The Sweet Series Box Set: Books 1-4

by Bailey Ardisone

I heard them call Zaylie’s name, signaling that hers was ready as well. I stuffed a few napkins in my pocket, just in case.

  We headed down the street in silence, sipping on our hot beverages. It felt so good in contrast to the cold air; I could literally feel the scorching liquid run all the way down to my stomach, heating up my insides.

  It also felt really good to have Zaylie by my side. I needed this. I needed her.

  “Where are we walking to?” she inquired as we turned a corner. I looked up from my tea and noticed we were walking in the general direction toward the Weeping Willow. I hadn’t been back there since Mycah almost died next to it. Since Rydan left.

  I felt a pulling sensation. Like a magnet drawing another magnet together. Almost as if my body had been going through withdrawal and was about to get its fix.

  I needed to be near that darn tree.

  “I wanna show you something,” I muttered in reply to her question.

  “Alright—”

  Hook, line, and sinker. I let the invisible string reel me in, and with each advancing step I took, anxiety multiplied exponentially in my gut. I didn’t know what was going on. But I was definitely being enticed by some strange force—I was being drawn in, and I let it draw me in.

  “Whoa, hey, slow down you,” Zaylie called out, making me take notice of the here-and-now. I looked back at her and slowed my pace.

  “Oops, sorry. I guess I got excited,” I explained guiltily.

  “It’s okay. Just glad you’re not trying to leave me here by myself.” She laughed. “Where are we going exactly?”

  “It’s a surprise.” I grinned at her. Then I remembered the last time I tried to make a trip to the Weeping Willow a surprise for someone.

  Mycah.

  It didn’t turn out too well that time.

  Little did I know, he had been called to return home as the true king of his people—the rightful heir to the throne after his father had been murdered by his evil uncle. Here I was just trying to share a special part of me with someone I cared about.

  I had no idea it would end with me losing the two people I cared about most in this world.

  But Zaylie was different. She wasn’t a Night Elf, or Wood Elf, destined to return home after fleeing an untimely death. She wasn’t some other creature that could possibly be from that strange, foreign place.

  She was human.

  And I loved her even more for it.

  “Nari, do you think you’re going to be okay? You’re really worrying everyone. My mum has been asking about you, too. She wants you to come over again. What do you say? Dinner at our house tonight? You can sleep there, and this time we can stay up all night watching movies from the 90’s. Wouldn’t that be fun? Oh! And my cousin Lachlan is visiting from Australia! I would love for you to meet him.” Zaylie’s sentences ran together in a rush, like she was desperate to convince me to say yes and that it would fix all my problems. It did sound very appealing. At least I would love the distraction.

  “I can’t really answer that, Zales. I sure hope I’ll be okay. I know my behavior isn’t normal, and I’m sorry for making you worry. I appreciate your mom thinking of me. I’d love to come over tonight. Dinner and movies sound great.” I reassured her by linking my arm with hers and continued walking toward the infamous tree.

  “Phew, good. I’m so glad you said that. I really think it would be good for you—and for me. I’m craving some girl time. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to be around my brother and his bloody mate all the dang time. Those two knuckleheads will be the death of me, I swear it.” She chuckled, referring to Desmond and Liam, who had grown to be best friends from the sound of it. Good for them. “And now Lachlan will be there—I’m totally outnumbered!”

  “I think it would be good for me, too. Thanks for asking me.” I tucked my hair behind my ear and kicked at a loose stone. I truly did think that. It was torture being alone at the B&B. I needed to get on with my life. I couldn’t sit by and wait for Mycah and Rydan to return, in case...they never did.

  If I didn’t try to move on, I might literally go insane.

  And then there it was.

  The giant, majestic Weeping Willow tree. It sat exactly in the same spot as it always had. Of course it would, though—it wasn’t like trees could move.

