Cloaked: Easthaven Crest, Book One

by Justice, A. D.

  “What can I get you to eat?”

  She names off a few food items she likes, and I assure her it’s no trouble for me. Before I turn to leave, I pick up her glass and hand it to a passing server. Another tear is quickly dabbed away, but she doesn’t argue. When I return with our plates, the servers have left glasses of water on the table for us. Giselli stares at her drink, watching the beads of sweat drip down the sides of the clear glass.

  “Here you are. I grabbed a couple fresh scones when they came out, along with clotted cream and jam, of course.” I slide into the chair beside her and place my linen napkin on my lap.

  “Did Saban really save you today?”

  “Yes, he did.” I recount the version of the story I know is safe to tell, emphasizing how scared I was and how I didn’t know what to do. But Saban stepped in and saved me in so many ways, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful to him.

  “You must think I’m a terrible person. He couldn’t have had anything nice to say about me.” She can’t find the strength to lift her eyes to meet mine. “Not that I’d blame him. I don’t like myself most of the time.”

  “He hasn’t said one bad word about you.”

  That gets her attention, and her gaze flies up to mine. When she finds no deceit in my eyes, the tears well up in hers. “I’m surprised. Now that I’ve opened the door, I suppose it’s only right that I tell you the entire story.”

  “You can tell me whatever you feel comfortable sharing. We just met, so I have no expectations of anything.”

  “You’re young and beautiful. But you have a gentle spirit that draws others to you. That asset probably also means you carry others’ burdens on your shoulders. It makes you easy to talk to and to share personal details with, and with your big heart, you won’t turn someone away when they need help.”

  I would swear she was a mage if I didn’t already know she wasn’t. There was no surge of electricity when we touched. That means she can’t be one. Right?

  “I’m more than willing to listen and help you if I can. I don’t want you to feel obligated, though, because you don’t owe me anything.”

  “I want to share, and I appreciate any insight you can give me.”

  She recounts the details of the memory I already know, adding bits and pieces from other times in their lives as color commentary and additional information to help the pieces fit together. But the gist of the problem remains the same—her grief has blinded her to the truth, the blessings she has, and what she should hold on to with both hands.

  “What if it wasn’t Saban’s fault?” I ask the blunt question because I want to stun her. I want the first answer that comes to her mind.

  “Then it would be mine.” Her voice is almost a whisper. She doesn’t want to say it out loud, hear the words, or admit the possibility.

  “No, Giselli. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t Saban’s fault. It wasn’t even the horse’s fault. It was simply an accident. My parents were killed when I was a baby, but it wasn’t anyone’s fault. No one caused it. No one created the circumstances that took them away from me. Accidents happen, regardless of how many precautions we take to avoid them. I’ve lived my entire life wishing I had siblings, wishing I could spend just one day with my family, and knowing that can never happen. If I were in your shoes, I would spend every spare minute I had with Saban and Isla, making memories and having fun. Because we never know when our time will be up.”

  She’s so overcome with emotion, she can’t speak. I decide to give her a minute to regain her composure, so I stand and put my hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to get us a few more scones. We’re celebrating tonight, right? We can afford to splurge a little.”

  She smiles and nods. Her eyes are watery, and her face is splotchy red, but the smile is genuine. When I return to the table, Saban and Vale have joined us, and the three of them are having a polite conversation. Color me surprised…and pleased. I put one plate in front of Giselli and retake my seat with the other. Servers make their rounds, handing out cups of what smells like the fresh aroma of coffee. The mixture of food and coffee seems to help Giselli sober up more with each minute that ticks by.

  “Are those for me?” Saban asks with a wink.

  “No, they certainly are not. I picked these out especially for me. But I will tell you where you can find more.” I grin and start slathering the cream and jam on my sweet goodies while Saban and Vale laugh good-naturedly with me.

  “Keep your seat, Saban. I’ll grab some for us, and we won’t share with the ladies.” Vale chuckles as he makes his way to the food line.

