The Willows: Haven

by Hope Collier

  “How. Could. You? How could you do this to me, to my family?” My voice shook.

  “It’s nothing personal, kid. I just needed a bailout,” he stated unsympathetically, as if he were talking about a sports game. “Your mom couldn’t finish the job. That just left you. And to be quite honest, this worked out even better. Edlyn’s failure turned the tides, so to speak.”

  Angry tears spilled from my eyes. How could he talk like that, like I was nothing to him? And mentioning my mother? That was beyond crossing the line.

  I followed Harry’s gaze to see a protective Kyle watching us from across the way.

  “What is the issue here?” Harry’s voice turned gruff then a slow grin spread across his face. “Ohh, I see. You’re good, Ashton. I’ll give you that. Well played. A Hawthorne on each arm is quite an accomplishment. Sometimes I wonder just how factual those rumors tend to be about our kind.”

  “Shut up, Harry. It’s not like that,” I huffed.

  “Isn’t it?” Harry challenged, crossing his arms over his chest. “I wonder what your Gabe would say about that? You sure got over him pretty quickly … Gracie.”

  “Leave Gabe out of this,” I growled, my chest heaving. “He sacrificed everything to help you, and you mock us openly. Is my pain somehow humorous to you?” I felt all eyes on me as I stood toe-to-toe with Harry, shaking with fury.

  “I wouldn’t say humorous, per say,” Harry stated coldly.

  “Ashton.” Kevin towed me back. “Calm yourself. What’s happening?”

  Harry gave a sick smile. I saw the assault in his eyes, but cut him off. “H-h-he said that he was sorry he ever helped you, and that you didn’t deserve me. He said you’d never be a real leader, and you should stick to your own kind.” My voice broke when I caught sight of Kevin’s enraged expression.

  Kevin pushed me to Kyle, and grabbed Harry by the shirtfront.

  “No!” Harry’s face glowed red with fury. “It’s her, Kevin! She’s been with…” His statement was cut short as the back of Kevin’s hand struck Harry across the jaw with a loud smack, propelling him to the ground.

  “We should’ve never bargained with you again, bottom-dweller. That was the last time.” Kevin snapped his fingers. Six intimidating men charged out of nowhere to stand beside us. “You know where to take him.”

  “No! Wait!” Harry’s voice faded into the darkness, the henchmen making quick work of their removal.

  “I do believe he’s outlived his usefulness,” Kevin said calmly. He wiped Harry’s blood from his knuckles then pulled my hand through his arm. There was no flaw in Kyle’s reasoning before. Kevin would act first and question later.

  I sat dutifully next to Kevin through dinner. The quiet music playing in the background hid the fact that I didn’t join the conversation. I stared at my plate, pushing the food around with my fork. How could I fix this? Harry would tell Kevin everything given the chance. Kev would know about Gabe, and who knew the consequences. And what did Harry mean by my mom’s failures turning the tides?

  “Are you ill, dear?” Ilana asked, her hand sliding over mine.

  I glanced up and forced a smile. “Everything’s fine. I’m just a little tired.”

  Ilana held my gaze for a moment longer. Her delicate eyebrows fell, concern etched in her expression. Chairs scraped against the hard wood, startling me. I looked away from Ilana as couples made their way to the adjoining room.

  Familiar folk music hummed through the space as the family partnered up and began swaying to the beat. An ache tugged in my chest, taking my breath away. I found a plush armchair in the corner and started to sit when Kevin’s hand reached for mine.

  “Dance with me,” he ordered. Kevin’s arm roped around my waist a little too tight. His grip was possessive, like a child who refused to be separated from his favorite toy, and my soul mourned for love.

  I warred with the memories of warm cedar, sea-colored eyes, and gentler hands that set me aflame. My mind refused to relent, and for a brief moment, I embraced the indelible mark of Gabe burned into my heart.

  The bone deep sadness that followed swept away all emotion, leaving me to the familiar emptiness I’d come to accept. Kyle’s knowing eyes met mine with compassion and concern when we passed by. But Kevin twirled me around again, ripping Kyle from me too.

  Kevin looked down when I sighed.

