Shifting Sideways: The Rift

by Jennah Sharpe

  A collective groan filled the room.

  Cameron walked closer to David. “We’ve handled this before,” he said in a steady tone. “Let’s enjoy the festivities tonight and work on a plan tomorrow. Come on, David. It’s getting too late for this. We all want to enjoy this last night.”

  Two other men, not including Sawyer, seconded Cameron’s suggestion.

  “All right. I suppose this can wait. There’s got to be a raid sooner rather than later, men. The more workers Elias Sawyer steals from outlying areas, the more dragon eggs he controls, the stronger he grows. The more he has to protect, the more protective he becomes. It’s as simple as that.”

  Sawyer didn’t think it was that simple at all, but he kept quiet.

  “Meeting adjourned. Enjoy the night, men. I’ll see you all here tomorrow.”

  One by one the Portovenere filed out of the room. Sawyer remained seated until all had left. David stared down at him as if waiting for him to speak.

  “One night won’t help things, Daerek. We need to move on this soon.”

  Sawyer nodded. “I know that brother, but there’s going to be a fight. There will be losses. Let them enjoy the festival. There’s time enough for death.”

  “Could it be that you just want time with your little mystery woman?”

  Sawyer stood and faced his brother. “As always, you have the wrong opinion of me, and of her. She needs to be kept safe until I know more about her.”

  “Keep your enemies closer, is that it Daerek? I’m not so sure that’s a wise idea. Perhaps you give her too much freedom. You know nothing about her. She could ruin everything and you know I speak the truth.”

  Sawyer balled his fists at his side. He needed to keep calm. Punching David in the jaw wasn’t going to accomplish anything. He needed to get out of the room. The thought came at him like a punch in the gut. He needed Charlotte. It didn’t get any simpler than that.

  David’s eyes narrowed, a physical giveaway of mistrust Sawyer didn’t miss. Turning away from his elder brother before anything else was said. Sawyer left the room quickly. Wondering why David didn’t call out, he quickened his pace toward the room where he hoped Charlotte was still curled up, asleep.

  Nudging the door open with his shoulder, he was relieved to discover Charlotte awake and standing by the window. She held the curtains aside with one hand. She appeared deep in thought, the bed sheet wrapped tightly around her tiny body. She didn’t turn when the door squeaked open.

  “Charlie,” he whispered. When she saw who was at the door, she smiled at him. Christ, she was beautiful. Her silky hair, usually kept up in a braid, now flowed freely about her shoulders. He longed to run her tresses between his fingers as he’d almost done in the forest.

  Charlotte visibly relaxed. “I wondered where you’d taken off to,” she said softly.

  “I had to speak to the men.” He closed the door behind him, taking note of the lavender gown hanging from a hook on the back of the door.

  “I noticed that, too,” Charlotte said. “Is it for me to put on? I’d rather have my jeans and sweater back.”

  Sawyer took the dress off the hook and walked toward her, holding it just high enough to keep the voluminous skirts from dragging on the floor.

  “I believe it’s for tonight,” he commented.

  “Tonight?” She clutched her sheet tightly to her breast.

  “Tonight is the Festival of the Gathering Lights. It’s a celebration of the season. An excuse for everyone to dance, drink and meet with friends. Formal wear is required.”

  She stepped forward, taking the dress from Sawyer’s outstretched hand. “Formal wear?”

  He watched her expression change from wariness to delight and curiosity. Her gaze traced the curves and embellishments of the lavender taffeta. She laid the beautiful material out on the bed she’d neatly made, running her fingers lightly over the material.

  “Do you like it?” Sawyer stepped closer.

  “I love it,” she said softly. “I can’t wait to wear it.”

  Sawyer strode to the window and realized Charlotte had been staring at the lights of Newburg.

  “You miss home, don’t you?” he asked.

  He felt her turn to look at him. “I do. But I have no idea where home is. My father, my bookshop…oh God…even my cat.” She sat on the bed, still fingering the dress and hung her head.

