Set in Stone: A Contemporary Adventure Romance Novel (Legend Book 1)

by Kylie Stewart

  I’m still dreaming.

  I wrapped my arms around her, picking her up and holding her close to my chest. She desperately clung to me, holding me tight. Her body shook in fear and anguish.

  “My lady, what is it?” I cupped her face and tried to push her tears away.

  Alexandria didn’t speak; she shook her head, covering her face with her hands. A blindfold was already over her eyes.

  I had to tell her the truth. I had to be honest. I couldn’t live like this anymore. I braced for the rejection and outburst that would follow.

  “What is it, Alexandria? Love, please tell me?”

  She quieted under my caresses, and she began to speak.

  “Nothing makes sense anymore.”

  Her voice was so broken it shattered me. I stood up, bringing her back to the bed. She tucked her head against my chest.

  “What doesn’t make sense?”

  She shook her head. “I hate him.”

  I swallowed. “Who do you hate?”

  “Avalon.”

  She should have just put a damn dagger in my heart. “What has he done to you?”

  “He’s ruined everything! He’s keeping me locked up like a fucking princess in a tower. He acts like he wants me and then freaks out on me.”

  “Do you want to leave?” I was curious.

  “I don’t know . . .” She rolled away from me.

  I didn’t want to ask, but I had to. “The other man is back, isn’t he? The one you love.”

  She nodded.

  “Will you go to him? Will you run into his arms instead of Avalon’s?” I rubbed her shoulder.

  “I wanted Lancer to save me, to tear me away from Avalon and that stupid contract, but . . .”

  “But?” Hope held on by a thin thread.

  “I think I hurt Avalon tonight. I wanted to hurt him, but I think I really hurt him.” She let out an uneven sigh. “His eyes looked so pained when I kissed Lancer. I saw them, burned into the back of my bloody skull. As if he has to ruin every good thing I have. He confuses me.”

  “I’m sure you confuse him just as much.” I kicked my legs over the bed, my back to her, and sighed. “Who will you run to?”

  “Isn’t that obvious?”

  She sat up. A hand settled on my shoulder. Reaching up, I placed mine over hers.

  “No, it isn’t. Not to me.” Her touch meant so much to me. It comforted me.

  “I choose to run to you. I cried myself to sleep, wishing I had you to talk to, someone who wanted me for just me.” Her cheek rested on the back of my head. “Not because of a contract, or a statue, or as a prize, or a past lover. I wanted something stable. I wanted someone unchanging, and for the past month, it’s been you, Arthur.”

  My dead heart kicked hard at her words. I hung my head in shame. How true that lie was killed me. I was her constant and her inconsistent, all in one. The man she needed and the man she despised.

  “Am I really?” I scoffed.

  “Yes, and you’ve given me your name, but I long for your face.” Her lips brushed against my neck. “I want to know you in every way.”

  My voice broke. “But I only exist here, in the dark.”

  Alexandria’s voice grew determined. “Then let me bring you to the light. Let me set you free.”

  It kicked again, harder this time, and a hope flooded me.

  I could barely speak above a whisper. “Please, do not hate me.”

  “I could never hate you, Arthur.” She kissed my ear, causing a shiver to run the length of my spine.

  I gave a soft snort. “Oh, you could.”

  A high-pitched sound broke through our dream. When I turned to face her, she was gone, and I was left alone. I could feel the touch of her lips against my skin.

  “You do hate me . . . you just don’t know it yet.”

  I woke on the dusty floor of the chapel. My body felt as though a thousand horses had run over me. I hurried to my feet, patting at my chest. The old scar was still there, though the dull ache throbbed and reminded me of painful memories. What was that sound that drove me to black out?

  Taking one last, long look at Christ on the cross, I blew out all the candles and exited the sacred space. I walked down the long hall and wandered across to Alexandria’s room. What had pulled her out of our dream?

  I stood outside her room. I heard her shaken voice talking to someone.

  She must be on the phone.

  “How did Lancer get your number?”

  Silence.

