Squeezing me tighter to him, he responds, “I’ll wait as long as it takes. That’s the thing about love. You don’t let go or give up.” It’s a vow said with such strength and love, any girl would want to hear it.
Flinching, I try to jerk back, stunned. “Then what was that this morning Lawrence?”
He lets go of me and steps away, regarding me like a caged animal. “I’m allowed to have questions, Rosalyn. Since the moment we started this, there’s been a man between us, and when we’re in the middle of being intimate with each other you say another man’s name?” Anger and hurt resonate through his voice. He quickly moves back and pushes me so I’m lying down on the bed. He looms over me. His mouth opens, but he keeps shutting it. When I try to talk, he holds his hand up to stop me. Shaking his head, he says quietly, “I’m allowed to be upset. Any man would’ve walked out of your chamber, especially after the half-assed answer you gave me.” He narrows his eyes at me, and now he’s waiting for me to talk.
A lump forms in my throat, and my voice cracks as I respond to him. “I’m sorry.” Threading my fingers through his hair, I pull him down so I can look deeply into his eyes as my chin quivers. “There’s no way I can take back what happened this morning, Lawrence. Just know that you’re the one I want. Above anything, trust that,” I declare with vehemence.
He turns to his side and pulls me with him. “I’m starting to think you’re going to be one of the most frustrating women I have ever had in my life,” he teases.
It breaks the tension, and I giggle. “Maybe.”
With a small smile, I trace his lips with my finger. No matter what fate says, we’re perfect for each other, and I choose him. When I lean forward to kiss him, there’s a knock at the door. Lawrence groans and gets up.
He holds his finger up at me, and I watch him cross the room to answer the door. He’s talking quietly to someone, and then the door closes before he turns around. “Sorry, amare, I’m going to have to walk you back to your chamber. I’m needed elsewhere.”
He pulls me off the bed and leads me out of the room quickly. Something is definitely going on, so I ask, “What’s the hurry?”
As soon as we get to my room, he pushes me inside and kisses me hard. “Don’t go outside, please,” he tells me. When I nod my head, he rushes from my room and slams the door behind him.
While I’m peeling my clothes off, I hear howling, and it’s way too close to the castle. Oh, no! I realize that’s why Lawrence was called away. Hopping around, I finally get the leather pants off and change into a dress. Knowing I’m the strongest Witch and my man is out there doesn’t sit well with me. I should be out there fighting beside him.
When I open the door, Alizon is standing there. “Don’t even think about it. You aren’t going out there,” she states with her hands on her hips.
She’s lost her mind if she’s thinks I’m staying here. “You can move or I will make you. I’m not staying in here while Lawrence is outside with rabid wolves.”
Pushing past her, I try to go down the corridor, but I don’t get far before I’m flying backwards. When I hit the hard, stone floor, the air is knocked out of me and my sister stands over me with her hands on her hips. “You forgot I can take your powers, didn’t you?” she asks me in a motherly tone. “Go back in your chamber and wait for Lawrence.”
My eyes are cold as I glare at her. “I’ll never forgive you if he gets hurt.”
Getting up, I walk back to my chamber. When she tries to follow me, I snarl as I turn around. “I would rather be alone.” My voice is curt.
“Too bad, sis, you’re not staying alone.” She pushes her shoulders back and strongly orders, “Now move back.”
Before I even have the chance to move back, the wall Alaric has built between us falls, and I feel him fully for the first time in weeks. He’s exhausted, in pain, furious, and I can tell he doesn’t have much patience. Your boyfriend is going to be the reason why a bunch of people die. Tell him to stand down, Rosalyn.
Looking through Alaric’s eyes, I see that Lawrence is holding a sword, but he’s going toward Alaric with it. A scream bursts from my mouth. “No!”
Pain bursts through my knees as I’m pushed to the ground, and I lose focus on what’s going on.
The bottom of Alizon’s black dress is in right in front of my eyes. “You’re stuck in here with me, Rosalyn. I’m not dealing with you trying to sneak out.”
