The Sweet Series Box Set: Books 1-4

by Bailey Ardisone

  “Hey, you’re still here,” Rydan said. “Good. I told my parents I have something to do, but that we’d see them later at home. I’ll go with you guys. Let’s go make sure Ender and Lómë are okay before my parents get there.”

  The three of us made our way to Anna’s SUV. I stumbled right as we reached it, feeling dizzy. Just before I hit the pavement, Mycah scooped me up into his arms.

  “You okay?” Rydan asked with concern.

  “Yeah. Thanks,” I breathed, trying to catch my bearings. Mycah kept ahold of me and slid us both into the far back seat of the vehicle. I wanted to laugh at the thought that Rydan would be like our chauffeur up in the driver’s seat alone, but I didn’t have the energy to do even that.

  “You’re worrying me, love. I know you’re keeping something from me.” Mycah had his lips on the top of my head as we shared the bench seat together.

  “Nah, I need sleep. That’s all.”

  “So, yeah, there aren’t any more rooms open at the B&B. They’re all filled. There should be space for you at my house, Nari, but I don’t know if there is for you, man. Wanna stay somewhere else?” Rydan asked Mycah through the rearview mirror as we drove to his house.

  That got my attention. “No!” I yelped all high-pitched and silly. I cleared my throat, feeling embarrassed. But I needed him. “No, he’ll stay with me.”

  Rydan’s eyes found mine in the mirror. “Umm, no. Not happening.”

  “What? Why not? Yes, it is.”

  “No way.”

  “Rydan! Yes. Unless you plan on staying next to me in case I wake up from a nightmare screaming bloody-murder. Or would you rather I just wake up everyone in your house? I’ve been having a hard time sleeping, and Mycah knows how to help with it.” I knew this reasoning would get him to concede.

  He sighed heavily, dropping his head back on the headrest. “Naminé can stay with you. Or Ender.”

  Crap. Not what I expected.

  “I don’t want to inconvenience them. And it’s rude of you to volunteer them like that! Jeez, Ry.” I shook my head for dramatic flair. I knew neither of them would mind, and I’d appreciate their kindness, but I was in desperate need of some alone time with Mycah. “Look, I know either of them would be fine with it. And I’d totally appreciate the sentiments. But it’s really embarrassing when it happens, and I’d just feel awful if they had to see me screaming my head off. I mean, it’d be bad enough if you had to, too,” I laughed a little, trying to play it off like I was a crazy person. “But Mycah knows how to prevent me from getting all psycho-screaming and stuff. So, I’d just really like it if he was there. K, Ry? Discussion over.”

  In the mirror, I could see Rydan steamed over it as he clenched his jaw. He didn’t respond. Mycah brushed the tiny wisps of bangs out of my eyes as he looked down at me through his eyelashes, his elbow sat up on the back of the seat. I nestled into the crook of his body that half faced me. His warmth radiated into me, his scent attaching itself to me everywhere. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking as he stared at me. His face was pensive but serene.

  He was making me nervous. And light-headed. And completely breathless.

  I also noted how he had no say in the matter of where he slept. He didn’t speak out against Rydan’s idea or assist me in my protest of it. He didn’t back me up when I voiced what I wanted or disagreed with it. He just…let whatever happened, happen.

  Then again, it wasn’t like I actually asked him for his opinion on where he wanted to sleep. I kind of forced him to stay with me without even asking if he wanted to or if that’d be okay with him. Shoot. Now I felt bad.

  “Uh, is that okay? Will you stay with me?” I whispered softly to him.

  He continued to stare at me for what felt like an eternity. The anticipation of how he was going to answer started pricking away at my scalp before he finally licked his lips and murmured, “As you wish.”

  I couldn’t tell if he wanted to, or if maybe he dreaded it. He didn’t let any emotion show in his face that'd give me a hint. I decided I would ask him later when we had more privacy.

  By the time we got to the O’Malleys’ house, it grew late in the evening. I felt like I was getting sicker by the minute. I was sure I could’ve slept for an entire year as I dragged myself out of the car, then made my way into the typical New England-type house that was common here in Maine.