  “I’m fine, really, Elaine.” Her voice didn’t sound fine. In fact, it gave away just how not fine she was.

  “No. Yes. I saw him.”

  I leaned closer, trying to hear.

  “He kissed me, and—Elaine, everything just came flooding back.” She broke down in tears. “It felt so right, but I don’t know.”

  She sniffed through her pause.

  “I think I’m in trouble . . . but I’m going to find a way out.”

  My jaw tensed.

  “It’s Avalon. One minute, I think he wants to take me, and the next, he goes completely out of his mind and acts like he hates me.”

  Shame ripped through me. How had I let it get this far-gone?

  “I don’t know—there was a moment, a week ago, I thought just maybe he was human.”

  There had been a moment?

  “There is a dynamic between us. Mmm, yes. As much as I hate to say it, there is chemistry. It’s not a healthy one, but it’s dangerous and thrilling, and he’s so damn good looking.”

  My brows rose. She thought we had chemistry? Thinking back on it, we had sparked from the start. The way her blue eyes swept down my body the first time we met had given her away.

  “He’s dangerous, though, and Lancer is safe. And we have chemistry, and a past, and we could have a future.”

  This conversation was killing me.

  “What if I take the chance and it hurts Avalon? What if I make the wrong choice?”

  My hand automatically went to the chain around my neck. I held two ancient silver bands, and my hope shattered. She was my heaven and my hell. I finally understood only my actions could charter me to one shore or the other.

  Seventeen

  Alexandria

  That week, I only went home for a couple of days, reloading a suitcase packed full of clothes. I was going to finish that statue if it killed me. I just wanted to get out of there before anything else could happen.

  Avalon had kept his word. We’d met Sunday afternoon in his study, and he crossed out the annoying caveat while I watched. I also skimmed over the contract again in full just to be sure. A few tiny stains from the pen incident had stained the white paper next to our signatures. I didn’t like the looks of it.

  Lancer and I had been in almost constant contact since our reunion. He bombarded me with questions about Avalon and how he treated me. Now back at Caliburn, and constantly elbow deep in clay, I didn’t have much time to waste speaking to the arrogant prick. What was even more amazing was that he seemed to be avoiding me, too.

  I had taken the liberty of inviting Lancer to Caliburn for the weekend. I had hopes that perhaps he could talk to Avalon and find out what was so wrong. The man had a temper. He flared up at the slightest thing and then immediately looked as if he regretted it. Had he no control? I squinted as I carved the clay. How old was he, anyway?

  Questions like these were a constant. I was looking over my shoulder, locking my doors, and jumping at the slightest sound. I had trusted Avalon enough to tear me away from Lancer, so why the sudden nerves?

  In probably one of the most awkward positions I could ever be in as an artist, I was trying to shape the contours of Psyche’s breasts properly for her position. I reclined cupping my breasts through my t-shirt to try to get an idea of how they would lay realistically when I heard someone clear their throat at the door.

  I spun around, still holding my breasts, and I felt my face burning. Avalon stood in the doorway. He wore black riding bre
eches, tall black boots, a gray polo shirt, and carried a riding crop in his hand.

  His eyes flickered down to my chest. His lips twitched as he unsuccessfully tried to hide a smirk at the position he’d stumbled upon me in.

  His brows rose, crossing his arms over his chest. “Am I interrupting something?”

  “No. I was just . . . proportioning. Her breasts, umm . . .” I dropped my hands behind my back.

  When he snorted and laughed, I frowned.

  “What?”

  He pointed the crop at my chest, and I looked down. The navy blue shirt was the perfect color for gray clay handprints to stain. Puffing my cheeks, I didn’t try to hide my mess.

  “I’m an artist. What do you expect?” That was the lamest excuse, even for me.

  “No, no, please, continue, if you must.” He swallowed the laughter, but his face was still bright with unusual lightness.

  “What do you want, Avalon?” I wasn’t in the mood for games.

  “Did you bring your riding gear?” he asked.

  The question caught me off guard. “Yes, why?”

