by LH Nicole
“You’ve made your point, Dagg! Now shrink your Dragon butt back into a bracelet before someone sees you!” Without another word, the Dragon did as asked.
Wade’s jaw twitched, his tell when he was stressed. Uncertainty and disbelief swam in his eyes, silently begging Aliana to tell him this was all a joke. “Aliana, can I talk to you for a moment? Over there.” He pointed to an empty spot several feet away. “Without the…bracelet.”
Nodding, she handed Dagg to Galahad and asked Owen to join them.
“Aliana, do not go too far,” Arthur cautioned.
She sighed. “We’re just going over there.” She pulled her cousin and best friend behind her, trying to think of a way to make Wade understand. It was selfish, but she didn’t think she could do this without him, and now that she’d believed in who he really was, she was relieved.
“Owen, what kind of joke is this?” Wade demanded as soon as they were out of the others’ hearing. “You can’t seriously be buyin’ this story!” His slight twang slipped. Another of his tells.
“I know how you feel, mate.” Owen placed a mollifying hand on Wade’s shoulder. “I just found out last night after she got back from Avalon with all her—our new friends in tow.” Owen still sounded a little bit unbelieving, and Aliana couldn’t blame him. She still half expected to wake up and find all of this to be a crazy dream.
“Wade, just let me explain, please,” she pleaded, making her eyes big and hopeful with just a touch of tears.
“Not the sad kitten eyes!” Wade tried to look away, but he couldn’t escape them. “All right, I give. I’ll listen.”
“Thank you.” As quickly as she could, she explained everything that had happened during the last forty-eight hours, letting Owen add in his own knowledge.
Wade held up his hand, stopping them. “Let’s say I actually believe you—you’ve certainly told me crazy stories before—the difference between then and now is that those were all make-believe.” His jaw twitched again. “Lia, don’t go all wrath-of-the-southern-spitfire on me for asking this, but are you really sure about this?”
Aliana snuck a quick glance at the guys, who cautiously watched the trio. She was scared that she wouldn’t live up to what they expected of her, but this was real. She couldn’t have felt the things she had if all of this was fake. Wade would believe too, eventually. “Yeah, I do.”
“What did that…bracelet…mean when he called you the Destined One, Lia?”
She paused and hoped Wade wouldn’t freak out. “According to their prophecy, I would wake Arthur—which I did yesterday—help reunite everyone—which I appear to be doing right now—and help them find the items they’ve lost. And apparently, I’ll be ‘the key’ to stopping the evil sorcerer Mordrid.”
Wade’s frown deepened. He looked again to the other knights. “The key? Lia…”
“Please, Wade, you saw Dagg, and I have pictures from Avalon I can show you. You have to admit, it all kinda feels…right,” Aliana said, taking his hand. “It can’t be an accident that you and I have been best friends forever and that we found Owen.”
“Now they have you thinking that we’re only friends because you were supposed to ‘reunite’ us?” Wade snapped, his anger evident in his narrowed eyes.
“No, of course not!” she insisted, and saw him relax a fraction. “You’re my family, both you and Owen, no matter what anyone else may think or say.”
Wade sighed heavily, running his hand through his brown locks.
“Talk to them, mate,” Owen said, encouraging him. “It will help. I know exactly how you feel, and you just need to give this a chance to settle.”
Wade gazed out at the cityscape. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath as he shook his head. “Okay, Lia, I’ll admit, there is something about all this that does seem right, so I’ll give them a chance. But I’m still half sure they’re pulling one over on you.”
Scowling, she smacked him in the arm before giving him a big hug. “Thanks, I really need my best friend.”
The rejoined the others, and as soon as they got there, Wade said, “So, Aliana has filled me on her side of things, what do you all have to say about it?”
“If Aliana hasn’t convinced you this is true, then why would you believe me?” Arthur asked. “As I see it, Percy, Aliana, and Owen have all gone on faith and trust. I wouldn’t think you any different. The Knights of the Round Table stand for justice, truth, loyalty, and honor. Those are things we gave to the people we protected and to each other. Now, here in this world, I ask for no different. But it is your choice.”
