“Ok.” She nodded. “I guess I’m ready then.”
James nodded. “I’m ready too.”
“Then we go to the arctic region.” Arabella turned to me. “We are almost ready to return to the true time.”
21
James
I had made the journey toward Icentris many times, but this was the first time I did so sitting atop a giant bird. The arctic lands were not my favorite, but they were beautiful viewed from a thousand feet in the air. I held onto Ainsley tightly, grateful to have any moments with her I could. I understood a goodbye was possible—a final goodbye that might mean I would never see her face again. I knew it was possible I would never get to touch her skin or look deep into her eyes as we made love. I might never hear her laugh again or feel the warmth emulating from her smile. I never deserved her to start with, but that did not mean letting go was easy. But it was worth it. It was more than our bond at stake, it was my life, and that was okay. Life was full of sacrifices.
Yet, a part of me held onto hope for another outcome. I silently pleaded for things to turn out differently, for Charlotte to find a way to destroy the darkness without killing me. If anyone was capable Charlotte was, and despite our recent differences, she was a true friend. Killing me would hurt her in ways she would never come back from. But either way, I needed to believe she would protect Ainsley. If the darkness was defeated and Ainsley was safe, my sacrifice would be worth it. Above all else, I needed to guarantee Ainsley’s future. I fought the darkness that roared inside me. All it took was one look at Ainsley to remember what I was fighting for.
The pelagorn landed on the icy ground, his talons slipping before he came to a stop. He lowered his head, and we all jumped off.
“Send the bird away,” Arabella ordered as soon as we all disembarked.
“Why?” Ainsley touched the pelagorn’s wing. “Why does Skyborn have to go?”
“Skyborn?” Arabella laughed. “You named the creature?”
“Yes.” Ainsley straightened up. “There is nothing wrong with that.”
“You are such a sentimental girl. Humans normally refuse to waste a breath on anyone but themselves, let alone a wild creature.”
“That isn’t true.” Ainsley raised her chin. “Don’t make such generalizations. You can’t judge an entire species from the few you have met.”
“Have you met many people who care about others above themselves?” Arabella pointed to Ainsley. “Have you personally witnessed humans putting another’s interests before their own? I do not mean parents. They are hardwired to protect their young, but beyond that.”
Ainsley’s expression darkened, and I understood why. She was thinking about the hurt she had suffered at the hands of people she loved. “Are there many Elders who do?”
“Turning the question on me does nothing to change the answer.”
Ainsley shrugged. “I never said it did.”
“If you care about the pelagorn, you will send him away. It is too cold for him here.” Arabella’s expression softened ever so slightly. “He will freeze and die.”
Ainsley nodded. “Oh. I didn’t realize.”
“There are many things you have no understanding of, child.”
“I’ve discovered that more than ever since leaving home, but it doesn’t mean I can’t still learn.” Ainsley put a hand on the pelagorn’s nose. “You have to leave again.” The bird whimpered as he had the last time Ainsley dismissed him. “Be good. Thank you.”
The bird made no move to leave.
“Ok. Goodbyes are over.” Arabella approached the bird, and she started to speak in a strange language.
With one more glance at Ainsley, the pelagorn took flight, creating a great wind that further chilled the air, before it disappeared into the sky.
“What did you say to him?” Ainsley stared up at the darkening clouds.
“I told him what needed to be said.” Arabella’s face was unreadable.
“Oh.” Ainsley looked down. “In other words you won’t tell me.”
“Enough worrying about the bird. He will live. We will all be dead if we are not careful.” Arabella give each of us long, hard looks, before turning her attention directly to Ainsley. “You need time alone with James. I can give you that. The Elf and I have things to discuss.”
“Elf?” Elron scowled. “Am I unworthy of going by my name?”
Arabella said nothing, which spoke volumes.
“We have no time to be alone.” Ainsley sighed. “Please don’t tease me with what I can’t have.” She leaned into my side. I rubbed her shoulder.
“You need strength, and that is the only reason I am giving you time.”
Arabella was right. Ainsley needed strength, but I wanted time alone with Ainsley for other reasons. It would truly be a gift to have another night with her, a night where I could say my goodbyes to her privately, letting my lips and body express things my words never could. But that was impossible on the icy plains. Surely Arabella knew that. “Where are we to spend this time?”
“If you walk off a quarter of a mile east you will find a tent. You can thank me later.” Arabella turned her back.
Ainsley slipped her hand into mine, and that was all I needed to know. She was ready. With a nod at Elron, I led Ainsley due east, directly into the wind.
"I've never liked the cold," Ainsley said under her breath.
"I wish I had something warmer to offer you." I eyed her short sleeve shirt, wishing I had grabbed her a coat before we left.
"I'm not cold. Remember the lake... that timeline has merged with this one.” She lowered her head so she was not looking directly into the wind. “I am just remembering how much I disliked it before. It’s strange it doesn’t bother me in the same way anymore. It’s like losing a part of who I am.”
"I remember." In truth, I had temporarily forgotten. I did not enjoy thinking about what my world had done to her. But it was not only my world. It was also hers. She was as much a part of Energo as I was, which is why she could survive there without me. “But you are still you whether you feel the cold or not.”