  “Would you like to go for a hack with me? Get out of this cage for a while?” He motioned around the ballroom with his hand.

  Was he serious?

  My eyes narrowed, trying to find the ulterior motive. My gaze swept over his frame. Did he have to wear such form-fitting clothes? I couldn’t deny that he was handsome. He was probably old enough to be my father, but he didn’t look anything close to fifty. It was horrible that I was attracted to him. I felt as if I was cheating on Lancer with my eyes—even if Lancer and I were just talking for now. Men. This was why I had wiped my hands clean of them. Statues didn’t talk back or make you feel as though you had to choose. I could create them, and if I wanted to, I could get rid of them or destroy them.

  “You won’t try anything funny?”

  His easygoing demeanor didn’t fool me.

  “I was wondering if you’d like to go with me. I’m sure Cam could use the exercise.”

  He had to know it would be hard for me to pass up a chance to ride the gray horse.

  “You don’t have to,” he added. “I was just offering.”

  “Give me two minutes here, and I’ll get changed.” I wasn’t going to start playing nice just because he could pretend to be human.

  He smiled. “Fantastic. I’ll have him ready for you.”

  I watched him walk away from me; he had no swagger in his walk but grace. He was always so poised and cool. I forced myself to refocus on the statue in front of me. I finished what I could before going to change.

  My riding pants were a dove-grayish white. I swapped my clay-stained polo for a green one. I stepped easily into my tall riding boots and then grabbed a pair of black gloves and my helmet before heading down to the barn. I braided my hair quickly as I stepped into the stables.

  Avalon stood, holding the horses on either side of him. A small grin danced over his lips when he saw me. I ignored it and walked over to take my mount from him.

  “He may be a bit fresh, but you seem to enjoy challenges.” Avalon’s voice cut deep as his breath whispered against my ear. I took a moment to count to ten. Don’t let him in.

  “Don’t worry; I’ve dealt with beasts worse than Cam.” I shot him a warning glance.

  He sniffed as I clucked to the dappled gray and brought him out of the stables and into the sunlight. Adjusting my stirrup leathers, I checked the girth, making sure Cam hadn’t sucked in a breath. I’d tighten it again once I was on. I reached over for the mounting block that was sitting out for use. One foot in, and with a graceful swing of my right leg, I was on. Avalon was already mounted next to me.

  “Shall we?” He gathered up the reins to Phoenix, who danced in place next to my steady gelding.

  I leaned down to check the girth and nodded. I followed him out of the stable yard and onto a meadow that was lush and green from the rain. Flowers bloomed, and the light breeze was welcome against the summer sun’s rays.

  I had never taken much time to explore the actual estate lands at Caliburn. The fields were vast, the forest behind the building was dense, and the lake’s surface shimmered. It was a beautiful place.

  “I hope you can forgive me for my antics last night. I hadn’t seen Lancer in a while. The two of us are close, but we don’t always see eye to eye.”

  I listened to him without looking.

  “The fact is, Ms. York, I am rather fond of you. I like how you don’t back down from a fight, as timid as you may appear. I can appreciate that.”

  He pulled Phoenix to a halt, causing me to do the same to Cam. I had to look at him now.

  “I will do my best to control my temper. I’m sorry. I need you to know I’m not that man. I just . . . I’ve not felt this way in a very long time.”

  He spoke from a place I didn’t know existed within him. His haunting eyes never left my face, the honesty in them terrifying.

  “And what do you feel, Avalon?” I pulled Cam to a halt again. “What could make you feel so much to the point of blatant anger and threatening someone physically?”

  He looked offended. “I would never raise my hand to a woman.”

  “But you cornered me. You’ve cornered me more than once, invaded my space, and screamed in my face.”

  The sharp edge to my voice wasn’t lost on him. I saw his body retract as I bombarded him with his transgressions.

  “I won’t do that again, either. You—you gave me mixed signals.” Avalon’s mouth tightened to a thin line. “I thought you were interested.”

  Now, it was my turn to wince.

  I had given him reasons to think I was interested.