  Sawyer was at her side in an instant. He sat gently next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He choked back a moan of pleasure as she leaned her warm body into his. Since arriving at his brother’s, he’d experienced deep feelings of protectiveness for his mystery woman. Protectiveness and possessiveness. He’d do anything in order to keep her safe. Happy was another matter entirely.

  “We’ll find out what’s going on, Charlie. This is the home my grandmother lived in. There’s a library upstairs. I plan on having a look there tomorrow, after the festival. There may be some clues to what you are looking for.”

  She sighed against him. “Clues? Yes, I suppose there may be something. It could also be that this person is not the same Marie-Claire at all. That something else entirely has happened.”

  “Do you really think that’s possible?” he scoffed. “Marie-Claire Duchene McEwan. Not exactly a common name. I don’t believe in coincidences.”

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “I mean things don’t happen for no good reason. You met who you say is Marie-Claire and now you’re spending time with her grandson. There’s a reason for that. I’m certain of it. We just need to find out what the connection means.”

  “I don’t know, Sawyer. I’m with you because I have nowhere else to be. This land is foreign to me. There’s nothing at all familiar around here.” She gazed out the window. “I guess we’ll just see what happens.”

  “In the meantime, we’ll head to the festival.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze.

  She grinned up at him. “You haven’t told me about the festival yet.”

  He rose and headed for the door. “Change your clothes. Er, rather…get dressed and we’ll head out. The Festival of the Gathering Lights has to be experienced.”

  He pulled the door tightly shut behind him, leaving her to don her evening dress in privacy.

  * * * * *

  Charlotte was struggling with the clasps on the back of the dress when the door to her adopted room flew open and hit the wall.

  She jumped and whirled around, taking a defensive stance. The sleeveless dress nearly dropped to her waist but she caught the fabric just before her nipples saw the light.

  “What the hell?” she yelled when she saw Sawyer’s brother enter the room. “What do you want?”

  From the look on his face, tough and grimly set, she knew this was not a courtesy call.

  “I want you to tell me who you are.” He walked closer with a predatory look in his eyes. Despite her sudden urge to appear confident, she stepped back.

  “I don’t care if you share a bed with my brother. I want to know what you’ve said to him that makes him so eager to hold off our course of action.”

  She pulled herself up to her full height of five foot five. “I have no idea what your course of actions might be, nor do I share a bed with your brother. I’m here at his request. If you have a problem with my being a guest in your home, you’d best take it up with him.”

  David walked close enough to rest a tight hand on her shoulder. She brushed it off and stepped back. God, he was capable of anything. It didn’t matter why he was angry, only that he was. She’d have to be very careful.

  She stepped a circle around him so her back was to the door. She could run if she needed to.

  “Sawyer has told you why I’m here, hasn’t he? He found me in Newburg and took me home. I think I probably owe him my life.”

  David’s stare darkened. “He found you in Newburg?”

  Charlotte hesitated. For some reason, Sawyer hadn’t divulged this information to his brother. What else had he kept a sec
ret? She didn’t want to betray him. Perhaps she already had. Crap.

  “You’d best talk to your brother,” she said. “I don’t know much about your mission.”

  “The hell you don’t,” David strode past her and exited the room with a loud crash as the door shut behind him with such force it bounced open again.

  There stood a man she hadn’t seen before. He was in the hall, his mouth open in surprise. He closed his jaw when he realized she was staring at him. He looked much like Sawyer and David, with a subtle olive complexion and short, fair hair. A closely shaven goatee softened his features. He stepped to the door.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, resting a hand on the doorframe. He was a handsome man and so much more relaxed than David.

  “I’m…yeah, I think so.” She clasped the dress to her breasts, wondering why these men couldn’t come into her room when she was fully dressed.

  “What was all that about?” he asked.

  “I don’t think David likes me being here,” she said, careful not to give any information away.

  “You look a little shaken. Do you want me to find Daerek?”

