by Allison West
"Before we all go on this journey, am I the only one concerned that this could be a trap?" Willow glanced from Rawlie to Hudson. "Eilith is cunning. She's not going to just strip me of my abilities without planning on us trying to get them back. Either it's an ambush at the spring, or she's going to breach the gate between worlds while we're gone."
"I don't like it, but it's up to Lil," Hudson said.
"I can come too, right?" Jamie's face lit up with a smile. "I always wanted to visit the Mystics."
"Yes, you can come with us. You're old enough now, and it's time you learn to defend yourself. Are you sure you're up for this, Lil?" Willow asked.
"Yes. I want to go home." Lil was adamant about returning to her world. She had no idea what awaited her at the springs or what might happen should she touch the waters, but she knew she didn't want to be trapped here indefinitely.
Hudson cleared his throat. "I suggest we all head to bed. The springs will be there tomorrow." He stood up, gesturing for Lil to follow. "I want a word with you, alone."
Lil nodded, offering a shrug. "Okay." Was he going to talk her out of going to the springs? There were risks involved, but she wanted to see her family again—she needed to go home.
"I'm concerned about Bray." His voice was soft and low so the others couldn't overhear their conversation.
"Worried?" That made her stomach somersault. "You don't think he made it home okay?" He was without money and could have been dropped back into their world miles from home. She hoped he'd have found a police station, somewhere that would offer him safety and shelter until his parents came for him.
"I'm worried Bray's going to come back when he finds you're not home. It could be even more dangerous for him crossing over again," Hudson said.
"Oh." Lil hadn't considered that Bray might return. "It was pretty awful for him here."
"He's in love with you, Lil," Hudson said.
Lil's cheeks flushed, and she glanced down at the ground. A hint of a smile played on her lips, embarrassed. "You're mistaken." He had to be. Lil and Bray were best friends. Besides, how would he find his way back? Unless Eilith trapped him again, he didn't exactly have a key, and there wasn't a door to Orenda that he could just waltz through.
Hudson rested a hand on her back as he led her up the stairs to her bedroom. "Hopefully, you're right. If there was a girl I was in love with, I'd follow her into another universe, if necessary."
Lil swallowed the nervous lump forming in her throat. "I…" She had no idea what to say to that. Was Hudson talking about himself, or were they still talking about Bray? "I'm pretty sure he didn't plan on ending up here," Lil said, assuring Hudson as much as herself. Bray wouldn't bring himself back to Orenda to find Lil, would he? No. Eilith had kidnapped him once, already. Who's to say he'd escape the second time?
Hudson stared at Lil, his lips just mere inches away. "I don't want to see you, or your friend, get hurt," he said, leaning in toward her. He didn't kiss her, though. Lil's back was to the bedroom door. She looked up at him, feeling the warmth radiating off his body as he stared deep into her eyes. Her hands stayed planted at her sides. She was still conflicted about Hudson. His sandy brown hair and warm amber eyes begged her to trust him. The immediate annoyance she'd felt upon knowing him had long since faded. Her eyes moved down to his plump pink lips. His breath lingered, and her eyes shut. Lil closed the distance between them, planning to kiss him. She heard a loud cough in the hallway, effectively killing the mood.
Hudson pulled back first, his face flushed. Jamie was staring at them in the hallway. "Were you about to kiss Lil?" Jamie asked.
"I was hoping to." Hudson smiled, averting his eyes.
Before he could turn and go, Lil reached up onto her tiptoes and planted her lips on Hudson's. His mouth was warm and inviting, and she felt his hand wrap around her waist, pulling her tighter. Her insides warmed and she seemed to melt in his arms, something she'd only read about in romance novels. He was real. This was different. He tasted sweet and smelled musky, almost heavenly. She leaned closer, wanting to feel his body pressed against hers. Her fingers bunched his shirt in her fist, tugging him closer to her. What happened if this was it? What if she never saw him again?
"Goodnight, Lil," Hudson whispered as he pulled back, staring at her.
