The Sweet Series Box Set: Books 1-4

by Bailey Ardisone

  When he did not answer, I inquired again, “Where is your Guardian?”

  His opposing stare was fixed on mine when he slowly said, “I don’t have a guardian. I grew up with my parents in Maine.”

  “How could this be? A Guardian has been devoted to you since the day you were birthed. He escaped with you when you were just a babe, but surely—How is it you know of Remycah, but do not know of him?” I was having a hard time hearing these words. He did not grow up safely under the protection of his Guardian?

  He took both hands and ran them through his jet-black hair. A trait I had seen every time we met. I faintly smiled at the familiarity of the gesture.

  “I don’t know. Mycah showed up in town a while ago. Then suddenly we’re brothers and we need to go home for some important reason. I honestly didn’t know what the hell he was talking about.” He shrugged and walked over toward the cliff, looking out at the sea.

  His words felt like a blow to the stomach, suddenly claiming all the air from my lungs.

  My voice shook asking what my heart already knew, “You do not know who you are, do you? You mustn’t if you do not recall your Guardian or what happened to him. How did you grow each cycle in the Earthly realm with no Guardian?”

  He turned back toward me in a daze. “A few weeks ago I was Rydan O’Malley, son of Darren and Anna O’Malley of Kennebunkport, Maine. Today, I...I don’t even know.” He sighed.

  Completely stunned, I walked over to stand beside him as he stared at Castle Edhel-N’dor etched in the mountainous stone hovering in the distance. With his hands at his sides, he beheld the castle that was once his home, long ago forgotten.

  He should have grown up there, in the loving arms of his father and mother, King Remydan and Queen Lirima. He and Remycah should have played in the outer courtyards as young boys used to do, causing childish havoc to those around them.

  To have grown up not knowing anything of his elda heritage was astounding. He sincerely must have thought to have been birthed on Earth, unknowingly raised a human. The thought was both mind boggling and troublesome. My heart sunk as I wondered what truly happened to his Guardian.

  He glanced my way. “I still can’t believe you’re actually...real. I’ve been waiting for you for two weeks to tell me what’s going on, but you never came back after that last time. I’ve been going crazy out here.”

  I slowly took a deep breath and sighed inwardly. I had envisioned a different scene of events between us. I would never have fathomed that he would not know who or what he was.

  “I will do my best to explain.” I took a careful step closer, calculating my words. “I am called an Olor I’lanya—a weaver of dreams.”

  After a few seconds, he did not utter a word, so I continued, “I have created this dream for us. We are both asleep, but this is truly real.” I stopped, not knowing what else to say. I knew we did not have much time, but I needed him to understand something.

  “Rydan, I clearly see that you are struggling. However, you and Remycah are the royal Zafriel heirs. The fate of our people lies in the hands of Remycah. He must return and claim the throne, for it is rightfully his. Our Kingdom of Aselaira is falling apart at the hands of your uncle Ohtar. His reign is destroying the lands and destroying our people. The fact that you are both alive is a dream come true for our Isil’Elda race. I know it may be difficult for you to comprehend that right now, but it is most imperative that you and Remycah return to Aselaira.”

  He stood stoically, focusing on the calming waves of the Erulissë Sea. He took a few steps away from where I stood, distancing himself, seemingly wanting to disappear. My heart broke.

  “I…I summoned Remycah before to have him find the Lassaira Ëlemmiire. Do you know if he has found it yet, the Weeping Willow?”

  “Yes, we found it,” he quietly answered a fraction above a whisper.

  “That is good to hear. It is vital that you stay with Remycah, form a viable plan, and then come through the Lassaira Ëlemmiire together. I can help—”

  “I already did,” he cut in, heavily shrugging his shoulders.

  “Already did what?” Perhaps they had a plan?

  “I went through the tree. I’m already here,” he replied nonchalantly. “I’ve been here.”

  I? Not we?

  “Where is Remycah?” my voice shook in response. I suddenly feared where this was leading.

