by Hope Collier
“No,” I whispered in a crushing defeat. “Maybe it’s not for me. I mean, I’m only half … nymph. I can’t be immortal.”
“Ash—”
“Don’t speak,” I ordered. “Don’t tell me how sorry you are when you aren’t going to do a thing to fix it. Just leave me alone.”
I stood up and stormed through the tunnel. Kyle followed silently behind me, allowing my frustration to play itself out. Neither of us spoke until a faint brightness glowed ahead. Kyle caught up to me and grabbed my wrist.
“Sorry.” He stepped in front, towing me behind him. I scoffed. “It’s not you. I just have to look responsible.”
“Whatever, Kyle.” My voice echoed my life now, bleak and hollow. “Let’s just get this over with. Maybe if I provoke Kevin enough, he’ll just kill me himself. That’d probably be fairly easy to pull off given the fact he has a history of hating the women in my family.” I grimaced, finishing my thought in a whisper, “There’s no one left to care one way or another now anyway.”
Kyle jerked me to him and pinned my back against the cave wall, bowing it along the curving rocks. His infuriated face, inches from mine, burned with resentment.
“None of that!” he growled. “Don’t you give up. You…” He blew a heavy breath through clenched teeth, his woodsy scent fanning across my face.
Kyle moved a step back but made no attempt to let me go. A new pleading tone painted his voice, “Ash, please, give it some time. Maybe things will change. Maybe it’ll be different.” He sighed wearily. “Will you please just be good?”
“Be good? You want me to just roll over and—”
Kyle’s hand covered my mouth. His eyes bored into me, begging me to understand. “I can’t help you if anyone suspects something is wrong,” he whispered, his hand falling away.
“I don’t promise you anything,” I answered roughly, but something about Kyle’s words and sudden emotion reminded me of my former optimism. Maybe things could change. One thing had to. “But I refuse to marry your brother. I will promise you that.”
Kyle scoffed. “Guess I can’t hold you to that, can I?”
“What?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Don’t worry about it. But you’ll be good? You promise that much for now?”
“For now,” I agreed, still taken aback by his sudden intensity.
He nodded. His fingers tightened around the shirt at my waist, and he pulled Gabe’s thermal off. I reached for him, and he caught my hand.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give it back,” he said sarcastically then shoved it into his rucksack.
Something peculiar shone in his eyes and the way he looked at me. It almost seemed familiar. I tried to identify the emotion he now struggled to conceal.
“Let’s go then.” He encouraged me forward.
CHAPTER TWENTY
The Valley
Kyle stooped through the mouth of the cave, towing me behind him. Two guards stood on either side of the doorway, their focus fixed ahead as we emerged from the darkness. I shielded my eyes against the sunlight to take in the scene. My breath caught in a gasp.
Walls of the mountain rose up, forming a protective bowl around the expansive vale. The tops of the endless trees covered the valley floor so thickly it looked like you could walk across them. And green. Everything glowed with it.
“Not what you expected, huh?” Kyle grinned.
I looked back at the perfection of The Valley. It was gorgeous though I’d never admit it. But that wasn’t enough. Even in all its splendor, it was empty, just like me. Maybe I did belong here.
We followed the narrow stone pathway that wound down the mountain. Wildflowers fanned out across the rock, their sweet fragrance flooding the air around me. A wall of trees sprouting from the cliff-face cast welcomed shadows, cooling the summer air beneath them.
As we neared the base of the trail, I saw what lay underneath the thick mantle. Try as I may, I couldn’t stop my mouth before it fell open. Various trees stood about, their low branches laced throughout with lavender and sage colored ribbon. The scent of black current and citrus wafted through the breeze.
Kyle caught my surprise and smiled enticingly. “They’re welcoming you,” he whispered, knowing that my favorite sights, sounds, and of course scents were being influenced. I glanced up at Kyle and lifted an eyebrow.
“Strange reception,” I muttered. “Did they think I’d be happy about this?”
“As a matter of fact, yes,” Kyle stated. “You are with Kevin. And remember, your promise.”
