Aylie hung her head. “I shouldn’t have touched the water at all.”
The water itself is not bad, the lion replied, his voice soothing and gentle. You were not wrong to cool yourself with it. Your mistake was allowing your desire for it to become so strong that it overruled your better judgment—that is where most people go wrong.
“I’m sorry,” Aylie murmured. The moment she said the words, she felt lighter. Freer. She felt as if he was smiling at her. She looked at him, full of gratitude. “What is your name?”
Ruah.
All at once, the ground beneath them began to quake. Aylie’s body trembled, as the rumbling of rocks and trees stirred the forest around her, getting louder and louder. The sound of a mighty waterfall filled her eardrums until she could not bear it any longer. Ruah’s name echoed over and over in the wind, as she buried her head in her hands.
Aylie jolted awake in her bed. To say that she was a little freaked out by the dream was an understatement. She felt around on her nightstand for her journal and clicked on the lamp by her bed so she could see. She remembered the first part of the dream, when she’d whirled around to find Eli behind her instead of Ryder. What was it he’d said to her?
She flipped through the pages of her journal until she found the previous dream she’d had about the white lion and compared what he’d said to her in that dream with the one she’d just had. Both Eli and the white lion had told her to take back what belonged to her. They both had piercing blue eyes, the same compassionate gaze….
Aylie rubbed her temples. She must be seriously affected right now to be comparing a real human being with a mythical creature from a dream. Could it be just a freaky coincidence? And what was the deal with the water in the stream? Why had it felt so wrong to drink it? She remembered the lion’s name—Ruah. She recalled how the earthquake had felt beneath her feet. It had all seemed so real. It was almost as if she could feel her bed shaking underneath her at the memory of it.
Aylie raked her fingers through her straight, blond hair. What was happening to her? She wanted to dismiss the dreams…forget about them entirely. They were probably just stress dreams, anyway. The excitement of the paintball tournament mixed with impressions of Eli’s concern coming out in her subconscious while she slept. Yet somehow, they felt like a warning. She didn’t like the feeling but she couldn’t seem to shake it, either. There was something very pure in the lion’s eyes in the dreams she’d had, and when she recalled the way Eli had looked at her outside the restrooms at the ice cream shop, she felt sure it had been the same look.
Maybe he really did know something. Not just about where she’d gone, but about Edryd’s Order. Maybe he knew something that could help Ryder or prevent him from being their next victim. If nothing else, maybe he could tell her something about her own ancestry that would help her figure out which side she was supposed to be on. That, at least, would be a relief. She was sworn to secrecy about Ryder’s identity and his connection with Edryd’s Order, but she’d made no promises concerning her own personal background. She promised herself that she’d talk to Eli about it if the opportunity presented itself again. Eventually she drifted off to sleep, and this time it was blissfully uninterrupted.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
A ylie sat on the iron park bench next to Ren, lacing up her ice skates. Figure skating was one of her favorite pastimes and she’d taken lessons since she was five. It had become a yearly tradition for her and the girls to go ice-skating at Silvervane’s open-air rink on the last day of fall break and she could feel the anticipation mounting in the early December air.
Lacey plopped down on the other side of her, skates already perfectly laced. She crossed her ankles daintily, leaning back against the bench to wait for both of them to finish. “I think I might ask Marcus to the Winter Ball,” she announced, sounding pleased with herself.
“Really?” Ren glanced sideways at Aylie, who was just finishing up the bow on her second skate.
Aylie looked up in surprise. “Are you interested in him?”
Lacey shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. He’s funny and charming…which you already know. And he’s ridiculously attractive, so I’m considering it.”
Aylie stood to her feet to make sure her skates were laced tight enough to provide sufficient ankle support. She rolled her ankles to the right and then the left and was satisfied.
“What do you think about that?” Ren asked, as Lacey sailed ahead of them on the ice.
“I don’t know yet. I would never have pictured the two of them together.”
“But how do you feel about the idea of Lacey having a thing for your ex-boyfriend?”
Aylie shrugged. “We broke up seven months ago so I feel like he’s fair game at this point.”
“So you’re totally over him, then?” Ren probed.
“I still care about him, but the break-up was a mutual decision. We’re still good friends, we just want different things after high school. He wants a girl to carry on his arm, someone to cheer him on and make him feel like he’s the center of their universe.”
Ren snorted in disgust.
“He’s a really good guy, Ren—he deserves to have what he wants. I liked him a lot, but I didn’t want to make him the center of my universe. And I certainly don’t want to follow him to the college that offers him the best hockey scholarship.”
“That’s very wise,” Ren noted. “But are you ready for him to date someone else?”
“It wouldn’t be fair of me to expect him to stay single when I’m not willing to give him the kind of commitment he’s looking for. I have no choice but to be ready.”
“Yeah…but with Lacey? She’s your best friend.”
“She’s one of my best friends,” Aylie corrected, smiling sideways at her as they took the curve. “And so is Marcus. I can’t really see them working out, but I’d be happy for them if it did.”
