CHAPTER THIRTY
MILES INTRODUCED her as Queen Meaghan that night in the village. White lights lined the shops surrounding the main courtyard at the center of town, sparkling in unison with the crowd’s cheers and applause. The clock hanging over the town hall chimed in celebration. And as Nick had promised, a feast followed the formal announcement. Several spits lined the town square. A boar roasted on one, a deer on another, and an enormous buffalo weighted down a third. Tables surrounded the spits, each laden with platters of food. There was more than she could ever have tasted. Well-wishers and proud cooks handed vegetables, fruit, breads, and even desserts to her. She did her best to eat everything, but soon her stomach could hold no more.
As Nick had also told her, only half the people bowed to her. It still felt like too many. She nodded until she thought her head would jump off her neck and then exhaled a sigh of relief when a band started playing. Joyful tunes filled the air from a variety of instruments she did not recognize and a few she did. An old man danced around with a banjo in his hand. A young woman adeptly fiddled away, her eyes bright as her fingers blurred across the strings. A boy who seemed no older than thirteen mesmerized the crowd with a trumpet. And Miles joined in on a guitar.
As tables disappeared from the courtyard, people began dancing. Some dances Meaghan did not recognize, though their effortlessness spoke of generations of teaching. Everyone moved in unison, choreographed from tradition and flawless from habit. Other dances seemed no different from what she had learned on Earth.
When a fast dance resembling a waltz circled the impromptu dance floor, Nick took her arm and insisted she join him. He led her around, the pressure of his hands light, his step graceful, and she did her best to follow. She had never been good at dancing, but the grin on his face kept her going. It also lightened the darkness that had shadowed her mind since her meeting with the Elders. Her decision, now final, felt like iron chains binding her soul. She knew she had made the right choice, but that knowledge did not ease her burden. Meeting the villagers tonight had only added to that weight, putting faces to the responsibility and lives to the kingdom she now directed.
Reality pushed in around her and every time she felt claustrophobic from it, she focused on Nick’s face. His joy grew as each person greeted them. While they bowed to her or shook her hand to show their respect, they offered him hugs. He knew them all and they loved him well. Many even had tears in their eyes when they saw him, their worry lifted in knowing he had arrived home safely.
Home, she thought. His home, his life. He had grown up in this place and it showed in his relaxed posture, in the laughter bubbling through his lips, in the stories he shared with old friends, and in his smile as he taught her the steps to a dance he had no doubt learned in childhood. She had seen him as responsible and reserved, only occasionally relaxing his guard. She had never seen him this free. And though she could not sense his joy, she could feel it when she looked up at him.
The song stopped and another, slower tune followed. Nick led her off the dance floor. “You weren’t too bad,” he said.
“I’m not sure your toes agree,” she responded with a grin.
He laughed, squeezed her hand, and then released it as a couple approached. The man stood at Nick’s height. His blond hair fell in waves to his shoulders. His blue eyes sparkled in what appeared to be permanent amusement. And when he smiled, he exuded charisma and Meaghan responded with a smile of her own. The willowy woman holding his hand held a smile more bashful. Big tawny eyes and long blonde hair graced a porcelain face highlighted by full lips and rosy cheeks. Nick engulfed them both in a hug.
“I’m sure you’ve come to meet Meaghan,” he said once he had let them go.
A sly grin spread across the man’s face. “Of course. Did you think we wanted to see your ugly face again? I thought we’d finally gotten rid of you.”
Nick chuckled. “It’s nice to be loved.”
“Don’t listen to him,” the woman said and slapped the man on the stomach. “He’s jealous you got to explore a new world and he got stuck here training the ten-year-olds in combat maneuvers.” She extended a hand to Meaghan. “I’m Cissiline. Please call me Cissy.”
Meaghan took her hand and shook it. Cissy pointed to the man next to her. “This is Maxillion—”
“Who definitely does not go by that,” the man said. “I’m Max.” He took Meaghan’s hand in a firm grip. His gaze felt almost as firm as he cocked his head to the side to study her. “I’m afraid you don’t live up to your legend.”