  Again, he only shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know. I came alone.”

  No, no no—This could not be happening. He could not be here alone. They would find him—capture him, torture, even kill him. I could not bear to let that happen. I had to get through to him.

  “Rydan, please. Hear me,” I tried to choke out. “You must stay with Remycah; it is the only way—” I stopped mid-sentence as I watched him turn away from me out of exasperation.

  I hung my head low, for it was just as I feared. “What—” I tried to get out. “What are you planning to do?”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out,” he replied disdainfully.

  As the tears threatened to surface once again, I shut my eyes and hung my head. I did not know how to fix this. When I looked up, he was gone. I struggled to control my emotions as I imagined him out there all alone. He couldn’t do this by himself. He needed help.

  And I knew just whom to reach.

  Chapter Five

  ~Nari~

  “Oh, Nari, the O’Malleys and Sheriff Brandon would like to speak with you again. Sorry, dear,” Marie, the manager of the B&B said to me as I descended down the broad stairs. “They’re waiting behind me in the office.”

  I caught her sympathetic look just before my eyes dropped to the floor. You’ve got to be kidding me. What more did they want from me?

  Okay, I guess that was a stupid question, because technically I did know where Rydan was. Well, sorta. Which, in turn, meant I technically did have more information to offer them—if I were willing to give it.

  But I couldn’t. I couldn’t tell them that their son...I mean...adopted son, who just recently found out that he was adopted in the first place, had skipped off to La La land. The real life Land of Oz.

  Oh yeah—and by the way, Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley, the son you neglected to tell all these years that he was adopted—is a Night Elf.

  I could hear the gasps and concerned looks for my sanity already as they signaled the men in lab coats to come carry me away.

  Not. Going to Happen.

  I simultaneously pushed my long, dark hair behind my ear as I pushed open the office door that had been purposely left ajar.

  An enormous lump grew in my throat upon seeing Anna, Rydan’s mom, sitting behind the large maple desk crying, with her husband Darren holding her shoulders. He also had tears in his eyes.

  Sheriff Brandon stood in the corner and signaled for me to take a seat in one of the dark wooden chairs that was permanently placed in front of the overgrown desk. So I did.

  “Thank you for speaking with us again, Nari. We all really appreciate it,” the Sheriff said as he sat down in the chair to my right. My only thought to his words were—did I really have a choice? He pulled out his notepad from his chest pocket and began sifting through the pages.

  Anna and Darren barely looked at me. Did they think I was responsible? Did they know I was hiding information from them? Did they think I was purposely trying to hurt them? Or perhaps they were ashamed and blamed themselves. I didn’t know why they were being distant, and to be frank, although I did like them growing up, all I cared about was Rydan. Protecting him was my first priority.

  But I couldn’t deny the ache I felt for them every time I heard Anna sniff into the tissue she clasped so tightly between her trembling fingers. Or witnessed each tear that fell from her reddened eyes, one after another.

  I felt her pain. I understood it completely.

  Perhaps I could find some solace in the fact I actually knew where he ran off to and the general reason of why. If I didn’t know, like they
didn’t, I’d be so sick with worry. I didn’t know how I could ever survive it.

  “Okay. We understand that you’ve already told us you don’t know anything. But the O’Malleys would just like to ask you one more time if you can remember something about the last time you saw him. Any small detail, anything at all that may have popped back into your mind about where Rydan might be. Even the slightest bit of information may be helpful.” Sheriff Brandon took his blue-ink pen and dabbed the point onto the tip of his tongue before hovering the writing utensil above the paper.

  I drew in a shaky breath and looked down at my hands. I needed to improvise. I needed to devise a plan that could give them a small ounce of comfort that Rydan was okay, that he wasn’t abducted by aliens or bad men wanting to hurt him. That he chose to leave on his own accord. That he would be just fine. At least, I hoped he would be. No reason for them to be worrying over his whereabouts if there was nothing they could do about it. No need to waste the police officer’s time and efforts looking for him when there was a zero chance of them being able to find him.