“That’s not what I meant.” I frowned. He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
The music grew louder as we headed into the forest. Sunlight filtered through the dogwoods overhead, casting the forest in a pinkish glow. The ground sank beneath my feet, soft and yielding. Kyle slipped his boots off, stepped onto the silky looking grass and sighed.
“Go ahead.” He inclined his head in my direction and motioned for me to remove my shoes as well.
My mouth quirked to the side. “I’m fine thanks.”
“Come on,” he encouraged with a grin. “I promise you, your feet will thank you for it.”
I started to protest but decided it wasn’t worth the effort. Slipping out of my flip-flops, I stared at the luscious patch of green for a moment then took a tentative step. The soles of my feet relaxed against the coolness. The blades laced between my toes and tickled my ankles. Warmth spread from my heels up. I gasped at the feeling, not caring that Kyle smiled beside me.
“See? What’d I tell you?” Kyle bounced on his toes, his hands in his pockets.
I refused to agree, but I didn’t argue; he was right. My feet felt rejuvenated. The soreness, calluses, and blisters from days of trudging through the wilderness, literally faded away.
“How did it do that?” I asked staring at my unblemished skin.
“It’s a secret.” He winked. “It works on everything too, not just your feet.”
“Is it the grass that does it?”
Kyle shrugged his shoulders. “Pretty much.”
Intrigued, I bent down to examine it more closely. While standing upright, it looked like regular grass — green individual blades, very nondescript — but upon closer inspection, I noticed it was something entirely other. The blades were a similar design — long and thin, tapering toward the end — but unlike grass the texture was soft in both directions, like silk.
“We should keep going. Everyone is expecting us.” Kyle nudged me.
I sighed and stood. “Who’s everyone?”
Kyle pursed his lips. “It varies from time to time. Some are able to travel freely, but the royal family stays put for the most part.”
My heart sank. Being a future royal, I wouldn’t be leaving The Valley anytime soon. If ever again. If Gabe and I were together, that’d be fine. But the perfection of the forest and seemingly magical grass were nowhere near a consolation prize for an eternal prison sentence.
“Cottages.” Kyle gestured to the small houses dotting the woods as we entered the thickest part.
I looked at each of the flawless stone chalets staggered throughout the forest. Brightly colored roses climbed along the trellises as delicate white petals of orange blossoms fluttered in the breeze. Fields of lavender ran between houses and bordered the pathways, filling the air with their delicious fragrance. Trumpet vines sprouted over and around the cottage windows. A pair of squirrels settled above us, chattering back and forth before they scuttled to the next branch in a playful chase.
“A few clearings.” Kyle pointed to the west as we turned the opposite direction. “And that continues on to the palace.”
“Palace?” I asked. “How do you manage that? Wouldn’t it be visible from the sky?”
“Nah, the magic keeps planes away.” He shrugged, his hands in his pockets
“You have magic?” My eyes widened.
Kyle laughed. “You’re so gullible. You’ll believe anything.”
This coming from a myth
ical wood nymph, I thought.
A cardinal whistled over head as we rounded a bend in the trail. The outline of an ancient oak dominated the landscape. My eyebrows rose as I slowly scanned the tree from the roots till it disappeared above the canopy. A natural archway grew through the center, leaving a tunnel to the other side.
“Wow, I’ve never seen a tree grow like this before,” I murmured and brushed my fingers over the green fuzzy trunk as we passed through.
“Neat, huh?” Kyle winked.
“I guess.” I dropped my hand.
Nestled in the trees at the end of the path stood a two-story home. Ivy weaved through the stone and snaked around the large windows. An elegant cedar pergola stood at the corner, heavy with fragrant wisteria. A rainbow of flowers grew along the ground and cased the archway leading to the front door. Kyle opened the anterior gate and ushered me to the small porch.
“Well?” Kyle grinned, his face alive with expectation.
“Well, what?”
“What do you think?” He gestured across the property
“It’s fine.” I shrugged, dismissing the most perfect house I’d ever seen.