  But I had never stayed away for more than a few days before. I almost forgot how breathtaking the sight of it was. It appeared to glow as it basked in the fading sunlight; the long, slender branches still danced in the wind and played with the surface of the mirror pond it shepherded. It looked completely untouched by the harsh cold of winter. Each branch was still vibrantly full of golden-orange leaves from fall like the last time I saw it, unlike their green counterparts during spring and summer, and unlike the rest of the trees in the area that had been stripped bare.

  It was stunning.

  Truly stunning. My heart raced as we drew closer and closer. It felt amazing to be back. As if coming home after being away for a really long time.

  What was that saying?

  Oh, yes.

  There’s no place like home.

  I had never truly understood those words before. But now I did. Now I knew their meaning fully and could feel the truth of them to my very core.

  There really was no place like home.

  I suddenly no longer agreed with my need to move on. How could I possibly move on from losing my very best friend? And the first person I ever started to give my heart to? I couldn’t. It wasn’t possible.

  “Crikey, Nari. It is so beautiful here.” I remembered Zaylie once I heard her voice and tore my eyes away from the tree to look at her.

  “I know. It’s wonderful, isn’t it? This has always been my favorite place to come. Mine and Rydan’s.” Although it felt like coming home and in one way was incredible, a huge part of me was crumbling from the mere memories of all the time Rydan and I spent together in this very spot.

  The dull ache that was there just moments ago was now screaming out to me the longer I stood next to the water.

  And I wanted to scream back. I wanted to scream my lungs out.

  I wanted to scream for Rydan. For Mycah.

  Scream their names at the top of my breath and ask how they could have left me like they did.

  How?!

  How could you do this to me?!

  But I didn’t. I didn’t let the words escape my aching lungs. I hinged my jaw closed and tightened it. It was a struggle to keep my composure intact, but I did manage it somehow.

  “Rydan—” I drew in a steadying breath and tried desperately to calm my kicking heart, “and I...we came here a lot. Every day practically. I miss him so much, Zaylie.”

  “I know, love,” she replied as she brushed my bangs from my eyes. I jerked my chin up at the use of the term ‘love.’ I wanted to say—Don’t call me that. You can’t call me that. It was too painful to ever be called that again—unless—unless by—

  But I didn’t. I couldn’t be rude and horrible to her. It would kill me to hurt her feelings. That would be the last straw of my fragile sanity. So I ignored it. I let it roll off my back.

  I moved through the curtain of long branches that appeared to reach out for the ground below and slowly took step after step toward the massive trunk. I recalled each time Rydan would sit against it and play guitar, the way he’d lie under here in the protected space and hum his pretty song.

  I didn’t think I would ever be able to move on. My heart thumped in my chest and my stomach burned with regret for letting Mycah go without me. I should have made him take me. I shouldn’t have let him go so easily.

  What was I thinking?

  I watched Zaylie walk through the branches and turn in circles while gazing up in admiration at the beauty.

  I tried not to think about them. I tried desperately to put them out of my mind. I sat on the dry ground that stayed safe and protected from snow and pulled my knees up to drop my head on them. I was no longer in the mood for my tea so I set it down
next to me.

  I wished more than anything I could’ve gone with them. The desire to go through the tree and find Mycah became so strong, I practically growled in frustration, slamming my head and body back against the trunk.

  Only—

  I didn’t feel the tree. Instead of making contact with the trunk like I had expected, I kept falling backward. I screamed and cried as I tumbled down a short hill.

  A hill that was not in Kennebunkport, Maine.

  Chapter Six

  ~Naminé~

  As I sat upon the window seat in my chambers, looking out onto the cloudy sky, I noticed patches of small sunrays attempting to break through the gloomy clouds. It was as if they were trying their hardest to shine through the gloom—striving to spread out rays of hope. The thought made me smile as I once again picked up my dress and continued sewing.

  Salmé must have been a seamstress, for she had left a whole kit of sewing utensils in a chest at the foot of the bed. I used some aged fabric that was left in there as well: some old curtains. I decided to make myself a dress out of the deep purple fabric, a lovely color. At first, I was reluctant to tear up the curtains. I didn’t want to cause an upsetting, especially since I was using Salmé’s items. However, I needed something to do to keep myself from falling asleep. It was torture waiting for the King to return with my instructions for the day.