He held Wade’s gaze for a long, tense moment. Aliana watched Wade’s jaw twitch.
“All right, but I have a condition. We do not under any circumstances tell Lacy! I may not be able to keep Aliana out of danger’s way, but I don’t want my sister in any kind of danger.”
Aliana bit her tongue to keep from arguing. She didn’t like the idea of lying to her best friend, but at the same time, she didn’t want Lacy in the line of trouble either.
Arthur nodded, accepting her friend’s condition, and Wade’s shoulders relaxed. “I swear, if I find out any of this is crap, I’m taking Aliana away and none of you will be able to find us.”
“Try it,” Galahad challenged in a low voice.
“Galahad.” Aliana touched his shoulder briefly, taking Dagg’s bracelet form from his hand.
“Everyone better put on their happy faces,” Percy warned, looking over his shoulder. “Your very hot friend is on her way over here.”
“Watch it, Tiny. That’s my sister,” Wade growled before putting on a smile.
“Everything okay over here?” Lacy asked, sliding next to Percy. “I’m thinking something has to be seriously wrong if you’re all over here missing the party of the century.”
“We’re good here, sis. No worries. Just getting to know Aliana’s fairy-tale friends a bit better.”
“Wade,” Aliana hissed, elbowing him in his side. “I blame you for this, Lace.”
“Blame away, darling. I have a donor who insists on meeting you.” Lacy pulled her friend to her side and whispered loudly, “He’s kinda hot too.” She glanced at Arthur and Galahad.
“Instigator! My point is proven,” Aliana said accusingly but with a half-smile.
“So, if you’ll excuse us, gentlemen,” Lacy said, and the girls turned, walking away from the guys.
“Aliana,” Arthur called, stopping them. “Maybe one of us should go with you.”
“I’ll be fine. Crowded party, remember?” Before the guys could object, she and Lacy continued away from them.
“What was that about?” Lacy asked. “And you should have seen those two’s faces when you were dancing with Wade. I almost thought your Galahad was going to go out there and beat up my bro.”
“He’s not my Galahad,” Aliana denied again. “Did he really, though?”
Lacy nodded with a vivacious smile. “Donation guy’s just over there.” She pointed to the man Aliana had seen watching her earlier.
“Who is he?” Aliana asked, studying him as if she could somehow see beneath his red and black phantom mask. She was fascinated by the guy all over again. There was something familiar about him.
“His name is Thomas Wylit. He’s already bought three pieces tonight, one of them yours,” Lacy whispered as they approached him. “Aliana Fagan this is Thomas Wylit. Mister Wylit, Aliana Fagan.”
“Nice to meet you.” Aliana held out her hand to him and he took it.
“It is a pleasure to meet you properly, Miss Fagan.” He had a very cultured, tenor voice and an exaggerated pronunciation of his As. “I am a fan of your work.” His tone and the way he said “work” made Aliana think he was referring to something other than her photos.
“Well, I’ll leave you two to chat. I need to go check on the bar.” Lacy again disappeared into the crowd.
“You are quite the talented dancer,” Thomas said. “Your mother seems to have taught you well. I wonder, did
she teach you the waltz from her first movie?”
“Um…yeah, she did. I’m sorry, but have we met before?”
“Dance with me,” he said. “Then I will answer your questions.”
Aliana shifted back to examine him. His red and black phantom mask accented his sharp cheekbones, hard jaw, and gray-blue eyes. Something lurked below his polished surface, though, a kind of dangerous mystery.
“I don’t bite, Miss Fagan.”
“Call me Aliana,” she said, deciding to take a chance, knowing that the guys were probably keeping watch. She looked at the dance floor. At some point a live band had taken the stage, and it was playing a song from one of her mother’s movies. The singer ended the song, inviting anyone who knew Carrie Fagan’s movie waltz to the dance floor.