Kyle laughed once. “It’s yours.”
“Mine?” My voice rose. I studied the attention to detail. Memories of Gabe and the life I had planned flashed through my mind. Suddenly, the beautiful home took on the appearance of an ornamental cage.
“Yeah. Don’t you like it?” His shoulders slumped.
“It’s unbelievable, Kyle, just like everything else,” I said, my tone in contrast with my words.
“Doesn’t change anything though, right?” Kyle frowned at the ground. “You should get cleaned up now. I’ll be back for you in an hour.”
“You’re leaving me?”
“We aren’t going to hold you prisoner here. You’re free to go wherever you like in The Valley.”
In The Valley, I thought bitterly.
“Be back in an hour,” Kyle called tentatively as I slipped inside.
I pressed my back to the door and gazed around the room.
“Wow.” I mouthed now that no one could see me.
Heavy wooden beams formed peaks atop the vaulted ceiling. Familiar paintings hung in assorted shapes and sizes across the walls, each having a water theme. Fresh flowers decorated the tables, a vase of crimson calla lilies on the coffee table.
The hall led through the sitting room. An unlit fireplace stood against the north wall, flanked on either side with built in bookcases constructed from a deep chocolate wood. Every shelf was lined with an array of books and trinkets.
Following the grooved planks of the hallway, I drifted into the cozy kitchen. The open-front cabinets were stacked with simple white dishes. A breakfast nook sat in the corner with an oval table surrounded by six chairs and a wide view of the forest.
The hallway wound back toward the front of the house — a tasteful half-bath, a lavish dining room, and a well-stocked library on the way. I reluctantly climbed the staircase behind the front door. The only room I hadn’t seen was the bedroom meant for me … and Kevin. I strongly desired to keep it that way.
An unexpected number of doors lined the corridor, each one pulled together, blocking my view of the inside. I walked to the second room from the last, guessing those at the ends of the house would be the largest and likely the master.
With a nervous breath, I turned the iron handle and pushed the door open.
Bedroom. Thankfully, it wasn’t the one I feared. Still as beautiful as the rest of the home, this room held two single beds resting on either side of an oblong floor-length window. It boasted high ceilings with peaked beams like the ones downstairs. The walls were a warm golden-straw color. I glanced around briefly, searching for a bathroom, but only found a closet. Anxiety mingled with my relief as I shut the door and moved on to the next.
Five doors, and a disconcerting number of bedrooms later, two doors remained at each end of the hall. Fending off the panic that bubbled so close to the surface, I eased to the southernmost room and paused with my hand on the knob.
Just do it and get it over with, I ordered myself, eyes shut.
I forced my defiant hand to turn the knob. The door creaked open, causing me to flinch. One unsure eye opened and my body froze as comprehension plowed over me like a freight train. The door I had so fervently wished against seemed a joy compared to this.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Transition
Light strained through layers of delicate organza. A rocker sat in the corner, enveloped in a soft glow. A carved royal crest hung on the golden walls between the windows. Sweat beaded on my brow, the colors swirling and blurring as my eyes locked on the hand-carved crib in the center of the room.
I quickly shut the door, my heart pounding in my ears, and stumbled down the stairs. The backdoor banged on its hinges as I tore out, heading into the forest behind the house. There wasn’t a goal; I just pushed my legs as far and as fast as they could carry me. I ran, trying to escape the anguish that endlessly awaited me at every turn. It seemed like I was destined for a perpetual carousel of misery.
The panic delivered me to a large pond beyond the house. My knees buckled at the water’s edge beneath a flowering willow tree. I stared longingly into the pool and watched my reflection ripple through the lilies, hoping that at any moment I might possibly wake from this nightmare to find myself back in Gabe’s arms.
“Ashton?” As if mockingly, another set of arms wrapped around my shoulders, but for the first time, I didn’t retreat from the embrace. In one swift motion, I turned and pulled myself closer to Kyle who knelt behind me. I wept into his chest, fighting against desiring things that could never be.
“I don’t understand,” I mumbled. “How could this happen? I’m not a part of this world. I never wanted to be.”