  “Um, no. He said he’d come to get me. We’re going to the festival.”

  “Ah, I see. I guess I’ll see you there,” He paused. “I should tell you, David is relatively harmless. He’s a bit of a bully though. You’d do well to watch yourself, and to let Daerek know what just happened here.” He turned on the heel of his boot to leave.

  “I’m Charlotte Allen,” she offered, stepping forward. “I own a bookstore and I’ve really just met Sawyer. I’m not sleeping with him.” Not yet, she thought, wondering for the first time what that would be like. She swallowed hard.

  He turned to face her, his face soft and open. “I’m Cameron McEwan, their cousin. I don’t care if you’re sleeping with him or not. If you are, he’s one lucky bastard, but that’s between you and him.” He grinned at her then. “Let me know if you need anything while you’re here. This is not just David’s family home.”

  “Thank you, Cameron.” He disappeared down the hall, leaving her much more centered than she’d felt since leaving Sawyer’s home.

  She slipped on the dainty, white shoes that had been left beside the door, fastened her dress and with a silver brush left on the nightstand, she brushed her long hair until she was satisfied it wouldn’t tangle.

  She felt like a princess. Always dressing comfortably and in casual clothing, she was not opposed to giving into her girlish fantasies. With a quick glance to make sure no one watched through the open door, Charlotte made a quick spin, watching the diaphanous skirts fly out around her.

  When she stopped and looked up, slightly dizzy, she noticed Sawyer leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed and a grin on his face.

  “Don’t stop on my account.”

  Charlotte’s face filled with heat. Her hand flew to her forehead as she fought for something to say. Nothing came, so, as Sawyer entered the room, she collapsed on the bed in a fit of giggles.

  “Lovely, Charlie. You look lovely.”

  She looked up at his warm voice and for the first time she noticed he was wearing a black suit with the jacket open, and crisp white shirt unbutton at the collar, his formal attire not so different from what he often wore. His hair was slicked back, revealing dancing blue eyes and a little color of his own in his cheeks.

  Was he embarrassed for catching her mid-twirl? If so, it suddenly no longer mattered. Charlotte stood up to meet him.

  “You clean up pretty well, too,” she teased.

  Sawyer brought his hands up and softly ran them over her shoulders. Her breath caught in her throat and her chest constricted. Memories of the kiss in the forest had her insides tumbling over. Oh, please, do it again. Kiss me again.

  Sawyer leaned in, touching nothing more than her shoulders and brushed his lips across hers. With her eyes closed, she waited for more. When nothing came, she opened her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” She suddenly felt unsure of his intentions, but coming to the conclusion he was just as unsure as she was, she leaned into him.

  “Daerek, don’t stop,” she whispered. It was the first time she’d called him by his first name. He wrapped his arms around her, showing her he hadn’t missed that fact.

  When his warm lips met hers again, there was a little more force and a little less tenderness. She parted her lips instinctively and he welcomed the invitation by delving his tongue into her mouth. Her knees wobbled for a moment before Sawyer placed a leg between hers, steadying her. With her straddling his leg, he released her shoulders and cradled her face in his strong hands.

  “Charlie…” Nestling his face in the crook of he neck, he held her against his chest. “So lovely.”

  For the first time, she forgot about home, her bookshop and her father. There was only Sawyer, his spicy, exotic scent, and his warm, tight embrace. He was suddenly all she needed. She breathed into his shoulder, trying to embroider all the sensations she felt rushing through her, tightly in her memory. When she left, she wanted to remember every feeling he brought to the surface.

  If she never left this place…yes, she could be happy here, if she were with him. Is that what happened to his grandmother? Had she somehow ended up here and fallen in love with Sawyer’s grandfather? Considering the seemingly impossible situation Charlotte found herself in, what were the odds Marie-Claire experienced the same reality switch?

  As Sawyer’s hands raked smoothly through her hair and down her back, all coherent thought left. There was only him.

