“It’s nothing,” I tell him breathlessly. “I was just having a bad dream.”
Worry fills his eyes as he skims his fingers along my cheekbone. “About darkness?”
I bob my head up and down, swallowing hard. “And about me being on fire.” I frown in confusion. “But I didn’t feel like myself, which sounds weird… But that’s how I felt.”
A crease forms between his brows. “Do you think it has something to do with your dream seer ability? Like maybe you got inside someone else’s dream?”
I shrug then shake my head, feeling so confused. “I don’t think so. Not with the stuff darkness was saying to me… I just didn’t feel like myself.”
Foster rubs his lips together, studying me with worry. “Maybe it was just a dream, but if you have it again, try to latch onto some of the details of the surroundings, just in case it ends up meaning something.”
I nod. “I will.”
“Good.” He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear. “You should go back to sleep. You need to rest so we can start practicing opening a secured portal tomorrow. You’re going to need your strength.”
He slides his arm around me, and I let him guide me back to the bed with his arm tucked underneath my neck. Then I cuddle against him, resting my face against his chest, and he wraps his other arm around me, pulling me closer.
Safe.
Safe.
Safe.
How can I feel so safe with him?
“Go to sleep,” he whispers after I lay there for several minutes, struggling to close my eyes. “I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”
A small smile touches my lips. “I know.” And I really do.
He’s already done so much to keep me safe, so how could I not believe him?
I curl against him, clutching onto the comfort he gives me as I drift to sleep.
Drift into my nightmares.
But they’re easier to deal with lying by his side.
Chapter 14
Foster stroking my cheek wakes me up the next morning. I know it’s him because I can feel his power sparkling through me.
My eyelashes flutter open, and a smile manages to touch my lips, even though I was just dreaming of fire and being burned.
“Hey.” He greets me with a smile.
I smile back. “Hey… What time is it?”
He gives a shrug. “I honestly have no idea.”
“Really?”
He nods. “There are no clocks here, and our cell phones don’t work, so there’s no way to tell what time it is other than by where the sun is at.” He leans over me and places his hands beside my head, so I'm trapped between his arms. "My best guess is it's around noon."
“Jeez, I slept in late.” I suddenly realize the full context of what he said. “Wait, if our phones don’t work here then how are we supposed to communicate with anyone back home. I mean, I know you said your mom can communicate with us through a secure magical connection, but… How am I supposed to talk to Nina and Gage?” The idea of not being able to talk to them makes me super uneasy, especially after what happened between Foster and me.
I want to tell them everything, about the kissing and the touching, and how I feel about him. Sure, I’ll have to leave out the magical details of what happened, and I won’t be able to tell them where I am…Crap, what am I supposed to tell them about this?
"Sky, everything's going to be okay," Foster reassures me as if sensing my worry. "You'll be able to talk to your friends once we get out of here."
“I know, but there’s some stuff I want to tell them. And I’m worried they’ll get worried when they don’t hear from me.” Although, ever since I moved away, we haven’t talked or texted each other as much as we used to.
Foster contemplates something. "Maybe I can talk to my mom and see if there's a way for you to communicate with them. She's supposed to be checking in later, and she might know of a way."
I perk up slightly, a smile tugging at my lips. It’s crazy to think that after everything that’s happened, I’m still able to smile. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me for helping you out. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“It kind of is, though, at least to me. People rarely have helped me out throughout my life. But then you came along and I…” I shrug, unable to put into words how I feel about him.
He rubs his lips together while studying me intently. “Well, that’s going to change. From now on, you’ll have all the help that you want.”
My stomach does this weird fluttery thing. “That sounds nice, but I want to help you too. And I don’t want to be a damsel in distress.”
“You’re far from being one,” he assures me. “In fact, you’re one of the strongest creatures I’ve ever met.”
“I highly doubt that—”
He places a finger to my lips. “You are. And don’t ever think differently.” He waits for me to nod before removing his finger from my lips, his attention drifting to my mouth. “Sky,” he says quietly. “I know last night was intense, and our emotions were running high, and I’m not sure how you really feel, but…” He swallows hard. “Would it be okay if I kissed you?”
Those crazy butterflies come to life again, and I nod more eagerly than I mean to.
Relief washes over his expression then he dips his lips toward mine.
At first, the kiss starts slowly, but then he lowers his body against mine, and things become more heated as my legs slip around his waist. He lets out a throaty groan that makes my stomach spin, my hands wandering to his back. I grip onto his shirt while his fingers comb through my hair, tugging at the roots.
“I love the way this feels,” he whispers against my lips with his eyes shut, his face a sliver of an inch away from mine.
“Me too,” I divulge, pulling him toward me.
He easily gives in, sealing his lips to mine, and kissing me with so much intensity I can feel his powers humming underneath my skin.
