by Krystal Wade
“Why would she lie to me? If you think about it, it all makes sense. Remember when Mark showed up at school with the black eye? He told you he was going to the dance with someone else. When you asked him what happened, he ignored you. Wasn’t that the last time you ever talked to Mark?”
“Oh, my God. Why would Brad do that to me? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
She rolls her eyes. “I’ve barely had an opportunity to talk to you without Brad around. Seriously, I think he’s obsessed.”
Anger, betrayal, frustration, sadness—all of these feelings surge through me. I ball my fists, take deep breaths. Arland rests his hands on my shoulders again, calming me. He’s reminding me that, in the long run, it doesn’t matter how Brad sabotaged my relationships. None of them would have meant anything. But, this news makes me question everything Brad and I ever did together.
“I suspected this was the case, when you first spoke of your relationship with him. He will not be easily convinced to return home, if he has been waiting around for you for years,” Arland says, still holding on to me.
One more rip tears my already shredded heart. “So, what are we going to do?”
“We are going to try to heal him. If it works, I want you to tell him the truth,” Mom says.
I breathe out sharply. “So he can punch Arland like he did Mark Evans?”
“No, so he knows there is no point in waiting around for you any longer.” Mom’s wisdom shines through.
”If everything goes according to plan, I can punch him. In your honor, of course.” Arland teases, lightening the mood.
Everyone but me laughs at his comment. The only friend I’ve ever known—besides my sister—the one I’ve shared everything with my entire life, has been lying to me forever. When he took me to the winter social, I asked Brad to dance me around, to make Mark jealous. How stupid I must’ve looked. All the tears I shed over him while confiding in Brad, and he betrayed me.
“We can talk more, later,” Mom says, appraising me. “In the morning, we should work on Brad. Brit will need to train if we’re going to leave in a week. I’ll come wake you up early.” Her voice is strong.
I’ve never seen her like this; Mom is a natural Leader here. I like this side of her, more than the one she portrayed in our former world. She was always strong, mostly when it came to her health, but she was never a Leader.
Once they’re in the hall, I gather the courage to speak again. “Good night. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Good night,” they say together, but I catch a wink from Brit before the door closes.
Arland turns to me with a devilish smile. “Where were we?”
“I think you were about to hold me in your arms until I fell asleep.”
Arland wraps his arms around me. “I am sorry Brad hurt you.”
“Me, too,” I say, blinded by tears.
Arland wipes them from my eyes and kisses my cheek. He hands me my nightgown, but I set it aside.
Taking off my dirty shirt and pants, I crawl under the blankets, then snuggle close to him when he joins me. My skin tingles from the touch of his mostly bare skin against mine. He caresses my arms, my stomach, my thighs.
He places his lips on mine and whispers. “The pain will go away.”
I close my eyes. “I know.”
Chapter Twenty-One
I awaken to a light tap on the door, reminding me of Brit’s midnight knocking. I try to slink out of Arland’s arms unnoticed, but he stirs and pulls me back into him.
“Are you leaving?” he asks, sounding sad, but his smile indicates otherwise.
I place my hand on his cheek. “Never. Go back to sleep. I think Brit’s at the door.”
Arland sucks in a deep breath, then releases my arm. He watches as I slip the white nightgown over my head.
Crossing the room, I open our door a crack. Brit’s red, swollen face is the first thing I see.
“May I come in?”
Moving aside, I allow her to step through. “What’s wrong? Why have you been crying?”
“We’ve lived our lives in the dark, Kate.”
Arland climbs out of bed, and I turn my sister around while he dresses.
“I am going to check in with Lann. I will be in the communications room if you need me.”
I nod.
He kisses me on the forehead, then flees, and I don’t blame him. Brit and I have so much catching up to do. She also has a whole new reality to swallow.
”We never knew the truth about Dad, Mom, or even ourselves. I just graduated high school and planned on going to college with you. Everything I thought I knew has changed. It’s a lot to process.” Brit sits on the edge of the bed.
I push a stray lock of hair from her tear-streaked face. “Once you accept we belong here, it will all get easier.”
She throws herself back on the pile of blankets and looks up at me with a wry smile. “That’s easy for you to say, with tall, dark, and handsome gushing over you.”
Lying next to her, I prop myself up on my elbow.
“You’re right. He’s definitely made this transition easier for me. When I first got here, I was prepared to kill anyone who came near me—sort of.” I remember the knife, and how I dropped it, and couldn’t reach it fast enough. No, I wouldn’t have killed anyone … I would’ve just made myself look stupid. “Then, I ran into Arland. From the moment I realized I wasn’t dreaming, I found myself as in love with him in real life as I’ve been in my dreams. The first couple nights, I was scared and confused. On one hand, I had Brad, who’d professed his love for me, dying in bed. On the other hand, I had Arland, who I’ve known and loved forever, but he had no idea what I felt for him.”
“So, he’s the one from your dreams?” she asks, staring up at the roots poking through the ceiling.
“Sounds cheesy, huh?”
“You know what? I always felt there was some truth to your dreams. I knew when you were having them; I could almost feel your pain every time he died.”