She would always be the same Ainsley to me. I would never forget the first moment I met her in her room. She was so beautiful and so full of spunk. The more time I spent with her, the more I knew I needed her in my life. If I had only known how short that life might be. Those thoughts would get me nowhere. I needed to enjoy each second we had left.
Before long a large emerald blue tent with golden embellishments came into view.
“Not exactly the kind of tent I was expecting.” Ainsley pointed at it. “I was thinking rustic camping not royal accommodations.”
“With an Elder you never know what to expect.” Which is why I worried about what we would find inside. Hopefully the outside was more than a trick.
“But can we trust her?” Ainsley asked. “Isn’t that the million-dollar question?”
“We are already trusting her.” Perhaps we were trusting her too much, but I was out of ideas. I had never been a trusting person, but this whole situation depended on trust. There was nothing else we could do.
“Very true.” Ainsley pushed open the flap of the tent, and we walked inside.
The outside had not been deceiving. The floor was covered in thick, ornamental rugs, and brightly covered tapestries hung from the walls.
“Arabella knows how to pitch a tent.” Ainsley held onto my hand as she explored.
“A real bed?” I pointed to the large bed piled high with blankets. “I was not expecting that.”
“It has been a long time since we have shared one together.” She stopped a few feet away.
“Far too long.” I took both of her hands in mine. “Although I am happy any place I am with you.”
She kissed me hard on the mouth, surprising me by her making the initial move. The surprise did not last long before I had her wrapped in my arms. I took control of the kiss, eagerly pushing into her mouth and claiming her tongue. I needed every inch of her.
I needed to savor everything.
I slipped my hand underneath her shirt, running my fingers over the soft skin of her stomach. She grabbed my hand and moved it to her breast.
I teased her nipple, loving the moan it elicited.
She pulled up on my shirt, offsetting my hand. She fully undressed me, moving onto my pants as soon as my shirt hit the floor.
I pulled off her shirt, eagerly releasing her breasts from her bra. My lips immediately descended on an exposed breast, and I ran my tongue over her nipple, gently grazing it with my teeth.
With a free hand I unbuttoned her jeans, sliding my hand inside her underwear and inside her. She gasped. I licked her nipple once more before releasing her breast so I could slide the denim down her legs, following them closely behind with her underwear.
I stared at her beautiful bare body, memorizing it yet again so I could picture it no matter where I ended up. Dead or alive, Ainsley would always be on my mind.
I reached out for her, taking her hand in mine, and leading her to the bed.
She sprawled out before me, and I lay down beside her, running my hands and lips down her body. She closed her eyes and urged me to touch her with soft words and moans.
I listened, claiming her breast with my mouth, and sliding my hand down between her legs. She opened up to me right away, gasping as my fingers explored her.
When I knew she was ready, I moved above her, settling between her thighs as I cherished the look of anticipation in her eyes.
“James,” she begged.
I thrust into her, closing my eyes so I could focus on the sensations only possible when I was inside her.
“More,” She grabbed onto me.
I gave her exactly what she wanted, speeding up faster and faster, and pushing all of myself inside her. She wrapped her legs around me, and I opened my eyes.
We moved together perfectly, rhythmically, and I never wanted the moment to end.
She reached her release, and I followed moments later, grabbing hold of the euphoria only she could offer.
I remained inside her long after, needing to enjoy every second. I rested my lips in the crook of her neck and inhaled her sweet scent. I could feel her heartbeat against my chest.
“I love you,” she whispered against my neck.
“I will always love you.” I kissed her forehead. “Never forget that.”
“I never will.” Tears slipped down her face, and I kissed them away.
There had to be a way I survived. Saying goodbye to Ainsley would be impossible.
22
Ainsley
Leaving the tent had taken all the strength I had. It was the last time we would ever spend together, and that reality weighed down on me like lead. James filled me with a happiness I never imagined possible, and our fate was one nearly impossible to accept. James felt the same happiness. I knew that in the same way I knew how he made me feel. I hoped he never forgot that happiness, and I hoped he never forgot me. He wouldn’t. I knew the truth. Just as I would never have forgotten him had our fates been reversed. And they could be reversed if I wasn’t careful. I had one chance to convince Charlotte to spare him. If I failed, there would be no turning back time again. I only hoped Arabella would stick to her word and make sure my sacrifice happened, and that the Elders kept Gregor locked up until my death led to his. Extinguished. That was the word Arabella used. Luckily neither James nor Elron noticed her use of the term instead of death.
Elron and Arabella were waiting exactly where we left them, and I wondered how long we had been gone. We had only left after the tent started to disappear around us. The tapestries had fallen first, followed by the mattress below us. Before long we were lying naked in the open air. Arabella was not subtle in telling us it was time to go.
“How are you feeling?” Arabella studied me as soon as we reached them.
“Better.” I was physically, but the rest of me was falling apart. Saying goodbye to James devastated me, as did the thought of never telling my mother I loved her again. I had been so focused on James that I had avoided thinking about the rest of the people in my life. The worst side-effect of our bond was how singularly focused I was on him.