  Again I peered outside, wondering what Rydan was doing. Where was he going? Was he lost, captured…hungry, thirsty? I could not stand the thought of Rydan out there all alone. I had tried to reach him last night, but to no avail.

  The past couple days I had been forming another plan. Since Calen and I were together more, and our connection was so much stronger at the moment, I knew I must try to reach Remycah in secret from the King. If Remycah had been with Rydan in the Earthly realm, then surely he knew that Rydan was present in Luïnil.

  Perhaps Remycah was here as well. I would ask for his assistance. He had to find Rydan and speak with him about not returning to our Kingdom of Aselaira, at least not yet.

  Together, they may have a chance, but with Rydan out there alone—it was not doing anyone a bit of good. He could get himself captured, and then where would we be?

  My plan would go into effect in the late hours of the night. I had deduced some time ago that that was the time Remycah and Rydan were to sleep, unlike the common practice of our race. It served me well, for the King did not visit me until the earliest hours of the morning at a time his hunters would start their slumber. I would try to connect with Remycah tonight before the King arrived the next morning.

  This had to work. I did not know what else to do. I felt at fault for Rydan coming to Luïnil, for I asked him to come home. It had not entered my mind that he would even consider coming alone.

  I mentally shook the thought of him away for the thousandth time. It was getting me nowhere sitting around thinking about it. I could not wait for nightfall to come; Remycah would know what to do. I was sure of it.

  Later that morning, after the King received his report that Remycah had yet to be captured, I was allowed to nestle with Calen a moment more to strengthen our bond. I decided to try for the third time to dream-weave with Cathar.

  I suppressed the notion that I was stuck in deep denial about his demise into the back of my mind. However, I could not help holding on to hope. I could not imagine the thought of him not coming home, as much as I tried to accept it. I just could not. Despite the King confirming his death, it broke my heart every time I created the dream and then could not connect with his mind. Was he truly gone?

  My heart was at war with itself. He was dead; he wasn’t dead. I could not bear the unknown any longer! An image of my father and mother, Roche and Deasar, quickly sprung to mind, as I yearned to behold them once again and feel loved in their embrace. I feared that I had greatly dishonored them. The day I told them about Cathar leaving with his patrol was the last day I had seen my father. He had been so angry. I cried myself to sleep that night. If I never saw them again, I would loathe myself.

  Yet, every time I contemplated dream-weaving with one of them, I instantly dismissed the thought. I could not bear to see their hurt and disgraced looks. They would be so disappointed in their only daughter.

  No, I could not face them now. I should have told them of my gift and of being a Maite’Ona. I had kept it completely secret for so long, not only concealing my gift, but hiding Calen out in the forest, only being able to bond with her at brief moments. I did not know if they would have understood, but it would have been their duty to report my gift to their king. It was declared by King Ohtar that every Maite’Ona come forward and put their gifts to use for their king and Aselaira, to help in winning the war against the neighboring Kingdom of Lassaira, our enemy. For the sake of myself and Calen, I kept it hidden. My father and mother would most likely never forgive me for such a grave offense. I had to put them out of my mind for now.

  With all of my being, I desperately wanted to tell Cathar and have him meet Calen. He would have truly loved her and embraced my gift. The only reason I had not told him was to keep him from getting into trouble if my secret ever came to light. That mattered not now—not if he was truly gone. I cringed at the thought, but created the dream and tried to connect with him yet again despite my loss of hope. My mind was telling me he was gone, but my heart refused to believe it.

  In this dream, I created the ruins of the Tower of Barad. We used to play there as children when we would wander away from the castle and hide in the forest. I opened my eyes and found myself in the Tiuka forest, standing beside the old ruins and surrounded by tall towering trees. I rested against the stone and attempted with all my strength to connect with Cathar.

  Nothing.