  Saban leans over to whisper in my ear. “I’ll share everything I have with you after what you’ve done tonight. You have my undying loyalty. All I know to say is thank you, but that is horribly insufficient under the circumstances. On my honor, I pledge to stand by your side, come what may.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Saban. You saved my life today—I’m the one who owes you. Talking to your mom wasn’t a hardship or an inconvenience. It was my pleasure.”

  “My pledge stands, Sara. You’ve more than saved my life. You’ve saved my family.” He places a chaste kiss on my cheek. There’s nothing sensual behind it, only pure gratitude.

  “Saban?” Giselli waits for him to look at her before continuing. “You look so handsome tonight. You’re so much like your father—in both your personality and how you carry yourself. I’m extremely proud of you…and I love you.”

  Saban stands and is at her side in an instant. He helps her up from her chair and holds her in his arms. A vision of a little raven-haired boy clinging to his mother’s leg and giggling so hard he can barely remain upright pops into my head, and I know it’s in Giselli’s too.

  “That is such a beautiful song playing. Maybe the two of you should take advantage of it and enjoy a slow dance.” My suggestion is well received, and they walk off to the dance floor hand in hand.

  When Vale rejoins me, he glances around the room, looking for them for a moment. “You must be a miracle worker.”

  “No, nothing like that. I just told her about losing my parents and how I wish I had one more day to spend with them. Accidents happen, and they’re no one’s fault.”

  “She must really like you to listen to you like that. People have tried to talk to her about it for the past year, but she wouldn’t hear it.”

  “Sometimes it takes a kindred spirit. Someone else who has lost everything, who can point out what’s left to live for.”

  “This pretty much guarantees Saban will never leave your side.” Vale doesn’t sound too pleased about that, for whatever reason. To be honest, I’m not sure how I feel about it either.

  Before I can formulate a response, a young lady with thick black hair, bright blue eyes, and a headband of large red roses rushes up to our table. She’s dressed in an elegant floor-length white gown that molds to her perfect form. Her white gloves reach her elbows, giving even more of a sophisticated air. The bewildered expression on her face only makes her more beautiful.

  “Vale, what are Mom and Saban doing dancing? How did this happen?” Her forced whisper isn’t nearly quiet enough to be a secret.

  “Isla, this is Sara. She’s Saban’s date tonight. She had a talk with your mom, and the next thing we knew, Giselli and Saban were mother and son again.” Vale nods toward me as he speaks, keeping a sly grin on his face.

  Isla jerks her gaze to me, her eyes roaming over my face until she’s memorized my every feature. “It’s so nice to meet you, Sara. I heard the rumor as soon as I walked out of my bedroom, but I didn’t buy it. I couldn’t believe my brother had finally taken an interest in someone, but I’ve never been happier to be so wrong. Whatever you said to Mom to soften her heart, don’t stop now. Our little family has been to hell and back over the past year.”

  She wraps her arms around my shoulders and squeezes. “Thank you, Sara. Thank you so much. You’ve just made my engagement party the best day of my life.”

  “I’m happ
y to help, really. But all I did was share my story with her. Your mom did the rest.”

  She pulls back, her eyes level with mine, and gently shakes her head. “Somehow, you softened her heart. You’re a good influence—on Saban and Mom. I’m an excellent judge of character.”

  “Well, I appreciate your kind words. Congratulations on your engagement. This is such a beautiful party, and you look exquisite in that dress.” The gentleness in her eyes reveals a level of humanity I haven’t witnessed in anyone else I’ve encountered here so far.

  Saban and Giselli rejoin us at the table when the song finishes. Everyone tries a little too hard not to stare at them, but we’re all waiting for one of them to share even a morsel of information. Saban takes the empty seat next to me with gratitude swimming in his eyes. He takes my hand in his and lifts it to his lips for a sweet kiss. While the others engage in a conversation about the party, I lean closer to Saban.