“That’s very generous of you,” Ren squeezed her hand and sprinted to catch up with Lacey.
Aylie skated by herself for a few minutes, taking each turn with ease, crossing one foot over the other and stopping to practice her spins and turns every now and then.
“You’ve always been a natural,” said a familiar voice from behind.
Aylie smiled as Marcus skated up beside her. “Speak of the devil.”
“Really? You were talking about me?”
Aylie laughed. “About you and Lacey, actually.”
“Oh,” Marcus smiled. “That. I’m still not sure about that.”
“Well you probably should figure it out because Lacey is certainly thinking about it.”
“What did she say?”
Aylie smiled. “My lips are sealed.”
He grinned. Aylie had always loved his smile. It was the first thing she had noticed about Marcus when she’d met him in ninth grade. They’d dated for almost two years and had been pretty serious, up until seven months ago, when they’d realized there probably wasn’t a future for them together. It had been a hard break-up for both of them, but time and a little space had made things easier.
“Are you okay with that?” He asked, looking sideways at her.
“Of course. Lacey is one of my best friends and so are you.”
He nodded. “I’m still not sure if I feel that way about her but I wanted to know what you thought.”
“You don’t need my permission to date someone, Marcus.”
“I know, but you’re one of my best friends, too. Your opinion matters to me and I care about how that might affect our friendship.”
“No worries,” Aylie said. She looked around the rink. “Are you guys practicing here today?”
“Unofficially,” he said, with a mischievous grin. “It’s more like a pick-up game. Kyle, Chance, and Blake are all here. I don’t know if anyone else is coming or not.”
“Good luck then,” Aylie said, punching him playfully in the shoulder. She sailed toward the other side of the rink to catch up with Lacey and Ren.
�
�Did you tell Marcus that I was planning to ask him to the Winter Ball?” Lacey asked, the moment they were skating side by side.
“Of course not,” Aylie assured her.
“Did he say anything about me?” She asked, looking anxious.
Aylie tried to think of how to respond without hurting Lacey’s feelings. “He said he’s trying to decide how he feels right now.”
“So he’s thinking about me, then?”
Aylie laughed. “I guess he is.”
Lacey smiled, satisfied. “But what about you, Aylie? If I ask Marcus to the ball, who will you ask? You’ve always gone with him.”
“I honestly haven’t given it any thought,” Aylie murmured.
“Oh, I know…you should ask Derek’s friend. What’s his name, Eli? That boy is FINE.”
Aylie laughed out loud. “I think someone else might be planning to ask him,” she hedged, trying not to glance in Ren’s direction.
“Really, who?”
Ren blushed but didn’t say anything.
“Never mind. Have you started to look for a dress yet?” Aylie knew talking about clothes was the fastest way to turn Lacey’s attention away from something else. Ren shot her a grateful glance, as they made several more laps around the rink listening to Lacey’s idea for her dress and plans for an after party.
After a couple of hours, their feet started to hurt and the girls decided it was time for lunch. Ren and Lacey turned in their skates, but Aylie always brought her own. She tied the strings together, putting rubber covers over the sharp blades. Then they piled into Lacey’s sedan and drove to a small eatery called the Brown Bear Cafe. It was a cute and rustic little place, offering a full breakfast and lunch menu, along with various teas and specialty coffees. It closed at two O’clock in the afternoon, so the lunch crowd was always big. It took them nearly an hour to get their food, but it was worth it.
The hockey boys showed up just before they left, giving Aylie a chance to see Lacey and Marcus in action. It was a little weird at first, but she tried her best to get used to it. She could tell Lacey liked him a lot and wondered how long it had been that way. After they had eaten, Lacey offered to drive Ren back to her dorm and Aylie asked to be dropped off there as well. Lacey looked a little disappointed that she wasn’t going to get a chance to talk to her about Marcus on the way to the ranch, but she seemed to recover by the time they climbed out of the car in front of the dorms at Silvervane Prep.
Ren waited until Lacey’s car was out of sight before launching into a full-on interrogation. “Okay, what’s up?” She asked, putting her hands on her hips.
“What do you mean? I just felt like walking home.” Aylie answered matter-of-factly.
“I know you enjoy long walks and all, but that’s not what this is about.”
“What is it about, then?” Aylie asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“Was it hard seeing Marcus and Lacey together?”
Aylie shook her head. “It was strange, but I’ll get used to it.”
“I have another theory, then.” Ren declared with a shrewd smile.
Aylie laughed. “Well?”
“First of all, you disappeared from the paintball tournament and were gone for hours.” Aylie tried to protest but Ren held up her hand. “Don’t try to deny it, Aylie. I checked your area at least three times while you were gone, so I know you didn’t just leave to go pee. Secondly, you’re somehow okay with the idea of Lacey dating the boy you were in love with for two years, which means you’ve suddenly gotten over him somehow.”
Aylie was starting to hate how perceptive her friend was. What else had she noticed? “You didn’t say anything to the others, though…about how long I was gone?”