She grabbed his hand, refusing to let go.
"Goodnight, boys." A smile spread across her lips. She didn't release his hand.
Jamie watched for a moment before trotting down the hall to his bedroom. Maybe he was smart enough to know to leave them alone, or perhaps he was bored with watching them kiss. Either way, Lil was grateful he managed to get himself lost.
"Join me?" Lil asked. It wasn't really a question. She wanted him and knew this might be the only time they would be together.
He followed behind her, never seeming to untangle himself from her body.
The door shut, and their clothes came off in a heap on the floor. "I don't… I've never," she didn't even know what she was trying to say, except this wasn't like her and she didn't usually do this. In fact, she'd never done this, but she wanted him.
"I know. It's okay," Hudson whispered against her neck, his breath warm and inviting, his kisses soft and sweet as he backed her up against the mattress. "It's not like I meet a lot of girls here, either." He was teasing her right back.
The back of her knees hit the bed and she fell against the soft material, laughing softly.
Hudson climbed above her. "What's so funny?" He captured her mouth with his, taking another taste.
She slipped farther back on the bed, enjoying the weight of his body, the warmth of his protection as he comforted her in ways she had never imagined. His lips caressed her down her neck, across her chest, tasting and touching her intimately.
Lil gasped as his fingers found their way past her waist, dipping into her warmth. His digits were large, but he was gentle with each stroke.
Her hands moved down his back, feeling over his bottom before eyeing his manhood. She'd never seen one, at least outside of a filthy magazine or one of those movies she wasn't supposed to watch. It was bigger than she imagined.
"Can I?" she asked his permission before touching him, curious and hungry to please him.
Their lips clashed, dancing for control as she moved to climb down his body, wanting to take a taste and lick and suck his cock.
"We have all night," Hudson said, reassuring her that this could last as long as they wanted it to. There was no rush.
She didn't want to let her mind wander and consider that tomorrow would come, and she would be returning back to her world. All she wanted was the here and now, which involved him. He was magnificent, every inch of his body, from his taut muscles, all the way down to his thick cock.
His fingers caressed her body, his lips covering her in kisses as he pulled her closer, edging his cock at her entrance.
She was wet and ready. "Don't go slow." There was an urgency that she felt, a strong desire to grab him and pull him deeper.
He kissed her neck, biting down on her shoulder. She gasped as he inched the tip of his cock into her warmth.
"More." She grabbed his hips, pulling him tighter, grinding herself into him. She craved him like nothing she'd ever experienced. It was as though he was air and she was drowning.
"I don't want to hurt you," he said as he kissed behind her ear then nibbled on her earlobe. Keeping her close, his fingers moved down between her thighs, touching her pearl.
Lil gasped, hoping no one would hear and not entirely caring, either. God, it felt amazing! She gripped his cock as he slid farther inside of her, the pain slight and aching but good at the same time. Lil had never experienced such a sensation, the throbbing and pulsating within her as he slowly withdrew and began thrusting his cock in and out of her tightness.
He thrust from above, his body towering over her, kisses dropping every so often on her forehead, her cheeks, her eyelids, each kiss as lazy as the next. The sensation grew, the throbbing
intensified.
Lil wrapped her legs tighter, pulling him deeper and harder. She gasped, loud and clenched down, her insides taking his seed inside of her, toes curling in ecstasy.
Hudson thrust a few final strokes as he, too, let go, gasping, heart pounding above her.
She was certain she could feel his heart against her own as he lay above her, spent.
He shifted slightly. Did he worry about crushing her?
"Don't go," Lil whispered through closed eyes. She clung to him, not wanting to say goodbye. He had given her the most amazing experience.
Hudson reached for the covers, pulling them atop as he nestled against her, kissed her neck, and then slowly rolled them onto their sides.
Lil whimpered in protest.
"I'm not going anywhere," he whispered. "I just don't want to squish you."
"I like being squished by you," she answered, half-asleep.
Lil awoke early to the sound of wind whipping along the academy. She groaned in protest, refusing to wake. Whatever time it was, it was too early.