“So, will you join me?” Thomas asked again.
“Did you know this was going to happen?” she asked, taking his hand.
The man chuckled. “I confess, your friend did tell me in advance.” They joined four other couples on the dance floor, including a pair of the stone dancers from earlier.
The ladies formed a line facing their partners. As the soft guitar and piano started to play, the men bowed and the ladies curtsied. The dance started off in a set of turns and near touches as the ladies did a box step around the men, coming back to face them, stepping close and locking gazes.
Still not touching, they circled each other, Aliana’s right shoulder lined up with Thomas’s. Stepping back again, they bowed and came together. His hand was gentle against her waist as he effortlessly led her in a classic four-corner waltz.
“Earlier it sounded like you knew my mother,” Aliana said as he spun her in a circle.
“I did. I knew both your mother and father, actually.”
Aliana gasped. “Did your parents know mine? Or were you one of my dad’s students?”
“Why would you jump to those conclusions?”
“Well, how else would you have known them? You’re not much older than me.”
Both his hands went to her waist, lifting her in a spinning circle with the other dancing pairs. “I’m twenty-two, thanks. And I would think with all you’ve recently discovered, that your view of things would have broadened.”
Aliana tensed, nearly forgetting the next step, but as if he expected her reaction, Thomas kept her on pace.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she denied as he spun her again.
“Don’t be coy, Aliana. You know what I’m talking about.”
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he lifted her against him. Automatically, Aliana flared her legs as he spun her around. Who was he? Was he a threat to her and the knights? She considered walking away from him, but his arm went around her again and they fell back into the waltz steps.
“I don’t know who you really are, but if you know all you hint at, then you should know not to mess with me or my friends.”
“They wouldn’t hurt me.” He sounded so superior that Aliana’s teeth clenched as she pushed aside the urge to hit him.
She wanted to leave him on the floor, but if she did, she’d only create a scene, and who knew how the guys would react. She danced the final moments of the song with him, lining up with the others in their original position. Out of habit, she curtsied to him, sending a glare in his direction as she escaped the dance floor to find her knights.
16
I don’t like the way Lacy looked at this Percy guy, and I’m worried about my best friend. Aliana’s done nothing but run from place to place, taking stupid risks since her parents died. I can’t help thinking these fairy-tale friends are bad news, but at the same time, these guys and their story feel right—like it’s the truth. I just don’t know—and I hate doubting myself. Lia’s the one who dreamed of adventure; I wanted the normal life. If this is all true, looks like that’s out the door.
~Wade
ALIANA SAW HER FRIENDS by the other side of the dance floor. She quickened her pace, wanting to tell them about the mystery guy, but before she could get to them, another man in a mask stepped into her path.
“Miss Fagan,” he said. The brown eyes that peered through his leather mask were so dark they almost looked black. “Would you care to dance with me?” His smile reminded her of a viper.
Panic bloomed in her chest. Thomas Wylit had fascinated and confused her, but this guy terrified her. “No, I need to get back to my friends.” She moved to step around him, but again he blocked her way.
“I would like to dance with you, Aliana,” he said again.
“And I said no!”
Stepping to the side, he let her pass, but as she moved alongside him, his fingers brushed against her bare shoulder, and he whispered, “I would take the time to get know your friends better. They are more treacherous than you realize.”
Her eyes grew large as unpleasant prickles shot through her body. She snapped her head around, but the guy had disappeared.
“Aliana.” She slowly turned to see Arthur and the others.
“Who were you dancing with?” Wade asked.
She stepped between Arthur and Galahad. No matter what that creeper had said, being surrounded by them made her feel safe, and she had to trust that. “He said his name was Thomas Wylit.”
Lancelot’s eyebrows shot up before he whispered something to Percy and nodded to Arthur. When Arthur nodded back, Lancelot disappeared into the crowd.
Aliana looked between Arthur and Galahad, confused. “He’s going to find the guy,” Galahad explained. “You seemed upset on the dance floor. What did he say to you?”
