Dark Promise (Between Worlds #1)

by Julia Crane

  His paced increased, and I practically had to jog to keep up.

  In front of the cottage, he stopped and took me by the shoulders. “I’ve never shown anyone this, but I had a sudden urge to show you.” He pushed open the door, and I stepped inside.

  I covered my mouth in surprise.

  The cottage walls were lined with canvases. Some blank, but most of them beautiful pieces of art. Paintings of the forest, waterfalls, and flowers brightened the room.

  “Kallan, did you draw these?” I asked as I walked forward. Carefully, I touched a beautiful charcoal drawing of the forest. The details were insane. Possibly even better than Sierra, and that was saying something.

  “Yeah.” He shrugged. “I’ve always loved to draw. Since I was little. It’s the only thing I have left of my mother. She was an artist.” It was the first time he had mentioned her.

  I turned to face him. “What happened to your mom?”

  “She was killed when I was five.” He touched the circlet of dark stones at his neck. “She gave me this. She taught me how to paint and would bring me here so we could paint together. That’s really all I remember about her.”

  “Kallan, I don’t know what to say. That’s horrible.” I wanted to offer a hug, but I didn’t feel comfortable.

  He shuffled through some images in a large file folder and pulled one out. It was a picture of a dark faery running through a field. Her wings were the exact color as Kallan’s. Her face was blurred.

  “Your mother?” I asked softly.

  “Yeah, I can’t remember what she looked like, so I did the best I could.” He put the image back behind some of the others and put his hands in his pockets. I had a sudden urge to brush the hair out of his face.

  I forced myself to look away. I wandered around the cottage, looking at all of his artwork. He worked in several mediums, but the charcoals were my favorite—they were so real. In the corner near the window, an easel sat with a cover over it. I walked towards it, but Kallan grabbed my arm and spun me around.

  “That’s private.” He dropped his hand.

  “Oh, sorry.” I glanced back over at the easel and wondered what was under it. Probably a painting of the girl he liked. I was surprised to feel jealous at the notion.

  “We should head back,” Kallan said quietly. “I don’t want to get you in trouble with my father for venturing so far from the castle without his permission.”

  “Yeah, we wouldn’t want that,” I said wryly.

  I thought I saw a hint of a smile on his face. It came and went, quickly replaced with his stony mask again.

  As we headed for the door, I said, “Thank you for sharing this with me.”

  “Not sure why I did. I guess hearing you sing… I don’t know.”

  “Whatever the reason,” I continued, “thank you. Life has gotten so boring. I feel like all I do is eat, sleep, and walk.”

  Kallan laughed, his hand resting on the doorknob. “What else would you be doing in the human world? Isn’t it more of the same?”

  “Well, for starters, I wouldn’t be locked in a tiny room all day,” I told him, my lips pursed. “I’d spend time with my friends.”

  “You don’t enjoy my company?” he teased.

  This side of him made me blush. “You can be…”

  “Yeah,” Kallan said when I didn’t finish my sentence. “I know. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to hurt you.”

  We walked the path in silence until I could see the castle looming in the distance. It was black against the pale blue sky, the top craggy and mean. It was nothing like the romantic castles always pictured in the human world. I really didn’t want to go back.

  Kallan’s steps faltered, and he fell behind me.

  I turned back to him, raising an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”

  He shook his head, his face half in shadow. The sun was sinking fast, already invisible from the forest floor.

  “The way I feel when I’m with you.” He wouldn’t meet my eyes.

  My heart pounded. I took a couple of steps forward and touched his arm. “What do you mean?”

  Faster than I could respond, he had me pushed up against a tree. His long, lean body was pressed against mine, his hands trailing down my arms.

  I should have been scared, but all I could think about was how much I wanted to reach up and run my hands through his hair. I yearned for his red lips to touch mine. Something deep and primal inside me wanted him.

  “Why are you so frustrating?” he breathed in my ear.