  And then I had an idea.

  I would tell them the truth. Sorta.

  “Alright. I will tell you. I’m sorry I didn’t mention it sooner, but he made me promise not to say anything.” As soon as I said those words, everyone in the room immediately snapped to attention and drew closer to me, whether they realized it or not.

  “Okay, Nari. We’re listening,” Darren spoke firmly, impatiently.

  “Rydan found out he was adopted. Because...his older brother came to find him. Rydan has a brother. He was in shock, of course, but he eventually accepted it and so the two of them decided to go find their real parents together. He’s okay. He’ll be okay. He loves you, and he’s sorry, but he has to do this. I haven’t heard from him, and I doubt I ever will. Now, that’s really all I know, okay?” I stood up abruptly to leave. My stomach was turning, and my heart constricted in all sorts of ways. I didn’t like talking about it. I didn’t like speaking of them out loud.

  It hurt.

  “Please, why didn’t you stop him? Why didn’t he come to us?” Anna cried out as she, too, stood up. Stop him? I wanted to stop him. I tried to stop him. As if he wasn't a six-foot wall of lean muscle—how in the world could I, a girl, stop a boy who was much taller and much stronger than me? I mean, really? What did they expect me to do?

  “I’m sorry. I don’t know. He didn’t explain anything to me. This really is all I know.” I looked toward the ground and prayed they believed me. I just wanted to get out of there. The sadness that took up the expanse of the room was too much to bear. I had my own overwhelming amount of sadness to deal with. I didn’t need theirs added to the mix as well. I didn’t need to think about Rydan’s height or the feel of his sculpted chest and arms wrapped around my smaller frame. Or his smoky scent that instantly calmed my nerves every time he was near.

  I didn’t need or want to think of any of those things.

  I stormed out of the office, and as if my day couldn’t get any better, the sight of Rydan’s beloved Manga magazine sat on the front desk, gluing my feet in their place. My chest heaved and my vision began to cloud. I was losing it. I could feel myself losing it.

  What was that doing there?

  “Everything okay, sweetie? You look to have seen a ghost.” Marie walked over and placed a gentle hand on my arm. I felt her turn her head toward the spot my eyes were bugging out at. “Oh, I found that in the drawer when I was cleaning it out just now. Do you want it?”

  I could find no words. A flash flood of tears threatened to break through. All I could manage was running. So I ran. I ran out the door and down the street. I could hear my footfalls against the concrete sidewalk and made myself pay rapt attention to the sound. If I could focus all my thoughts on this one thing, maybe I could numb myself from the pain.

  I looked up to find myself in front of Saucers—The diner Rydan and I spent so much time in. Crap.

  Why was I going in? Why were my feet carrying me inside? I didn’t want to be there—but yet, there was nothing I could do to make myself turn around and go in the opposite direction.

  I sat down in our usual booth and pulled out my cell phone. I held down #8.

  “I’m sure you already know you were trying to reach me, Rydan, so leave a message. But only if it’s important.”

  My breath caught in my lungs, in my throat, and I was paralyzed with agony.

  “Can I get you—Oookay, I’ll just give you a minute,” Renée, the server spoke to me before turning right around again, but I barely heard her.

  What. The heck. Was wrong with me.

  I pressed my fingers firmly against my closed eyes and willed myself to get a grip. I didn’t want to keep spiraling out of control. My heart couldn’t handle this much grief all the freakin’ time.

  Then the moment Frank Sinatra began playing on the jukebox, I knew it was time to go.

  I fumbled my way out of the booth in a daze and ran right smack into a person’s body, knocking me to the floor. At the sound of a snicker, I jerked my eyes up.

  Oh holy crap balls.

  Ray.

  What was he doing here on a Saturday? Didn’t he have work? Then it dawned on me that I had been right. He had only been working six days a week so he could avoid me as much as possible back when I lived with him. He must be loving it. Ugh. He stepped around me and walked to the next booth, not even bothering to help me up or speak a word of greeting.

