunk. He was staring at her, his eyebrows peaked.

“
Is the fire bothering you?” he asked.

She
knew she had to lie again and she hated herself for it. “Not at all. I’m so warm and dry now that the very thought of entering that icy water has me feeling anxious all over. And imagine what the wind will feel like on our wet clothes when we ride back. I’m dreading it as we speak!”

Erick searched
her eyes and then hung his head. Emmeline bit the inside of her lip, disgusted with herself. Once again she had taken advantage of his trust. She didn’t deserve his friendship. She didn’t deserve anyone’s friendship.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I should have
been more considerate. You’re right. It will be quite cold on the ride back to the palace. I wish I had thought to bring you a blanket or a jacket.”

Emmeline
grimaced, wishing she’d thought of a better excuse, one that wouldn’t have hurt Erick.

“Erick, ple
ase don’t misunderstand me. I’ve had a wonderful time. I’d happily get soaked to the bone all over again for another day like today. I’m glad you brought me here.”

“
And I’m glad you’ve enjoyed yourself.” He got to his feet. “Now that you know where it is, you’ll have a place to run off to should you need it.” He winked at her, not realizing how much she considered the idea.

Dusting off his pants, H
e shrugged out of his coat and placed it on her shoulders. “We should be heading back. Take my coat. It might keep you a little warmer.” He flashed a crooked grin that left her speechless and sent her heart thrumming.

She hugged his coat around herself and
followed him through the waterfall and back to the edge of the pool. The last rays of the afternoon sun bathed the pool and spraying water, giving the waterfall the appearance of cascading gold. It was breathtaking and Emmeline yearned to stay.

T
hey rode to the stables where Emmeline sat and watched Erick brush down the horses. It was an unspoken tradition that had developed over the several weeks they had ridden together. When he finished with the horses he would walk with her along the forest’s edge to the palace. Some days they walked in companionable silence and other days they reached the palace far before their discussion was over.

Silence or not,
they always seemed to reach the palace too soon. Emmeline was glad when Erick set a slow pace toward the palace. He seemed on edge, however, his hands flexing and relaxing. Several times he took a deep breath, turned to look at her, paused, and then looked away, exhaling.

“Just spit it
out, Erick,” she said. “I know something is on your mind. What is it you want to say?”

He stopped
and turned to her with big eyes. “How did you know? I wasn’t being that obvious, was I?”

Emmeline gave him a long look. “
I’ve been watching you wipe sweat off your brow since we left the stables. What is it you want to say?”

Erick
drew in a deep breath. “Emmeline, I…”

Abandoning
all effort to speak, he cupped his hands on her face and pressed his lips to hers. His hands left her face and wrapped around the small of her back, pulling her closer. Surprising even herself, Emmeline leaned into his kiss, closed her eyes, and welcomed his touch. She reached up to entangle her fingers into his hair, deepening their kiss.

With each tender kiss he placed on her lips, e
very discomfort faded away. She was no longer cold and no longer worried about Mahlon finding her. A sense of freedom filled her heart where emptiness and confinement had nested after weeks of waiting to marry a prince she didn’t know. The Crown Prince!

Emmeline pushed
Erick back, cold and worry flooding back into her heart. She couldn’t kiss Erick. She had a treaty to secure, a father who needed her, and a prince to protect. As hard as it was and as much as it tore her heart she took a step back. She glanced up at Erick, pain and insecurity flashing across his face. It was okay for her to suffer in silence, but she shouldn’t have let him develop feelings for her.

“I can’t do this,” she said. “This is wrong. I shouldn’t be here.”
Tears flooded her eyes as she turned away.

Erick grabbed her hand
. “Emmeline. Don’t do this. There is something you need to know. I—”

Emmeline snatched
her hand back, cutting him off. “No, there is something
you
need to know. I’m not who you think I am. You’ve kissed a girl who doesn’t exist. I’m sorry I haven’t been truthful with you, but I’m not going to be that person anymore. I’m not going to hide and expect things to work themselves out. I let you believe that I’m here as a guest to the King, but in truth, I was brought here against my will to marry the Crown Prince. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

Erick
rocked back onto his heels. He ran a hand through his hair and studied the ground. “You were brought here against your will?” he said. His fists clenched and his breathing hitched.

“Yes.
And my father will die if I don’t fulfill a few other demands. At this moment, he is a prisoner in Volarcus and it’s all because I’m some silly witch. Mahlon wants to use me as a pawn in his war games. I didn’t want to come here. I didn’t want this to happen.”

She waited for him to respond but h
e remained motionless, shock frozen across his face.

Emmeline barreled on, the words coming out in a rush.
“I found a reason to stay, though. A reason that made me happier than I can ever remember being. But I can’t see you anymore. I’ve been promised to someone else. It isn’t right for me to feel this way for you. I have the peace of my people to think about.”

Emmeline hiccupped, t
ears streaming down her face. “Goodbye, Erick. I’m so sorry.”

Whirling around, she
ran, tears falling fast and bitter. Erick called after her, begging her to stay, begging her to listen to him, but she blocked out his pleas and kept running. If she went back, she feared she wouldn’t have the strength to say goodbye a second time. She’d want to feel his arms around her, pulling her close. She’d let him kiss her again and let him stroke her cheek and run his hands through her hair. She’d let him tell her that everything was going to be fine. But everything wasn’t going to be fine. She couldn’t keep pretending it would be.

Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with more angry tears.
Not bothering to wipe them from her eyes, she stumbled and fell, picked herself up and stumbled again. She rushed to the palace and through the stone door, desperate to shut out Erick’s agonizing calls for her to return. The stone slid into place with a grinding finality. He wouldn’t be able open it from the outside. He couldn’t follow her.