  Naminé and Ender appeared from behind as we entered. They had already been outside, apparently, and had seen us pull in. I ran to Ender to see if he was okay from the gunshot Nikolai had inflicted him with. He was surprised to see Mycah with us.

  “Where’s Lómë?” Rydan asked first thing. Naminé ran to him with sheer relief, but stopped herself short. He gazed at her longingly as he slipped his arm around her waist, drawing her to him in an embrace.

  “We hid her in the woods. She is awfully injured, Rydan,” Naminé explained as she pulled away. Mycah was already healing Ender. “I have done all I could to tend to her wounds, but there was not much we could do. We feared for humans to see her; therefore, we kept her secret behind your house where she is slowly recovering. Even with Ender, we were forced to find the medicine clinic you spoke of, Rydan.”

  “Yes, Remycah, you can expect a hefty gift awaiting for your return in London in the shape of an envelope,” Ender commented cavalierly.

  “A gift?” Mycah asked, confused.

  “Mm, yes. A gift, or rather large hospital bill. It’s neither here nor there, really.” Ender examined his fingernails. Mycah shook his head with a slight smirk.

  Rydan, unable to contain his smile, added, “I figured that’d be the case. Well done sending it to Daddy Warbucks.” Mycah cocked a brow in his direction. “But anyway, also good thinking about hiding Lómë here. Hurry, take us to her.”

  We followed Naminé and Ender as they led us to the spot in the woods where they hid her. We came upon her lying flat on her side, moaning. Her breaths were deep and slow. Mycah spared no time to take away her pain and make her good as new again. Calen was huddled next to her neck in a sweet, caring gesture of moral support and comfort. Mycah healed her wing that had appeared to still be mending.

  Rydan dropped to his knees next to Lómë as she sat up. He circled his arms around her, just as she, too, put her paws across his back. It was so special seeing them together. Naminé also embraced Calen, rejoicing in her revival. It all made me miss Lissë with the greatest fierceness of longing.

  “Remycah, should you not be on the run? Hidden in a place Ohtar’s hunters cannot find you? Whatever are you doing here?” Ender piped up, taking Mycah by the shoulder.

  Mycah ran a hand through his hair that was already in disarray. “That is precisely where I am. They cannot find me here. Not anymore.”

  “What do you mean?” Naminé inquired.

  “The Ëlemmiire. I burnt it down.”

  “You what? Say it isn’t so!” Ender jumped back in.

  “What possibly for?” Naminé added quickly with misery and pain. “How can this be? We are doomed!”

  “They would have followed us through had I not.” Mycah kept his eyes locked onto mine mournfully and whispered, seemingly only to me, “It was the only way. Forgive me.”

  But I couldn’t respond. Of course there was nothing to forgive; I was so grateful he had done whatever had been necessary to protect us—otherwise we’d all probably be dead or captured. Despite seeing it with my own eyes, I still couldn’t manage to wrap my head around the Weeping Willow tree being gone—along with my only chance of seeing Lissë again. The devastation clawed at my vocal cords, making it impossible to say a word. Hearing it being discussed out loud by everyone made it seem too real.

  “Tell me, what reason did you have to not keep running? Why did you return here in the first place?” Ender was exasperated, if not angry.

  “The moment you stepped through the Ëlemmiire, I felt the danger you were in. I could feel Nariella’s terror. I led Ohtar’s army astray, but it was difficult shaking them co
mpletely. And then not moments after I had seen the lot of you off, her pain was more unbearable than I have ever felt before. I was so close, but still so far. I changed my course and went after her immediately.”

  “That was not for you to do! How did you find her?” Ender asked pointedly.

  “I just knew. I can’t explain it. I could…feel...Nariella. For days I felt her fear. I knew something was wrong, and I could not bear to leave her alone.”

  “No, this cannot be happening.” Ender brought a hand over his mouth, fear plaguing his face. My chest clenched.

  “What?” Mycah’s head snapped to attention.

  “You are joining already. You must stop it. You cannot be together. Remycah, are you listening? You cannot take your place as king and save our people if this continues. You will never be accepted, even if you defeat Ohtar. You will be executed for treason. Both of you!” Ender’s eyes jumped back and forth from Mycah’s to mine.