  I tucked my cheek into his shoulder and tried to hide the nothingness in my eyes. “I just realized. We’ve never danced together.”

  “Why would we? There was never a need,” he said matter-of-factly.

  His phone buzzed, and we slowed to a stop. “I need to take this.”

  Kevin released me, and he walked away without a second glance, leaving me alone on the dance floor. An infinite weight settled in my chest as I watched the couples surrounding me. Seeing the love in their eyes, knowing I was destined for a marriage of obligation, pinned me in place.

  “Mind if I cut in?” Kyle’s voice broke through my thoughts.

  When I didn’t answer, he turned me around in his arms, his hand lightly brushing my back. With every step, we neared the foyer that housed the staircase. Ilana’s watchful eye caught mine just as Kyle tugged me through a hall, leading outside.

  “You looked like you could use some air.” His expression warmed.

  “I need a lot of things, Kyle.” My lip quivered, and I wrapped my arms around myself.

  Kyle’s hand brushed across my face, momentarily distracted. “I wish I could give them to you,” he whispered then pulled himself together. “I can offer one thing, though. How about a midnight dip?”

  I half smiled. “Yeah?”

  Kyle nodded and wound his fingers through mine.

  “Do you mind if I ask you something?” I kept my hand in his as we walked past the gardens.

  He barked a soft laugh. “Does it matter? You’ll just ask me anyway.”

  “True.” I shrugged.

  “Shoot,” he said.

  “Why were you so antagonistic when we met in the woods? Why didn’t you want me to see you?”

  He sighed. “I didn’t want any part of this, Ash. I never wanted you to end up here. I knew you’d be devastated — that you’d feel betrayed and lied to, even without everything else that happened. I didn’t want a hand in that. I was just so angry about everything, and then I went and blew my cover.”

  “Why did you do it then?” I stopped to study his face.

  My question brought a smile to his mouth. “I couldn’t help myself. You and your big plans for escape. You could’ve ended up in any number of positions with Oren, all of which would’ve involved someone getting their teeth kicked in.”

  I smiled, imagining the possibilities. As usual, Kyle was dead on target.

  “Sorry about that by the way.” I glanced up to find Kyle’s expression gentle yet amused as we began moving toward the pond.

  “It’s all right.” Kyle shrugged and eased his toes to the water’s edge. “I guess it worked out, all things considered.”

  I couldn’t quite agree.

  I skirted the edges of the pond to the place where the willow fronds brushed the water. The petite leaves swayed like ribbons in the wind. I caught a slender branch between my fingers and peeked at Kyle from the corner of my eye.

  “So, your mother is an insightful woman,” I said. “How she watches us all, taking everything in. She’s very … perceptive.”

  Kyle laughed once, moving closer to me. “You’re sharp, you know that? In all these years, my siblings have never noticed. I imagine it’s just commonplace for them.”

  “Can she read minds?”

  Kyle grinned. “No. She sees things.”

  “Like what? The future? Is she a fortune teller?” I smiled, mostly joking, but the very idea terrified me.

  “Not exactly. You’ve heard the phrase ‘green with envy?’” Kyle asked, and I nodded. “My mother can see that. Actually, it’s how the term came about.”

  “You mean, she could tell
that I was jealous?” I quirked an eyebrow. “You could tell that, too.”

  He snorted. “It’s not quite that clear-cut. From her perspective, you would look differently. She would almost see you green. She doesn’t hear your thoughts, and she can’t see the future, but your color — your mood or emotions — they’re as clear as if they were written on your forehead. She has to see your eyes though. That whole, ‘The eyes are the windows to the soul’ thing, is very much in play there.”

  My skin ran cold as that fact sank in. What had she seen in me at the countless family dinners? Was that the motive behind her sharing her life with me? Did she know all the things I was hiding? The things I worked so hard to forget?

  “Are you all right, Ash? You’re as white as a sheet.” Kyle’s hands chafed over mine.

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Kyle?” I shivered.

  “Calm down.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “That’s not something I would just share with you for no reason. No one knows. I never even considered mentioning it.”

