by Juniper Hart
Berlin blinked. “Is he captive?”
“Why don’t you see for yourself?”
Berlin ground her teeth, knowing that the matter wouldn’t be so easy. “Send me the address. I will look in on him and see.”
“Keep in touch, Berlin. We shouldn’t have to wait weeks to hear from our leader.” The sarcasm in his tone wasn’t lost on her.
In seconds, she had an address for the prince, and her heart hammered wildly as she decided what to do with it. Sinking back into her chair, she knew she had no choice but to bring him home, as promised.
And then she would have to say goodbye to her mate.
21
“Damien, I am bored.” Aaron cringed slightly every time he heard Berlin call him by the wrong name. When would it be an appropriate time to tell her the truth?
They had been hiding out in Brookline for over a week, each one contemplating their next move. Aaron had not yet instigated contact with his sergeant, nor had Berlin made any outside contact of her own. It was as if they were both prolonging the inevitable, knowing that with the first step came the beginning of wrenching them apart from one another.
He sighed and hit the mute button on the television.
“Yeah, it’s getting stuffy in here,” he agreed. “Let’s go out somewhere.”
“I understand that Lexington is very beautiful,” Berlin suggested. Aaron blinked at the very specific destination.
“Okay… we can go to Lexington,” he said, raising an eyebrow. Berlin smiled sunnily. It’s not Arlington, Aaron reasoned. They hopped in Aaron’s car and made their way to Lexington.
To his surprise, Berlin began giving him directions.
“Turn left there,” she pointed.
“Uh, okay… Where are we—?”
“Make a right here,” she cut him off. Again, Aaron obeyed.
Jesus, she really must have been bored. She researched the hell out of Lexington! She finally directed him to a parking lot in a shopping mall, and Aaron shot her a baleful look.
“You want to go shopping?” he asked skeptically. She had finally stopped wearing the miniscule items of clothing she had initially donned when Aaron had located her a track suit from the hotel gift shop, but he had never taken her for one to be much of a fashionista. Of course, there had never been an opportunity to go shopping, either, not with the events of the past days.
“Yes,” she answered. Without pausing, she stepped out of the vehicle, and he noticed that she seemed to be scanning the parking lot, her eyes lingering on a white hybrid vehicle near the mall’s entrance. Aaron had barely managed to join her side when she briskly walked toward the structure.
“Woah, slow down!” he called, hurrying to keep up with her stride. She seemed not to hear him and entered the building. Abruptly, she stopped, seemingly startled by the horde of people within its walls. “What are you looking for, Berlin?” Aaron asked as her luminous eyes raked through the crowd. She had no answer for him.
“I do not know,” she responded vaguely. “Let us walk.”
Obligingly, Aaron nodded, following her undulating hips through the mall. He would have walked off a cliff if she led him there.
“Uh, Berlin…”
She glanced at Aaron out of the corner of her eye. “Yes?”
“What are you looking for? We have stopped in front of twelve stores, and you haven’t gone into one of them. If you tell me, maybe I can help you look.”
But Berlin did not hear his words. Fifty feet ahead of them sat the prince and his captor in the food court, sipping coffee and laughing.
She froze for a moment, taking in the scene.
“Berlin?”
Before she could stop herself, Berlin started toward the couple, Aaron staring at her, dumbfounded. His own dark eyes followed her line, and he felt the blood drain from his face.
“Berlin!” he hissed, running after her. “Stop!”
She continued toward them.
The redhead was the first to look up, her expression changing from amusement to curiosity as the stunning blonde approached their table. The prince then turned his head, his own happy smile fading.
“Joey!” Elle screeched, jumping from her chair to throw her arms around his neck. Aaron slowly met the trio, unsure of what to do.
Berlin and Dane stared at one another, oblivious to Aaron and Elle’s reunion, the thick tension easily sliced. It was only when Elle hugged Aaron that Berlin turned to acknowledge their recognition of one another. A spark of some unknown emotion surged through her. It was as if bile had stirred in her gut, but she was not about to be ill. Berlin eyes narrowed.
