by LH Nicole
Freeing the knights, saving the realms, and stopping Mordrid were the only things that mattered. The sooner she could accept that hard truth, the sooner she could pretend to the world that that knowledge didn’t threaten to break her completely.
20
I have to force myself to not confront Merlin because that is what Aliana wants. But I made it clear to Lord Daggerhorne that Merlin is not to upset her again, and he needs to be sure Merlin understands that. I want to see her smile, like she did last night when telling me about her parents. She doesn’t know that I saw Galahad kiss her at the party, and I can’t tell her. First Guinevere, now Aliana. I’m done holding back because of my ghost woman. Aliana’s not his yet—I won’t stop until she tells me she is. Even then I’m not sure I’ll give up.
~Arthur
ALIANA STRUGGLED TO OPEN her tear-swollen eyes. It wasn’t even one a.m. She rolled onto her back, moaning in pain as her shoulders and neck protested the movement. Groggy, she traded her jeans and T-shirt for her PJs, then washed her face and swallowed some aspirin before falling back into bed.
She tossed for a few minutes, unable to get comfortable, and her thoughts from earlier returned. Disgusted with herself, she rolled out of bed, grabbing her quilt and sandals. Quietly, she crept out of her room and down the hall toward Merlin’s rooftop terrace. She inhaled the crisp night air, wrapping the quilt around her shoulders. Everything always seemed a bit better when she could breathe in fresh air under the moonlight.
Plopping down onto a wooden chair, she curled up, staring at the crescent moon playing peek-a-boo from behind the clouds. Taking another deep breath, she finally relaxed, wishing that Merlin wasn’t right about her “destiny” but knowing she would have to accept it. Maybe there was a way to accept it on her own terms, she thought as she drifted back to sleep.
Aliana shot awake on the hard wood chair. Gasping, she fanned herself, trying to cool the burning skin her nightmare always left in its wake. The fiery dream had returned, and she couldn’t get her parents’ screams out of her head.
She watched fog roll over the roof. Her eyes were still glazed from sleep, and through the mist she could barely made out a small shape on the roof ledge. A small fox with dark eyes and three tails sat on its haunches, staring at her. She wiped her eyes and looked again. Nothing was there except more fog where the imagined animal had been.
“Get a grip,” she scolded herself, grabbing the quilt. “The guys’ paranoia is starting to rub off on you.” Shaking her head, she snuck back downstairs.
“You shouldn’t fall asleep outside,” Dagg said, surprising her at the bottom of the steps.
“Shh,” she hissed. “Don’t wake the guys. Why are you here?”
“Your shield slipped, and I felt your anxiety. I was coming to wake you.”
“How many times do I have to ask you to stop reading my feelings? I need to have some sort of privacy here.”
“You already shut yourself off too much, Aliana.”
Beyond fed up with all these boys telling her what to do, she glared at the Dragon as she passed him. “I don’t need a know-it-all, nosy Dragon telling me what I should and shouldn’t do with my feelings.”
Galahad opened his door as she walked by. “What’s going on?” He wore only a pair of low-hanging sweatpants.
“Nothing,” she said, clearing her throat, and letting her eyes wander over his body. “I fell asleep upstairs.” She counted back from three, waiting for his lecture. He opened his mouth right on cue, but she held up her hand before he could speak. “Dagg already scolded me. I don’t need to hear it from you too.”
“What makes you think that was my intention?” he asked, crossing his arms across his broad, bare chest.
Aliana stared at him. “That’s all any of you seem to do. Even Percy and Owen are lecturing me now.”
“Aliana…”
“Please don’t, Galahad.” She didn’t having the energy to fight with him. “I just want to take a shower.” She escaped into her room.
Dropping the quilt, she flipped on the shower and discarded her pajamas. Standing under the barely warm water, she worked to get her combustible emotions pushed away into the hidey-hole in the back of her mind. When she felt more in control, she shut off the water. Wade would be knocking on her door soon for their early morning training. She quickly pulled on black riding shorts and a yoga top.