  “But all this time? What if she knows about Gabe?” I blurted in blind panic. “What if she tells Kevin?”

  Kyle’s eyes hardened. “Listen. I know my mother. She would never share something unless she felt it was necessary. That’s why she’s never told the others. Whatever her reasoning, she only did it to benefit you.” He drew a deep breath. “If she does know about him, she won’t say anything. So don’t worry.”

  Hearing it out loud, I knew Kyle was right. The time I’d spent with Ilana had only strengthened my opinion of her. Maybe I hid my feelings well, or perhaps she genuinely cared about me and was trying to ease me into this new life. Whatever her thought process, Kyle was right about her motives. She harbored nothing negative toward me, and she would never hurt her family.

  I stared at the night sky, accepting the fact that nothing had changed, and no one else was at risk. Another full moon shone about a carpet of stars, its beams glistening across the water at my feet. The sound of tree frogs circled the pond, and fireflies glowed throughout the clearing.

  I gave Kyle a mischievous smile then very non-gracefully dove in. Seconds later, I resurfaced to find Kyle standing on the bank, water dripping down his front and a playfully putout gleam in his eye. Kyle peeled off his shirt and plunged in after me, sending a tidal wave in my direction.

  He resurfaced, wiping the water from his eyes, and swam to meet me. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Shoot,” I repeated his answer.

  “Why did you stay with Kevin?” he asked.

  My teeth found my lip, and I stared at the ripples fanning out from our bodies. “Just shallow and superficial, I guess. It was a comfortable lifestyle.”

  “No.” Kyle shook his head.

  “No?” I echoed.

  “I don’t believe that for a second. You already had the money and reputation.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  “I know you all too well, Monet,” Kyle continued when I didn’t respond to his on-target observation. “But this is the one thing we’ve never talked about. You’ve always had him at arm’s length. I’m not complaining. You were doing the right thing, keeping your distance. But there’s more to it. More than you know.”

  My eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Let me take a guess. In the beginning, you were drawn to him, right? Kev was beautiful, charming, endearing — all the things you never thought about but somehow wanted. And even when he wasn’t trying to be charming, even when he was being a complete jerk, you couldn’t help but need to be with him.”

  My breathing fell silent.

  “But it’s different now, isn’t it?” Kyle stated confidently. “Even if everything had played out differently, you wouldn’t see him the same way because you’re not the same. The things that were so enticing about him are missing now. All that charm and charisma, the hypnotic eyes and thousand watt smile, they’re just that and nothing more. And I’ll bet if you think about it, you won’t even be able to remember what you loved so much about him to begin with.”

  And Kyle was right. The more I tried to understand my attraction, the less it made sense. “How do you know this?” I asked.

  “When you began changing,” Kyle continued, “the hold Kev had on you began to weaken. That’s why he planned that trip for you to Europe. You were actually coming here in case you changed. Kev didn’t want to lose his chance with you. A quick marriage, one way or the other.”

  The wind howled in the treetops, and cold seeped through me despite the warmth of the water. “How is that possible?”

  “Before you changed, you were drawn to him because he was a nymph. Humans weren’t so far off the mark on that one.” Kyle shook his head and climbed ashore.

  “Nymphs can compel people?” My eyebrows shot up.

  “Mm-hmmm,” Kyle nodded. “Well, humans at least. It doesn’t work on other nymphs.”

  “Wouldn’t he have tried to compel me sooner?” I plopped down beside Kyle on the shore.

  Kyle sighed. “It’s hard to say. Maybe he tried and couldn’t because you were changing. Or maybe it only worked to a certain degree. Even if he had tried and been successful, if you were more human than nymph, the physical bond wouldn’t have formed the same after you … well, it wouldn’t have formed. Kev needed you to be in a position where you couldn’t decide to leave later. It was all a matter of which part of your genetics was stronger.”

  All this time, my nymph side was the catalyst behind everything. My feelings toward Kevin changing, probably his anxiety and push for making a commitment … maybe even the reason behind his pressing for our physical closeness. In this world, forever was a literal term and one Kevin relied on to keep me from leaving.