“Brit, I’m so scared one of those dreams is going to come true. One almost did tonight, but I reacted first—before the hound could kill him.”
She looks straight at me. “You did a pretty good job of protecting him tonight. You’ll have to remember what happened in every dream … . We should make a list.”
“Maybe you’re right. Will you work on one with me tomorrow?”
Brit’s eyes widen. “Yes! Now, tell me. You’ve never so much as kissed a guy, and you and Arland are sleeping together. And don’t even try to compare this to Brad. Sleeping with Arland is different, way different. How did it happen? I want you to spill all the details of your little love affair!” Brit sounds more like my happy sister now.
We sit up and face each other, then hold hands.
“I have kissed someone before. I kissed Brad. Well, he kissed me. After you made it back through the portal, when we thought we were going to die. Brad said he was sorry for holding back on me all this time.”
“We’ve tried to tell you how much he loves you,” Brit says, shaking her head. “What did you say to him when he told you?”
“I never said anything to him. There wasn’t any time. Brit, I love Brad, but it’s not the same way he loves me, and it’s not the same way I love Arland. In a strange way, I feel like Arland and I have known each other forever. I love him for so many reasons, like his compassion for his people, his patience, his strength—”
She puts up her hands. “Okay, okay, I’ve got it. I know you’re happy, Kate. He is definitely a good choice.”
“He keeps the dreams away.”
Brit arches her eyebrows. “What do you mean?”
“The first night he slept with me, it was because I had the horrible dream about him dying.”
Her face softens. “The cave?”
“Yes. Arland said if he was close to me, maybe it wouldn’t seem as real, but I don’t have them at all now.”
“That’s weird, Kate. What if you need these dreams?�
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“Trust me, I don’t need the dreams.”
“Didn’t one help you protect him tonight?”
“I’ve got them memorized; I don’t need to have them set on repeat every night.”
“What else have you two been up to?”
I want to yell, “the dreams aren’t necessary,” at her, but I don’t. I allow the conversation shift.
“Nothing. We kissed for the first time today.” I leave out the activities in the stables; I’d never hear the end of her questions, if I mention anything about that.
“So, you’ve been sleeping in bed with Arland for three weeks, started kissing him today, and you haven’t fooled around yet?”
I shake my head.
She giggles. “I should go, so you two can have more alone time.”
“Sit down,” I say, grabbing her hand as she pretends to leave. “We’ve been taking baths together, too.” Now I’m trying to get a rise out of her.
She bows with her hands in front of her. “Oh, my God! You’re my hero! And you still have your virtue?”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll be sure to inform you when I don’t.”
Brit always talks a big game, but she still has her virtue, too. She said there wasn’t a guy in the world who deserved her. Maybe that’s because she was always in the wrong world.
“Oh, you won’t have to tell me, I’ll know.”
Heat rushes into my cheeks. “You will?”
“I have a feeling everyone will know.” She laughs.
“Brit!”
God, how I’ve missed her.
She looks away, glancing around the dark room like she wants to say something, but doesn’t want to be the one to bring it up.
I know her too well to believe she was crying only about landing here, and life not being as it seemed. To her, this is probably like an exciting vacation. “There’s something else bothering you, isn’t there?”
Her smile fades, and she takes my hands in hers again. “I’m jealous of you.”
“Jealous? Why?”
“I don’t have a prophecy. We didn’t live here when Mom was pregnant with me. I don’t know what my future holds. It’s scary that everyone seems to know their purpose but me. And, I started dating Taylor Evans a few months ago. I’m alone here.” Her voice comes out in a whimper.
The root of her problems all comes down to a guy.
“You were dating Mark’s brother and never said anything to me?”
She nods, but I don’t give her a hard time for not sharing any of her life with me. Video chatting is not the same as sharing things in person, and I had been home from college for only a day.
“You aren’t alone. This is your home. Your family is here, and I’m sure you will find someone as nice as Taylor to date … eventually.” I’m trying to make her feel better, but I’m not sure if Brit will have that here. I don’t know what her prophecy is. I don’t even know if I’ll live, or if Arland will live.
I know nothing.
She hugs me. “Thanks. You’re right. I just wish I knew what I’m supposed to do here.”
Arland opens the door and pokes in his head.
Brit takes it as her cue to leave. Looking between Arland and me, she smiles.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Brit says, then leaves.
Arland and I undress down to our underclothes, lie in bed, then he pulls the blankets over us.
“She is scared,” he says.
I press my head onto his chest. “She’s afraid because she doesn’t have a prophecy.”
“Not everyone receives a prophecy. They are reserved for Leaders and their families. She is not that different from most of my soldiers here.” Arland pulls me closer.
But, Brit is a Leader; she should know. “Can a Seer give someone a prophecy after they’re born?”
“If you find a good Seer, they can give you a prophecy anytime.”
I wonder if I can find a Seer who will tell me about Arland, about us, about Perth, or about my sister, without holding back like my mom has.
Someone pounds on the door, rattling the wood on its hinges. An hour has passed—maybe. I don’t reach out for the sun. I’m too tired to care about the time. Opening my eyes, I find Arland already dressing. I’m captivated by his half-naked body.
