It was strange to have once been a skinny, shy, unconfident boy who no one paid attention to. Now he was built and not afraid of anyone. He walked the halls with his head held high, and confidence in every step. He had changed in so many ways, but he’d like to think all of them were for the better.
Even though he was happy for his two friends, it always hurt to see them together because he’d had that once too. Girls would come up to him more often, and he’d be polite enough, but no one interested him. The only thing he wanted was a pair of violet eyes and long, white hair. He missed the feel and smell of her. He missed how crazy and unpredictable she could be. He just missed Lily. That was the hardest thing of all, knowing that he had fallen in love with someone and couldn’t be with them.
“Aiden!” Ethan called out, snapping him out of his daze. Aiden walked down to the lower level of the cafeteria where they usually sat, throwing his bag down on the table. Melissa looked up, annoyed, her chocolate milk now tipped over across the surface.
“Sorry,” he cringed. Melissa loved her chocolate milk. “I’ll go get you a new one.”
“It’s fine,” she waved off. “I was almost done anyway.”
“Are you sick?” he asked seriously.
“No. Why?”
“Since when do you turn down chocolate milk?”
“Since your dumbass best friend told me my ass looks bigger,” she shot back, swinging her head in Ethan’s direction pointedly.
“I thought it was a compliment,” Ethan grumbled.
Aiden chuckled. “Dude, you have so much to learn about girls.”
“That’s what she said.”
Aiden pulled out the lunch his mom had packed him, and started in on the bologna and cheese sandwich. No matter how old he got, Aiden didn’t think he’d ever get sick of plain old bologna and cheese. He looked up to see Melissa and Ethan both watching him.
“What?” he said around a mouthful.
“Nothing,” they said together. Suspicious, he thought.
“What’s up with you two?” he tried again.
Now that he was looking carefully, he noticed Melissa was unusually flushed, which meant she was excited. She was barely keeping herself still on the bench. Ethan looked abnormally happy as well. “What have you done?”
Melissa laughed. “Oh Aiden,” she giggled. “We haven’t done anything. Why would you even ask that?”
“Cause you both look way too pleased with yourselves, and I mean to find out why.”
Ethan shook his head, grinning. “You’re paranoid.”
“Uh, no,” Aiden corrected. “What I am is smart, and not to mention I’ve been your best friend now for longer than I’d like, so I know when you’re up to something.”
Ethan sat up, insulted. “I take offense to that,” he declared.
“I’m sure you do,” Aiden sighed, taking another bite of his sandwich.
“Jocks ‘R Us at two o’clock,” Ethan murmured. Aiden looked over to see Wes approaching from the other side of the cafeteria.
“Hey Wes, what’s up?” Aiden greeted.
He sat down beside him, shaking the whole table. Ethan rolled his eyes. Aiden had hoped he might come around to liking some of the guys from the team, but no such luck.
“Have you seen the new girl?” he asked, excitedly.
“No,” Aiden shook his head. “What new girl?”
“Duuudddeee!” he stretched out. “There’s a hot new chick in our grade. You have to see her.”
Aiden looked over and froze at the glee written on his friend’s faces. Oh great, he thought. This was what they were up to. Probably trying to set him up with some new girl in the hope of distracting him from his woes. Wasn’t going to happen.
“Well, I’ll have to keep an eye open for her,” he said without interest.
“She’s a bit weird though,” Wes added. “I’m not even kidding when I tell you that I just saw her talking to a squirrel outside on the front grass. It was weird, but I think I can overlook it since she’s so hot.”
His heart stopped. Slowly, he turned to look at Wes, hope springing in his chest despite his better sense telling it not to. “Talking to squirrels?”
Wes nodded like they were both agreeing on the strangeness of her.
Aiden licked his dry lips. “What does she look like?”
“Long, really blonde hair,” Wes described. “Short and skinny. Big, pretty eyes. I don’t know, like a girl.”
His head snapped to his friends, and as soon as he saw the tears streaming down Melissa’s face, he knew. He stood up quickly, almost tripping on his way out from beneath the table. Running through the densely packed lunchroom, his mind was racing with the possibility of this being true. How could it be? Was he fooling himself into thinking it really was who he thought it was?
He burst through the front doors of the school, his eyes finding her immediately, as if they were automatically drawn to her. She stood beneath a tree wearing a pair of skin-tight jeans and a black sweater. Her hair was braided over one shoulder, while a backpack rested at her feet. A smile broke out across her face when she saw him. Aiden darted forward, ignoring the calls following him from people he knew. When he reached her he didn’t bother with words, he simply pulled her into his arms and kissed her harder than he had ever kissed her before.
Finally he pulled back to look down at her flushed face. “How?” was all he said.
“The Goddess gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse,” she said simply, her arms draping across his shoulders.
“And what was that?”
“That I could come here and be with you, but I’d have to become like you.”
“Explain that a little more to me, Lily.”
“I’m like you now, Aiden,” she shrugged. “Human, I guess. In the sense that I won’t live as long as before; I’ll age like you now, and I’m not as strong.”
“You gave that up for me?” he gasped.