As she brushed the tangles out of her hair, she sighed, realizing she owed Galahad and Dagg another apology. It wasn’t their fault her magic-freak self was only good for this one thing. They were both victims of this whole curse too. Merlin’s words tried to surface again, but she pushed them down. The sky lightened, spilling gray morning light into her room.
Then Aliana got an idea. She opened the calendar in her phone, just remembering an appointment she’d totally forgotten about. It was with a potential client and was set for the next day. “Perfect! If I can get Arthur on my side, maybe I can convince Merlin that a field trip to get a break from this place is what we all need.” Maybe her purpose was to fulfill this prophecy, but she couldn’t let that rob her entirely of her life and the things that made her happy.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door.
“Morning, Wade,” she said, swinging the door open.
“Morning, Lia.” He wrinkled an eyebrow, taking in her lighthearted mood. “You good? You had me worried last night when you didn’t come down for dinner.”
“Sorry ’bout that. I was just exhausted and trying to deal with things—badly. I didn’t want to worry you guys.”
Wade studied her for a moment before she patted him on the arm and closed her door, stepping into the hall. “Can we get a quick breakfast before we start today? You still owe me my winnings from Galahad kicking your butt in the obstacle course.” Their wager was always to prepare and serve a delicious meal.
“Sure,” Wade said, following her to the kitchen. “I was actually thinking we’d skip practice altogether today.”
“Why?”
“Because, like I said, you had me worried last night, and I know you a lot better than any of the others. I think you could use a day off, and frankly, so could I.”
“Oh.” Leave it to Wade to say just the right thing. “If you’re okay with it, then I’m not going to argue. I need to talk to Arthur, anyway.”
“It’s settled,” Wade said, grabbing eggs and vegetables from the refrigerator while he muttered about how unfair it was that Galahad had super speed and strength.
Laughing, Aliana poured them both a glass of juice and took a seat at the counter while he created an omelet masterpiece. Dagg flew in a few minutes later, landing on the seat next to her. She offered him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry for yesterday and last night. You were just trying to help me and I overreacted again.”
“Thank you for that, but please understand I only do what I do because I worry for you.” He hopped up onto the counter and whispered, “Things aren’t always what we think they are. Purposes and destinies in life are not always clear to us. Very rarely do they have only one purpose.”
“I think Merlin made mine pretty clear. I understand now what I have to do.”
Dagg opened his mouth to say more, but Wade placed a steaming hot pepper and onion omelet in front of Aliana with a bow and a devilish smirk.
“For you, m’lady.”
“Don’t start, Wade! Make one for Dagg too.”
“Will Wade be cooking for me as well?” Galahad asked, leaning against the doorframe. He was gorgeous in a pair of fitted jeans and a green T-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders and chest.
“You’re on your own, pretty boy,” Wade muttered, cracking more eggs.
“Ignore him.” Aliana smiled as he took the stool next to her. “You can have mine and he can make me another.”
“Don’t you dare!” Wade said, spinning around and shaking his spatula at her. “You didn’t eat last night. He did.”
“He’s right. This
one is yours,” Galahad said, pouring himself a glass of juice.
Nodding, Aliana took a bite of the heavenly creation. “Great as always, Wade.”
He placed another omelet in front of Dagg, and the Dragon, of course, promptly attacked his breakfast.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a brat in the hallway this morning,” she said softly to Galahad.
“You weren’t completely wrong. We do tend to lecture you more than we probably should.” He tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
“Still.” She blushed, pulling away from his touch and taking another bite of her breakfast, but the eggs had lost their flavor.
“I understand that this is harder on you than it is us. If you have need, you can talk to me about it,” he offered almost shyly.
Aliana was touched, even though she knew she shouldn’t be—he was only trying to preserve the sanity of the key. She nodded as she took another flavorless bite.