Turning around, he catches me staring, and smiles.
I motion with my finger, and he obeys.
Arland crawls on top of me, holding himself up by his arms. “Can I help you?”
“My mom did say she wouldn’t interfere, right?” I bite my lip.
“That she did. However, I believe it would be a little obvious if we did not come out of this room for another hour … or two.” He tempts me with a kiss on my jaw.
Pushing myself up, I kiss his neck below his ear. “Mmm, but she wouldn’t mind?”
“I would not mind,” Arland whispers, gripping my bare skin in his hands.
Another loud knock rattles the door.
Arland falls over and groans.
I already hold a grudge against whoever is knocking on our door, but I get up and get dressed.
Arland hops from the bed then stands in front of me, blocking my exit. “Today is going to be difficult, if Brad wakes up.”
I look at my feet. Guilt, over how much my relationship with Arland is going to hurt Brad, has been mounting for days. “I know.”
Arland lifts my chin with his finger. “You can do this. You just have to remain strong.”
He places his soft lips on mine, and, for a moment, stress disappears.
Arland takes my hand in his, and we leave the room.
Mom stands outside the door with her hands on her hips.
“Sorry,” I say, staring at the floor.
“Kate, I’m not upset. We need to start on Brad.” A quick check of her face reveals she isn’t lying. She’s smiling. “Arland, can you collect Flanna and Cadman to help us?”
Arland kisses my hand. “I will return shortly.”
Mom drags me by the arm toward Brad’s room. After hearing of his betrayal, I have a hard time entering, a hard time not to be angry with him right now, a hard time wanting to heal him.
“Why are you so shaky?”
I take a deep breath. “I’m nervous.”
“Are you worried about how Brad is going to react when he finds you’re in love with Arland?”
This is the question I’ve been trying to avoid.
“That’s one thing I’m worried about,” I say. Honestly, his reaction is the biggest concern I have. What if he never wants to talk to me again? What if he throws away our friendship, because we weren’t friends in the first place? If he beat up other guys who showed an interest in me, how could we be?
Mom puts her hands on my shoulders. “You have nothing to feel guilty about, dear. You never loved Brad that way. He will have to deal with that on his own. That’s how life works.”
“In the forest, we were getting closer than we ever had before, Mom. I was beginning to think I might have those kinds of feelings for him. He poured his heart out to me, and I jumped right in with someone else as soon as he got attacked. I would be stupid to think he wouldn’t be upset by that.” If I was in his place, I would hate me when I woke up; although, after years of betrayal, he more than deserves not having my friendship.
“Do you love Arland?”
I have zero doubt in my mind. “I do.”
“Then you have to let your guilt over Brad go, and you have to commit to getting him home safely.”
We move the chairs around Brad’s bed.
Arland returns with Flanna and Cadman, but he’s brought Kegan, and not my sister.
“Where’s Brit?” I ask Arland, while eyeing Kegan.
“You can trust Kegan,” Arland says.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Mom says.
Kegan gives her an appreciative smile and walks to the other side of Brad’s bed, then takes his pulse.
“Where’s Brit?” I ask Arland,
again.
“Lann is training her. He was quite happy to do so, too.”
Flanna turns up her nose as she crosses her arms. “Saidear could have trained her just as easily.”
He scowls. “Saidear is in the communications room, contacting the Watchers, so they may come in for rest.”
She stares at him, but doesn’t speak another word.
I don’t know what has her so upset. Maybe Flanna thinks Leaders shouldn’t be in relationships, but that can’t be true; she practically begged me to be with Arland.
“Okay, everyone, take a seat around the bed.” Mom motions for me to sit in the chair closest to Brad’s head. “Arland, sit as close to Kate as possible. I want everyone to hold hands, understood?”
Mom explains that when she saw Arland and me fight together last night, the magic was much more powerful when we were touching than when I acted alone. She feels our connection will give Brad a better chance of pulling through.
Arland tells her of my reaction to the coscarthas in the forest, and how he had to kiss me to get the portal to open again.
“As I said before, you two together are the key.” She turns her eyes toward me. “Now do what comes naturally.”
Taking a few deep breaths, I close my eyes and grab hold of Brad’s right hand. He’s warm, but not too hot; whatever medicines Kegan and Shay have given him seem to keep the fever down.
Mom sits across from me, holding Brad’s left hand, Cadman next to her, then Flanna, Kegan, Arland, and me.
As we sit here together, I ask for you to heal my oldest friend Brad, please. We need to get him home to safety. I send out my prayer to the magic enchanting this land, hoping it works.
I open my eyes.
Everyone glances up, down, then at each other … waiting for something to happen, but nothing comes.
“You guys should ask the magic to wake up and heal him, too. Nicely.” I give Flanna a pointed look.
“Be nice—I can do that.” She stares at her cousin and shifts in her seat.
The others close their eyes, and I hope they’re sending up silent prayers.
Energy flows among us, warming my skin and rumbling in my core, but Brad still lies, almost lifeless, on the bed. There’s no fire burning on my skin, or on Arland’s.