“I hear your words Bast, but…” Olivia shook her head. “I do not wish to discuss it now.”
“Why was I asleep for so long?” Charlie said in an attempt to change the topic while she leaned her head on Bast’s shoulder.
“Delilah said it was because off all the blood you lost. She slept for almost a full day. We were so worried because you started drifting away again. There was nothing Donovan could do but tend to the others. When Delilah woke up she asked for you first… the next few days, she has kept your heart going, healing you bit by bit, but she also has to pace herself, and help other people. That was why she could not heal you completely. But you were always her priority. You saved her life.”
Charlie nodded but noticed that Olivia was holding back, that she hadn’t said everything she wanted to say. Before Charlie could prod further, the door opened and Kaden peeked in.
“Olivia, is everything –” Kaden’s eyes found Charlie’s. “She’s awake!” His lips turned up in a relieved smile.
Charlie gave him a crooked smile back. It was unnerving to see Kaden smiling at her, his features changed to those of a very handsome man. Even more disturbing was when he walked in, toward the bed, leaned over and kissed Charlie’s head.
“Thank you,” he murmured into her ear before leaning back. “I am glad to see you among us again.” He caressed her cheek before turning his attention back to Olivia. “I guess that’s what diverted your attention?” He gently massaged her shoulders.
Olivia looked up and graced Kaden with a soft, loving smile. “Yes. Oh! I forgot to tell Delilah! And the others!”
Kaden leaned down and kissed Olivia’s forehead. “Theo and Damien aren’t back yet and I will let Delilah know. Should I bring some food up as well?”
“Yes, please!” Charlie said, “I’m starving… I’ve been eying those scraps of food that Olivia dropped.”
Kaden chuckled as he walked toward the cupboard. “Alright, I’ll take this mess down,” he picked up the tray, “and bring more up, for you and Bast. I guess I should send someone to clean the mess on the floor as well.”
“Thank you,” Olivia called over her shoulder as Kaden left.
Charlie opened her mouth to speak when the door burst open and Delilah ran in.
“It’s true! I was on my way to… and you’re…” Delilah covered her mouth with her hands, choking back a sob. She also had dark circles under her eyes, her face paler than usual, and her hair pulled back in a simple chignon.
She just stood and stared at Charlie while tears slowly welled up in her eyes. My sister… I have a sister. The thought thwarted any attempt to get the words out. It felt much more real now that Charlie was awake, her forest-green eyes looking at Delilah in confusion.
“What’s wrong with Delilah?” Charlie asked Olivia, her brows furrowed as they watched Delilah standing rooted in place. “Is it magic again? And why is she crying?”
Olivia glanced over her shoulder at Delilah and then shook her head in amusement.
“I guess I will have to tell you after all,” Olivia said. “Since Delilah seems to be… stuck.” She looked back at Charlie.
“Tell me what?” Charlie shifted her nonplussed gaze to Olivia.
“You were probably in shock, which is why you do not remember. When Lilith… died, her sister’s spirit, Lucia, found freedom,” Olivia paused when she Charlie titled her head to the side, looking even more perplexed. “Never mind that now, Delilah will explain once she has reverted back to herself. It is about what Lucia said though.”
“What’d she say?” Charlie leaned forward, squeezing Bast’s hand in her own.
“She told Delilah that it was her time to save her sister.”
“Her sister? Delilah has a sister?”
Olivia waited and watched Charlie’s expression change, her frown disappearing and her eyes widening, and then her mouth popped open in disbelief.
Charlie’s eyes shifted back to Delilah. “You mean she –”
“Uh-huh!” Delilah mumbled as she bobbed her head up and down.
Charlie’s astonished expression transformed into an ecstatic one, the wide grin her dominant feature.
Olivia leaned forward and kissed Charlie’s cheek. “You have another sister now.” She stood up to make place for Delilah. It seemed to shake the young witch out of her stupor as she went to take Olivia’s place and hug Charlie.
Kaden returned with the food-laden tray.
“You told her?”
“Yes. I think they will need a moment,” Olivia said as she walked over to Kaden.
Bast came to take the tray. “I’ll make sure she eats.” She had no intention of leaving the room, not now when her Spark was back.
“Go for a walk with me?” Kaden offered Olivia his hand, the one that would permanently remind him of Magnus and all he’d had to sacrifice to save Olivia. She took it without hesitation.