  I trembled, his whisper sending chills through my body. Did he feel the same thing I did?

  Adam.

  The thought hit me like a wrecking ball, and my world crumbled. Adam was back home, waiting for me, probably frantic to find me. I had to stop this thing with Kallan before it had any chance to begin.

  I placed my hands on Kallan’s chest and pushed him away from me. “Stop. Take me back.”

  His gaze held mine for a long time before he finally dropped his arms and stepped away. Without another word, he walked briskly towards the castle.

  I lingered behind, trying to compose myself. My hands still trembled, and my body ached for his touch.

  I hated myself.

  Once I was back in my room, I walked around muttering to myself. Why was I so attracted to Kallan? There was nothing about him that I liked. Sure, he was good-looking, but that’s where the attraction ended. He was such a jerk, even if he had the most beautiful eyes I’d ever seen. I willed myself to stop thinking about him, and instead brought my attention back to the real problem. How was I going to get out?

  Because now it was imperative, before Kallan got under my skin.

  I thought about home. Not just of Adam, but my parents and Sierra, too. I wondered if the cops were searching the woods. How long would they look for me? Would they think I ran away or would they know for sure I had been kidnapped? My parents would know, and my dad never gave up on anything.

  Then my thoughts turned to Azura. I wondered if she told my parents what had happened. If they knew where I was, would they still involve the police? Maybe they made up a story for the school and my friends?

  I missed talking with Sierra and watching TV with my mom. Most of all, I missed being with Adam. I felt so alone and unwanted in this place. I curled up in a ball on my bed and let the tears pour from me until I succumbed to sleep.

  The pain was still there in the morning when I woke. I wanted to go home. I wanted to sleep in my own bed, eat my mom’s crappy cooking, and be with my friends. I wanted to feel loved and cared about again. I wanted to feel like a normal teenager. I was starting to think that was never going to happen.

  A short rap on the door caused me to jump. “Come in,” I said when the door didn’t open.

  The handle turned slowly, and Kallan stuck his head in. “Morning.”

  Quickly, I wiped the tears from my eyes. I didn’t want him to see me crying. “Morning,” I replied, my voice soft.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, looking genuinely concerned.

  “No. I’m not. What do you want?”

  He studied me in silence for a long moment, and I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Finally, he spoke. “Why don’t you and I go for a walk?”

  We walked to the castle gardens, where the sun was high and the staff was puttering around, hoses flowing water and clippers clipping hedges into geometric shapes. It was an idyllic scene, almost normal, like something found in the human world.

  “Now, tell me what’s bothering you,” Kallan said, his hands clasped behind his back as we strolled.

  I glanced over at him, and then back at the ground. “I miss my home, my family, my friends.”

  “Your boyfriend?” Kallan’s voice was neutral.

  “Yes, I miss Adam,” I snapped. “He’s the only person I’ve ever loved, and he’s also my best friend.” I met his eyes, daring him to say anything about Adam.

  Kallan raised his hands. “I didn’t mean to upset you more.”

>   “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t take it out on you. I know this isn’t your fault. I just wish I could find a way out of here.” I paused and looked down at my hands, trying to figure out how to word it without insulting his realm. “I don’t belong here, Kallan. This is your world, not mine.”

  He walked forward, taking me around the castle to the back. He seemed sincere when he asked, “Tell me about your world, Oleander.”

  “Wh-what do you want to know?” I was taken aback by his question.

  “Anything,” he stated simply.

  I twisted a strand of my hair around my finger. “Well, I live in northern Virginia. It’s quite beautiful. Not as bright and colorful as it is here, but it’s still gorgeous. It’s not the location I miss. It’s my family and friends. My mom’s a schoolteacher, and a horrible cook—although she tries. I’m sure she’s worried sick. She just found out I wasn’t her biological child, and then I disappeared. I can’t begin to imagine what she’s going through.”

  “You met your birth mother. What did you think of her?”