“What about Grace?” Had I really forgotten? She was in danger. None of this was her fault, and she deserved a chance at a happy, long life.
“Your friend is safe.” Arabella patted my head. “Elron and I have been busy.”
“Busy?” James raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“We needed to take care of all the messes you left before you travelled time. We also discussed time travel and Elron’s debt.”
“What is his debt?” Surely it wouldn’t be as bad as mine? Elron had helped me so much. I wanted him to enjoy the rest of his life.
“It is not too harsh,” Elron reassured me.
“And it will benefit you,” Arabella said nonchalantly.
Benefit me? How could it benefit me if I were dead? Maybe it was about James? Would Elron help James? “Do you swear Grace is okay?” Blake’s men had her. How could she suddenly be safe?
“She is safe. I swear it. We were able to get her to safety before she was captured.” Arabella looked into my eyes. “An Elder rarely swears, but I need you focused.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
“If it keeps you on task, it was worth it.” She stepped toward me. “Now, are you ready? Are you really ready?”
“Yes.” I nodded, fully understanding what she was asking. “I’m ready.”
James looked between us, as if trying to understand the look.
I distracted him, brushing my lips against his. I felt the familiar zing, the warmth. One brush wasn’t enough. I needed more.
“Enough of that. We have to time this perfectly.” Arabella stomped her foot.
I reluctantly stepped away from James. I stared at his lips longingly before snapping myself back to reality.
“We are going to jump back moments before we left,” Elron explained. “We all need to be ready.”
I nodded. “Ready.” I wasn’t. How could someone ever really be ready to face their death, especially when they had so much more they wanted to do and experience?
Arabella shoved the flower into my hand. “You will be needing this.”
“Remember, the change will be instantaneous.” Elron looked between James and me. “Keep your wits about you and pull your memories from this timeline back as fast as possible. You will not have the luxury of time.”
I nodded. “I’ll try my absolute best.” I hoped that was enough.
I blinked a few times, confused as a new set of memories flooded my head. Had I been dreaming? I opened my hand, surprised to find a bright blue flower in my palm. How had it gotten there? I searched my memories for an explanation. I was still on the battlefield facing Charlotte’s army, and I watched trying to understand what was going on inside my head. Why was I walking toward them? Out of the corner of my eye I saw a beautiful blonde. Arabella, the Elder. Suddenly everything clicked. Memories of the last few days flooded me. Time travel. I remembered my father’s words, Arabella’s warnings. I could do this. It was time.
I took a moment to gather my courage before moving toward the soldiers.
I held up my hands in the air, hoping the universal sign of surrender in my world applied here too. I tried to hide the flower. I didn’t want anyone to mistake it for a weapon.
I continued forward, simultaneously worried about the soldiers and what James was about to do. I blinked back tears. Everything would be ok. We needed a cease fire and then I could do my part.
I continued forward despite hearing James shout out my name. His voice was different, darker and deeper. I fought back tears.
“Charlotte,” I spoke her name softly, hoping she could hear me even though I couldn’t see her. “Charlotte.” I spoke louder this time. “I found the flower you need.”
Nothing happened at first. The soldiers continued to march forward in perfectly straight lines. Then,
from somewhere in the distance, I heard my name.
“Ainsley?” Charlotte called out my name again. This time is came from much closer. She must have somewhere in the mass of soldiers.
“Please, Charlotte. Halt the soldiers. We need to talk,” I screamed over the wind. The cold didn’t bother me, but no matter how immune I was to the elements, my voice could only carry so far.
She said nothing, which I took as invitation to keep moving toward the rows of soldiers who were all dressed in suits of armor that made them more frightening.
“Ainsley, stop!” James called, but it was too late. I couldn’t stop. No one could stop me.
“Halt!” Charlotte yelled out to the soldiers, who stopped instantly.
She appeared from somewhere deep inside their ranks wearing a flowing blue dress.
A dress? On a battlefield? Maybe she was really losing it, or maybe it was about tradition. Either way, it made things even stranger. She continued forward through the rows of soldiers until we were mere inches apart.
“Are you okay?” She reached out a hand toward me.
“I’m fine.” I stepped back. I wasn’t sure what she could do to me through touch, but I didn’t want any of it until I had said my piece. My knees were close to buckling, and I started to sweat. This was worse than stepping into the water or entering the palace. Those were dangerous situations, but I had held onto hope. At the end of this conversation I would be gone.
“You found the flower?” Charlotte peered at what I held in my hand. “How? How could you have retrieved it when it is guarded by the strongest creatures—”
“The Elders,” I cut her off no matter how unwise cutting off the Essence was. “And you were wrong about what it does.”
“No.” She shook her head. “It has the power.” Her eyes blazed bright blue. It was a beautiful color, but there was something terrifying about it.
“It has power. That part is true. It has the power to break even the strongest bonds if it is in your hands.”
Understanding crossed her face. “It can even break a kindred bond…”
Forged in Light (The Forged Chronicles Book 4) Page 15