Tuning her annoying voice out, I focus on what’s going on. I’m pretty sure I don’t have my power of telepathy. I could strangle my sister right now. The only reason I can see anything is because of my connection with Alaric.
Alaric growls at Lawrence, but I can’t hear because there’s growling and swords clanging all around. There’s a lot going on out there. Out of the corner of Alaric’s eye, I see a wolf fly across the clearing, hit a large evergreen, and get caught in the branches. Steise, Alaric growls. Another wolf runs to help her, but then Alaric talks to me again. Call off Lawrence, Rosalyn!
Sitting up on the floor, I pull at my hair. I have never felt more powerless in my life. My sister took my powers so I couldn’t follow him. I can’t use my telepathy. I can only talk to you, Alaric.
Alaric’s frustration floats through our connection, but then I hear Lawrence cry out.
“Lawrence!”
As soon as I yell his name, Alaric shuts down our connection, and I can’t see anything. Getting up off the floor, I get as close to my sister’s face as possible. “If anything happens to any of them, I will never forgive you.” I put as much venom in my voice as possible. “Give me back my telepathy, Alizon. Now.”
She doesn’t even get a chance to respond because searing pain goes through my side and blood seeps through my dress.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I wince. “Please, Alizon, give me the telepathy before I end up dead, too,” I beg her.
She looks at me, stunned, as blood drips on the floor, but I don’t hear what she says because everything goes black.
It’s Lucas again, but he’s hunched over. When he brings his hand where I can see it, there’s blood. . . .
I gasp because now, it’s Quinn, and he’s walking with a little boy strapped to his chest. He groans and grabs his side. When he pulls his hand away, there’s blood. . . .
I’m dropped into a room and I see Xavier laying there peacefully with blankets around him. Walking up, I pull the blankets away and I gasp. Blood is seeping through his clothes. . . .
My eyes are gritty when I pry them open. Immediately, I feel my side, and find it bandaged. I feel for my connection with Alaric. He must be alive if I am.
A throat clears to my side, and I look over. “You gave us a scare,” Alizon says.
She said us, so I look around my chamber to see who else is there. It’s Lawrence. He looks beat up but not much worse for the wear. I guess that’s one good thing about being immortal.
My lower lip wobbles, and he runs straight to me, sitting down next to me. He motions to his head where Alizon can’t see, and I test to see if I have my powers back. Can you hear me? He minutely nods his head, and I sigh with relief. Please get my sister to leave so we can talk.
I’m more exhausted than I realized because at one moment I know the door is closing, and the next, I’m being shaken awake. “Amare, she’s gone.” Soft lips touch my forehead.
My eyes slowly open, and I look up at Lawrence. “Hey,” I croak.
He slowly gets into bed with me and makes sure he’s on my good side. “I was terrified when Alizon told me what was happening. I know you don’t want to tell me everything, but I almost killed you.” He shudders. “I would have never forgiven myself.”
Grabbing his hand, I ask, “What happened out there, Lawrence?”
He turns my head so he can look at me. “It was complete chaos. We had no clue who was on our side, and who was not.” He apologizes with his eyes. “I’m sorry, but there were casualties. A lot of them.”
A horrified gasp escapes me, and tears
sting my eyes. “How many?”
He catches a tear with his thumb. “None on our side, but Lapshire lost a few. Like I said, we had no clue that some of them were there to help us. Daciana, their queen, never sent word that her people were coming to help.”
There’s nothing I can do, but my heart feels like it’s being torn from my chest. Sniffling, I do the one thing I need right now. “Will you please just go and leave me alone?”
He’s taken aback. “I don’t want to leave you alone right after you’ve been injured.”
“Lawrence, please just go. I need some time alone.” I push him away from me as hard as I can. Everyone needs to understand that when I say I need time alone, they need to leave.
He looks hurt but gets off my bed and walks to the door. Before opening it, he says, “When you’re ready to talk, just call out to me.” Then he quickly leaves.
My hands cover my face, and my eyes sting. Alaric, if you can hear this, please talk to me. Just tell me you’re okay, please. For a good five minutes, I wait and there’s nothing. That’s when my shoulders shake as I sob. Even though there’s pain in my side, I deserve it. The connection we shared, I denied it. If he’s gone, I never gave him a chance.
