The Eden Series: The Complete Collection

by Stalder, Janelle

  The mention of Aiden instantly ruined her good mood. Could she face him, knowing what she knew? She looked down at her hands, clasping them together.

  “Hey.”

  She looked up as Wolf sat down on the bed. “What’s the matter?”

  She smiled weakly. “I’m just trying to get used to the idea of not having Alistair around anymore,” she lied. She felt horrible, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell Wolf the truth. She wasn’t sure she would be able to tell anyone what she had discovered. The letter was back in its hiding place, and she had no plans to tell anyone it was there. Sometimes, the truth seemed so much worse than the lie. When she pictured Aiden, and thought about what his reaction would be, she knew there was no way she could bring herself to be the one to tell him. She’d just have to keep it to herself. No one needed to know. Not Wolf, her father, the King, her friends, and especially not Aiden.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Her eyes popped open to stare into endless depths of warm chocolate. Rose had never known anyone with soulful eyes like Callum’s. She had heard people say that the eyes were windows into someone’s soul. With Callum this was absolutely true. She saw every emotion, raw and deep, looking back at her as they lay in bed face to face. She smiled, mentally shaking off the sleep fog from her head. She had finally had restful sleep last night. The baby had been quiet, no kicking and shoving, so she was able to get a solid night’s rest.

  “Good morning,” she said around her yawn.

  Callum chuckled. “Looks like you’re not quite ready to get up.”

  She snuggled further down under the covers. “Sounds tempting, but only if you stayed with me,” she smiled. Callum reached out, wrapping a strand of hair around his finger while he looked at her in a way that took her breath away. There was no mistaking how he felt for her, it was always written on every line of his face. “You’re upset about something.”

  His lips pulled up into a small smile that did not reach his eyes. “Why do you think that?”

  “Because you’re looking at me like you’re afraid I’m just going to disappear right in front of your eyes.”

  His eyes continued to look her over carefully, as if he was memorizing every inch of her. She reached out and placed a hand of his cheek.

  “Tell me what’s happened.”

  “Alistair was killed last night,” he said on a sigh, turning onto his back to stare at the ceiling.

  “What? How?” She pushed herself up into a sitting position so she could see him better. Callum rubbed a hand down his face. He looked exhausted. From the weary expression on his face, she guessed he hadn’t slept at all the night before.

  “Someone tried to kill Jameson,” he answered. “The arrow ended up hitting Alistair by mistake. There was poison on the tip. He died quickly.”

  She scooted closer to him, rising to rest on her knees so their faces were level. Framing his face in her hands, she brought her forehead to his, resting there. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. One of his hands lifted to cover hers.

  “I didn’t get a chance to really talk to him since I’ve been back. Alistair was almost like a second father to me growing up.” Guilt and shame laced every word. They sat together in silence. Rose didn’t know the right words to say to try and ease whatever he was feeling right now. So instead she gave him whatever comfort she could by just being there. Finally he pulled back to look at her, placing a quick kiss on her lips. “There will be a memorial in the Sanctuary soon. We should get ready.” She nodded, letting him help her up.

  Callum stood outside the cell. He could hear the whimpers of the woman inside as she begged his brother for mercy. Jameson had spoken to her so softly Callum had a hard time hearing him. The servant had arrived at their bedroom shortly after they finished getting dressed. Jameson had sent a note letting him know they had discovered the culprit behind Alistair’s death. When Callum had met Turk in the dungeons and found out exactly who it was, he had never been so shocked in his life.

  Melaine had been one of the girls that were constantly at court. He had never spoken to her, perhaps if anything just in passing, but he could remember her. She had been much younger then, but he could remember how lovely she was even at such an age. It was no surprise that Jameson had chosen her out of the court ladies. Callum had a hard time believing the same girl pictured in his mind was the one who would have attempted such a treasonous act. The arrow alone was one thing, but to add such a horrible poison as well? There could be no sparing her life after this.

