by Jordan Deen
Emile away from the bed. She lowered her voice trying to exclude me from the conversation. But it didn’t work; my senses were heightened and I couldn’t help but listen as she voiced her concern. “Brandon tried … but Lacey didn’t go.”
A tray full of glasses fell to the floor; the noise of glass shattering and liquid hitting the floor filled the room. Lily gasped and Matt started to comfort her. “Shhhh …”
Emile let out a deep breath. “So it’s happened. She’s not in love with Brandon; their bond is severed. Sophie succeeded.” Her words echoed in my ears.
Tears formed in my eyes as I focused on Brandon; he was staring back at me. The hurt in his eyes was a result of something much deeper than the wound on his chest. He warned me about Alex and I hadn’t listened. Now we would both pay for my mistake.
I’m sorry. I mouthed to him as I ran my fingertips down his cheek, wishing I had believed him from the start. His hand easily wrapped around my wrist and drew my hand to his lips.
No, this isn’t your fault. He responded quietly. It’s just going to take time … you have to trust me. I haven’t lost hope. You’re meant to love me.
“Brandon?” Michael put his hand on Brandon’s shoulder. “How are you feeling son?”
Brandon shut his eyes, disappointed we were interrupted. “I hurt.”
“Michael, we need to talk.” Emile’s quiet voice pulled Michael away. I was thankful when Brandon’s attention came back to me. His eyes seemed to take the pain away and made me feel all the dreams could’ve been real.
Love me. He whispered.
I do. I responded easily.
Do you understand what it means to love unconditionally? Brandon brushed a piece of hair off my cheek. His beautiful eyes shifted over my face as though he was memorizing every contour.
I hesitated before answering, looking at the gauze on his chest, and thinking of the cuts in my back. I knew something deep inside me forced the fear away and made me throw myself onto him to protect him. I willingly offered my life for his. Regardless of the pain radiating through me, I’d protect him all over again.
Yes.
I never stop thinking of you, dreaming of you.
Tell me about your dreams. I whispered, touching his face again remembering how I brought him to me just by concentrating on him when I needed him.
I’ve dreamed of us being together forever. Living among the Amana’s with our families, having our own family … He grinned. All the dreams you’ve had were real; I loved playing in the stream the first day you transformed. I loved teaching you how to accept it, how to become what we are meant to be.
Transform. I whispered as he ran his thumb across my lips. The memories of watching him transform at the creek danced in my mind. I remembered how they tormented me that night, but now looking deep into his eyes, a quiet calm and peacefulness settled deep into my heart. His scent overwhelmed me; relaxing me and making my eyes feel heavy as he continued brushing his fingertips over my face.
Be with me … Brandon pleaded as he inched closer to me on the bed never taking his hand off of me. In this moment I wanted nothing more than to give him the world.
I am with you. I replied as my eyes started to haze.
Always? He matched my palm to his and rubbed his fingers up and down the length of mine.
Yes. Reality started to cloud with real feelings and images of our first kiss and being in our secret place by the stream.
Emile and Michael were still talking quietly in the corner of the room. Someone was picking up the broken glass and Lily was complaining about how many towels it was taking to clean up the water.
Everyone muted again when Brandon started talking, his words a soft melody in my ears.
Will you transform for me?
Yes. I said softly, but just loud enough to draw everyone around the bed.
“Lacey?” Serena, Lily and Emile said almost in unison as though they were oblivious to our exchange.
Lily climbed between us on the bed and grabbed my hand away from Brandon’s. She twisted my palm upward towards her face. “IT’S COMING BACK!” She squealed, almost exploding my eardrums and fully shaking me from my drowsiness. Pain instantly shot through the cuts in my back. I gritted my teeth to keep from crying out and screaming at her.
“What?” Emile yanked my hand away from Lily.
“It’s working! It’s working!” Lily squealed again.
Brandon and I both winced every time she bounced on the bed. Serena pulled at Lily’s shoulder trying to get her to stop. Emile finally pulled Lily away from us and Serena pressed a cloth to my back causing my whole body to tense at every touch of the rough material again.