  “How was your dance?”

  “It was exactly what we needed. We had a good chat under cover of the music. Obviously, one dance won’t cure all our problems, but it’s a solid chance at a new beginning.”

  “I’m happy to hear that. A chance is all you need.”

  “Couldn’t agree more. Would you care to dance with me? All I need now is a chance to get to know you better.” The sexy smirk on his face is exactly why no female between eight and eighty can refuse his charms.

  “I’d love to dance. Take me away from this table before I eat all the finger sandwiches and embarrass us both tonight.”

  I’m graced with a full smile as he stands and offers his hand to help me up. “You could never embarrass me. All you have to do is say the word and whatever you want is yours.”

  He pulls our entwined hands to his heart and simply stares into my eyes for a moment before walking to the dance floor. With my arms around his neck, his around my waist, and our chests pressed together, I’m keenly aware of both the instant attraction between us and the sense that fate has somehow thrust us together.

  Even with the strange circumstances of my arrival in this world.

  Fate did bring the two of you together. He is your destiny, Saraya.

  That voice in my head again. But…Saraya?

  Chapter 8

  “You and Saban definitely seemed cozy tonight.” Addilyn can barely wait to grill me about my evening as she helps me out of the ball gown. She hands me a pair of silky pajamas, and I pull them on before plopping down on the bed.

  “Addi, have you ever felt something for someone that hit you so hard and so fast, it made your head spin? Feelings you can’t rationally explain and can barely even acknowledge because it’s way too soon?” Not only do I need Kristi here with me right now to help me navigate these unfamiliar feelings, but I need her brutal honesty to tell me if I’m absolutely crazy. I don’t have any experience in the falling-hard-for-a-guy arena, so I have no idea if what I’m feeling is real or just a fleeting fantasy.

  “Wow. This is more serious than I thought. Tell me everything. Leave nothing out. Not one single detail.” She takes a seat next to me on the bed after putting away the dress.

  For my story to make sense, I have to start from the very beginning—when Nana disappeared, and I fell into this strange new world. Then when I ran into the angry elves and my savior, Saban. All the assumptions and allowing them to believe the details they supplied for my story. I explained how all my life, I’d filtered out the voices until I couldn’t hear them anymore, but when I arrived here, I knew I had to let them flow again. The dangers of not using my gifts were too steep.

  Addi sat in stunned silence as I rattled off all the details leading up to how I got here.

  “We know all about the other world, of course, since our society was built as a mirror image of yours, with a few distinct differences. I’ve just never met anyone who was able to pass from there to here the way you did. Your power levels must be off the charts.

  “The mages and wizards who created this realm sealed the original spells they used, so no one who came after them could reverse it. Doors occasionally open between our worlds, but only when powerful magic is involved. Our realm is hidden by ancient magic that’s older than anyone here and wholly unbreakable, even by the most powerful of our kind.”

  “This is fascinating. What’s the same and what’s different here? I have no idea what to expect.” Maybe I should’ve stayed here with her and learned more about this world instead of going to the engagement party.

  “We’ve evolved and adapted to modern times the same way you have, only at a slightly more advanced rate. Our flora and fauna have evolved faster as well. The original mages and wizards left the old world because of the constant wars, diseases, and hatred mankind harbored in their hearts. Over the years, we’ve made a few advances they didn’t consider.

  “For one, the orphanage where he assumed you lived is used as a last resort. We don’t have children here by mistake. No underage pregnancies can happen. When a human couple decides to have children, there are intentional steps they have to take, or it won’t happen. The magic inside our realm is incredibly powerful, even if some are afraid of it. We’ve all but eradicated diseases and illnesses, which is why we live so long. We’ve also adopted stricter antipollution measures.

  “But we’ll finish this part of the conversation later. Tell me about Saban and these strong feelings you’ve developed for him over a few hours. Let’s dissect what’s going on there.”