  Not that I’d want him to. Heck, I’d have flinched and whacked his hand away if he had tried. I didn’t want that sick freak touching me. Ever.

  Or speaking to me.

  I picked myself up, brushed myself off, and made my exit without a second thought about the good-for-nothing man.

  I called Zaylie, desperate for her company. I didn’t want to be alone right then. Too many thoughts and grave feelings buzzed around my body when I wasn’t distracted. She picked up on the third ring.

  “Hey, gorgeous,” she greeted me sweetly in her usual Australian accent that I just loved to hear so much.

  “Hey, wanna hang out? I could use your calming presence,” I replied.

  “Of course I do. Where?”

  “Would you maybe want to take a walk? You can meet me at the coffee shop so we can get something hot to drink, don’t worry,” I appealed, realizing it was super cold out.

  “Sounds lovely. See you in a bit,” she squeaked before ending the call.

  I shivered from the icy breeze and pulled my scarf up over my nose. The temperature always dropped around this time of year here in Maine, and although I enjoyed summer breezes and crisp autumn air, there was nothing like the feel of frosty licks against your cheeks. Call me crazy, but there was something in the way the snow floated down from the sky and piled itself into fluffy mounds that I found beautiful.

  After a while, I admired a few snowflakes that stuck to the iron table in front of the coffee shop. How could something be so intricately fragile and not combust as soon as it touched anything?

  I once thought of my heart in that way. That if I let anyone in, if I let someone touch it, I’d break.

  I was beginning to think I was right.

  Honk honk

  I looked up to see Zaylie slow and roll down her window in the blue pickup truck she and Desmond shared.

  “I’m just going to park, then I’ll be right there.” She smiled at me.

  “No problem,” I called back and watched as she turned the corner to find a spot on the street to park.

  A minute later, she came shuffling up while adjusting her scarf and mittens. I must admit, she looked pretty cute in her panda bear knitted cap. There were little ears that stuck up off the sides of her head and big panda eyes in the middle of her forehead. It had long ties that ran past her neck with little puffballs on the end.

  I stifled a laugh. Way too cute.

  “What?” she questioned guiltily. She must've noticed the amusement on my face.

  �
�Oh, nothing. Nice hat,” I commented. I really did like it.

  “Heh, thanks. Desmond got it for me. Actually, he said Liam did but I know he was just trying to be a butt about it.” She opened the door to the café and held it so I could go in first.

  “Thanks,” I said in response to her kind gesture. “Maybe Liam really did get it for you, though.”

  “Ha! Yeah right. That bloke is a bloody cheapskate. Nice try.” She took off her mittens and stuffed them in her pockets. “What you gonna get?”

  I looked up toward the menu on the wall and contemplated what I wanted.

  “What can I get started for you?” the skinny guy full of tattoos and piercings behind the register asked me. Originally I planned on getting hot chocolate, but what came out of my mouth instead, I did not expect.

  “Tall English Breakfast tea with milk and extra sugar.”

  I yanked a hand up to my mouth in shock.

  Crap.

  “You add your own stuff over there. Name?” he said, not noticing or caring about my stupid abnormal reaction to myself, thank goodness.

  “Nari,” I tried to say, but it came out strangled. I cleared my throat and spoke up. “Nari.”

  “And you?” he said to Zaylie.

  “Grande Salted Caramel Mocha, please,” she ordered. When he wrote it on the cup, he asked for her name next. “Zaylie.”

  I went to pull out my money after he rang up our order and had spouted the total, but Zaylie put a hand over mine to stop me. “My treat,” she said with a smile.

  “Thank you.” I smiled back. We walked over to the pickup spot and waited. Once mine was ready, I grabbed it and walked over to the cart that contained the milk, cream, sugar, napkins, and extra spices. I couldn’t stop thinking about Mycah’s piercing blue eyes and the way they lit up when he poured half the shaker of sugar into his English Breakfast tea. I followed exactly what he did and made mine just like his—sugar first, milk second.