  “Your hypocrisy confounds me,” Mycah scoffed. My eyes immediately flew to his face, surprised by his response.

  “I was not in line to be king!” Ender roared, causing me to jump.

  “No, but you were responsible for the very one who was! How can you rebuke me for a crime you yourself committed? The crime that brought her into existence in the first place! Do not speak to me of treason. I understand the consequences well, just as you did nineteen years ago.” Mycah leaned back against the trunk of a nearby tree, relaxed suddenly.

  “Remycah, you cannot possibly compare the two circumstances. I did not carry the lives of an entire kingdom on my shoulders! What you are doing is entirely different. You are knowingly murdering your people, should you allow this to unfurl.” Ender pointed a finger at Mycah’s chest.

  “I am aware of what is at bloody stake, Ender!” Mycah slammed the side of his fist onto the trunk. The force caused dead leaves to fall everywhere. “But I love her.”

  “Then do not sentence her to her death,” Ender practically begged.

  “Does any of this matter? Our kingdom is what is sentenced to death if we have no way of returning to Luïnil!” Naminé chimed into the mix, exasperation pouring out of her voice. “The Lassaira Ëlemmiire was the last. Without it, we have no way home.”

  Ender turned from the group with hands over his face. It was all too much and overwhelming. Too final and permanent. The realization dawned heavier on me with each passing minute. And I grew weaker the more we mentioned the hopelessness. First the way back to Luïnil was eliminated, and now a fight over whether Mycah and I could be together or not? That being together meant “murdering” an entire kingdom, one that we couldn’t even get to anymore? I couldn’t even think of that. I wanted to stay firm in my decision to never return, but it was agonizing not feeling the connection to my Fëa—the other half of my soul. The thought slowly taunted me. Haunted me. I scratched at my arms, my skin crawling as the realization settled firmer. The way to Luïnil was gone.

  Mycah wrapped his strong fingers around my wrist that sat atop my head as I clenched fists through my hair and pulled me directly into his hard chest, engulfing me in his arms.

  “Shhh,” he soothed against my ear. I fell limp against him, surrounded by the intoxication of his sweet, woodsy scent. Familiar. Warm. Enchanting.

  Ender walked away with frustration oozing out of his pores. We were all caught up in our own minds, left to drown in the devastating reality that their kingdom would never be saved.

  Chapter Sixteen

  ~Naminé~

  I shivered beneath my covering, tucking my ice-cold feet between its folds. Never had I experienced such temperatures without at least a fire burning in my chambers. It was unusual to sleep during the night, but it was common practice for humans and different races from our realm whom did not hale from the moon and stars. My loathsome service to Ohtar and short time spent with Rydan in the wild prepared me for this sleeping timetable, but my mind refused to give in.

  The horror over Aselaira never seeing its true king take his throne, the very fact it would crumble into desolation and nothingness, it was all suffocating. Would I truly never behold the beauty of my home restored? Was I now fated to spend the rest of eternity without ever embracing my mother or father again? Or my beloved brother? I couldn’t bear it.

  Though it was gravely difficult to dream-weave in this realm, I had to at least try once more to connect with Cathar. Failing to communicate with him the last time even prior to the Ëlemmiire being destroyed did not allow room for hope, I knew this, but I refused to live in the Earthly realm without at least trying to work toward restoring my connection to my homeland. It wouldn’t happen overnight, but as often as I was able to, I would try my best to link myself with Luïnil.

  Despite being indoors, Calen remained at my side where I lay. I was incredibly happy and relieved to have her healthy again. Stroking her silken, purple-red feathers, I shut my eyes in concentration in preparation of dream-weaving. As usual, I had to pull from her energy, but there was no supplemental aid from the land to assist in reaching Cathar. The more energy we exchanged between each other, the more painful it became in my temple, for I could not achieve the strength needed to form a proper connection.

  I did not give up. I relaxed my mind, my body, and my breathing. The frigid air filtered into my lungs as I drew in steadying breaths. Calen maneuvered herself nearer against my body, fortifying our strength.

