What the Heart Takes (39 page)

Buzzing filled Heaven’s ears as her cheeks heated. She faced the room once more, her eyes locked with Layne’s as he pulled his shirt over his arms. She focused on his energy, drawing it to her as she willed him to do the same.

He complied.

A second later, the fire within him built with such speed it hurled toward her like the conflagration he’d flung at their attackers. Unlike those unfortunate souls, her body remained unburned. She couldn’t say the same for her soul. Layne had branded it, forever leaving his mark.

As the tension between them became too much, he broke their gaze at last. His fingers pinched together, working the buttons through their respective holes. It wasn’t the first time he couldn’t hold her stare for longer than a minute. Since the moment he’d awakened, she’d sensed his discomfort. Three days later, something still weighed on his mind.

Guilt. Questions. Uncertainty…

When she heard her sister clear her throat, she faced her, prepared for her all-knowing smirk. “There’s nothing going on, Hope,” she snorted, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. “I’m worried about him, that’s all. He’s my Keeper. I need him to be okay. You’ll understand once you find your Keeper.”

“Sweetheart, there isn’t a man in the world who could affect me the way Layne affects you.”

Heaven’s mouth fell just slightly. “Beg your pardon?”

“I sense your aura, Sis. It’s pink, a bold, rich pink. Or maybe it’s more of a fuchsia. I’m not up-to-date on my color chart, but I will say this much. It’s as breathtaking as the amount of passion it contains. Are you…? Do you have feelings for Layne?”

A heavy sensation grew in Heaven’s stomach, one that wasn’t because of the baby. An icy flash replaced it soon after, chilling her to the core. She couldn’t answer Hope’s question. Not because she didn’t want to, but because she didn’t know how. The mess of emotions in her heart confused her soul every bit as much as it did her mind.

“We’re all done,” Layla’s voice cut in, gaining both Heaven and Hope’s attention. She stood in the doorway just behind their mother, looking between them with a quizzical gaze. She finally focused her pale green eyes on Heaven. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, but I wanted to let you know that Layne is recovering better than we expected. He isn’t completely healed, but I think a few more days will take care of that. His aura is good, and his chakras are cleansed. Overall, I’d say he’s as good as new.”

Heaven nodded her head, processing each word with care. It was good news—too good of news—way more than she expected. She had to question the validity of Layla’s
medical
opinion, even if she did so to herself.

“I can’t thank you enough for saving him, Layla.”

“Please,” Layla chuckled, waving Heaven’s comment away. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as disappointment shimmered in her eyes. “I wish I could take credit for his recovery, but I can’t.”

“What do you mean?”

The smile she wore fell away. Her lips parted just enough to blow a wisp of hair from her face. She stepped further down the hall, putting enough distance between herself and the door. Her hands worked together; her eyes avoided the curious stares of those around her. When she finally turned around, she offered a tight-lipped smile and then dropped her eyes back to her hands.

“You were there when I was healing him, Heaven. He wasn’t responding to me.” She turned her hands over, palm side up. Discontent swirled in her soul as she looked at them, and then Heaven. “The gash in his chest didn’t start healing until later that evening when you fell asleep beside him. I didn’t heal my son. You did.”

What she said couldn’t be true. Heaven couldn’t allow herself to believe it. “I don’t see how that’s possible, Layla. I don’t have healing abilities.”

“No, but I understand that you share an affinity with my son. You can reach him on a level that no one else can. Your life is all that matters to him now. You’re the only reason he needs to get better.”

The way they approached the subject of her unwavering connection with her Keeper flustered her. They were blunt, even callous at times, about the whole situation. Had the alternate reality they lived in warped their minds, or was she making more out of something she shouldn’t?

“Everything about this feels awkward and unusual, this conversation included. I can’t believe the way you all treat my connection with Layne like it’s no big deal. You don’t understand.”

She sensed that Hope agreed, but her sister didn’t get a chance to voice her opinion. Layla walked closer, reaching for Heaven’s hands. “Believe it or not, we do understand, a lot more than you realize. I don’t know if you’re aware of this, but we all have Keepers. If Dane and I end up staying longer, you’ll get to meet my Keeper. You’ll see the close bond that we share.”