“Gods, you feel so good,” he murmurs as he slips his hand underneath my shirt.
The feel of his skin against mine makes my entire body quiver—
“Knock, knock, knock.” East’s voice rises through the room and shatters the moment.
Foster pushes away from me, sits up and glares at East standing in the doorway.
I hurry and fix my shirt before sitting up beside Foster.
A smirk kicks up on East’s face as he looks between the two of us. “Looks like you guys are having fun.”
Foster sighs. “Don’t start.”
“Oh, I’m gonna, because I’m pretty sure you two are going to make things really uncomfortable with all this kissing and touching shit.” East smirks. “So this is my way of returning the favor.”
Foster rolls his eyes as he stands up. "Whatever." He glances at me. "I'm going to go change, and then we should probably get started on trying to open up a portal."
I start to nod but then pause. "Wait… How did you get clothes?"
“My mom sent a package this morning, along with some food,” Foster explains, ruffling his hair into place. “She sent some stuff for you too. It’s in the living room. Do you want me to go get it for you?”
I shake my head. “I can go get it. I want to look around anyway.”
He nods then hesitates before leaning in and placing a soft kiss on my lips. “This is okay to do, right?”
I nod, feeling all flustered, but in a beautiful, new, slightly scary way. "Yeah, it is."
He offers me a small smile then leaves the room.
Easton remains in the doorway, staring at me with a weird, almost serious look on his face.
“How are you doing with all of this?” he asks, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
I walk toward him, combing my fingers through my tangled hair. "Honestly?" I ask, and he nods. "I think I'm doing okay. I mean, it's weird knowing I'm the power source of a god, and I really wish I knew who my mom was, but…" I shrug. "I'm kind of relieved to finally know the truth after feeli
ng like I was different for most of my life if that makes any sense."
He nods. “It makes perfect sense.”
“I’m a bit nervous about getting this portal open, though,” I admit. “What if we can’t get one open and we get stuck here?”
A smile tugs at his lips. “Oh, we’re going to get one open. And really soon because I refuse to be stuck here when you and my brother start screwing each other—”
“Stop!” I place my hand over his mouth.
"Why? I'm just telling the truth." His lips move against my palm as he speaks. "You guys have had this sexual tension thing going on since the day he walked into your house. And when you two finally screw, there's a good chance the house is gonna burn down."
I lower my hand. “Whatever. I’m going to go find my clothes and change.” I hurry out of the room with his laughter hitting my back.
“Run all you want,” he calls out after me. “You know I’m telling the truth.”
Shaking my head, I flip him off, but in typical East style, he only laughs.
After we change our clothes and grab some breakfast, the three of us head outside. The moment I step out of the house, the brightness of this world consumes me.
“It’s so bright here,” I mumble, squinting against the light.
Foster tangles his fingers with mine and guides me across the grassy field. “It’s actually brighter than it has been. I’m wondering if maybe our powers are feeding this world energy or something.”
“Really?” I ask as we come to a stop in the middle of the field.
He nods, facing me. “My mom said it might happen since our powers are connected to this world. And it also might help feed our powers, which is a good thing since we’re about to try to open a very complicated portal.”
I try not to frown. “I’m kind of worried we might not be able to do it.”
He smiles at me, his eyes startling bright underneath the sunlight. “I’m not. And you want to know why?” He sweeps a strand of my hair behind my ear. “Because we have you.”
East makes a gagging sound as he comes and stands between us. “You guys are disgusting.”
Foster ignores him, keeping his eyes on me. "You remember when we practiced using your powers those days we were stuck in my house?" he asks, and I nod. "Well, opening a portal is going to be kind of like that and since you did so well then, I know you'll do great now."
“I hope so,” I mutter, feeling a lot of pressure to do well.
That pressure builds as East places a hand in mine and then in Foster's, so the three of us are standing in a circle.
“All right,” Foster says. “Everyone try to channel your powers. And Sky, I want you to also try to channel mine and East’s power.”
I swallow nervously. “Okay.”
I close my eyes and do what he says, focusing on my power and the powers around me. My skin starts to buzz, a current of energy coursing through my body.
“That’s good,” Foster whispers. “A portal is starting to form.”
I crack open my eyes and start to smile at the sight of a rainbow-tinted circle of light forming in front of us. But then the power inside my body begins to fizzle, and the light dims.
“Shit,” East curses. “It didn’t even last more than a couple of seconds.”
Foster opens his eyes, and I can tell he's trying not to frown. "We'll get there. It might take some time, but I know we'll get there. I think we just need to learn to control our powers a bit better."
“By we you mean me,” I point out, feeling disappointed in myself.
He swiftly shakes his head. “East and I still struggle with creating portals. And this one’s really fucking complicated.”