One by one the others filed into the kitchen. Sabine came in and took over the cooking. The purple-haired Pixie was terribly efficient and ran her kitchen like a drill sergeant. She’d even scolded Merlin a few nights earlier when he’d almost ruined dessert.
“Lia and I are going to take the morning off,” Wade announced. “Honestly, we all could use a break.”
Percy, Owen, and even Galahad voiced their agreement.
“I think that would be wise,” Merlin said, surprising the group.
“Then I suggest we make use of that great pool Merlin has!” Owen said, smiling brightly.
Not long after breakfast, Aliana took a seat on one of the deck chairs, her laptop in hand. For this Southern belle, the sunny day was just a bit too cold for swimming. Wade and Percy roped the guys into an overly aggressive game of water volleyball. Aliana burst out laughing when even Merlin joined the fun, using magic to screw with Owen’s serve. Who knew the stoic Druid had a playful side?
She finally started sorting the pictures from Avalon while she tried to figure out the best way to approach Arthur about her plan. Looking up again, she watched the water cascade down his body as he pulled himself out of the pool. She couldn’t take her eyes off the king as he dried himself off and walked toward her, nodding toward her laptop.
“What are you working on?” he asked.
“I’m going through the photos I told you about from Avalon.” She shut her laptop and set it aside. “Arthur, can I talk to you about something?”
“Anything.”
“I was thinking. We’ve all been training for two weeks without a break from each other or this place.” She paused, watching his reaction, and he nodded for her to continue. “Well, I’m supposed to have a meeting with a potential client tomorrow in London and…”
“Aliana…”
“No, Arthur, hear me out please. I was thinking we all could go into the city. Percy and Owen can come with me while Merlin and Lancelot show you and Galahad more of the city. You can search for Leyon. My dreams all show him there. And I can send Wade to get some more of my clothes from my home.” She bit the inside of her cheek as Arthur took a seat next to her.
He looked skeptical. “What has Merlin said about this venture?”
“I haven’t asked him yet, but last time I suggested leaving the grounds he said it was a bad idea,” she admitted, not wanting to lie to Arthur. “I’ll be plenty protected with Percy and Owen, and I think we’ll have a better chance of finding Sir Leyon in the city.”
The king shook his head. “I am inclined to agree with Merlin. Morgana and Mordrid have been too silent. Even J’alel reported there have been no sightings anywhere.”
“You’ve talked to J’alel?” Why hadn’t anyone told her?
“He came to us a few days ago. We thought it best to not disturb your training.” His eyes flicked over her hurt expression. “I can see that was a mistake.”
Aliana bit her cheek again, holding back some choice words. What was important now was getting to London. Yelling at Arthur wouldn’t help to accomplish that, but maybe laying on the guilt would. “Honestly, I need a break from all of this. I need to do something normal. All of this isn’t my life like it is yours.”
“If I agree to this, how do you propose we find Sir Leyon?”
Aliana shifted, trying not to get too excited. “I know where he was in my last dream. You guys can start there while I go to my meeting.” The trick with Arthur, she’d learned, was to push just a bit and lay on a dose of guilt or big eyes.
“I have two conditions,” he said, caving.
Got ya, she thought, trying to contain her smile.
“Lancelot and Wade go with you.” Aliana tried to object, but Arthur cut her off. “Lancelot will not give in to you as Owen and Percy would.”
Busted.
“You will have one hour to meet with this person, and then you will meet us back at the hotel. And I should not have to tell you that Lord Daggerhorne, Lancelot, and Wade are to never leave your side.”
“Agreed.” She smiled.
“What’s agreed?” Merlin asked as he and Galahad toweled themselves off. Aliana’s mouth went dry.
“Aliana has proposed a trip to the city tomorrow.” Both guys eyed her, surprised. Well, with Merlin it was more of a glare.
“Is that wise, my king?” Galahad asked.
“If we take protective measures and remain vigilant, yes, I think this a good idea.” Arthur called the others from the pool and told them the plans. Lancelot didn’t appear particularly happy, but he didn’t object.