  I thought about Azura, and shrugged. “Only briefly. I don’t really know anything about her. As far as I’m concerned, she’s a just a stranger. I’ll never think of her as my mom.”

  “You should give her a chance.”

  I laughed bitterly. “I don’t think I’ll have that option if your father has his way.”

  “Not necessarily. If you agreed with my father’s wishes, you would be free to come and go as you please.”

  I mulled that over in my mind. I hadn’t really thought about what would happen if I agreed to marry Kallan. The idea was just so absurd. I was sixteen, for crying out loud. People didn’t get married at sixteen. Not people, but faeries did, and I was a faery. “What would it be like if we got married?” I looked away, aware of his intense gaze.

  “Well, my responsibilities would increase, as would yours. My father is equivalent to the king here, which makes me second in command. Thankfully, because we age slower, it will be a long time before I have to worry about becoming a leader. However, there is still a lot to attend to. As my mate, you would be required to accompany me to functions, and even sit in on council meetings.” He paused as if gathering his thoughts. “I suppose we would move into our own home, and you would have to run that.”

  “Oh my God, we’re just kids. We can’t be expected to act like adults.”

  “It’s different here, Oleander. If you had been raised in the faery world, you would be making plans with your mate or searching for a mate. It would seem natural to you.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “It’s just so odd. My mind doesn’t want to accept it.”

  “The human world is strange to me. It just depends on what you’re used to.”

  “Why haven’t you already married?” I asked, thinking of the girl he’d mentioned before.

  “I said it was normal, not that it was the law. I just haven’t found someone I want to be with till the end of time. My father didn’t meet my mother until he was older, so he doesn’t push me. At least, he didn’t until you came back into the picture.” He looked away so I couldn’t see his face, but there was no regret or malice to his words.

  “Do you think we could at least convince him to wait?”

  Kallan shook his head. “No, he won’t wait. Once he has his mind set on something, there is no changing it. He sees you as a threat, and as the leader, he has to eliminate any threats. I’m actually surprised he didn’t kill you on sight. To him, if you’re not with us, you’re against us.”

  “Why didn’t he?”

  “I don’t think he wants to kill you. He wants power. And to have an Aurorian faery on our side would give him more power than he ever dreamed. Killing you takes that power away. But he’d rather have you dead than with the light faeries.”

  Interesting. I wondered if I could use that to my advantage somehow. “I guess that makes sense, but he’s still going to kill me, isn’t he?”

  “He won’t hesitate to kill you. He’s given you a way out. It’s up to you if you take it or not. The days are passing quickly.” His blue-green eyes settled on my face. “Have you made up your mind?”

  “No, I just keep hoping I’ll find a way out,” I answered honestly. There wasn’t any use trying to evade the question. He knew where I stood on the matter.

  “I wish I could help you, but there’s no way, I’m afraid.”

  I stopped in my tracks and turned towards him. “You would help me? Go against your father?”

  “I don’t want you to be forced into mating with me. It’s not exactly good for the ego.” Kallan laughed. “Marry me or die. I’d like you to have a little more say than that.”

  I realized he didn’t say he didn’t want to marry me, just that he wanted me to have a choice. I wondered if he wasn’t as opposed to the idea as he had acted previously. I was too shy to ask, and not sure I was ready to hear the answer.

  “Let’s keep going. There’s something ahead I wanted you to see.” Kallan touched my arm, and my heart jumped.

  “Okay.” I looked around and noticed how deep we had gone into the woods. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.” He grinned wickedly.

  I couldn’t help but smile back. He was so calm and collected, but I got the feeling there was a lot more underneath his cool exterior. It was almost like he was locked away inside his own body, like me in my little prison cell.

  We walked for what seemed like forever in silence, but it was probably closer to a mile, before he smiled at me.

  “I hope you can swim.” He winked, and then broke into a run.