“I didn’t realize you were thinking about staying now that Layne is better.” The news took Heaven by surprise, but she couldn’t deny that she enjoyed the idea. “I’d like to get to know the woman who gave birth to the man destined to save me.”

“I’d like to get to know you too, Heaven. I can already see why my son is so crazy about you.”

Another wave of heat spread through Heaven’s cheeks. She felt Hope’s questioning eyes, felt the way her energy surged with disbelief and irritation. Her sister’s questions and opinions would have to wait for another time. Right now, she needed to know why Layla said what she did.

“What makes you think he’s crazy about me?”

Lifting a brow, Layla’s chest jiggled as she stifled a laugh. “Because you’re all he’s talked about since the day he met you.”

The news was shocking, to say the least. In reality, it nearly brought her to her knees, but she wouldn’t say or do anything about it. The less she reacted, the fewer questions she’d get from her sister when they were alone.

“Are you and Dane staying here with the rest of us?” she asked, wishing her sister would close her mouth and quit staring so hard.

Layla didn’t seem to notice the tension between them. “Your parents were gracious enough to extend the invitation. I don’t know if I feel right accepting it, though. They’ve already taken in quite a few people. If there isn’t room, we can stay at a hotel.”

“There’s plenty of room,” Heaven assured, knowing good and well her mother would say the same. She nodded toward her old room, stealing a peek at her Keeper as she did. “If Layne’s doing better, there’s no reason for him to stay in the house. He can come back to the cottage. You and Dane could stay in here.”

“I’ll leave that for you and him to work out,” Layla answered, patting her shoulder before she turned to leave. “I need a nap. I still haven’t adjusted to the time difference.”

Layla moved toward the staircase, making her way down the steps in haste. Heaven refocused on her mother, noting the creases lining her forehead. “What’s wrong, Mom?”

“Nothing, sweetheart. I’m just checking your energy. You have a lot on you right now, which is understandable, but it makes your aura look like a rainbow.”

Hope grunted beside her, shaking her head as she stared into the bedroom. “If having a Keeper is this much trouble, I’m not sure I want to find mine.”

“Not all bonds are as intense as Heaven and Layne’s. The more powerful she is, the stronger he has to be. That calls for their bond to be just as strong. It’s your sister’s best chance of survival.”

“I think she’s pretty safe,” Hope grumbled, but their mother wrapped her arms around her shoulder, pulling her toward the staircase.

“Come along, Hope. Heaven wants to check on her Keeper, and you and I need to talk about yours.”

More muffled complaining came from Hope’s direction, but Heaven tuned her out. There was a tug on her soul, a tug full of delicious warmth she was more than happy to sense again.

Hesitant steps brought her to the doorway, where she came to a stop. Layne remained by the foot of the bed, but he’d turned his back to the door. He fidgeted with his shirt, twisting at the buttons on the cuffs like he was about to fasten them. A few seconds later, he tugged at the collar, lifting it, folding it down, stretching it away from his neck. The heat of his energy picked up when she continued into the room and stopped just behind him.

“Are you okay?”

His body went rigid. His hands stilled around the top of his flannel like he’d frozen in place, but the fire inside him said otherwise. He turned his head slowly, locking eyes with her the second he peered over his shoulder.

“Yeah,” he said, tugging on his collar again. “I’m fine. Mom said I’m good to go. Your mom confirmed it.”

“I’ve already spoken with them. They gave me an update, but I wasn’t inquiring about your health. I think you know that.”

He feigned a confused expression and looked away. “Um…okay. So what exactly
are
we talking about?”

She sensed his resistance. There was a lot more on his mind and he didn’t want to share those thoughts with her. If the last few days hadn’t convinced her of that, today would have. He could barely make eye contact. Each time she saw him, it grew worse.

They had little time together since he’d awakened. Dylan had insisted on staying with her as she monitored him through the first night. Layne spent a few hours away from her on the second day, which proved she didn’t have to stay by his side anymore. There was no excuse to stay another night, no reason to argue with her parents when they demanded she spend the evening at the cottage catching up on sleep.