"Lil." She heard a voice and slowly opened her heavy eyelids. It hadn't been a dream. Hudson lay beside her, his hand wrapped around her waist.
Her eyes opened and she pushed a hand through his unkempt hair. "What are you doing awake?" How long had he been watching her sleep? Not that she minded, but she wasn't about to confess that to him.
"Thinking—"
"Care to share?" Lil sat up in bed, taking the sheets with her to modestly cover herself, not caring that she left Hudson naked on the bed.
"I was using that," he protested.
"You were. Mine now. We should get ready. We have a long day ahead of us." A part of her didn't want to leave, but she needed to go home. If not for Bray, for her family. They would be worried sick about her. She hoped Jamey was doing all right; she worried most about her little sister right now.
Hudson watched her from the bed for several seconds before he put his clothes back on from the night before. "I'll meet you downstairs." He headed out of the room, presumably to change into different attire.
It took Lil a few extra minutes to find her way downstairs. She didn't want to leave, not without Hudson. It was selfish, and asking him to join her, it would never happen. This was his home, as screwed up a world as it was, this was where he belonged. She splashed cold water on her face, trying to keep the few tears from surfacing. She would not cry.
Hudson glanced up as he packed a bag with snacks and water. "Look who finally woke up." He smiled. "Grab yourself something; you might want to eat on the way."
Did anyone else know what transpired between them last night? "Do I need to put on the eternal suit?" Lil asked, glancing at the boys in the kitchen. Jamie was eating a bowl of cereal. He didn't seem the least bit aware of the sexual tension between Hudson and herself.
"No chance of that," Willow said. She zipped up the jacket for the eternal suit and walked into the kitchen. "It's mine again. Always looked better on me."
Hudson glanced back at Willow before eyeing Lil. "You'll take the sword with you, just in case."
"Okay, great." Lil tried to sound enthusiastic, but a part of her was jealous. Maybe she didn't need the eternal suit, but wasn't she safer if she wore it? She pushed those thoughts aside, heading into the training arena. Was it horrible to like Arianna better than Willow, even though she and Willow were sort of the same person? It wasn't as though Willow had done anything terrible to her—except perhaps get her into this mess.
In a matter of minutes, they headed outside through the main entrance. "Are we driving?" Lil asked.
"Yes. Just up to the mountain," Rawlie said. "The rest of the way, we hike to the springs." It didn't sound so bad.
Chapter 8
The Mystics
Rawlie had lied. Though he had made the journey on foot sound easy, it was much worse than Lil expected. "Come on. We won't make it to the springs before night if you keep at this pace." On the trail, Willow walked ahead of Lil with no hint of slowing down.
Lil's feet were tired, and the sword had grown heavy and was now making her back ache. Maybe the eternal suit had helped her carry the sword before? Or perhaps it was just more difficult because they were climbing uphill through the forest. Though they didn't need any hiking equipment—the trails were clear enough—but it wasn't a breeze. With every step uphill, Lil's legs ached more.
"Come on. We're almost there," Hudson said, trying to encourage Lil.
She shot him a look. "How much farther?"
"A few more miles." Hudson reached over, taking her hand in his. "It'll make it easier," he said, and Lil glanced at him curiously, giving a faint nod. At the very least, it took her mind off the climb. Now, all she could think about was his hand in hers. Surely, everyone would know what they'd done. Not that it mattered. She was old enough to make her own decisions—good ones and bad ones. Hudson wasn't a bad decision; it was just overly complicated. He was from another world, another universe. She kept reminding herself of that simple fact, but it didn't make it any easier to acknowledge. She had fallen for a boy she couldn't have, except, he'd fallen for her too. What did that mean? Would it be a one-time thing? It couldn't happen again if she left. It wasn't as though they could have a long-distance, across the parallel universe kind of relationship. There were no love letters to be sent or received, just a lot of cold distance.