  Callum could see how much this weighed on Jameson as he exited the cell and joined them. He had that look of a man betrayed. The mixture of shock and sadness when you realize someone close to you had the ability to ruin all the trust you had in them. Callum knew that look well. He had worn it long enough.

  “Did she tell you anything useful?” Turk asked.

  Jameson shook his head. “She just kept crying and apologizing. She’s in hysterics, I can’t get much of anything out of her.” He looked over at a solider standing further down the hall and nodded once at him. The man motioned to two others and all three headed for the cell. Callum noticed the large axe in the third man’s hands.

  “Beheading?” he asked, watching the men disappear into the cell.

  “It is the fastest way,” Jameson answered tiredly. “Despite everything, I don’t want her to suffer.” Callum reached out and grasped his shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze.

  “Come,” he said, “let us go mourn for our friend. You do not need to stay and hear this.” Turk grunted in agreement, walking ahead of them. Jameson gave Callum a grateful look with a small smile.

  “What did father say? Always beware a woman scorned?” Jameson asked as they started walking.

  Callum laughed. “I think it might have been beware women, period,” he corrected.

  Jameson sighed. “Yeah, that might have been it. Either way, the old man had a point.”

  “He always was wise.”

  Aiden walked into the chapel in the Sanctuary, holding the fresh cut on his arm.

  “Hey,” Wolf greeted when he walked up to him. “Where’s Logan?”

  “Trying to negotiate with a priest at the entrance to allow him to enter without a sacrifice,” Aiden answered.

  “I don’t know why I even ask.” Aiden snorted as he followed Wolf to where Elisa was already seated. She looked up as they sat down, her eyes meeting his for a second before looking away. He had the odd sense she was nervous looking at him. He watched as she distractedly picked at the simple, black dress she wore, her gaze averted. Aiden lifted his eyes to meet Wolf’s in question. Wolf shrugged. So he notices too, Aiden determined. Had he done something lately to offend Elisa? He didn’t think he had. Before he could ask her anything, a body plopped down on the bench beside him. Logan held a white cloth to his arm, blood seeping through.

  Aiden looked at him, eyebrows raised. “How did that go?”

  Logan sighed, looking forlornly down at his arm. “Not so good.”

  The service was short. With Alistair’s death being so unexpected, there was no one designated to replace him as High Priest. One of the lower priests had done a quick speech for him and led everyone into prayer before letting everyone know where the after celebrations would be held. Elisa waited for everyone to leave before walking over to the side wall. She stood silently, staring at the image that now haunted her every time she closed her eyes. The beauty of it was really quite startling. It surprised her to think she hadn`t noticed the painting earlier, considering that she had been in the Sanctuary so often growing up. Beneath that beauty, however, lay a ugly truth that would destroy lives. Like a present wrapped artfully, wherein lies nothing but hurt and despair.

  “He painted this himself, you know,” Jameson said, coming to stand beside her. Elisa tore her eyes from those that stared back at her on canvas to the ones now watching her carefully. She nodded, offering a weak smile.

  “He told me that, not too long ago actually. I
didn’t even know he painted,” she told him. “I spent countless hours every day with Alistair, and not once did he mention this talent.” She looked back at the painting, swallowing the bitterness at the back of her throat. It wasn’t the only thing he hadn’t mentioned, she thought severely. Though he’d had his reasons, Elisa found herself angry at her mentor for keeping something from the rest of them that should have been disclosed from the beginning. They had a right to know. Aiden had a right to know. And yet here she stood, looking at something that explained so much, knowing what lay behind it, and she was keeping it all to herself. Just like Alistair. Just like the others who had known. What did that make her?

  “How are you holding up?” Jameson asked grabbing her attention again. She shrugged. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She turned then, offering him a reassuring look. “I’m fine. Really. It’s a shock but I’m dealing with it. When everything is over I’ll give myself more time to mourn him.”