As if he read my mind, Brandon claimed my hand again taking my attention away from the pain. Tears started to form in his eyes as he focused on my palm, pressing his lips to it. It’s not too late. It is working.
I turned my palm around to look at it almost not believing it was possible. The purple mark had started to come to the surface once again; it was faint, but it was there. It was real. I felt tears trickling down my face. The physical pain was no match for the emotions that flowed through me; I wanted to laugh, cry and scream all at the same time. Our eyes locked for less than a second when he lifted off the bed and pressed his lips to mine. My heart accelerated as he slipped his arm across my waist, securing it just below my cuts as he deepened the kiss. I hesitated and pulled back slightly; not wanting to continue making out with a room full of people watching, but not wanting the pain to come back either.
He put his hand softly on the nape of my neck urging me to come forward and brushed his cheek against mine. I love you.
I love you. I barely got the words out as he shifted his body to almost cover mine. His arms anxiously held my body to his, and the pain in my back completely faded away.
When he finally pulled away large beautiful trees swaying in the wind and birds floating overhead surrounded us. I could hear the peaceful babbling of the creek and Brandon’s easy breathing next to me. He had the most amazing smile on his face, the sun danced in his eyes.
“How are you feeling?”
I leaned forward on my elbows looking at Brandon lying comfortably on his back with his arms folded behind his head. “I feel wonderful.” I replied, raising myself up to kiss his chest glistening with moisture in the sunlight. His hair was tousled and wet; mine was too.
“I’m so glad you are here.”
“How long do we have?” I almost didn’t want to ask.
“The others will try to let us stay here as long as they can.”
My skin felt hot under Brandon’s fingertips as he drew circles on my forearm. “I didn’t think I’d be able to bring you here again. I’m not sure I could’ve if they put that bracelet on you tonight.”
I pressed my face flat on Brandon’s chest to feel his heart beat against my cheek and took in a deep breath of his scent. “I’m glad I’m here with you.” I hugged my body closer to his and just as I had hoped, he tightened his grip around me. “I love you.”
He let out a small laugh and kissed the top of my head. “I love you too. Always.”
We lay intertwined with each other for what felt like an eternity. He playfully twirled my hair around his fingers and rubbed my back. Neither of us wanted to disrupt the peace that we finally felt from being with each other. My whole body tingled and my breath seemed to come easier. I was waking up for the first time being with him again, knowing this was where I belonged.
The longer my body was in contact with his, the stronger I felt; my vision became crisp; the colors of the trees turned from dull to vibrant greens and browns. I could see the flecks of emerald green in Brandon’s eyes. Several birds flew overhead and I could hear the tips of their wings flapping above and below their bodies. I buried my face deep into his chest taking in long breathes of his scent until it felt as though it was part of me, inside me. He was doing the same with his face buried deep into my hair.
“What do we do now?” I asked o
nce it seemed Brandon had completely merged bodies with mine.
“We don’t have much time before your birthday. Once you are eighteen, the full transformation will begin.” He smiled widely as he sensed the completeness that washed over me. “In the meantime, we can visit Haventon anytime you’d like … to reenergize, relax or just be together.”
“Haventon?” I questioned. “Is that what this place is?” I gazed at the large trees overhead and the stream. All this time I had assumed this was our version of heaven.
“Yes, we will spend a lot more time here preparing for your transformation.”
While I enjoyed coming here, a knot had started to form in my stomach. I know I said I would transform, but the idea terrified me. “What do I have to do to transform exactly?” The muscles in my body stiffened as I barely mumbled the words.
Brandon squeezed me tighter. “I told you, the first time will feel funny, but it gets easier.”
Brandon picked up my hand to show me my palm; the crescent moon was well defined and purple. “Your transformation has already begun. The times you started to change before were forced because your body felt threatened by an enemy; that caused you more pain. It doesn’t always feel that way. When you change at will, it will be because you want to and it is easier on your body, more natural. I promise, it will get easier when you aren’t faced with enemies living with you.”
“But my parents would never hurt me. Alex wouldn’t hurt me.”
His body tensed at the mention of Alex’s