“You two are well acquainted?” she asked as Elle pulled back, staring adoringly at Aaron. Aaron looked uncomfortable.
“Ah… yes,” he stuttered, shooting Elle a warning look. She seemed to understand his intent and quickly shut her mouth. He turned to Dane. “How are you, Dane?” he asked cautiously. Again, Berlin was surprised.
“You are also acquainted with this person?” she asked, her mind trying to reconcile how they could know each other. I do not have enough information about this dynamic, she thought with some distress. I must sit back and watch what occurs.
Her mind recalculating, she adjusted her plan. She couldn’t alarm the prince, not in such a public forum, and he certainly didn’t seem to recognize that she was there for him.
“I am well, Joey,” Dane answered. He, too, wore a confused expression upon his face as he watched in the interaction. His voice was flat and worried.
“So… uh…” Elle finally picked up on the strange tension surrounding the encounter. “I haven’t seen you since—”
“Yes!” Aaron interjected before she could finish her thought. “It has been a long while. This is Berlin. Berlin, this is Elle and Dane.”
“Yes,” Berlin agreed. Elle’s brow furrowed at the odd response.
“Nice to meet you, Berlin. How do you know Joe—uh, Aaron?”
Berlin blinked and looked at her partner, who blushed crimson.
“Who is Aaron?” Berlin asked politely, but she was not interested in a response. Her focus was still strictly on Dane. Elle’s face took on a look of pure horror. She shot Aaron a stare which begged for forgiveness.
“Aaron? Did I say Aaron?”
He sighed heavily and hung his head.
“My name is Aaron,” he finally confessed, but Berlin’s expression did not change. She was still fixated on Dane.
Does he not know who he is? Has this all been a big misunderstanding?
“You already knew that, though, didn’t you?” Aaron continued when Berlin said nothing.
“Listen, I didn’t mean to cause any friction,” Elle said slowly. She cast her mate a scared look, but Dane was intently staring at Berlin.
“We must not continue this conversation here,” Berlin suddenly said. She glanced around the mall as if she suddenly sensed danger. Everyone nodded in agreement, seeming relieved at the out.
“Would you like to come over for supper?” Elle asked timidly, suddenly unsure of where to look or how to speak.
“Yes,” said Berlin, answering for everyone. Aaron looked sheepishly at everyone.
“Thanks for the offer… Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. We’re not far from here,” Elle insisted.
“We will follow you home,” Berlin told her with finality. “But we must go now.”
“You’re angry,” Aaron whispered in Berlin’s ear, clasping her upper arm and drawing her near. “But I know who you are, too. We can stop pretending now.”
Dumbfounded, she stopped mid-step to look at Aaron and then at Dane, but he was already far ahead with Elle.
“Y-you know who we are?” she breathed. “You know about the prince?”
A blank look fell over Aaron’s face. Berlin knew she’d said too much.
They were at the doors leading to the parking lot now, the four spilling into the afternoon air, searching for their respective cars.
�
�I’m parked here,” Elle told her, pointing at the hybrid. Aaron’s eyes narrowed. He remembered it was the vehicle which Berlin had been staring at so intently earlier.
She was following Elle. But why? Is she investigating Elle? Was I wrong about who she is working for? She walked right up to the table where they were sitting…
Aaron realized that Berlin had barely paid attention to Elle at all. In fact, she seemed to have completely focused on Dane. A knot began to form in the pit of Aaron’s stomach as he realized something big was happening, bigger than what he had originally thought. When they got to his car, he turned to Berlin again.
“What is going on?” he demanded. “Why are you following Dane?”
Berlin considered her words carefully before answering.
“I have orders,” she told him.
“Orders from whom?”