Kaden led Olivia to the back porch of the mansion, encircled by a low stone column fence, with a wide stairway leading the few steps down to the garden. They stood at the top of the stairs. Kaden had his arms wrapped around Olivia’s waist as she leaned back into his embrace. He rested his cheek against the side of her head. The garden was in full bloom, as if an artist had painted an intricate design made only of colors, the myriad shades of greens, whites, violets, reds and yellows.
“She has not spoken since that day,” Olivia said when she noticed Aimee sitting on a stone bench with her arms wrapped around her knees as she watched Millie pluck the weeds.
“Maybe,” Kaden pondered, “Maybe she should come with us when we leave? Her mother and sister will be fine here, but she shouldn’t be the one looking after them. She’s too young for that. Time away from here should help her, give her a chance to make new, happy memories with the tribe? They might help… Koda could help her.”
“You might be right. I will talk to her mother and then let her know.”
“When will you let your people know we’re leaving?”
“Tonight… I will tell them tonight. I just cannot stay here. So many good memories tainted by all the death. I miss my mother. I miss George now too, even Giant and… I feel guilty for all those who died. I know, I know, you will say it is not my fault, but it will take me time to accept that, just as it has taken you.”
Kaden kissed the crown of Olivia’s head. “Alright. I understand that. What will you tell them, tell your father?”
“I will tell them the truth. That I cannot stay here, that it is too painful. Some might think me selfish but… I just cannot. I will miss my home dearly, and we will come and visit, but it is time for me to move on. The main house will be mostly closed off. And they can use the land for themselves. They can keep on doing what they have been doing but all the earnings will be theirs… the estate will be in their hands until someone returns. They will have the freedom to do as they please, live how they want, earn as much as they want and I will ask Sebastian to come and check on them every now and then. After all, I do not want the estate to waste away. I want it to live on, and I trust them to do that. Maybe my father will return, but I will not dwell on that now, not until I can discuss it with him.”
Olivia turned in Kaden’s embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck. She tugged his head down so their lips could meet in a sweet, lingering kiss.
When they broke apart, Olivia said, “Now that everything is over, I just want to go somewhere with you. Somewhere where we can have some peace, where you can teach me what happiness feels like again.”
“I think I can manage that, my love,” Kaden said and pecked Olivia’s lips. He held her tighter, flush against his body. “We can make our own home… near the forest so you can visit with Bast and Charlie whenever you want, and Delilah, now that we know she wants to go there to learn from the shamans. That means Cassiel as well. Maybe we could settle close to Sophie. It would be just you and me… and Pup, of course.” He smiled.
“And Starlite and Mousse,” Olivia added, and she ch
uckled when Kaden groaned. “She really likes to nip on your... umm… But worry not, I will have your behind.” She giggled at the insinuation as she pushed all the worry and misery to the back of her mind so she could enjoy her moment with Kaden. She would not let Magnus win by ruining her life, and her future.
Kaden gazed down at Olivia’s soft features. He saw the smile on her rosy lips mixing with the sadness that clouded her sky-blue eyes, but a storm of determination also brewed in them. He would help her fight it away. They would be bound together forever once they met up with her father. She needed the happy moments to overthrow the dark memories.
He couldn’t resist the lure of her mouth and he captured her lips in a deep, proclaiming kiss. “I love you,” he murmured as he rested his forehead against Olivia’s.
“I love you, too.” Olivia brushed her nose against his.
“We just have to carry on now,” Kaden said and Olivia agreed by snuggling into his embrace.
Also by Maya Starling
DRAGONS AWAKEN TRILOGY
Dragon’s Treasure, Book 1
Dragon’s Prize, Book 2
Dragons’ Queen, Book 3, coming end of 2017
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About the Author
Maya Starling is a writer, a geek, an animal lover and a gamer. She has lived the life of a magus, an oracle, a goth mortician, a star wars rebel and plenty more while sitting at a table and rolling dice.
In reality, she lives with her wife and their adorable little boy, and of course two rescue cats, in the small country of Croatia. Reading and writing are her passion, so you will often find her typing away a new story, or reading, eyes glued to the screen of her phone or a page of a book.
Dragon's Prize (Dragons Awaken Book 2) Page 46