  Alas, I feared it was not the same. I could not even feel Cathar; I could hardly feel Luïnil but even a little. There was nowhere for my mind to reach toward. It was only…emptiness. No, not even emptiness. It was as if my mind’s fingers rammed into solid, brick wall, not giving an ounce of leeway, refusing to even budge.

  Perhaps a bit of practice with someone likewise here in the Earthly realm with me would do some good. Although, in actuality, it would be more of a test, for I could not possibly know if it would even work anymore with the Ëlemmiire gone. However, it was an idea, and that was all I had to go on.

  Inhaling a deep breath, I reached for Rydan’s mind with the intention of connecting him to a dream. My forehead furrowed from the effort, and a bit of an ache formed behind my eyes. Spreading my dream-weaving tendrils, I strung a web of scenery as I touched the corners of Rydan’s brainwaves. I gasped a sharp intake of air. Could it have truly worked, despite the Ëlemmiire’s demise?

  “Rydan?” I called hesitantly, not knowing for certain if he was present. And then I felt him enter the dream. It was a strange feeling; unlike the way it was when I would dream-weave in Luïnil. Yet I did feel him standing near me. I turned to see him looking quite puzzled.

  “Were you able to connect with Cathar?” he inquired, skeptically. He misunderstood what this meant, for before retreating into my room, I had informed him that I would try to reach my brother.

  “Unfortunately, Rydan, I was unable to, despite my success in connecting with you.” I sighed, feeling a bit defeated. “It seems I may have the ability to dream-weave with those within the Earthly realm, as long as I am here as well. But I cannot reach those in Luïnil—As of yet. I shall keep trying.”

  “Oh. I see.” He drew nearer. “Are you okay?”

  “I am. Yet I fear for my family. The fact that I cannot reach them is maddening. I feel something is terribly wrong, and not knowing is…it is a bit disheartening, to say the least,” I replied, trying to at least manage a smile, despite the gravity of my hopeless words.

  He brushed my long, blonde hair behind my shoulder, saying, “It’s okay. I’m sorry about your family. That must be hard. But I don’t think you really have to worry about anything. Cathar can take care of himself, and you know he’d never let anything happen to your parents. But I understand where you’re coming from.”

  I knew I should’ve pulled away then. But I could not. It was considerably more comfortable being with Rydan in the dream world than out in the reality of the real world with prying eyes taking notice of our every move.

  “I know I should n
ot worry about it. It is silly and pointless of me.” I looked away, mentally chastising myself for being so weak. And in more ways than one.

  Rydan lifted my chin to bring my eyes back to his, and in the process my heart missed a beat. “It isn’t silly or pointless. They’re your family. It’s okay to worry.”

  I made effort to breathe once more, but all I was able to manage was a nod of my head and some sort of “mm” noise of confirmation. His silver eyes penetrated mine deeply, and I could not say for sure whether or not we remained in a dream-state. It felt alarmingly real, for his touch that lingered on my skin sent tremors to my toes.

  He asked, “How’s your stay in Kennebunkport been going? This is your first time in the Earthly realm, right?”

  “Oh, yes, it…” I stammered, searching for the proper response. “It…is quite cold.”

  Rydan chuckled, his eyes dropping to his feet. He ran a hand back and forth through his dark hair, smiling. “Yeah, it’s colder than Aselaira right now, that’s for sure. Maine gets cold pretty quick this time of year.”

  “I have felt bitter cold before whilst in the Nura’ringul Mountains,” I began to explain. “I am at least grateful it is not as harsh as the coldness there. Truly, this is nothing, and I shall get used to it soon enough.”

  “Besides that, it’s not too scary here, right?” He grasped my hand sweetly, and I did my best not to blush as I relished this gesture. It was wrong of me to give in to such things, I knew, but how could I refuse him?

  “I suppose it is not.” I smiled. “There were some frightening moments, but do not worry. I shall certainly be used to all that as well. I am not frightened anymore.”

  “Good.”

  “Rydan, before you leave to get rest, I want you to know how truly grateful I am for everything your parents have done for us. They have been wonderful.” I squeezed his hand, wanting to portray genuineness.