by Juniper Hart
“No. Vern is a vegan, I think. He is more attached to the cause than we are.”
“Vern is a consumer of dead animals,” Dane told her again, still staring her squarely in the eye. Slowly, her smile faded as she realized he was not lying.
“Why are you saying that? Did you see him eat meat?”
“No. He smells of rotting flesh.” Elle looked completely baffled by his statement.
“Are you a wolf?” she asked slowly, voicing the question for the first time.
“I’m not sure,” Dane said softly. “I don’t think so.”
“A dragon?”
Dane shook his head and shrugged. “Maybe?”
“I don’t understand,” she said, but he could see something in her mind was working, tickling her brain, although she couldn’t quite connect what her subconscious was trying to relay.
She’s sensed it too but ignored it.
“I’m a Vulpes,” she offered. Dane’s heart jumped.
Yes, a fox! That makes sense. They were elusive but very powerful… they have the ability to control emotions and minds. Again, he wondered from where he’d picked up such a piece of information.
“Do you know about us?” Elle asked quietly.
“I think so,” Dane replied. “I don’t remember a lot of things.”
She seemed surprised by the confession. “What do you mean?”
“Just before I met you, I woke up without a memory. I have been trying to understand from where I’ve come.”
Elle blinked several times.
“You have amnesia?” she finally asked.
“Possibly…”
“Nothing is familiar?”
Dane swallowed and shook his head. He couldn’t begin to explain just how bizarre everything was to him, as if he’d come to a different planet. Water was strange, food was strange, the language was strange, and yet it was all so oddly familiar.
“It’s hard to explain,” he said. “I know about the Enchanted. I know about the mortals, but the cities are from another world. The food and water are poison…”
They stared at one another silently for a long moment until Dane cleared his throat.
“For what reason have you selected this location for our journey?” Slightly relieved, albeit surprised by the sudden shift in conversation, Elle looked around the beautiful campsite and shrugged, trying to seem casual.
“You don’t like camping?” She looked embarrassed by the question, perhaps realizing that he had no idea if he loved or hated camping.
“I do not have an informed response to that inquiry.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve never been camping! You are an environmentalist!”
“Yes.”
Elle laughed. “You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
“Why do you possess explosive devices in your luggage?” Dane asked.
Her head snapped around, and she jumped up from the fire pit, hissing while looking around in the dark to see if anyone was within earshot.
“Shh! What the hell were you doing in my bag?” she breathed in horror.
“I do not comprehend the question.”
“I think you do!”
“Why do you possess explosive devices in your luggage?” he asked again, following his query with an explanation of his own. “I was led to believe that you are a protector of the environment and a lover of living beings. Explosive devices destroy and kill.”
Elle stared at Dane for a long moment before slowly sitting back down beside him.
“Surely you know what Geoluad is?” Dane continued to stare at her, his expression unwavering.
“No,” he answered truthfully.
Elle sighed deeply. “Geoluad is a greedy, evil, nasty corporation who creates genetically engineered foods and manufactures chemicals. They dump toxic chemicals into our waters and pollute the land. This company affects our food on an astronomical level, and they need to be stopped. They are literally poisoning children.”
Dane absorbed what he had been told before responding. “You endeavor to use said explosives for this company?”
Elle shifted her gaze away from Dane. “World’s Worth wants to make a statement. We want Geoluad to yank their products off the shelves immediately. So… yes, I start with their home base…”
Dane patiently waited for her to complete the sentence, but she did not.
“Violence creates more violence,” he finally said after a moment of silence.
Elle shrugged. “Sometimes, you need to pull some punches to get things done. People don’t always respond so well to honey. In that case, you need to douse them with vinegar.”
“The explosives are concocted from honey?” Again, Dane was confused, and Elle could not help but laugh.
“Ah, Dane. I think I’m in love with you,” she told him, leaning in to kiss him gently on the lips.
To her surprise, he seized her suddenly, crushing his mouth to hers. Immediately, she responded, teasingly dancing her tongue around his lips. His mouth parted, and they both felt a shock as their tongues met.
Dane’s hand snaked into Elle’s hair, his fingertips tracing the lines of her slender neck. Abruptly, he tackled her to the ground, pinning her arms above her head. One of his hands held her in place, and the other was pulling up her shirt so he could expose her full breasts. Lowering his mouth, his lips found her pink nipples, sucking gently while she quietly moaned with pleasure. His face continued down her stomach, his fine, silken hair like a feather against her smooth skin. At her pants, he used his teeth to unbutton her jeans.
She pushed herself out of them, allowing him access between her thighs. He paused a moment to stare up at her, his eyes illuminated by the moonlight. Past her flat stomach, his nose nudged her belly button and found its way lower. Dane made small circles with the tip of his tongue while his fingers explored her thoroughly. He felt her butt clench as she bucked upward, wanting him to taste more of her. His laps grew harder, more intense, and she began to cry out, her fingers digging into his shoulders. Dane could feel tremors start to shake her body, and suddenly, she sat up to reach for him.