  I find it much easier to talk about falling through a door from another world than admitting to my feelings for Saban.

  “From the moment we laid eyes on each other, we just clicked. Our personalities mesh. We have the same sense of humor, and we get along so well. After we danced and ate and talked and laughed and enjoyed a couple glasses of that delicious champagne, Saban and I walked out onto the balcony to spend some time alone.

  “It was already dark, so all the bioluminescent insects and plants in the forest surrounding the castle were entirely stunning. Saban thought I was awed by the view from the castle, so I didn’t correct him. That was gorgeous too, but I’ve never seen a forest so alive before. My amazement at the world around us is what prompted the deep conversation Saban and I had next.

  “The whole time we talked, I fought the feelings stirring inside me. I’ve had a small, still voice inside my head, guiding my steps and helping me along. The voice feels friendly—it feels like my nana speaking to me. It told me Saban is my destiny. But, Addi… I’m too young to think about anyone being my forever. Only, that’s all I can think about now. Saban. What I hesitate to label as affection for him. My desire to be near him all the time is borderline psychotic. None of this makes sense.”

  “Actually, it makes perfect sense…for this realm. Just not for yours and what you’re used to. Here, the more time you spend with your mate, the stronger your bond grows. We don’t spend years dating, getting to know each other, going through all the drama-filled ups and downs we’ve heard your world does. A few people from the Covis Realm kingdoms have traveled back and forth between the portals. They always come back here, though.”

  “Well, that actually makes sense. I guess that’s where we got all the tales of vampires, werewolves, and witches, huh?”

  “Absolutely. Although, I have to tell you, the tales we’ve heard from your world regarding our races are so far off the mark. It’s amazing how facts are misconstrued and spread as the truth. Now, back to Saban. You’re not finished with that part of the story.”

  “When he kissed me, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. His lips were so soft. His touch melted me from the inside out. With that single kiss, I was ready to pledge my heart to him for all time. I’d become one of those girls in high school I used to make fun of—the ones who found a different ‘perfect guy’ every week. Even though my life goals felt a million years away, I had goals—have goals—I want to accomplish before even thinking about marriage or kids or anything like that. Not to mention finding my g
randmother and getting her to safety. But it’s taking every ounce of strength inside me not to run to his room right now and spend all night next to him. Who is this person I’ve become? I don’t even recognize her.”

  The corners of Addi’s lips curve upward, but the smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “You’ve had a long day. I don’t expect you to understand everything that’s been thrown at you in the last several hours. If you have that strong of a reaction to him, and he feels the same, the two of you will be linked. It’s how the natural law of our world works. When you meet your soul mate, your soul knows.”

  “Are you saying there’s someone for everyone here? You just keep looking and waiting until you meet the one person you’ll spend your life with?”

  “It’s not quite as simple as that. I’m sure you date in your world, right? If you’re romantically interested in someone, you spend time together and see if you’re compatible?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “We do that here too. It’s not as if everyone wanders around aimlessly until they bump into their soul mate. The difference is when you actually find that person, no one else matters. No one else can fill that empty place in your heart and soul anymore. You can date, you can spend your days and nights with someone else, but it’ll never feel quite right. Does that make sense?”

  “I’m afraid so. No one will ever hold a candle to Saban, and if I try to move on from him, I’ll never be fully happy.”

  “Not as long as he’s alive. Same for him when it comes to you. Love sucks, huh?”

  “Yes, it does.” We giggle like little girls. “By the way, how old are you?”

  “By your world’s standards, I’m about twenty. Instead of magic, humans here live for several hundred years. We age much slower than the people in your world.” She shrugs at my shocked, slack-jawed expression.

  A light rap on the door snaps me out of my surprise. “Who could that be at this hour?”

  “Who, indeed?” She sniggers and shakes her head. “I think we both know who it is. I’ll step into the other room and give you two some privacy.”