Within minutes we had reached the dome unscathed. Relief filled my chest as I thought about how she could now be cared for.
“Arias! You are back.” Halifax said, looking down at Candice with concern. “What on Hecate—?“
“She was pulled through the Gate. The fact that she landed on the battlefield must be Grim’s doing.” I said angrily. “Get the doctor up here, now,” I commanded.
“Yes, Arias.” Halifax motioned to an attendant who left the room to fetch the doctor. I laid Candice down upon a cushioned bench and felt her forehead.
“How are you?” I asked. She opened her eyes again and even managed to smile a little.
“How am I? I’m not the one with a gaping wound in my side.” She replied.
I looked down and saw that, indeed, the blood was still pooling below me.
“The doctor is coming now. He’ll be able to take care of it.” I said confidently.
“I never thought that I would see you again, Luke. I thought that you were dead.” She said, a tear falling from her eye.
“I was always focused on returning to you,” I said, and cradled her to my bare chest. The feeling was indescribable, knowing that she was here and safe in my arms at last.
“You did promise that you would.” She said, letting the tears consume her now.
“And I always keep my promises. You were unwise to doubt me.” I said while rocking her back and forth.
The doctor came and bandaged Candice’s wound. He tried to bandage mine first, but I utterly refused. Once she had been taken care of, then he inspected me.
“This is bad, Arias. I’m surprised that you’re still standing.” The old doctor said.
“I don’t feel it much, really,” I said, gazing at Candice with a bandage on her forehead. It was endearing.
“Now, I want you to go back to your tent for the night and just relax. You need to rest up so that you can get your strength back.” The doctor said, finishing bandaging me up. “Sleep in separate tents if you have to.” He added, lifting his brow.
I was immediately offended that the doctor would bring up such a thing in this instance and wanted to scold him for it, but I looked over at Candice who had a bashful smile on her face, and I softened.
“We’ll sleep with a sword between us,” I said.
It might kill me to do so.
Candice
Amazingly, I thought that both of us couldn’t speak. His large tent was beautifully appointed, even though it was just the tent of a warrior. There were soft cushions and rugs, and a warm fire was burning in the middle. I felt comforted for the first time in…a day? A week? Who knew how much time had passed on Earth since I had been here.
I realized that not once on the battlefield or in this tent had I thought about Christian. Where he thought I may had gone didn’t worry me in the slightest. This was odd.
Luke walked around the tent, cleaning his sword, taking a cup of Root, while finding linens for me to wear. He examined my wounds, handed me something to drink, all of this was done in silence.
We just looked at each other, taking each other in and trying to get a sense of what once was, what had happened, and what was to come.
Luke was still shirtless, his hefty torso only covered by the thick bandage that the doctor wrapped around his solar plexus.
He walked over and wrapped a large blanket around me.
“Thank you for saving my life today.” I finally said to break the silence. It was not the most sophisticated thing I could think of at this moment, but it was the truth. He had saved my life.
“You knew that I would do anything for you.” He said from across the tent, his back turned. “I hope that you have always known that.”
“So much has happened in the last 10 years,” I said, hoping to hear more about what he had gone through in this time, as well. In fact, I wanted to know everything - every battle that he had faced, the highs and lows which he had met, what victories he cherished the most.
“Yes.” He replied curtly. Something seemed to be the matter. He was not turning towards me, and he seemed agitated.
“We have so much catching up to do!” I said with excitement.
“Of course.” He said.
“Is something the matter?” I asked, leaning in and awaiting his reply.
He turned to me and stared me down with those electric blue eyes and I felt butterflies in my stomach. Even after 10 years he still had the same effect on me.
“Nothing is the matter.” He said. His words said one thing, and his behavior said something else. I had to talk to him about it.
“Your demeanor has changed since we….came to your tent,” I said. It was the truth, on the battlefield, in the dome, he was so caring and protective, now it was as though he had drifted away completely.
“I’m just resting. Regaining my strength.” He said and turned away. I could sense again that this wasn’t the truth. I didn’t want to push him, but this man had been the driving force of my life for the past decade and—
Wait. Not Christian?
“Well, why don’t you come sit by the fire then?” I said. He walked over almost reluctantly. As he approached, I got to marvel at how the stout V-shape of his torso had become more pronounced in the years that had passed. He did not look older, per se, but just bigger, stronger, more distinguished.
“You’re still the greatest warrior in the galaxy after a decade or eons - whatever it has been,” I said with a smile.
“Ha.” He said with a little laugh, sitting on the other side of the fire from me. “I’m no longer a warrior.” He said.