  Jameson nodded in understanding. “Go celebrate his life, don’t mourn his death. He wouldn’t have wanted that from you.” He gave her shoulder a quick squeeze before turning to walk away. Elisa watched him until he disappeared out in to the hall. She looked up at the image of the God and Goddess above her. She hoped that whatever waited for them in death, Alistair was getting the best of it.

  Aiden stood against the wall of the tavern, surveying the scene before him. Apparently the Capital was very similar to the Irish side of his family in that death was not celebrated in a room where it was quiet and everyone cried. Nope. It was celebrated in a bar where people drank like fish and sang loud, obnoxious songs out of tune. He turned as someone came to stand beside him.

  “It’s nice to see that some things never change,” Callum commented smiling at the King and Turk singing loudly with the others.

  Aiden snorted in agreement. “Is it weird for you to be back here?”

  Callum considered this for a moment before replying. “Not as much as I thought it would be. It still shocks me how forgiving and accepting everyone is…considering.” Aiden nodded. Callum met his eyes. “What about you? What is it like to be in a world different from the one you’re used to?”

  Aiden looked around slowly before turning back to him. “Sometimes I feel more at home here than I ever did in my world. I can’t explain it, but I feel more connected. At home, I always felt like something was missing, or like I just didn’t fit in with everyone else.”

  “I know the feeling,” said Callum. His face grew serious. “Jameson plans to leave tomorrow for the east. Do you think we’re ready?”

  Aiden was momentarily shocked into silence. He couldn’t fathom this man asking him for his opinion, and yet here they were. As he looked over at his friends and fellow soldiers the answer was simple, “yes,” he replied. “I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”

  “He’ll be waiting for you,” Callum said grimly.

  “I’m counting on it.”

  She was drunk. It was actually amazing that she had always looked down on those who drank in excess, and yet she had now been drunk more times in the last week than she had in her entire life. Elisa made her way through the tightly packed tavern to where Logan, Wolf, and Moose sat. She noticed Aiden standing off with Callum. They appeared to be having a very serious conversation, so she steered clear of them.

  Placing the four mugs on the table, she all but fell into the empty chair beside Wolf. He looked over, amused.

  “Feeling a little tipsy?” he asked, fighting back a grin.

  She narrowed her eyes at him, but her voice held no menace when she answered. “A little.”

  “Well we’d better enjoy it now,” Logan butted in. “This will be our last night of drinking ourselves stupid. Jameson plans for us to leave tomorrow.”

  “It’s about time,” Moose muttered into his cup. “Who knows what they’re doing to Lily.” He looked over at Aiden despairingly. “I’m afraid what we’ll find when we get there. And what it’ll do to him.”

  Elisa’s heart sank. She knew the forest people were abnormally strong, but Aziz wasn’t just any other human either. He knew magic no one else did. The urge to get up and storm out was overwhelming. Too bad she didn’t know where to go. None of them did. It was the unspoken issue amongst them all. Yes, they were leaving tomorrow. Sure they were heading east. But where? Once they got past the Giants Hills and into Ramel then what? Aziz wasn’t well loved by his native people in the east. Even they feared him and his powers. She doubted anyone there could offer them his location. It felt like they were headed off on a wild goose chase.

  The mood at the table had plummeted. Elisa reached out to drink more ale, but was stopped by Wolf’s hand gripping hers.

  “Let’s go dance,” he suggested, pulling her up with him. They pushed their way through the crowd until they made it to the dancing area. The band was playing a popular jig, their pounding feet on the old wooden floorboards creating a thumping beat that vibrated right through her. Despite the fast pace of the song, Wolf pulled her close, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist so she was effectively trapped. She gave him a questioning look. He simply continued to rock them slowly back and forth.

  “Everyone is looking at us like we’re weird,” she noted.

  “Maybe you. For me they’re just admiring my charming good looks.”