She smiled sweetly up at him, as if her sacrifices were nothing. “I was miserable there. I’d rather be here and grow old with you, than stay there and be young without you. I love you, Aiden. This is where I’m meant to be.”
Aiden kissed her again. “I’ve missed you so much,” he said when he stopped. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re here.”
“Me too,” she giggled. “I’m officially a student here. I’ve never gone to school! It’s going to be so much fun!”
Aiden cringed, scrunching his face. “Uh yeah…maybe you should spend a few days in high school before you say that. Where are you living?”
“With Melissa,” she answered. “I’m an exchange student she convinced her parents to take in,” she laughed.
Aiden’s mouth dropped open. “How long has Melissa known?”
“I only got here last night, but we work quick.” She winked.
Aiden cupped her face, looking over every beautiful feature of it, hoping he’d never have to go another day without seeing it again. “Is this real?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
“So this is it? You’re here, and we’re going to be together? No more wars and battles?”
She chuckled. “This is it,” she confirmed. “It’s over.”
“Is it really?”
She smiled. “For now.”
THE END OF THE EDEN SERIES
Turn the page for a bonus chapter from the highly anticipated spin-off series, Elysium!
PROLOGUE
Wings of pure white with tips of blue that spanned wider than any man. Hair black as night, and eyes that some say could see into one’s soul; white orbs ringed with blue, set beneath the fan of dark lashes and a masculine brow. Every line in his face was that of an angel. A sculptor’s dream, they said. A face designed to woo a woman’s heart at first glance.
Within his arms was a maiden, so fair and lovely that everyone who saw her stopped to admire. Raven hair that reached down her back, eyes bright and lips rouge. She was delicate looking, even more so when compa
red to the creature that carried her from the sky.
They had appeared out of nowhere – the angel and his innocent bride. How quickly the town’s people learned differently. For he was no angel, and she no innocent.
Prince Nolan hurried through the halls as his advisor, Christophe, kept pace beside him, rattling off words that Nolan hardly heard. The entire town of Veritas was in an uproar over the appearance of some angel. Or, at least, that was what people were saying. Nolan was wary to believe the Gods would allow such a creature to descend upon the simple people of his beloved city.
There had to be a reasonable explanation. However, even Christophe was going on about the man’s wings. It was definitely worrisome. Nolan had half a mind to consider that there was some sort of fever going around, effecting people’s judgement. Perhaps something that made them hallucinate? He wasn’t quite sure, but apparently the Captain of the Guard had brought this “man” to the throne room, and was even now waiting for him.
It was during times like these that Nolan wished his father was still alive. King Jacob had been the type of man who could cope with anything without becoming stressed. Nolan did not have that talent, which was why he still refused to officially take the throne as King. True, he technically ruled Veritas already, but being King came with more responsibilities than he wanted at the age of twenty four.
That wasn’t the only reason, of course. The other had to do with his late father’s young bride, Queen Cecelia, who carried the true, future heir within her slight body. It wasn’t easy for her, he knew. Not only had she come from her land in the mountains to marry a King she hardly knew, but then she had been left a widow only a few short months later.
Nolan doubted the woman had ever loved his father. They were practically strangers and so different in age. Nevertheless, he could only imagine how difficult it would be to face, not only being the Queen of a land unknown to you, but becoming a mother without a paternal figure to help raise the babe.
Of course, Nolan and his sister Isla would help raise their sibling as much as they could, but it would never be the same as having their father around. King Jacob might not have always been the kindest of men, but he had treated his children with love and affection in his own way.
“Are you listening to me, Prince Nolan?” Christophe said in a raised voice. Nolan looked over at the man who had only just recently been appointed advisor. The poor man still wasn’t used to the daily excitement of working for royalty. It could be seen in his wide set eyes and drawn features. His body was always so visibly wound tight, his hand constantly moving as though he were unable to keep still for even a moment. At this rate, Nolan expected he was bound to have an attack of the heart by the time he reached thirty moons.
“I was not,” Nolan admitted with a quick shake of his head. “What was it you were saying?”
The man opened his mouth to speak again, but Nolan was distracted once more as Cecelia came walking down the hall toward them. Her chestnut hair was unbound, hanging down her back to her waist. A thin, gold band wrapped around her head, the only piece of jewellery she wore. Nolan always thought that she should wear the finest jewels, and lots of them – not that she need such adornments to heighten her beauty.
Eyes the same colour as her hair caught his and the tiniest of smiles lifted the corners of her mouth. The long, yellow gown she wore stretched around her growing stomach created a glow about her that Nolan thought was unique unto her.
“Good morrow, Nolan,” she said, stopping just in front of them. Nolan heard Christophe huff at the obvious loss of attention again, but he ignored the man as all his focus went to the woman in front of him. It pleased him greatly to hear her call him simply Nolan.
“How are you this fine morning, Cecelia?” he asked.
Her hand went to her belly. “Fine,” she replied, the answer not quite reaching her eyes.
Nolan eyed her stomach. “Are you sure? Shall I get the healer?”
Cecelia shook her head. “No. Thank you. I’ve already been to see him. ‘Tis nothing to worry about.”