“Oh?” Meaghan raised an eyebrow. “I have a legend?”
Max let go of her hand. “You bet. According to the stories, you’re ten feet tall. You wield a sword of iron, which is capable of decapitating legions of Mardróch at a time. And you breathe fire.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “If the last part is true, I have a neighbor who complains nonstop. Apparently, I even sneeze too loud. I’d love it if you could teach him a lesson.”
Meaghan laughed and liked him instantly. “I’m afraid not,” she said. “The most I can do is tell him what his emotions are.”
“That’s no good,” he replied. “He’s always grouchy and everybody already knows that.” He flicked his eyes from Meaghan to Nick and then back to her again. “Now that you’ve stolen Nick from us for over a year, do you plan on giving him back? Or have you already wed him?”
Meaghan felt her heart leap, but Nick chuckled. “I’m a catch,” he responded. “But I’m afraid it’s against the rules.”
“Since when do you pay attention to rules? I seem to recall you breaking them a time or two when we were younger.”
Nick raised an eyebrow. “I did nothing worth mentioning.”
“Oh no? Then what do you call skipping training? Or how about the time you stole pies from the baker every week until he set a trap for you that had you dangling in the air by your feet? Or better yet, do you really consider sneaking off with his daughter not worth mentioning?” Max grinned. “Of course, that crime was well worth being hung up in the air.”
Nick scowled, though Meaghan did not miss the levity in his voice when he responded. “I was eleven. It was a lot more innocent than you make it sound.”
“I’m only pointing out your track record in case you’re trying to hide it,” Max said. “Our new Queen should know what sort of ill repute she has as her guard.”
Nick rolled his eyes, and brushed off the ribbing with a shrug of his shoulders. Hooking his thumbs into his pockets, he nodded toward Cissy and Max’s linked hands. “Speaking of hiding things, how long has this been going on?”
“Since before you left,” Cissy told him and drew a hand up to Max’s bicep. “We kept it a secret for a while, but it’s been long enough.”
“Long enough for,” Nick started and then grinned. “A wedding,” he realized. He clapped Max on the shoulder. “Congratulations. I always thought you’d make a good match.”
“So did I,” Max confessed and nodded toward Cissy. “She took a bit more convincing though. Along those lines, are you seriously trying to tell me there’s nothing between you two? I saw you dancing out there. Maybe no one else would notice the way you looked at each other, but you can’t slip it by me. I’m your oldest friend after all.”
Nick frowned. “There’s nothing between us, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk like that. All it takes is one person overhearing for rumors to get started. I’m under review at the moment and that could be enough to jeopardize everything.”
The grin died on Max’s face. “I didn’t know,” he said. “I was joking. What happened?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have time,” Max said. “Cissy can watch out for Meaghan and maybe if you tell me, I can help. Just like old times,” he added when Nick hesitated.
Nick nodded, conceding, and turned to Meaghan. “Is it okay? I won’t go far.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. The two men walked away and Meaghan kept her eyes glued on Nick and
her power focused on his. The further away he moved, the weaker his power got. She swallowed her panic, ignored the emotions seeping through his power, and drew her eyes to the woman who stood beside her.
“Are you okay?” Cissy asked. “You look like you’re about to be sick.”
“Yes.” Meaghan tightened a smile across her face. “How long have you been wed?”
“Two months,” Cissy responded. Her face glowed with a light Meaghan had seen on many of her newlywed friends in school. Some things remained constant no matter what world they happened on. “It was wonderful. The night was clear like this one. The stars and the moon basked everything in a soft glow. Max had packed a picnic and we snuck into the field to enjoy it together. When he leaned in to kiss me, the colors, they,” she shrugged. “It’s hard to explain. When it happens to you, you’ll understand.”
“I’m sure I will,” Meaghan said, her smile turning genuine. “It sounds lovely.”