“What?” I asked in disbelief.
“I’m the Corin leader.” He said, finally meeting my eyes again.
“Like, the general? Or the leader?” I asked. He smiled, and I felt like melting.
“The leader.” He confirmed.
“Wow,” I said, incredibly impressed and almost shy all of a sudden. I looked down to the ground. “But you still fight?”
“I cannot send Corin into battle without being by their side. They’re forbidden from referring to me as Your Highness. They all call me Arias.” He says casually as if this were the most normal thing in the world.
“That’s very noble of you,” I said.
“I did not like becoming the leader in the first place. I’m just a soldier.” He said.
Then Luke’s demeanor rapidly changed again. He sat and thought for a moment and finally sprang to his feet and paced about the room like a caged lion.
“I’m angry, Candice.” The veins were popping from his arms, almost as though his blood had fully returned to him, after all, that was lost on this day.
“What…what’s wrong?” I asked with a sheepish voice. This new change in demeanor was slightly frightening.
Luke pulled a hand through his hair, which was shorter than it was when I knew him last. It was more of a military cut now, and more distinguished.
“I’m angry at myself, Candice.” He said, still not making eye contact with me.
“Why?” I asked gently, not wanting to upset him further.
“Eons ago I made a choice. I decided that no matter what, I would stay to finish this war. Kill Grim. Restore Peace. I’ve never been able to stay on Hecate for this long before.”
“You made the….right choice—“ I cut in.
“Candice.” He said forcefully and looked directly at me, stopping his pacing. “The only thing that has kept me here this long is the thought of you.”
“Oh,” I replied, my cheeks turning pink.
“The pleasure that I’m able to experience by just thinking of you — I’ve used it as a tool. Even like a weapon.”
“Don’t say weapon, please,” I said.
“It’s true. And in so doing, I was taking advantage of my Curse. But all this time—“ He stops speaking and looks down.
“What?” I asked gently. I wanted to go to him, but everything in his body language suggested that he required distance and I di
dn’t want to push it.
“I thought I was outsmarting the Curse, but it was outsmarting me. I lost what matters most in this galaxy.” He said. His eyes had turned darker, and the whites were turning red. I couldn’t tell if it was from fury or tears.
“It’s okay,” I said, understanding what he was referring to and feeling the tears coming to my eyes now.
“It’s not okay. I didn’t even realize it till you appeared today. Even after I kill Grim tomorrow - and there is no doubt in my mind I will.” He said with fury. “He still won. The years that you were not by my side, I can never get back.”
CHAPTER 6
Luke
I was enraged, which was the last thing that I expected to feel with Candice here, finally, in my tent. We were alone, a warm fire glowed across her face, and I had bundled her up in a blanket. Why am I consumed with anger? I feel like I want to punch my fist through the wall.
I stopped myself for a couple of reasons. First of all, we were in a tent, and the effect would be less than heroic. The next issue was that I’d much rather turn my focus to Candice so that I could savor her presence, as opposed to dwelling on my anger towards the past which couldn’t be reclaimed.
I saw her get up and walk towards me. I hoped that my anger had not frightened her, but I was relieved that she felt comfortable enough to approach. She placed a delicate hand on my shoulder, and I was soothed. The cool feel of her hand on my burning skin sent a tremor throughout my body.
“But we’re here together, now. Finally.” She said. Her warm smile was a balm for my fury, and she had a point. We were here. Now. I wanted to embrace her but was immediately struck by how it was as though time had never passed. But I had to acknowledge that it had, and it would be inappropriate of me to act as though we hadn’t been apart for so much time. However, my body wanted to pick up where we left off - feeling her against me, kissing her, holding and caressing her.
But, what if this was not something that she wanted anymore? What if—
My racing thoughts had shot more pain through me than I had felt in many years. How ironic that now that Candice was in front of me, after waiting so long, that was when I felt the most pain.
I had been operating as a soldier. I had been using my soldier’s brain, but with Candice I used my male human brain, and it was possessive, greedy, desirous—
I could feel myself fading. You had to be joking with me. Not here. Not now. Candice saw it too, and fear filled her eyes.
“Hey, hey. Calm down. Look at me.” She said. I tried to focus and look into her eyes, forcing the pain from my veins. “Whatever is going on inside of you, it couldn’t possibly be worth leaving right now. Let it go. Breath and let it go.” She counseled me.
This woman was beyond amazing. The softness of her voice and words instantly soothed me and brought me back to the present. My hands and arms began to return to their solid state. She had kept me from going through the Gate.