  I hadn’t been subtle in my attitude toward him. He probably took that for playing hard to get. I had caught myself staring at him for long moments, watching his unnatural grace. Perhaps I had offered one too many a smile? I pushed out those painfully close moments when our lips almost met.

  “Well, I am sorry if I may have misled you. I find you attractive, yes, Avalon. You’re very handsome.” The heat crept up my face at my admission. “I do not, however, have any interest in you other than a business relationship.”

  His eyes narrowed at my words. Looking around, he squinted into the distance against the sun. I saw the rejection working over in his jaw, tightening and clenching. A hollow in my stomach gnawed at me.

  “May I ask one thing?” His usually even-toned voice wavered.

  I nodded.

  “Was there ever a moment when you thought there could be something? Before Lancer came back or before I went over the edge?” For once, Avalon was serious and seemed so . . . vulnerable. “I just—I need to know for my sake that I didn’t just imagine it all. I need to know we had—and to be completely honest, Ms. York, we always will have—chemistry. You can’t deny that; dangerous as it may be, it’s there.”

  I had never seen a man as vulnerable as Avalon was right now. He kept looking from his mare’s neck to me. He was opening up.

  Why do you do this now, you arse?

  I wanted to yell at him. I wanted to tell him to stop acting. I wanted to tell him to stop making me feel bad. I wanted to touch the scar on his cheek. I wanted to pull the storm from his eyes. I wanted to erase whatever ghosts haunted him.

  “Perhaps, but I can’t be sure.” It was the easy out—the short answer—but it was the truth. I didn’t know anymore.

  He moved Phoenix out ahead of Cam and me and turned her to face us. Lifting my chin, I steeled myself. There he was. The truth behind the lies. Cold eyes taunted me.

  “I shall tell you one thing, Ms. York. Had anything between us transpired, it would have been tragic. I possess what I want, after all, and then I throw it away. Why?”

  The cold expression on his face chilled me.

  “Because humans are disposable. Humans are like paper plates. When I am finished with it, I throw it away. I could have washed you a few times, just to eat off you again.” He positioned Phoenix so we were le
vel with one another. “You’re an expensive toy that comes with perks. I’m happy you’re the little Allie Lancer fell in love with. You deserve him.”

  “I wasn’t trying to lead you on.” I gripped the reins tighter, causing Cam to sidestep.

  “Oh, I know you weren’t, but your eyes, your fucking eyes told me otherwise.”

  Avalon heeled Phoenix into a slow canter, and I followed. He wasn’t going to get away so easily.

  “Oh, and like your body doesn’t have to be close to me, does it?” I met him stride for stride. “You are always trying to be close to me, always trying to touch me.” I allowed all the frustration and anger to explode. “Are you a pervert? How old are you, anyway? If you raised Lancer, you must be pushing fifty.”

  With hardly any visible signal, the mare slid to a halt. Cam did the same, bouncing me in the saddle. Avalon reached out and took my chin in his gloved hand. I sat there, unable to twist my head as his sneer twisted his face.

  “You want to know why I touch you,” he shouted back, matching my volume.

  “Yes,” I hissed.

  His grip released, and he brushed his fingers against my cheek. He sighed, mouth opening and shutting quickly. “Because I do not take what doesn’t belong to me.”

  “How is touching me not taking?” Now he was talking bullshit.

  “How is giving me every ounce of what I desire in one look not torture?” His face smoothed, and a finger grazed over my lips. “You look at me and strip me of all that I am as a man. Meaning to or not, Ms. York, since we’ve met, you have pushed my weaknesses. When my weaknesses are pushed, my defenses go down, and when my defenses go down, I become a monster. I do not want anyone to press that close to me.” He lowered his eyes to my lips. “And you do all of that with one look.”

  My heart thundered like a herd of wild horses. He couldn’t kiss me. Not here. Not like this. Not now. I didn’t want him.

  You do, though.

  “Do you ever fantasize, Ms. York? Do you ever wonder how a person is in the dark, out of the light?”

  He continued to tease me. His tone wrapped me under his magic.