Chapter Twenty
Lawrence
We slowed down on training after Rosalyn’s injury, and she’s not really been herself since. We started back up a couple of weeks ago and had to move training outside. Every time we go anywhere near the training room where Andreya attacked us, she has an anxiety attack.
Our relationship is rocky at best, and it hurts every time she pulls away from me. I’m not stupid. I know it has to do with what happened the night she was hurt.
When we were pulled away from each other the day of the attack, all I was told was that wolves were able to get through our wards and were headed toward the castle. They’ve been coming closer to Caldia. And, after what just happened, the queen has given an order to kill on sight and to step up training for everyone approaching maturity.
That’s why I’m leading Rosalyn out by the horse stables for another day of training. Andreya doesn’t care that Rosalyn was just injured. She didn’t even allow her to fully heal.
“Come on, amare. We won’t stay out long today. I know you’re tired.” When I try to pull her to me, she throws me back with her powers, and I hit the hard, compacted snow. Her laughter bounces off the trees behind the stables. It’s a welcome sound.
Standing up, I brush the back of my leather pants and smile at her. “I’m happy I can amuse you.”
Her smile is huge, and there’s laughter in her eyes when she walks to me. Grabbing my face, she pulls me down to whisper in my ear. “You’re going to spend a lot of time on your ass today, babe.”
My heart warms, but then I’m flying backwards again. Quickly, I flip in the air and land in a crouch. Raising my eyebrow, I ask, “Is this how today’s going to go, Rosalyn?”
She shrugs her shoulders and quirks her finger at me. “How about you come here and find out?”
Leaning back on a tree, I regard her. “Oh, no, I fell for that one yesterday, sweetheart. Not happening.”
In the blink of an eye, the playfulness is gone, and she’s lost in her head. Watching her for a second, I notice a tear gliding down her cheek, and I feel horrible for doing something to upset her. Walking up to her, I gather her in my arms. If I could make whatever pain she’s feeling go away, I would.
Kissing the crown of her head, I tell her something I haven’t had the guts to since that horrible night. “I love you so much.”
She moves her head from my chest and looks up at me in wonder. “I thought you’d given up on me.”
“Never. I’ll never give up on you, amare.” I follow with a gentle kiss to her lips. As soon as our lips touch, I feel like I’ve come home.
While I’m distracted by our kiss, I feel her adjust herself to sweep my legs out from under me. But she’s in for a surprise. Pulling my lips from her, I shuffle back and get into a fighting stance. “Are you ready to train now?”
She laughs. “You mean, are you ready to spend a lot of time in the snow?”
Shaking my head at her, I watch as she comes toward me and, for the first time since her injury, she does a butterfly-twist kick and nails me right in the chest, knocking me on my ass. I try to keep my mouth from hitting the floor. Not only was that kick hard, but I’m also worried she injured herself again.
Following me, her fist comes flying at my face, but I block it and jump to my feet right when her leg moves to sweep mine out from under me. Jumping over them quickly, I watch to see how fast she gets back into her fighting position. When she’s not quick enough, I sweep her legs out from under her so she’s flat on her back and lean over her. Just as I go to say something, I’m flying backwards, and I’m on my back in the snow.
Teasing her, I say, “Amare, very naughty. You’re not supposed to use your powers when we’re sparring.”
Standing over me, she momentarily blocks out the sun. “Well, when you’re at war, no one cares about powers. They’ll use whatever they have,” she shoots back at me with attitude.
Grabbing her legs, I pull them so she’s flat on her back too. I laugh at her. “If someone takes your powers, you only have what’s around you to fight.”
For the next couple of hours, we go back and forth like this, and it’s a welcome relief. The last time she throws me on my back with her powers, she leans over and kisses me.
Threading my fingers through her hair, I kiss her for a second longer and then stop. “I love you so much.”
She hides her face in my chest, and then I hear something muffled so I ask her to repeat herself. When she lifts her head and looks in my eyes, she’s chewing on her lip. “I love you, Lawrence.”