  She snorted. “You are so full of yourself.” He pulled her tighter, dropping his head to run his nose lightly over her neck. She shivered at the feeling. She felt him smile against her skin.

  “All I want to do is be alone with you,” he whispered in her ear. His voice had changed from playful to serious in a matter of seconds. Her skin broke out in goose bumps.

  “Then let’s leave,” she replied softly so only he could hear her. He straightened giving her a heated look. Their eyes locked. A hand slammed down on Wolf’s shoulder breaking their trance.

  “Are you two having a staring contest?” Logan asked, giving them a cheeky grin.

  “No,” Wolf answered, annoyed. “I was thinking about all the things I wanted to do to her, before you so rudely interrupted.” Elisa felt her face burn at his words.

  “You make me sick.” Logan gaged. “Seriously.”

  Wolf and Elisa turned to give Logan withering looks, but, of course, they had no effect on him.

  He grinned again, slapping them both affectionately on the backs. “Well, I’m bored, so I think we should all get out of here and do something fun.”

  “We were planning on it, right before you –”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Logan interrupted Wolf, waving him off. “Before I interrupted you.”

  “What are you three up to?” Aiden asked, coming to stand beside Logan. “You two look about ready to kill him,” he added, motioning his head in Logan’s direction.

  “We are,” Wolf answered. Elisa could see humour dancing in his eyes, despite his stern voice. She admired their friendship.

  “I was just suggesting we go do something fun,” Logan said facing Aiden. “What do you think?”

  Aiden scratched his chin thoughtfully. Elisa couldn’t help but laugh at his serious face. He gave her a quick wink before answering Logan. “How about we head over to the training arena? I’ve been itching to get you back there since the first time we fought. I owe you a black eye.”

  They all laughed…well, except Logan. His eyebrows shot up while his face took on the eager look of a challenge being accepted. “Is that right?” he asked, rubbing his hands together. “If memory serves me right, that black eye lasted a day,” he pointed out.

  “You afraid to take him on again, Logan?” Elisa piped in, her smile widening at the look of outrage on his face.

  “Never!” he scoffed. “You think you can take me now, warrior?”

  Aiden laughed. “I’m not the same boy you fought back then. The question now is, can you take me?” Wolf broke out into laughter, his eyes alight with excitement. Boys, Elisa thought with a shake of her head �
�� always competing.

  “Oh, it’s on!” Logan exclaimed. He turned and stormed off toward the exit. Elisa, Wolf, and Aiden followed behind. As much as she wanted to watch the two of them fight, she was disappointed that she and Wolf had been interrupted. She wasn’t sure how much time they were going to have left together, especially in private. There were never guarantees in war. She wanted every second she could get with him – alone. Moose met them just as they reached the door.

  “Where are you all off to?” he asked, looking at them through blood-shot eyes.

  “Aiden challenged Logan to a fight,” Wolf answered happily. Moose perked up.

  “Then what are we waiting for?” he shouted, grabbing Aiden around the shoulders and ushering him through the exit. Wolf reached back and grabbed her hand as they followed behind. A plan quickly formed in her mind.

  The outside air was a relief from the heat inside the tavern. As they made their way through the quiet streets toward the practice arena, Elisa started to slow her steps purposefully. Wolf glanced back at her questioningly.

  She looked at him fighting back her urge to laugh. With a serious face she said, “Are you up for a challenge?”

  He stopped immediately, forcing her to skid to a standstill. His face turned wicked, igniting her blood. She felt like she was about to jump out of her skin with excitement for what she was about to do.

  “What kind of challenge?” he asked darkly.

  “A chase,” she answered in a gruff voice. Desire pooled in her belly, almost making her want to forget the whole game and just beg him to take her back to the dormitory, but this would be more fun. The anticipation would make the wait worthwhile.

  “A chase?” he asked, intrigued.

  “Through the city,” she explained. Aiden, Moose and Logan had stopped just a ways down from them.

  “What’s the hold up?” Logan called out.