The rest of the day passed in a marathon of action movies and Pixie-made pizza. It was almost midnight when Aliana finally crawled into bed, slipping into another dream of Leyon.
They were in a maze with towering bush walls and vines.
“Where are you?” he asked. “You said they needed me.” His Scottish accent was faint.
“I’m here!” She summoned her magic. “We’re coming to the city.”
The dream faded before she knew if he’d heard her. She groaned as the bright sun hit her face. Rolling out of bed, she showered and dressed in a pair of brown jeans and a long, bright pink tube top. For the first time that week, she sat down and took the time to apply makeup, even going so far as to give her eyes a pink, smoky look. Slipping on a pair of golden gladiator wedges, she took a second to admire her handiwork.
“I see this is a casual meeting,” Dagg said as she walked into the room, pinning part of her hair up with a gold clip.
“Great thing about my job—no dress code.” She reached into her closet and pulled out a white, cropped jacket. “Better?”
“Wow, Aliana, you look smashing!” Owen said when she joined the knights on the pebbled driveway.
“Thanks.” She checked her camera case to make sure she had the lenses she’d need.
“I do not think this wise. I have an ill feeling,” Galahad whispered from behind her.
She turned and smiled. “My meeting won’t take more than an hour, and I’ll do as Arthur said and keep the guys with me. You have the chance to find Leyon and complete the knights.”
He frowned.
“Everything will be fine.” She gave him a small smile and climbed into the back of Lancelot’s car.
When they arrived at the edge of the city, Lancelot drove to the Covent Garden district while Merlin veered his car in a different direction to go to another part of the city. Lancelot’s car stopped outside a beautiful, old, brick house with black gates.
“Who are you meeting?” the knight asked.
“Her name is Vivian Farris. She called me with her proposal a few weeks ago, before any of this happened. She’s from old money and wants a fantasy portrait.”
A petite, redheaded girl greeted them in the foyer. “She’s waiting for you out back, Miss Fagan.” The guys moved to follow, but the girl stopped them. “I’m sorry, but Miss Farris’s orders are clear. Only Miss Fagan is to meet her. You will have to wait here.”
Lancelot shot Aliana a hard look
. Holding back a groan, she told the girl they were her assistants and that she needed them. She had promised Arthur, after all.
“She won’t be happy,” the girl whined, seeming nervous. “Very well.” Silently, she led them out back to a tall garden maze.
“What do you think, Miss Fagan?”
Aliana and the knights turned toward the light, airy voice. Vivian was medium height with a woman’s soft curves. Her shoulder-length, blond ringlets complemented her dark brown eyes. She wore a short, black and red dress with a pair of studded kitten heels. No one would have suspected the girl was only eighteen.
“I think it’s brilliant,” Aliana said, feeling a spark of jealousy at Vivian’s effortless beauty. Lancelot and Wade had yet to look anywhere else but at her.
“Wonderful!” the girl said, breaking the boys from her spell. “I want to take you to the heart of the maze. I’d like that to be the location for what’s to be done.” She led them through the vine-covered archway.
“What’s at the center?” Wade asked, following the two ladies.
“A statue of the goddess Hera, but I would like to show Aliana first. You gentlemen can remain here.” Her voice was airy but her words firm. She was clearly used to getting her way.
“We are her assistants. We go where she does,” Lancelot said in a bored voice.
Aliana didn’t argue. If she didn’t follow Arthur’s orders, they’d never give her any freedom again.
“Very well,” Vivian said, turning her back and leading them deeper into the maze. They soon reached the center courtyard. It was small but beautiful. Everything was centered around the statue of the Greek goddess.
“What were your thoughts?” Aliana asked, taking in the different angles and light.
“I was thinking this is where I would put an end to the Destined One.” Vivian shoved Aliana forward to her knees.
“Aliana!” Lancelot and Wade jumped to defend her, but Vivian shot out her hand, blasting them back with magic.