I’m completely speechless, but realize that hearing those three words was worth the wait. A grin spreads across my face, and then I kiss her once and feel her shiver. It’s time to get my girl inside before she gets sick.
I motion for her to get up. “Come on, let’s go inside and get you warm. As soon as I’m done with my guard duty later, we can spend time together.”
Once we’re inside the castle, we walk down the corridor holding hands. There’s finally a peacefulness in our life, and it’s about time.
As we’re walking to her chamber, we run into Alizon, and Rosalyn flinches. She holds Alizon personally responsible for that night, and I’m hoping that after today, they can repair their relationship.
Alizon sees us holding hands and quirks her head to the side. “Well, this is an interesting development.”
I’m in too good of a mood to care about anything that comes out of Alizon’s mouth.
Coming to us, she frowns at Rosalyn. “I was just coming to find you. Mother wants to talk to you.”
Rosalyn’s breathing picks up, and her hand gets clammy. Squeezing her hand, I try to give her some of my strength. She has avoided her mother like a sickness since their last encounter.
Licking her lips, she croaks, “What does she need to see me about?”
Alizon looks anywhere but her face. “Just put on one of your red dresses, and go down there.” Her voice is sharp, but then she looks at Rosalyn and apologizes. “Sorry, I’m just stressed out. I didn’t mean to lash out at you.”
Rosalyn dips her chin, and pulls on my arm so we can head to her chamber. The least I can do is get her down there. What I don’t expect is for Alizon to follow us.
The minute we get to her chamber door, I feel her shaking. She knows I have to leave her. Pulling her to me, I whisper in her ear. “Be strong.” Briefly kissing her lips, I pull back and quietly say, “If you need me, use your telepathy. I’ll be there as fast as I can.”
She looks down and nods. When I turn to leave, she grabs my arm to stop me. When I turn around, she’s looking at me. Out of nowhere, she jumps and puts her arms around my neck.
Her lips softly touch my ear. “I love you.”
“I love you too, amare.�
� I say, loud enough for her sister to hear. When I hear Alizon choke, satisfaction spreads through me. Setting her down, I open her chamber door and push her inside.
When I close the door and turn around, Alizon is standing there with her hand on her hip. “You two finally got your shit together. Took you long enough.”
Shaking my head, I walk away from her, but she follows me. Sighing, I ask, “Can I do something for you, Alizon?”
She catches up with me quickly, and as I’m making my way outside, I hear, “Hmm . . . Well, for one, you can make sure my sister stays happy and away from Xavier.”
Stopping suddenly, I look over at Alizon. “You do realize that she blamed both of us for what happened that night, and you know I have no control over what happens with her and Xavier.” Running my hands through my hair, I growl, “Keeping those two apart is like trying to melt the ice in this kingdom. This is the longest it’s ever happened, and it’s because your mother did it.”
The snow crunches as she comes closer to me. “Then we have a huge problem.” My heart rate increases. “My mother is probably waking him up.”
My fingers rub at my forehead as I close my eyes. “Why would your mother wake him up now of all times?” I question her. “He’ll go crazy in the castle.”
An evil chuckle escapes her mouth. “No, he won’t. My mother used the Arca Archa on him.”
My eyes snap to hers as my mouth hangs open. For the queen to use the Arca on her favorite guard . . . Well, I’m speechless.
“Yeah, let’s just say she was done with him disobeying her.” She shrugs her shoulders and a crazed look fills her eyes. “She did a number on him, and it was about time.”
When my mind finally catches up to everything she has said, I realize she never answered my question. “Alizon, why is she waking him up?”
“Oh, she’s decided it’s time for Rosalyn to finally go on her mission,” she states as she walks away from me toward the tree line.
“Wait a second, Alizon.” Rushing to follow her, I question her quickly. “What does waking him up have to do with her going on her mission? Your mother isn’t sending him, is she?” Running in front of her, I stop her in her tracks. “He has no powers. He would die.”
Decadence (Tree of Life Series Book 1) Page 15