“Now it’s your turn,” she told him, playfully, as she went to straddle him.
“No,” he responded quietly, taking her arms and wrapping them around him. He didn’t want anything but to be near her at that moment. He felt the urge to hold her close, inhale the glorious scent of her hair and feel the silkiness of her skin.
In those moments, he didn’t feel lost or forgotten. He felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be, even if that wasn’t the case. And however fleeting the feeling was, he wanted to bathe in it forever.
Droplets of sunlight spilled through the clouds, making their way through the trees and onto the campsite where Elle lay wrapped in Dane’s arms, still asleep.
The fire had long since burned out in the fire pit, but Dane had not slept, his mind awhirl with a tornado of thoughts. He had spent the night watching her full chest rise and fall with long, sleep-filled breaths, and at the break of dawn, he, too, allowed himself to close his eyes, if only for a few minutes.
“Mm… how long have you been awake?” Elle stirred awake, stretching like a cat against Dane’s warm body. He found himself immediately responding to her movement, pressing his own body against hers, the two of them melting into one another.
“I did not sleep.”
“Why am I not surprised? You don’t eat, you don’t sleep. I don’t know how you’re still alive,” Elle teased, sitting up. She leaned over and kissed him sweetly. “Are you even made of flesh and blood?”
“No.”
Elle laughed and sat up, playfully ruffling his hair.
“I have some things to do today,” she told him evasively. Dane stared at her strangely.
“You must not explode those devices,” he said. Elle hid her face behind her long, red waves. She should have known he would sense what she was thinking.
Their psychic connection had reached new heights, to the poin
t where he could sense her out in a public place, regardless of how many other people were in their midst.
“Dane, we talked about this last night. Sometimes we must do things for the greater good. I understand you’re watching out for me, but please know that I am not a child. I can handle this.”
“You are under the rule of a mortal man who is not what he appears to be.”
She jerked her head up to stare at him coldly. It was clear he had struck a nerve with the assessment that she was taking orders from anyone. “I know you don’t like Vern, Dane, but he is a great leader. I am not under his rule; I am following him willingly. He only wants what is best for our world.”
“That is false.” Elle sighed.
“You’re wrong about him,” she insisted.
“I’m not,” Dane said flatly. “And I don’t want you to learn this the hard way.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about with Vern,” she told him comfortingly. “I only have eyes for you.”
Dane’s brow furrowed at the misconstrued response. It had never crossed his mind that Elle would be romantically interested in anyone else. Their bond was far too powerful. Was she trying to distract him?
“I am aware that I do not have anything to worry about. I am concerned that you have a great deal with which to concern yourself regarding him. He is no different than any other mortal on the planet. He is selfish, self-indulgent, and cares little about the world if it doesn’t directly and currently affect him.”
Again, Elle’s eyes narrowed defensively, but she skillfully changed the conversation.
“There is a charming little park in town that you might like called Forest Park. I noticed you have been hanging around the greenhouses and stuff lately, so you’ll probably really enjoy this place. There is a bunch of stuff to do there. Why don’t we get dressed, and I’ll drop you off there for the day until I’m done doing what I have to do.”
Dane regarded her thoughtfully and finally nodded. Elle released a sigh of relief. She was expecting another argument.
He disappeared into their small tent while Elle made organic coffee in a metal percolator over the open fire which she had just started. She waited for him to reappear, handed him a small tin mug, and went inside to change. When she resurfaced, she was wearing a black hoodie and dark grey track pants, a knapsack securely fastened to her back.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked. Dane was chugging back the hot, black liquid with gusto, his eyes alight with energy.
“Yes. Let us go. May I have another? What is this named? It is highly delicious. I am quite fond of its taste and texture.” Dane was speaking at such a rapid pace that Elle had to laugh.
“This is one hundred percent organic, homegrown coffee. And of course you can have another cup. Just go easy. You’re going to have a caffeine crash.” Dane did not understand most of Elle’s words as he eagerly accepted the refill, chugging it back, not heeding the warning look she cast him. “Try not to scare the ducks at the park,” Elle joked, leading him to the rented Subaru. Dane simply grinned, licking his lips like a child.
You know what you’re doing here. Your mission is simple. Don’t lose focus. Maintain control and look only forward, never back. The future of our planet depends upon you. If you don’t go through with this, everything in the world is at risk. Keep your head down and look at no one. They will never suspect you don’t belong here. Then you can go home and never return as long as you draw breath.
That day, Elle’s usual silent pep talk was not helping to steady her nerves. She suddenly felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, and her hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
She sat in the Subaru, staring across the street at the huge building, contemplating her next move. She wished that someone had come with her. This was the first time she’d ever gone anywhere completely solo. At least on other missions, Bernice had driven, or someone had been waiting nearby. The best she had was Dane waiting in a park for her, but he wasn’t really a part of it.
She was having second thoughts, and she needed Avery’s cool reasoning or Bernice’s righteous coaxing. Even Joey’s quiet compassion would have sufficed at that moment.