“His Highness.” As Berlin replied, she wondered why she was telling him classified information. She would have never done such a thing in any other situation, but aside from trusting the demon, she felt the need to tell another being of her plans.
“His… who? B-Berlin, you’re not making any sense. Which department do you work for?” Aaron demanded, shaking his head.
“I work for His Highness,” she answered again, her mouth puckering into a scowl.
“Who—What branch of government is that?”
“It is not a government agency,” Berlin answered.
The drive continued in silence as Aaron tried to reconcile the connection between Berlin and Dane. He had made some attempts to investigate Dane while undercover at World’s Worth, but his search had come up with nothing. He had not delved much into it, as Vern Mills had been his primary focus, but at that moment, Aaron was regretting not having looked deeper.
They pulled into the driveway behind Elle’s car, and Berlin barely waited for the car to stop before stepping onto the pavement. Dane was already at the door, cautiously watching her approach.
“Uh, well,” Elle said uneasily. “I don’t have a lot for dinner, but we can order in. There’s a great vegetarian restaurant which delivers. All organic, of course. Dane and I order from there often.”
No one responded, the thick tension deepening as more unspoken questions formed among them.
“I will take that as a yes,” Elle quipped lightheartedly, allowing for them to enter.
Like two combatants, waiting for the other to instigate the first move, Berlin and Dane regarded each other. Aaron carefully observed the interaction between the two, the feeling of worry in his stomach increasing. Had they been lovers? Why were they looking at each other like that?
“Do you know each other?” Aaron asked, breaking the weird silence between them.
“Yes,” Berlin answered.
“No,” Dane replied. Berlin was surprised. Aaron and Elle’s eyes both narrowed at the contradictory responses.
“But you both work for the same company,” Aaron continued, his voice dripping in suspicion.
“I work for His Highness,” Berlin elaborated. “His Highness has been out of touch with… Dane… and concerned for his safety.”
Elle laughed and then looked embarrassed when she realized no one else wore expressions of amusement.
“Why are you saying his name like that?” she giggled. “And His Highness? Is this a joke?”
“It’s no joke,” Berlin assured her. “And His Highness would like the prince to return.”
“Return where? What prince? Are you guys drunk?”
“I’m afraid not,” she said softly.
“Well, you can see he is fine,” Elle retorted, suddenly annoyed. “You can go back and report that to your king or whatever.”
“I intend to do exactly that,” Berlin told her, nodding agreeably. “But I’m afraid it’s not as simple as that. You see, the prince shouldn’t be here at all. It defies the laws of nature.”
“W-what is she going on about, Jo—Aaron, what is this?” Elle was becoming upset, but Aaron’s eyes fixed on Dane.
Suddenly, Dane gasped, a small cry escaping his lips.
“What?” Elle demanded, spinning to face him. “What is it?”
“I remember now,” he breathed. “I remember everything.”
Berlin exhaled in a whoosh of breath, and for a moment, Aaron felt as if he, too, had been holding in air for too long.
“Thank gods, Prince Alaric,” Berlin sighed. “Your father insists that you return to the underworld now.”
22
The disbelief was almost tangible on their faces as Dane sank into a chair and began to unfold the events that had brought him there.
“You’re saying you’re Alaric Aldwin,” Elle murmured. “The creator of all the Enchanted, and possibly the most powerful being to ever walk this earth?”
Dane nodded slowly.
“I remember everything,” he breathed. “I died and returned to my father in the underworld.”
“You’re the prince of the underworld?” Aaron demanded dubiously. “Is that how you managed to create the Enchanted?”
“Yes,” Alaric said, nodding, the light shining in his eyes as he recalled the events of thousands of years earlier. “I was sent to Earth by my father as the only Enchanted creature, and I wanted to share my gifts with the world. My father wasn’t pleased that I’d opened the abilities to the entire world, but I figured I’d never see him again.” He grinned ruefully. “I guess the joke was on me. Everything dies eventually, and being back in the underworld, my father was sure I suffered for my insubordination.” He laughed aloud. “I suppose I understand now why everything tastes so synthetic and odd. I haven’t stepped foot on Earth in thousands of years. I only know what the world feels like untouched by civilization.”
