Heath! I only had a split second to think, to act. I called his power to me; it radiated into me like sunrays through a breaking thunderstorm, slipping over me, buoying me up. Zach’s face twisted in rage.
My arms glowed so bright my eyes squinted. Power built up in me gaining strength until I had to release it or explode. Lightning erupted from my fingers and connected with Zach’s chest. His body flew backward, smashing into a tree ten feet behind where he just stood. He lay there lifeless. No matter how badly I wanted to help him I couldn’t risk her coming to. I needed to leave.
That was the last I saw of him before I drifted away…to the man I love…to the man I should have never left.
It took me no time to lock onto Heath, as if some force guided me along. I emerged from the matter stream in a place so dark my eyes took several seconds to adjust. Heath snatched me up in less than a second, filling my soul with his essence. I buried my face into his neck, reveling in the feel of him next to me. Tears came unbidden. “I’m so sorry, Heath. I should have listened to you.”
He laughed. “Well, that’s not something I thought I’d ever hear you say.”
I pulled back, joy overwhelming me as I studied his face in the candlelight. I could never get enough of him, not in ten million years.
“Wow, if I’d known this was how you’d greet me, I would have shipped you off to Zach sooner.”
I frowned at him. “What are you talking about?”
“We had to know for sure.”
I recoiled away from him. “You knew about this!”
Tabitha stepped out of the shadows. “I’m sorry for putting you through that, Rayla, but it was necessary.”
My body went limp, and I stumbled. Realization slammed into me. They’d set this whole thing up—to see if Ainessa controlled Zach. Anger raged through me, stiffening my muscles, hardening my mind. I took turns looking at them, but I was angrier at Tabitha. I’d given everything up because of her visions. “How could you do that to me? I trusted you.”
Her face stayed serene as ever. “I told you hope was not lost.”
Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me so close every inch of me was pressed against Heath’s body. “You had to have known I would never let you go so easily.”
But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
His jaw brushed my hair back from my ear, sending a quiver along its wake. “We can talk about this later because right now we have unfinished business, remember?”
I whirled on him. “Not so fast, one track mind.” Shaking, I shot out a halting finger that touched his broad chest to keep him from pulling me closer again. “I’ll deal with you in a minute.” He smiled. I shook my head fighting the distraction.
With a fraying leash on my temper, I faced Tabitha. “Where’s my family?”
She didn’t react, keeping her voice as calm as her expression. “They are safe, as are the Elementals who have not been bonded.”
I relaxed a little bit, but something unexplainable kept the wariness in my mind. “Where are we?”
Creed’s voice came from behind me. “Don’t tell me you’ve already adjusted to being here. Last time took you hours.”
The dark realms? A smile found my mouth. His were the hands I’d felt guiding me here. He’d brought me where not even Ainessa could touch me.
Every time I saw him lately, his face was more human. His skin had paled again to a light gray. It could have been the lighting, but I figured soon he’d be back to his old self.
“Thank you,” I said, finding it hard to use my voice. This was twice he’d helped me get away from Ainessa, and this was twice I had no words to express how grateful I was to him.
“As I told you before, we are at your command, my lady.”
My jaw tightened. “In that case, I need you to do me a favor.”
“Anything.”
Zach had mentioned Travis. If I didn’t act fast, they would take him to use as leverage against me. “I have a cousin that needs rescuing, and unfortunately, I’m not able to leave the realms.”
“I will dispatch a team posthaste, but, my lady, are you sure you want to bring him here?”
Why wouldn’t I be? “He’s important to me.”
Creed nodded. “I only ask because some of your family members have not been happy about their…accommodations.”
Some? No. Aunt Grace most likely. “I’ll talk to them. We appreciate your hospitality.”
He gave me a nod before he vanished.
I had so much more to talk to Creed about, but now was not the time. I’d need every last member of the dark realms if I had a chance of defeating Ainessa, and it was about time they were rewarded for good service. I fully intended to name all of them. It’d be hard to come up with that many names, but I’d manage.
Heath took his place at my side, capturing my hand. His voice came out soft, alluring, making me aware of his body that was deliciously close to mine. “Might take him a while to find that one.”
“Why do you say that?” Travis was hard to miss in a crowd with his dark eyes that looked almost black and his bright blond hair. It was such an odd combination. Something nagged at me about him, but I couldn’t name it.
Heath moved in, crowding me deeper into the room. Tingles exploded across my skin where he touched me. He gave me a look that shot heat to my toes. “Answers later. I’m not waiting another second to have you.”
My whole body flushed. Tabitha made some excuse to leave that I didn’t make out. I couldn’t hear anything above the beating of my heart.
Heath pulled me into the corner where more candles illuminated a bed decked out in red velvet. Soft music washed over me. I gasped. I knew that song.
I’d picked it out a long time ago as the song I wanted to play the first time I…my hand covered my gaping mouth as I took in the rest of the room. Every detail set the tableau of my dreams.
I turned in Heath’s arms and settled my fingers on his chest. The growing warmth of passion ignited my mind. Seeming to be all I could manage, my voice came out in a whisper. “How did you know?”
He smiled down at me with his too tempting lips. “I know everything there is to know about you, Rayla.” His eyes grew dark with promised pleasure. The spicy scent that could only belong to him lingered around me, luring me deeper into his spell. “Now, enough talking.” Warm lips met mine, carrying me away to a blissful shore.
I took everything he gave me before I ventured into my own seduction, setting my fingers to explore every inch of his body. He clasped my hands, stopping my downward progression.
“Heath,” I said, doubt twisting my insides.
He stroked my fingers before he placed my arms at my sides. “Not yet.” He gave me a wicked once over then smiled. “First, let me make you mine.”
I nodded, vaguely aware his body pressing against mine, of my clothes disappearing, of the warmth of his skin, of his hands straddling my back before he lifted me into his arms.
My mind surrendered to him completely, no longer capable of thought, all I could do was feel.
Meeting Destiny (Destiny Series) Page 29