Kyle’s hand made gentle passes over my spine. “I know. It isn’t fair, and you don’t deserve what Gabe did or what Kev’s trying to do. But I’m still here, Monet. I won’t ever leave you.”
“I saw the nursery,” I croaked, hoarse from crying.
“There’s not much I can say about that, is there? You have a few months before the … ceremony. Just wait a little while. Please,” he begged, his sincerity bleeding through.
“Kyle?”
“Yeah?” he whispered, his voice unsteady.
“Thank you,” I said, understanding now. Kyle was saving me the best way he knew how, the only way he could. He was being the friend I so desperately needed.
Kyle shook his head. “I haven’t done anything but hide things from you. You’re my best friend, and you couldn’t even trust me.”
“It’s not your fault.” I stared at my hands on the front of his chest.
“I’m so sorry—” he began, before I interrupted him.
“No.” I lifted my fingers to touch his lips. “Don’t. I’m sorry. Sorry that I’ve taken it out on you. It’s not your fault. You’re doing more for me than anyone here, anyone anywhere, could ever do. It doesn’t take away from what Gabe did or how he left me, but knowing you’re here makes all the difference. I don’t know what I’d do without you, but I hope you aren’t mad at me anymore.”
A peculiar look crossed his face. His eyes flashed with a strange fire as he met mine. I recognized the familiar smoldering that lay beneath. I’d seen it before but never in him. The sound of a soprano voice calling his name broke his concentration.
“We have to go,” he breathed, but his eyes stayed fixed on mine.
“Okay.” I relaxed my aching fingers from his shirtfront.
Kyle’s jaw tensed as he rose and lifted me to my feet. “We need to get you changed. Everyone’s waiting.”
He took my hand and led me toward the house.
“Can’t I be excused from everything for a while? Can you just tell them I’m sick or something? I can’t deal with this right now.” I rubbed my head with my free hand.
“It’s not possible,” he said.
“Why? They won
’t believe you?”
“No, it’s not that. It just isn’t feasible. No one here is ever sick, not for long anyway,” Kyle said, ushering me through the front door.
I paused at the top of the stairs, Kyle at my heels. “What do you mean?”
“You remember I told you about the grass?” he began. “Well, it can cure anything. If you have an injury, it can be mixed into a paste to cover it. If someone is ill, it’s made into a tea and so on. There’s never been a time when it hasn’t worked. But take your time, as much as you need, really. I’ll be downstairs when you’re ready”
Hopelessness enveloped me, and I turned and walked through the door I’d been avoiding. It didn’t matter now. Nothing was worse than the thought of being a brood mare for the throne.
The shower was all too short, the warm water running out well before my tension. A white armoire stood against the wall. I opened the doors and chose the first thing I came to: a long beige skirt with beads sewn across and a darker peasant shirt. After dressing myself in a daze, I pulled my still-damp hair back into a loose knot, ignoring my reflection as I passed the mirror to leave.
Kyle stood when I made my way into the sitting room, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “You look … awful. I can’t take you anywhere like this.”
I didn’t say anything.
“Sit down for a minute. I’ll be right back.” He disappeared through the front door.
Sometime later, Kyle peeked his head back in. “Hey, someone is here to see you, so don’t freak out.” He paused, waiting for the response I didn’t offer, and then shifted his focus outside. “Well, she’s ready, I guess.”
A striking woman flitted through the doorway, grabbing my attention. “Hello, Ashton,” she spoke in a musical voice. “I’m Aurelia.”
“She’s my little sister.” Kyle smiled tentatively as he stepped back into the room. “She’s just going to help you acclimate.”
I looked over her. She had a different tone to her skin than Kyle. Aurelia’s was warm, with a coffee-and-cream undertone instead of olive, much like Pearse and Elon. Shimmering bronze hair billowed to her waist, several tones deeper than that of her almost incandescent irises. They were the clearest shade of brown I’d ever seen. She wore a gentle smile as she stopped in front of me, studying me with a kindness I hadn’t expected.