She just felt overwhelmingly alone, like she was doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons. Any other act of vandalism or public mischief she had committed in the past had always left her feeling satisfied, but Elle did not feel that this time would be the same. She feared that she would walk away deeply regretting her actions without one avenue of recourse.
Why would Vern send me here alone? she suddenly asked herself as Dane’s words about Vern replayed in her head. This is not usual. Normally, I would have support. Why am I by myself for this one? This is the biggest feat we’ve ever undertaken.
Elle forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand. She had come too far to back out now. Plus, she had to get the bomb out of the car as soon as possible, because it was constantly at risk of detonating. Carefully tucking her light red waves underneath the hood of her dark sweater, she climbed out of the car, gently retrieving the knapsack from the passenger seat. With confidence she did not feel, she strolled toward the front gate, hitting the buzzer on the intercom.
“Yes?” came the monotonous, muffled response.
“Delivery,” Elle replied automatically. Her palms were soaked in sweat, and she was glad they were covered by gloves. Slowly, the gate swung open, and Elle scurried inside.
She raised her arm, ready to throw the bag inside, but stopped at the last minute. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t hurt anyone. She clung to the bag, turned, and walked quickly before the fence closed behind her. She broke into a run, not slowing to look back.
At the idling car now, she jumped into the driver’s seat, pulling away. Her heart hammering in her chest, Elle forced herself to watch the road. This was the first time she had ever driven herself to or from a crime scene, and watching the road was proving to be an unbearable task. She was sure she was going to crash.
She couldn’t leave the bag in her car. She knew she only had seconds before it detonated. She threw the bag into an empty parking lot where nobody would get hurt and hoped for the best.
But something was else wrong. The explosives had not detonated.
Elle looked in the rear-view as she sped down the street, waiting for the fire to light up the parking lot. It did not materialize.
A warm feeling filled her stomach, a mix of disappointment overwhelmed by intense, unadulterated relief.
For some reason, the universe had stopped the impending catastrophe she had endeavored to create, and as Elle exhaled the deep breath she had been holding from the moment she had walked through Geoluad’s gates, she wondered if Dane had anything to do with fate intervening.
If she hadn’t loved him before, Elle was certain she did now.
I’m going to have to return the favor for him. I’m going to have to help him now, too.
12
Dane was sitting on a park bench, looking dazed, when Elle found him in Forest Park. He seemed fixated on the ducks, but as she approached, she realized that he was falling asleep. That was inconsequential to her. She hurried over to him, catching him completely off guard and embracing him in huge hug. Startled, he peered up at her through glassy lids.
“Thank you,” he told her with some uncertainty, not sure of how to respond.
“No. Thank you. You dismantled the bomb, didn’t you?” she replied, pulling back slightly to stare into his hypnotic irises. He nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
She pulled him back in for another hug and kissed him on the cheek. He still looked frazzled, and suddenly, Elle was concerned. “Are you all right? Why do you look like that?”
“I feel unwell,” he admitted. “Highly depleted of energy.” Elle giggled, realizing the problem.
“I warned you not to drink too much coffee. You’re crashing. Let’s go back to the campsite so you can sleep. When you wake up, we’ll have something to eat and head
home.”
Dane nodded gratefully, accepting her outstretched hand and following her lead to the car.
In an instant, a dozen figures jumped out from various spots in the park, guns drawn.
“Freeze! Get down on the ground!” Shocked, Elle turned to run but quickly recognized that they were surrounded by a SWAT team.
“Get down on the ground!” a deep voice yelled again, and slowly, Elle let go Dane’s hand, dropping to her knees.
“Dane, get onto the ground,” she hissed. “But don’t say a word.”
He glanced at her and began to follow her lead. In seconds, they were both in handcuffs, hands prodding through their pockets. Satisfied they were unarmed, they were pulled to their feet.
“Are you Dane Hawthorne?” the officer in charge demanded at Elle’s lover.
“Yes.”
“Dane Hawthorne, you are under arrest for an attempted bombing. You have the right to remain silent, you have the—”
“Wait a second! He didn’t do anything!” Elle cried. The officer continued to read Dane his rights, completely ignoring Elle’s pleas, and they were both led to waiting squad cars at the edge of the park. “What bombing?” Elle demanded. She was again disregarded as a female officer unceremoniously shoved her into the back of a vehicle.
“What is your name, miss?” the officer asked, climbing into the front seat.
“Anne,” Elle said quickly, trying to remember if she had any identification with her. She exhaled as she realized she had not brought any. She hoped that Dane was in the same position.
Of course he is. He doesn’t even know who he is, does he?
“Anne what?” the officer pressed.
“Boleyn.”
“Oh, a smart ass. Well, that isn’t going to get you very far, sweetie. We’ll find out who you are soon enough. You ever been printed, Anne Boleyn?”
Elle grinned mirthlessly at the cop watching her through the rear-view mirror.
“Nope,” she answered truthfully. Office Class glared and pulled away from the curb, following directly behind the car carrying Dane.