“It was perfect. Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
The emotions had grown stronger, battering at Meaghan’s resolve. Hundreds of them swirled within her, gripping her stomach, pounding within her head. She ached, but she clutched her hands together in front of her and nodded. “How long have you and Nick been friends?”
“Since the village was built,” Cissy said. “Max knew him from the last village, but my family came from another one. I guess we were about eight at the time. I knew him shortly before his father died.” She frowned and placed a hand on Meaghan’s arm. “You look green.”
“I’m fine,” Meaghan insisted, and then felt the ache in her head swell. Squeezing her eyes shut, she pressed her fingers to her temples. Cissy’s hand tightened on her arm, pulling her away from the crowd, and from Nick. The emotions broke through the remainder of her hold on his power, flooding her senses. Her mind screamed. Her stomach rolled. Her eyes flew open. And then she pulled from Cissy’s grip and ran.
She did not know where she was going. She only hoped no one saw her. The Queen fleeing in panic would not help the spirits of the people. But vomiting in front of them and then curling up into a fetal ball certainly would not help either. She ran down one street and then another. When the emotions still chased her, she dashed down an alley, turned a corner, and then met a dead end. A building blocked her from advancing. The emotions behind her kept her from going back the way she had come. She turned, pressed her body against the wall, and sank down to the ground. Burying her face in her hands, she prayed for the pain to stop.
Her breathing came in quick, uneven bursts as she tried to fight off the assault. She focused on the warmth by her heart. She tried to pull on it, to move or dull it, but no efforts to control her power helped. Several minutes passed and then she felt hands grip her arms.
“I’m here,” Nick’s voice broke through the swell of emotions. “Focus on me, Meg. I’m here.”
She did as he instructed. Her breathing slowed. “Good,” he said. She heard other voices, though they came across as muffled through the pain still throbbing within her head. “She’ll be okay,” Nick said and she realized he had responded to whoever had spoken. “Go back to the party and tell everyone she was tired so I took her home. And please don’t tell anyone about this. It’s best if no one knows she can’t control her power yet.”
“We understand,” Cissy’s voice finally broke through the pain. “Do you need us to send your mother?”
“No. I have this under control.”
“All right,” a man said and Meaghan recognized him as Max. “Good luck. Let us know if you need anything.”
Footsteps retreated from the alley. Nick drew his hands down Meaghan’s arms and linked his fingers with hers. “How do you feel?” he asked.
“Sick,” she responded. Resting her head against the wall, she opened her eyes. “That was almost as bad as the battle. There were too many emotions. I had to get away.”
“I know.” Releasing his grip on one of her hands, Nick raised his fingers to her face, and stroked his thumb across her cheekbone. “I don’t sense your pain any longer. Is it gone?” She nodded. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. You weren’t far away, but I couldn’t hold on to your power. I panicked.” She sighed and closed her eyes again. “Did anyone see me?”
“I don’t think so. Cissy thought you were sick so she brought you to an area out of view.” He leaned in to press his lips to her forehead. “It’s been a long day. I should have realized.”
“Realized what?”
“How tired you are. I’m sure that’s why you couldn’t maintain focus on my power from a distance. I’m sorry I left you.”
“It’s not your fault,” she said and struggled to her feet. He stood with her. “I need to be able to control this on my own. You can’t stay next to me forever.”
“No,” he agreed, “but control will come soon enough. The Elders have decided to put you through training. They feel the same techniques Guardians use to control their sensing powers will help you.”
“Training?” she asked. “Like school?”
“More like boot camp, but with pre-teens.”
She grimaced and he laughed, drawing her in for a hug. “Are you okay to head back to my mom’s place? You’re staying in the guesthouse next to it. I can stay with you until you fall asleep.”
“That would be nice,” she said, smiling when he drew his hands up her back. He pulled her in for a kiss, then slipped an arm around her waist and led her down the alley. They had only managed a few steps before he stiffened. Meaghan stopped to look up at him. “What’s wrong?”