“But… but how did you come back?” Elle wanted to know, looking at Berlin as if she had the answers.
“He wasn’t the first,” Berlin explained quietly. “Your sister, Kendra, has the ability to bring people back from the dead. I think she awakened something in all those who are closest to her, including you.”
Elle’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“I’m your mate, Elle,” Alaric said, and her expression softened. “Your sister reawakened me because of you.”
Elle’s heart swelled at the reminder, and a lump of emotion filled her throat.
“You can’t go back,” she breathed. “He can’t make you go back now that you’re here.”
“I’m not going,” Alaric replied firmly. “And Berlin, you can tell him as much.”
“I will relay your message,” she agreed. “But I should warn you that there’s a team here looking for you. I can try my best to call them off, but they are under strict orders from the king. I’m going to be in enough trouble by defecting.”
Aaron’s head jerked up, as if he finally understood the magnitude of what was going on.
“You’re supposed to return to the underworld,” he choked, and Berlin nodded sadly.
“The dead are supposed to stay below,” she murmured. “It defies the laws of nature.”
“Screw the laws of nature!” Elle growled. “Neither of you are going anywhere. If you weren’t supposed to be here, you wouldn’t be.”
The four of them looked at one another, lips pursed as they tried to figure out how to conquer the problem at hand.
“We’re not going to get anything accomplished on an empty stomach,” Aaron said firmly. “Let’s sit down and eat before we figure this out.”
But even after they had consumed their meals and three bottles of wine, they were no closer to a solution than they had been. Berlin’s team would still be looking for her and Alaric under the king’s orders. There would be no escape.
After leaving Dane and Elle’s, Aaron and Berlin had returned to their hotel. Berlin had waited for Aaron to fall asleep after having a vague discussion about what had transpired at the house, but again, there seemed to be no solution in sight.
When she was certain he was in a deep slumber, his
snores loud and even, she had locked herself in the bathroom with the hotel phone, where she conference called as many of her team as possible. She knew what she needed to do—buy time.
“Your information was faulty,” Berlin told Amphur without preamble.
“No,” he replied. “It’s not.”
“Yes. The prince was not where you reported him to be.”
“No,” Amphur said again, a note of irritation in his communication.
“Do not argue with me, Amphur. I visited the home myself. There is no trace of the prince. If he was there, he is there no longer.”
More silence ensued.
“We will continue to search,” Sylvester responded smoothly. “He cannot be far, and he cannot go undetected forever.”
“No,” Amphur repeated. “The prince was there. You are mistaken, Berlin.”
I was not expecting Amphur to be the problem in this group, Berlin thought somewhat wistfully. Landex had always been an issue, and Sylvester had once been a minor deterrent many years prior, but she genuinely liked Amphur. He was a good operative, and he typically handled orders well. I will make his death as painless as possible despite his opposition.
“You are mistaken, Amphur, but you are forgiven. As Sylvester has said, we will continue to search.”
“Berlin—”
“Amphur, your insolence is quite out of character for you,” she hissed, her patience growing thin with his arguments. Amphur ignored her.
“Berlin, Edan was just picked up in front of the location I directed you. He contacted the emergency satellite, claiming he had found the prince.”
Berlin’s world began to spin. If Edan was there, did he see me? Has Alaric left with the girl? How long do I have before I am extracted by my own team and sent back to the underworld, away from Aaron forever?
“What else did he say?” she pressed, ready to disconnect and flee.
“Nothing. He’s in a coma. Life on Earth was too much for him.”
“Perhaps he is out of touch with his senses,” Berlin suggested, cringing at her own hopeful tone. The others were sure to pick up on her unprofessionalism. “I will be in touch,” she lied.