“Of course not. I figured if you wanted to keep it a secret, there must be a reason.”
Aylie smiled. “Thank you.”
“But I can only think of one place you might’ve gone for that length of time in the middle of the woods.”
Aylie felt her heart stop.
“Are you seeing Ryder Payne?” Ren asked pointedly. There was no mistaking the frightened and slightly terrified look on her sweet face.
“Depends on what you mean by, ‘seeing.’ ”
“Are you secretly dating him?”
“No, not at all. It’s nothing like that. We’re just…friends.”
Ren frowned. “So you two have been hanging out, then?”
Aylie knew she had to choose her words very carefully. She didn’t want to lie but she didn’t want to give anything away either. “Not exactly. We’ve run into each other outside of school a couple of times, that’s all.”
“Where have you run into him?” She probed.
Aylie sighed. “He’s walked me home once or twice.” It wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie, either.
Ren was silent for a moment. “Aylie, I know you’re practically an adult and you’re really smart, so I’m sure you’re being cautious….”
“I am.”
Ren frowned slightly. “I’m just wondering if he’s the best person to be hanging out with right now, given the circumstances with his family and the murder investigation.”
“He’s innocent.”
“But how can you be sure?”
The look of concern in Ren’s eyes was so sincere and endearing that Aylie couldn’t lie to her. “He thinks he might know who’s responsible for the murders.”
“Who is it?”
“I can’t say. I gave him my word.”
Ren’s frown deepened. “Aylie, you don’t know anything about this guy. What if there’s more to the story than he’s telling you?”
“I know a lot about him, actually.”
“What has he told you?”
Aylie put her hand on Ren’s shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, it’s going to be fine.” She promised to call in the morning and started to walk away before Ren could argue with her further. She felt bad for leaving her friend in the dark, but it couldn’t be helped. She had given Ryder her word that she wouldn’t tell anyone his secrets and she intended to keep that promise no matter what.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
A ylie walked toward the ranch with her ice skates slung over her shoulder. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and she felt hopeful somehow. In spite of the shocking things Ryder had told her about her possible ancestry and the news that her ex-boyfriend was moving on with her best friend, she felt like something extraordinary was about to happen. She didn’t know what it was, but she felt expectant. Her conversation with Ren had made her aware that her actions were being watched much more closely than she thought. It was lucky for her that Ren was intuitive enough not to bring it up in front of everyone else.
Aylie was going to have to be more careful from now on.
She found herself wishing there was a way she could bring Ryder into her circle of friends so that things didn’t have to be so complicated. It would be so much easier to spend time with him if it weren’t such a huge secret. If only her friends could see past the gossip and rumors concerning his father’s murder. If she could somehow find a way to prove his innocence, maybe they would be more accepting.
She chewed on her bottom lip. Ren’s conjecture about her feelings for Ryder was more accurate than she would’ve liked to admit. She had done her best not to let infatuation for him cloud her judgment, but she couldn’t eliminate her feelings for him entirely. In fact, they seemed to be growing stronger with each passing day. Every secret they shared and every moment they spent together seemed more significant than the last.
Aylie sighed. She really needed someone to talk to about all of this, but she felt trapped by all the secrecy. It seemed the closer she got to Ryder, the further from her friends she was becoming. It didn’t seem right not to tell them what she had discovered—about herself and Ryder, but what other choice did she have? They probably wouldn’t believe her, anyway. She hardly believed it herself; cursed bloodlines…magical powers…ancient druids…it was preposterous.
“You look deep in thought.”
Aylie started. Her hand flew to her heart as she turned to face him. “Can you find a less startling way to get my attention next time?” She asked, forcing her breathing to regulate.
“I could, but it wouldn’t be as enjoyable,” Ryder said with a roguish grin.
Aylie rolled her eyes. “Stalking innocent animals this afternoon?”
Ryder shook his head. “No, I’ve decided to give that up for a while. I just felt like a walk and you happened along just at the right time.”
“Lucky me.”
He studied the side of her face. “How are you doing with…everything? I haven’t seen you since I told you about the bloodline thing the other day.”
“I haven’t said anything to anyone, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I wasn’t worried. Besides, I’d know if you betrayed me.”
Aylie raised an eyebrow. “How?”
He held up his hand, revealing a tiny scar in the fleshly part of his palm. “Blood oath, remember?”
Aylie nodded. “I don’t see how that ensures my secrecy, but whatever.”
Ryder shot her a look. “I assure you it’s quite effective.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Ryder chuckled. “We’re just getting started.”
Aylie stopped short. “What does that mean?”
“We have to figure out whose bloodline you belong to.”
“How?”
“I’ve written a letter to my uncle Alexander. He and my cousins live somewhere in England. I used to visit every summer when I was a boy, but I haven’t heard from them in years. They’re the only relatives I have left, as far as I know. I’m hoping he’ll agree to come for a visit during the holidays. He knows a lot about my…our background.”
WAKENED (The Silvervane Chronicles Book 1) Page 12