  I could not sense anything at all. I tried to dig deeper and gather as much strength from Calen as I could, yet to no avail. He was not there, not anywhere.

  After waiting as long as I could, I finally succumbed to despair, collapsed on the ground, and broke into sobs that filled the pretend forest. My dear brother, my most favorite companion, was lost to me forever. My heart slowly broke into pieces and disintegrated into a lump of nothingness.

  Reluctantly, I let the threads of the dream go and allowed my mind to wander in darkness. I was all alone now. Mother and Father would never forgive me. My brother was truly gone, and I was imprisoned in my enemy’s chambers. What hope did I have?

  Instantly, my mind pondered Remycah and Rydan. They were like a welcoming breeze upon a summer’s day. I realized that I must continue to hope. If I wanted to see Aselaira as it truly should be, in the name of Cathar and make him proud, I must not give up the fight. Determined and refocused, I now firmly grasped the hope…the hope that Remycah and Rydan would indeed succeed.

  The dark night finally befell our Kingdom. It was well into the late hours, for the crescent moon was at its highest point. Time was not on my side. The castle was most active during the night, which put my secret plan at great risk of being discovered.

  It, however, was worth it. If I hadn’t met and befriended the prisoner in the dark dungeon below, I would not know Remycah or Rydan even existed. I would be oblivious to the fact that a false king ruled Aselaira, as were most of its subjects. By the force of Ohtar’s hand or otherwise, Remycah and Rydan were never to be spoken of.

  The thought haunted my every day. I greatly desired to put an end to Ohtar’s vicious slavery.

  At last, I created the dream for Remycah. I used the same scene I had created for him that one and only time I connected with him. It was in his mother’s Tari Garden. I did not know how much he remembered of her, but I was sure she spent a great amount of time with her sons out there, in her favorite garden, before sending them to safety and never seeing them again.

  Unlike the lifeless state it was currently in, I created the garden as it once was; beautifully filled with colorful lotes and elanor, teeming with life and abundant sunshine.

  I sat upon a bench in the middle o
f the yellow elanor flowers and used all my strength to connect with Remycah’s mind. I dearly hoped I could get through to him.

  I could suddenly sense Remycah, feeling that he was connecting and entering into the dream. A big smile spread across my face. The notion that I was in the presence of the rightful and true king of Aselaira did not escape my thought as I saw him come into view, completely clear and in focus. He was a marvelous sight to behold. Standing regally next to the bench across from where I sat, he was covered in all black matching the dark shade of his disarranged hair. The only color on him was his deep cerulean eyes. Those brilliant eyes met mine as he affectionately smiled and took a seat at the opposite bench.

  “Cormamin lindua ele lle,” I pleasantly said, for truly my heart did sing to see him. He had not changed at all since I had seen him last. “Thank you for seeing me, King Remycah.”

  “Ta naa seasamin, Lirimaer,” he responded sweetly, not forgetting our language despite the cycles away. I felt a soft flush of heat on my face at his kind words of declaration that the pleasure was his and referring to me as lovely. He lightly chuckled before saying, “Although I greatly appreciate your allegiance, it is not necessary to call me that. I’m not yet king. At least, not yet to our people.”

  I solemnly nodded in reply before meeting his intense gaze. “I suppose you are correct.”

  “This is so much better than when you reached me before. Not being able to speak made the whole bloody thing rather difficult,” he remarked, humor accompanying his voice.

  Much like Rydan’s, his voice sounded unusual; however, his had a deeper unfamiliar dialect. They must speak differently in the Earthly realm.

  I laughed lightly in response. “Yes, it is certainly better this way.” I fidgeted for a moment, feeling anxious. I decided to get right to the point and plunge into the reason I connected to him in the first place.

  “I fear for your brother Rydan. I need your help, K…Remycah. I had weaved our dreams together the other night, and he told me he was here…in Luïnil—all alone. I do not understand how or why, but I fear greatly for him. You are my only hope. Do you have any knowledge of him?”