  “I should probably get you home. Heaven forbid his highness be kept waiting for anything tomorrow.” Kyle’s eyes hardened as he pulled me to my feet. “But I’ll see you tomorrow at the museum for a history lesson, right?”

  “If you say so,” I murmured, keeping my eyes on my ring.

  “If you don’t learn your history, you’re doomed to repeat the past, you know.” Kyle’s hand warmed mine as he led me back to the house. We walked in silence, both of us seemingly lost in thought. Kyle opened the gate and ushered me to the porch.

  “Night, Monet.” He gave a half-hearted smile then turned to leave.

  “Hey, Kyle?” I stopped him.

  “Yeah?”

  “What, um…” I drew a deep breath. “What you said before, when one binds themselves to another, can they find someone else? Someone they truly love?”

  Kyle stopped breathing. “Humans are different, but when a nymph commits that fully to another nymph, that bond never ends — it never weakens, never goes away.”

  Ilana popped back into my mind.

  “So what? You’re just stuck if your mate is gone?”

  “Unless they’re killed,” he admitted, conflict warring in his expression.

  “Killed?” I honed in on his choice of words.

  “It’s not like we die of natural causes … mostly.” Kyle sighed.

  But what of Aiken and Ilana? I thought. “What would happen if a nymph found another partner? Could there ever be two loves and it work?”

  “You only have one heart to give, Ash. One time to give it,” Kyle repeated Ilana’s words. “After that, you have a choice but it’s no more than that. You’re never whole without your other half.”

  Then why can’t I heal? I didn’t ask.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Ancient History

  Feathery dogwood petals floated in the air as I walked to museum. I drew a breath and tucked the dreams of last night into my memory vault. Three nights in a row, I’d dreamt of warm cedar and haunting eyes. Each morning I woke to feel of sweat soaked sheets and a tear-stained pillowcase.

  The curly-haired shepherd I’d met the day we passed the factory emerged from one of the cabins just off the path.

  “Good morni
ng,” I greeted and waved.

  “Good morning, my lady.” He turned toward me and bowed again, a dimpled smile on his face.

  “It’s a fine day for tending sheep. You have a very important job.” I knelt down to meet his eyes.

  “Yes, my lady. Thank you. A new lamb was born last night,” he said eagerly. “I want to see him and give him a name.”

  “Eòghan,” a deep voice called from the cabin door. “Get along, young man. The sheep won’t tend themselves…” The man’s sentence trailed away as I stood. His emerald green eyes widened, and he dropped to a knee. “Forgive me, my lady. I meant no disrespect.”

  “No, please. Stand up. I was just enjoying your son’s enthusiasm.” I ruffled the boy’s curls. “Carry on, Eòghan. Give the new lamb a strong name.”

  “I will, my lady.” He smiled once more and set off toward the western fields.

  “You’re blessed with a charming family,” I said to Eòghan’s father.

  “Yes, my lady. He’s one of four.” The man beamed, a broad smile on his bearded face. “Two of my daughters are inside with my wife, not yet old enough to work. My eldest son is living among the humans now.”

  “Good for you,” I praised. “Leaving The Valley requires trust and dedication, I’m told. I’m sure you’re very proud. I’d love to meet them sometime.”

  His eyebrows rose, and he gestured toward his cottage. “Would you like to come inside for tea?”

  I began to take him up on his offer when the sound of Kyle whistling broke through the trees. “I would love to, but I’m late as it is. Another day?”

  “Certainly, my lady. You’re welcome any time.” He bowed his head and quickly kissed my hand.

  “Very well, enjoy your morning, sir.” I took a step back, not wanting to be chastised for speaking with him.

  “Morning, Kaede.” Kyle rounded the corner, a grin on his face. His eyes locked on me and the grin widened.

  “My lord.” Kaede backed away and bowed.

  “Knock it off. No one here needs to be revered,” Kyle joked. “Good morning, Elise.”

  I followed Kyle’s line of sight to the figure in the entrance of the house. A petite woman stepped through the doorway and into the sunlight. A smile crept across the face of the woman, her strikingly blue eyes wrinkled at the corners. Something about her felt odd.