Her feelings had to be tamed. She had to go home—to her sister, her family, and Bray. She may not have loved Bray the way she'd developed feelings for Hudson, but he was a brother to her. Was Bray safe? She forgot about the journey and wondered about her friend. Did Eilith try to track him down in her world? Biting her bottom lip, she glanced at Hudson, tripping over a tree root protruding from the ground. Her knee buckled and she nearly hit the ground face first, but Hudson caught her.
"Lil," he breathed, just a mere inch from her lips. "You need to watch where you're going."
Lil nodded, dazed as she got herself steady on her feet, her cheeks burning. "I'll be more careful," she said. Glancing ahead, she could see Willow, Jamie, and Rawlie waiting for the two of them to catch up.
"Good," Hudson said, reaching for her hand once more. "Just in case." He smiled, taking her hand in his and locking their fingers together.
Would leaving Hudson break his heart? She didn't want to do that. What they shared last night, it had been new for probably both of them. "Thanks." Lil clung to his hand as if she might never see him again, knowing that was likely the case.
They traveled on foot until the light of the strange pink sun began to descend over the horizon. Lil wanted to ask Hudson again how much longer they had to go, but she suspected she was what was holding them up. If she was lucky, she'd be able to go home today, and she wouldn't have to walk back to the academy.
"We're almost there." She could hear Rawlie's voice from ahead, though she was hardly able to see him, except for his silhouette against the rising moon.
"You should be prepared for what happens next." Hudson glanced at Lil, giving her hand a tentative squeeze. "The Mystics will decide if you're a Nightblood and fated to reach the springs."
"What?" Lil's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "And if I'm not?" Was this all for nothing?
"Just be honest, with yourself and with the Mystics. You want to go home, right?"
"Yes. I want to go home." There was a slight hint of uncertainty in her voice. She did want to go home, but she was torn. She wanted to be with Hudson too.
"Good."
They reached the clearing in the forest, finding the others waiting for them. Before continuing, Hudson worked to remove the sword from Lil's back. "What are you doing?" she asked. Arianna unstrapped the sheath, and Hudson and Rawlie removed it from around Lil's shoulders.
"You can't go in armed." Hudson found her hand and squeezed it one last time before he dropped the gentlest of kisses to her lips. "In case I don't see you again," he whispered and pulled away.
Lil felt conflicting emot
ions pulling her in every direction. She wasn't ready to say goodbye to him yet. When he'd kissed her, she had felt her heart quicken and her insides melt. It reminded her of everything they'd shared last night. He was her first kiss, her first love, her first sexual experience, and she was going home to another universe and would never see him again. Her heart ached. She wanted to reach back to kiss him again, but she was devoid of courage. If she returned the sentiment, she'd never leave. She'd never want to leave. Lil gave him the faintest smile she could muster and reached for Jamie's hand. Together, they walked through the tall grasses and across the land to the giant stones just outside the reach of the springs. They both stopped, afraid to edge any closer. Hudson had told Lil she'd face the Mystics before reaching the spring, but there was no sight of them.
"I'm scared," Jamie said. He dropped her hand and glanced around, waiting for the Mystics to come.
Lil glanced back, but it was impossible to see her friends in the dark. "Don't be. This is what we came for, right?" She took a step forward between the two giant pillars of stone. They were taller than Lil, reaching much higher than any human could ever stand. When she was centered between both stones, she froze in place.
"Lil, watch out!" Jamie shouted.
A purple and blue glow surrounded her. She didn't move and couldn't seem to breathe. Was it because she didn't belong in this world, or was this the ritual? Jamie's voice seemed distant to her. A shadow crossed in the darkness. Her eyes blinked, and the world changed.
"You want to go home."
"You're the Mystics," Lil said, though her mouth never moved. Her body was trapped between the pillars. She imagined running through blossoming fields. Laughing, she smiled and fell to the ground, the bed of flowers soft and plush, as she stared up at the blue sky. This was her home, her world, exactly how she envisioned it.
"I am what you say I am," the voice answered. "You've come for one reason—to go home."