“I wasn’t really upset, but he hinted that he knows who all of you are and what I’ve done.” She shook her head. “I swear I’ve met him before, but I can’t remember from where.”
“Lancelot will discover who he is, Aliana. Do not worry,” Arthur said, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“Are you going to tell them about the other one?” Dagg asked from around her wrist.
“Dagg, you’re going to draw attention!” Aliana scolded.
“What does he mean?” Galahad asked, his eyes darkening a shade.
“Some guy stopped me when I was leaving the dance floor. He asked me to dance, but he totally creeped me out. He didn’t seem to want to take no for an answer, but he let me go.”
“Who was he?” Arthur asked, scanning the crowd.
“Don’t know, but he was wearing a brown leather leaf mask.”
“We’ll keep watch for him,” Galahad promised. “He won’t bother you again.”
“It’s no big deal, really. There are always strange guys around events like these.”
“Either way,” Arthur said.
“Why don’t we all try to enjoy the rest of the party,” Wade suggested, breaking the tense mood. “We can’t leave any time soon without incurring the wrath of Lacy, so let’s just relax and have fun. To be honest, I want to enjoy this ‘normal’ party before you all drag me into…whatever it is you’re going to drag me into.”
Aliana peeked at Arthur, hoping he would agree. She wanted a little more “normal” too.
“All right,” Arthur said. “But, Aliana, one of us will remain close to you for the rest of the night.” He waited until she nodded, and then a smile twitched the corners of his mouth. “And if you would still like to dance, perhaps you can show me how.”
“Sure.” Aliana smiled brightly. “We’ll start with something simple.”
“Then I would like your next dance.” Galahad’s eyes captured hers.
Aliana couldn’t seem to make her voice work, so she just nodded, letting Arthur pull her onto the dance floor.
“I think I understand the basic steps,” Arthur said, taking her hand and placing his hand at her waist. “They seemed easy enough when I was watching you earlier. You are a beautiful dancer.”
Aliana blushed and smiled at the floor. “Thank you.” The band was playing a slower song from the mid-nineties that told the story of a heartbroken man. His lady
had left him with nothing but the ghost of their love haunting him like a ship lost at sea. Aliana guided the king in the first few steps, but he quickly took the lead. “I’m impressed, Arthur.”
“One benefit of my new abilities is that I seem to be able to learn things, even from just watching. It’s nearly effortless.” He spun Aliana out and pulled her back in, their bodies settling against each other as they continued to dance to the haunting music. “This song seems so sad,” Arthur said softly. “Losing someone you care about is a hard thing to do.”
“Yeah it is, but a lot of musicians and artists form their songs and art around what they feel—both the good and the bad.”
“The music now is much changed from what we had in Camelot. Most of the songs we heard were tales of warriors and battles.”
“You must really miss your home.” Aliana hated hearing the almost painful longing in the great king’s voice. Moving closer, she laid her head against his shoulder, hoping to give him some sort of comfort.
“I do miss Camelot, but there are times, like this, when it doesn’t seem so bad.” He rested his head against hers and they danced the rest of the song in comfortable silence.
Aliana fell into the security of Arthur’s arms, wondering why it was so easy to relax with someone she had only just met. She blushed, remembering the kiss that had awakened him. Something had formed between them in that moment. It was nothing like the bond she shared with Galahad. The bond she had with Arthur didn’t have the intensity she felt for his knight. Arthur was like a favorite pillow or blanket—easy to curl up in with its comforting warmth. Aliana realized that Arthur could quickly become a great friend and confidant.
The music ended and Arthur tucked Aliana’s hand into the bend of his arm as they walked back to their group.
“Where did Wade go?” Aliana glanced around, searching for him.
“He went to see if he could find that guy who was bothering you before you went to dance with our fearless leader,” Owen said.
Aliana scowled at her dragon. She didn’t want the guys to worry about the creeper and miss out on the party.
“I do believe you promised me your next dance,” Galahad reminded her.