  I followed, laughter bubbling up inside me, and we burst free of the trees. A glistening green meadow stretched before us, and the wind whipped through my hair, warm and tangible. I watched as Kallan headed straight for what looked like the end of the world, and then leapt off.

  “Kallan!” I screamed, my heart pounding. I raced to look over the edge.

  It was a long way down. A cliff! The rocks were chalk white and the water deep, brilliant azure. I watched his body hit the water with a splash, and when his dark head bobbed to the surface, his wonderful laughter echoed up.

  “Oh my God!” I fought to catch my breath. He had scared me half to death. I wasn’t a fan of heights, but I could swim like a fish after years of lessons at the YMCA.

  “You’re crazy!” I yelled down.

  He squinted up at me, so small a figure in the water. “Afraid?”

  “Yes!” I laughed.

  “Come on. I wont let you get hurt. Trust me.”

  I hesitated as I looked at the drop. But then I figured, what the hell? I probably only had a few more days to live anyway. I took a few steps backwards, and ran. Next thing I knew, I was in free fall, and it felt fantastic. My wings were flapping, but I wasn’t flying. The air felt fabulous against my skin. The water was approaching quickly, so I pointed my hands forward and tucked my wings. I sliced gracefully into the water.

  My vision was as perfect underwater as it was above. I could see all kinds of unusual fish. I didn’t want to surface, but my lungs protested.

  My head popped up, and I looked around for Kallan. He was right next to me, treading water, and he grinned. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think you would do it.”

  “I love a challenge,” I replied, staring directly into his eyes, which were almost the exact color of the water.

  He swam closer to me. My heart was still racing from the adrenaline of the jump. His presence made my body feel alive in ways that shouldn’t be possible. I loved Adam.

  “Follow me.” Kallan swam off, and I cut through the water after him. He led me around underwater, pointing out different underwater creatures. When we would come up for air, he explained what they were. Some of them were dangerous, but most were harmless.

  When we dove under again, I couldn’t see him. Panic started to rise in my chest. Something grabbed my ankle, and I kicked, trying to get it to release.

  Kallan cres
ted the water, laughing.

  I hit him with all my might. “You jerk! You scared me,” I gasped, splashing water at him.

  He caught my hand in the air when I moved to smack him again. “I was just playing,” he teased, pulling me closer.

  My breathing increased, and my wings were fluttering like crazy as my body pressed against his. Kiss me! I thought.

  As if he heard me, his lips came down on mine. He tasted like saltwater, his mouth hot and wet. He pulled me tighter, and his hands tangled in my hair, holding me firmly in place as the kiss deepened.

  It wasn’t necessary. I wasn’t fighting it. His kiss awakened me in a way Adam’s never had.

  Suddenly, he pulled back, his eyes wide. He stared at me in shock, both of us breathing hard.

  My arms felt bereft, and the traitor inside me pleaded inwardly for him to never stop kissing me.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. I don’t know why I did. I lost control,” he rambled. After a few seconds, he swam away from me. I watched as he pulled his beautifully proportioned, muscular body out of the water.

  I closed my eyes and tried to control my breathing, my legs kicking beneath the surface of the water. What just happened?

  I swam to the embankment. It was awkward, but we had to face it. We couldn’t pretend it hadn’t happened. I pulled myself out of the water and walked over to Kallan. He was sitting on a rock with his hands in his hair, looking down at the sand.

  “I’m sorry,” I said lamely.

  He snapped his head up. “What do you have to be sorry about? I kissed you. I should have better self-control than that. It was like something told me to do it, and I couldn’t resist.”

  Bells went off in my head. Oh, goodness. I couldn’t believe it. “Kallan, I think we found out my power.”

  He met my eyes. The way the water dripped off his hair was charming. “What are you talking about?”

  “Right before you kissed me, I thought ‘kiss me’ and you did. Mind control must be my power, too.”

  He tilted his head to the side, his blue eyes appraising me. “You wanted me to kiss you?”