Nick’s eyes remained fixed on the shadows lining the street in front of the alley. He frowned. “I thought I saw something move.”
“What?”
He shook his head. “I’m not sure, but I don’t sense any danger. It’s probably my imagination. Let’s go.”
Urging her forward again, he quickened their pace back to the guest cottage.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
MEAGHAN AWOKE to anger. The emotion screamed at her from outside the guest cottage, pounding its way into her dreams and disrupting her rest. When her heart doubled its pace in response, despite her efforts to calm it, she gave up on sleeping and threw off her blankets. The emotion felt strong, yet she could tell it came from only two people. The rest of the village remained quiet. She focused on the anger and then on the mix of other emotions hidden beneath it. Confusion, hurt, and frustration swirled with the anger in a familiar way, and she realized the people were arguing. She also realized it might be some time before they finished. She dragged her tired body out of bed, and then exchanged her nightgown for her dress. She did not feel like waking Nick to use his power. He needed his rest as much as she did. Instead, she decided to take a walk for an hour. She hoped it would be enough time for the argument to reach a conclusion, and then she could return to sleep.
Finding her shoes by the door, she put them on, and exited the cottage. The emotions came from her left, so she turned right to avoid them, but halted when the breeze carried part of the argument her way.
“It wasn’t like that.”
She frowned, recognizing Nick’s voice, then turned and walked to the corner of the cottage so she could peer around it. Nick had his back to her, but his mother faced Meaghan’s hiding place. Her eyes blazed in the moonlight.
“I’m not a fool! I saw the way you held her, the way you kissed her. Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“No, Mom. Please, let’s go inside. I’d like to explain in—”
“What is there to explain? You’re being stupid. If I’d known this would happen, I never would have let you to go to Earth when Vivian sent for you.”
“Which is probably why she didn’t tell you,” Nick said.
“She knew?” May’s eyes narrowed and she planted her fists on her hips. “Then she’s the bigger idiot. What was it she said to convince you? Did she claim there was a prophecy involved? Or did she appeal to you with the
promise of ruling the kingdom?”
The accusation spiked Nick’s anger and he took a step closer to her. His voice rose. “Viv didn’t have to convince me of anything. What I feel for Meg is—”
“Meg?” May interrupted. “Where do you get off calling your Queen such an informal name?”
“It’s what Viv and James called her.”
“And they’re dead,” May snapped. “You will be too if you don’t detach from her. There’s a reason these relationships are forbidden.”
“You don’t think I know that?” he asked. He dug his hands into his pockets. “You don’t think I considered that before—”
“Before what?” May pressed forward, standing toe-to-toe with her son. “What did you do?” Without waiting for Nick’s response, she threw up her hands. “Forget it. I don’t want to know. You’ve lost your mind, and if you won’t do the right thing, I will. As of tomorrow morning, the Elders will be removing you as her Guardian.”
“If you’ll let me explain—”
She spun away from him and entered her house through the side door, slamming it behind her. Nick rubbed the back of his neck as he turned to stare in Meaghan’s direction. “That didn’t go well, did it?”
Certain he could not see her, she remained silent. He approached. “I know you’re there, Meg. You have a habit of spying, you know. I’d rather you didn’t do that to me.”
She stepped around the corner. “How did you know I was listening?”
“It’s another one of my sensing abilities,” he told her. “Guardians can sense the presence of their charges.”
“You never mentioned that before.”
“It slipped my mind.”
“Or you wanted to be able to use it against me.”
“Maybe,” he confessed. For a moment, levity cocked a smile on his face before it faded. “Guardians can also sense their children, which is what got us in trouble tonight. Mom tracked us down after we left the party. She saw us in the alley.”
“How much have you been able to tell her?”
“Not much. I tried to tell her why Vivian brought me to Earth, and she cut me off. I tried to tell her about the prophecy, but she wouldn’t listen. And now, well, you heard.”
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