Now they were here on the third day, finally alone, and Layne still had nothing to say.

What was he trying to hide?

“What’s going on, Layne? Since the moment you woke up, I’ve sensed a change in your energy.”

He shrugged. “Your mom said my aura is good, so I don’t know what you’re sensing. Maybe you need some rest, Heaven.”

Adjusting his shirt once more, he turned around, taking quick steps past her. She sensed his need for space, but there was no way she was leaving their conversation like this. She reached, last minute, hooking her arm with his.

As he came to a sudden stop, he twisted back to glare at her. “What are you doing?”

“When are you going to learn that I can tell when you’re lying to me?”

“I’m. Not. Lying.” He gritted each word through clenched teeth. “I’m fine.”

The anger she sensed had her pulling her hand away. She folded it with her other hand and stepped back, fighting to keep her lips from trembling. “Okay. I’m sorry.”

She’d managed to get the words out without her voice cracking, but the effect of his words had her turning toward the window, desperate to hide the well of tears in her eyes.

Layne’s energy settled the moment she reached the windowsill. Remorse extinguished the anger that burned out of control. The tugging returned.

Warmth radiated across her back as if someone had wrapped a blanket around her. She knew it was him, knew that he’d moved closer to her, so close his breath rippled through her hair. Her eyes began to sting more than they had been. She swiped at them, hoping to remove the moisture before he spun her around. And he would at any—

Scorching fingers heated her arm. It didn’t matter that she tried to resist, her body still twirled in a half circle until she came face-to-face with Layne. His eyes held her in place. They shifted lower a moment later, to a tear she’d somehow missed. She could feel its wet warmth trailing down her skin as he continued staring at it. He swiped his thumb across her cheek before it slid any further.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I shouldn’t have acted like that. I’m frustrated with myself, not you. Mom said I wouldn’t be completely healed for a few more days. We’ve already lost so much time and I’m no closer to controlling my abilities. I have to protect you.”

“Is that it, or is there more, because I feel like there’s—”

“Heaven…”

He touched his fingers to his temples and pressed hard, rubbing them in circles. His hands covered her view of his face, but she sensed the annoyance within him. If he would just be honest and tell her the truth, she would leave him alone. Until she knew what the truth was, she couldn’t.

A moment later, he dropped his hands away from his face, cupping them around hers. He thumbed over her cheeks then pulled her close. “Will you please stop this?” His eyes pleaded with her as much as his voice. “Go to the cottage. Relax, take a bath, a nap, whatever you have to do to unwind, but go do something.”

“Not until you tell me what’s wrong. After everything we’ve been through, you’re still going to keep me at a distance?”

Taking a step back, he snapped his eyes shut. His energy quaked around her as his brows creased. “It’s nothing more than a stupid dream.”

“A dream?” she asked, unsure that she heard correctly. “What kind of dream?”

She swore she saw his cheeks flush crimson before he looked down. He fiddled with his sleeves again, increasing the tension between them. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss it with you.”

“Why?” The longer he took to respond, the more she realized that she already knew the answer. “Is it because it involved me, this room, and that bed?”

His mouth slackened as he followed the length of her arm. Once he saw what she was pointing to, his eyes widened. She’d hit a nerve. Good. Maybe he’d be honest with her now.

He parted his lips to respond, working them together before any words spilled out. “I, uh…I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

Didn’t he? Everything about his energy said he did. Yet he played ignorant to the fact. Maybe it was for her sake, maybe his. She didn’t know which, but she did know that denying it wouldn’t help anything. Then again, maybe he wasn’t denying it. Maybe she was losing her mind.

“There you are.”

Her father’s voice filled the air just as Layne stepped away from her. A twinge of guilt coursed through him, along with fear. He was afraid her father had noticed how close they were standing, but she sensed how her father’s emotions were tied up in other thoughts.

“Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting,” Layne said, strolling over to her dad and his own father as he walked into the room a few seconds later. “My mom and Anna lifted my activity level restriction. I was just about to come looking for you guys.”