“What were you thinking about?” She asked.
“God, no more talking,” I said, and forcefully pull her into my arms and kissed her on the mouth. The kiss was more fiery and hungry than I intended for it to be but at this point, I couldn’t stop myself any longer. She may slapped me across the face, but at least I could be prevented from being pulled away for a few more moments.
“I missed this so much.” She said with a soft moan. Her delicious words provoked me even further, and I came in to kiss her again, grabbing her by the waist. I could feel her heart pounding against my chest. Every muscle in my body wanted to clutch her and keep her there, where she would be safe till the end of time.
“I can’t catch my breath.” She said with a smile.
“Oh God, I’m sorry,” I said, releasing some of the pressure. We both shared a little laugh.
“I want to make love to you,” I said touching her lower lip with my finger, inches away from her perfect face.
“I’m afraid you might kill me.” She said, whispering back.
“Me too.” We both smiled at one another.
This was exactly as I had remembered it only better, having had to wait so long. Each day my feelings intensified and now that this was happening I felt like my chest might burst.
“You’re still injured. I’ll sleep on the floor tonight so—“ She tried to say.
I physically stopped her mouth with my hand. “I won’t even let you finish that sentence.”
“But, it’s going to be hard to stay away from each other - physically - otherwise.”
“And why do we have to?” I asked, taking her head in my hands and kissing her forehead.
I saw her expression change, and she pulled away.
I will not let you pull away from me.
“What is going on?” I asked, seriousness filling my voice.
“It’s just I—“ She tried to speak.
“Tell me what.” I stepped forward, and she stepped back.
“Luke, you need to know that I’m engaged. I’m sorry but—“
She continued to speak, and now I was fading rapidly. I would be gone in any second.
I heard her voice trailing off as if it were miles away.
“I’m engaged to Christian……”
I will be on Earth shortly. At least I’ll be able to kill him.
Candice
I already knew that telling him this might be the biggest mistake I had ever made in my life.
What the hell was I thinking?
I thought that he deserved to know the truth. I wanted to tell him that I was confused by it and having serious doubts. But of course, all of this wasn’t going to be possible because it was visually clear that he was getting pulled through.
My pulse starts racing rapidly, and my mind began to reel with what I could do. But perhaps, he was already too far gone.
Thoughts rushed through my mind as I watched his perfect form vanish before me. The look of anger and confusion in his eyes was indescribable. I put my palm up to touch his, one last time, and sadly, he managed to put his palm up to meet with mine.
My fate changed in a moment. As though time had gone still, I realized what I had to do.
I would give up my home, my life - my very identity - to be with this man.
There had been signs all along that Christian didn’t make me happy. I thought the dusty desert of my childhood could heal my grieving heart, and yet every day I still grieved for my parents and the life I thought that I would have. The diner occupied me - kept my mind off things that were gone, and things that I deeply wanted.
In this one exquisite moment of revelation, I knew that what I truly wanted was the figure fading in front of my very eyes. He had always been my North Star, and for quite some time, I had believed that he was gone, but never gave up hope. And even in the rare moments when the hope would leave me, I still continued to love him.
Here, at this moment was my chance, and the only chance that we both had to set it right - to end the Curse, end the grief and longing, and begin the life we were meant to live - by each other’s side.
At this moment, I decided my own fate.
I leaped forward and almost like in a dream, or some wild fantasy, I pressed my lips against Luke’s just before his image was completely gone - the last ray of sunlight before it set below the horizon.
Our lips were entwined, but not on Hecate, not on Earth. This was a whole other plane of reality that there was no explanation for. We were within the Gate, grasping one another, trying to hold on.
I yelled to him, but my words could barely be heard with the sound of stars and galaxies swirling around us.
“I want to stay here with you, Luke,” I yelled, almost not audible to myself.
“Candice!” He yelled.
“Arias! I want to stay here with you.” I yelled again, but I felt my consciousness leaving me. The effort of trying to communicate in the Gate was draining me of all my energy. I was fading.
Where would I end up?
CHAPTER 7
I did not know where I was. What happened in the Gate was beyond precedent. There was no way to explain what she had done. It was the most shocking, courageous, and powerful thing I had ever seen, and I had been through many battles.
She was a goddess. There was no doubt about this. Candice said that she would be mine. That she would stay.
So now, she was my Goddess.
Alien Romance Box Set: Romantic Suspense: Alien Destiny: Scifi Alien Romance Adventure Romantic Suspence Trilogy (Complete Series Box Set Books 1-3) Page 151