  She tilted her head, allowing him better access to the sensitive flesh of her neck. He took the offer, nipping and kissing the length of her neck, down over her exposed collarbone and across the edge of her dress. Lower, please go lower.

  She stroked his hair, giving him all the encouragement he needed. He didn’t take it, though. Despite the fact that his arousal pressed against her lower belly, he drew away.

  He was breathing hard, his eyes glazed with desire, as if he were unable to focus. She gave him a questioning look as he steadied himself.

  “Not yet. It’s not our time yet,” he murmured against her forehead. “They’ll be waiting for us.”

  Charlotte blew out a breath. She leaned into him again, wrapping her arms around his torso. As their breathing calmed and the room came back into focus, she recognized her feet were firmly planted on the floor. Man, if she gave in now, it would be that much easier to stay with him and not return home, but that wasn’t an option. This wasn’t where she belonged.

  “I suppose we’d better go.”

  “Yes,” he said.

  Not breaking contact with her skin, he slid his hand down her arm, took hold of her hand and led the way out of the room.

  It was the first time Charlotte had left the stark, white room. Sawyer’s warm hand enveloping hers gave her the extra boost of confidence she needed to face David and the others once again. Surrounded by nothing that was familiar, Charlotte felt uneasy in the stark manor house.

  Chapter Six

  To Charlotte’s surprise, they did not meet up with the Portovenere men right away. Sawyer led her out the front door and down the stone staircase leading to the front courtyard. She smiled at the view.

  They stood on a hilltop, overlooking a village alive with twinkling white lights and busy people. The lively music of wind instruments played in the manner of medieval troubadours raised goose bumps on her arms. Looking down onto the rooftops of the harbor town, dressed in a gloriously silky dress on the arm of a tall, prince-like man, Charlotte Allen felt she was chest deep in a fairytale. Her fears surrounding Sawyer’s Newburg, her inability to get home, left her for the moment as she looked over the celebrant village and out to the sea.

  She leaned on Sawyer’s arm. He glanced down at her and then out over the courtyard.

  “Do you like the view?” he asked softly.

  “Coming in today, from the back, with death a real possibility, I never imagined I’d be
standing here looking at this with you. It’s beautiful and I’m so happy you shared it with me.”

  “We’re not all bad, Charlie,” he teased.

  She blushed, hoping she hadn’t insulted his world. “No. I know that. It’s just…it’s nice to see people enjoying themselves.”

  Sawyer squeezed her hand where her fingers rested in the crook of his elbow.

  “Shall we go?” he asked.

  Charlotte took a deep breath. “Can’t wait.”

  They descended the staircase and walked slowly across the courtyard. The high, iron gates opened to the cobblestoned streets. She was amazed at the number of people trailing by with dazzling, feathered masks on their faces as if attending a masquerade ball. Men, wearing mainly black, fell behind as the women grouped together, laughing and trading compliments on their dresses. Adding to the joyous atmosphere, millions of stars shone down from the deep, black sky. She gazed up.

  Sawyer stopped to follow her gaze. “They’re beautiful aren’t they?”

  “Yes. It makes me wonder though.”

  “Wonder?”

  “Where I’m supposed to be. This is earth, right?”

  “Yes, what else would it be?” he answered with a touch of hesitancy in his voice.

  “If it is earth and I’m still Charlotte Allen, then where is my family, my city?”

  “I can’t answer that just yet, Charlie. I can only promise I’ll help you find the answers.”

  She smiled up at him, meeting a tender gaze that shivered her insides. He really cared that she found out what was happening. He wasn’t just some stranger she’d attached herself to. He was a friend. Someone she knew she could count on to help her.

  She gave his bicep a tender squeeze. “Let’s go enjoy the party.”

  “I’ll take you down to the harbor. There’ll be more going on there.”

  They walked three blocks through masses of people slightly drunk from getting a head start on the party, slowly shouldering their way. When they finally reached the boardwalk that stretched along the coast, Charlotte felt a little anxious.