Footsteps sounded loudly behind him just then. He didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Only Isla, even at the age of fourteen, would run through the castle like a wild boar. Nolan was sure her best friend was at her side. One did not see the Princess without her faithful friend and personal guard, Elora. Even at fifteen, Elora was more capable than any of the men specially trained in the Guard, for Elora was one of the Elite.
Nolan turned just at the last second as his little sister came to a sliding halt beside him. She grinned up at him and he fought back his own. The freckles that dotted her nose were darker now with the summer sun. It was obvious by the slightly golden hue to her skin that she’d been outside for most of the week. A pang of guilt ran through him at the realization of how little he knew about what his sister got up to most days.
Elora stood just slightly back from his sister. Although she appeared relaxed, he could tell she was still on alert, always aware of everything and everyone around them. Her pale hair was pulled back into a braid that rested over one shoulder. Eyes that could appear cold when one was not used to them scanned the halls as they always did. They were practically all white, except for a few flecks of blue scattered through like the sky peeking through the clouds.
It had taken years for Nolan to grow accustomed to the way the Elite looked. His father had always had so many of them around that he’d had no choice but to become familiar with their strange features. Even though the Captain still kept his men trained in the Guard, the King had kept a special fleet of strictly Elite soldiers. There had always been peace between their kind because of the late King.
Nolan wondered then where Artem was. He led the Elite, and Nolan would have expected him to be there, with all these tails of an angel appearing.
“Is it true?” Isla asked excitedly.
Elora let out a loud sigh, replying before Nolan himself could. “Of course it’s not true, Isla. An angel,” she snorted, “what rubbish.”
Isla gripped the sleeves of his shirt, bouncing on the pads of her feet. “Well? Is it true?” she repeated. A lock of strawberry hair came loose from her bun with her constant movements. Nolan tucked it behind her ear, looking into pale grey eyes so similar to their father’s.
“I’m on my way to the throne room now,” he answered. “I have no idea what is going on, but I’m going to get to the bottom of it. I can assure you, this man is no angel.”
Her eyes widened. “But he fell from the sky, Nolan! And he has wings!”
He couldn’t help but chuckle at her interest. “As soon as I figure this out, I will tell you all about it. I promise.”
That made her smile. Nolan never broke his promises. He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
“Now, go do something productive instead of just lying out in the sun all day, while I deal with this.”
Isla smiled, not bothering to deny her lazy habits. She kissed his cheek before turning to kiss Cecelia’s round belly, and then turned to run back down the hall with Elora in tow. Just like that, she was gone as quickly as she’d appeared.
“I don’t know where she finds the energy,” Cecelia said with a laugh.
There was nothing threatening or powerful about Prince Nolan. He radiated a kindness and approachability that Elex hadn’t expected. When he’d first saw him enter the throne room, he’d been anticipating someone much different. Instead of a ruthless leader, he was met by a young man with bright blue eyes, reddish blonde hair, and a gentle smile.
Perhaps Elex had been so used to his father, the feared sorcerer Aziz, or had been mentally comparing him to the High King of Capital City in Eden, Callum, who was a large, hard looking man. Either way, the easy, relaxed nature of the man ruling Veritas, the biggest city by far in all of Elysium, was both a blessing and a curse for what Elex had planned.
For the past five days, Prince Nolan had accepted them into his home as his honoured guests. Elex had given him very little his
tory of just where he and Rain had come from, and the man had asked even less. It was perplexing. Elex could tell how shocking his presence was to the man, and yet the Prince never pressed them to explain what had brought them to Elysium. Although Elex had sensed his caution when they’d first met, it soon melted away as his awe over Elex’s wings and extraordinary appearance took over. Such strange people, Elex thought.
Their days had been spent touring around the city, which increasingly impressed Elex the more he saw. The town was clean, the streets wide and open. No walls surrounded them. Towers were stationed at all roads leading into the town, which were constantly posted with men from the Guard, and usually one of the Elite.
Even Rain seemed to be enjoying herself, thankfully. Elex had worried about her after seeing her family at the battle outside the mountain fortress he was raised in. During the long and exhausting flight over the sea from Eden to Elysium, Rain had been unusually subdued and quiet. But as the days wore on, her eyes brightened more and he caught her smiling often. At night their lovemaking would take on a desperate tone that silently spoke of their intense need for one another.
It was clear to him that this place was the best choice for them. There was no way he could return to Eden, and Elysium was the last option. Veritas seemed like the perfect place to settle down. They could have ventured further north to Montis, the city in the mountains, but Elex was sick of being hidden away in highlands. He wanted to be amongst other people, where he could show them just who and what he was.
There was one problem, however, with Veritas – the Elite. There was no hope of Elex taking over the throne with the, supposed, God’s children around. Even though Elex had been created using the blood of the Elite, he doubted that he’d be able to beat any of them in battle, should it ever come to that. He needed the throne though. There was no way around it. He refused to live under another’s thumb anymore, and Prince Nolan was the perfect person to steal a crown from.
The Eden Series: The Complete Collection Page 108