“Yeah, but…” I waver. “I could feel my power dimming just barely… the portal dimmed because of me.”
He cups my face between his hands and carries my gaze. “You’ll get there. I know you will. It’ll just take some time and practice for you to learn how to control your powers. And for you to trust them.”
My brows knit. “What do you mean by, trust them?”
“You’re new to your powers,” he explains. “So it’ll take you some time to trust them enough to use them completely without holding back.”
"But if I do unleash my powers completely I could end up doing something terrible," I point out. "It's happened before."
"I understand your fear. Trust me, I've been there. But one day, you'll let go of the past and trust yourself. And when that happens, your powers are going to be amazingly strong."
“And what if I never get there?”
“You will,” he assures me without a drop of doubt in his eyes.
I don’t understand how he can have so much confidence in me, but I sure as hell hope he’s right; otherwise we might be stuck here for a very long time.
Chapter 15
We practice for a little bit longer before we head inside the small house and into the living room. By the time that happens, I feel so drained I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm debating whether or not to go lay down in my bedroom, even though it might mean falling asleep into nightmares when a lavender cloud of smoke puffs up in the center of the kitchen that's attached to the living room and takes the form of Emaline.
Her smoky eyes instantly land on me, and a smile pulls at her lips. "I'm so glad to see you. We've all been so worried about you."
It’s weird to hear someone say they’ve been worried about me. But it’s also kind of nice.
“It’s nice to see you too,” I reply awkwardly as I sink down into a chair.
“How are you feeling about everything?” she asks me.
I shrug, again feeling awkward. “I’m fine.”
“I’m sure it’s been hard to take everything in,” she says with worry.
I shrug again. “I really am fine.”
Foster takes a seat beside me and laces his fingers through mine. “We actually just got done trying to open a portal,” he tells his mom.
She glances at him. “How did that go?”
He traces the folds of my fingers with his fingertips, causing wonderful shivers to kiss across my skin. “We got one started, but it might take some time to get a steady and secure one going.”
“That’s understandable,” she replies, smoke circling around her. “You’re all new to this, and I’m sure everyone’s stressed out, which probably doesn’t help.”
“I’m never stressed out,” East remarks as he plops down onto a sofa and kicks his feet onto the coffee table.
Emaline presses back a smile. “I’m sure you’re not.”
East gives her a playful dirty look. “Just what’re you implying, Mom?”
“I’m implying absolutely nothing. I swear.” She grins at him then returns her attention to Foster. “It’s good you’re practicing opening a portal, but you need to make sure not to overwork yourselves, okay? The more relaxed you all are, the stronger you are. And if there’s anything you need from me, let me know. I know I can only send a few items through at a time, but I want to make sure you guys have everything you need.”
Foster skims his finger along the inside of my wrist. “Actually, is there any way you could get us a phone so Sky can call her friends?”
She mulls over what he said then her eyes light up. “Hmm… Give me a little bit. I think I might know a way.”
With that, she evaporates from the kitchen.
I turn to Foster. “Thank you for asking her that.”
He lightly kisses me on the lips. “I already told you not to thank me for helping you. I like doing it.”
“I don’t care. I’m still going to say thank you.” I press a soft kiss to his lips, whispering, “Thanks.”
I start to pull away, when he pulls me back, murmuring, “Just a little bit longer.”
When our lips greet, lightning sparks across my skin and I let out a soft groan.
It’s a perfect moment, something I never expected to happen, and I want to hold onto it.
But o
f course, East has to ruin it.
“Yep, the house is so gonna burn down,” he says with a groan.
Foster pulls back, shaking his head. “You want to go into the bedroom for a bit?” he whispers to me.
I nervously bite on my lip, my cheeks flushing. What exactly is he asking me to do?
“To talk,” he adds with a hint of a smile. “But it’s cute when you get embarrassed like that.”
“No, it’s not,” I disagree. Then I pause before whispering, “Yeah, let’s go into the bedroom.”
Foster gets up, pulling me with him. Then we start for the hallway.
“I better go make sure all the smoke detectors are working,” Easton shouts after us then busts up laughing.
“Man, he’s on one today,” I remark as Foster steers me toward the bedroom.
“I know. And I think it’s only going to get worse the longer we’re trapped here.”
“I guess that’ll motivate us to get out of here quicker then,” I try to joke, but anxiousness creeps through me as we enter the bedroom.
I’m not even sure why I’m nervous, other than we just keep kissing and now we’re in a bedroom together. And there’s a huge bed right there...
“Hey.” Foster hooks his finger underneath my chin and angles my head toward him. “We don’t have to do anything… That’s not why I brought you in here.” He lowers his finger from my chin and shifts his weight, scratching at his neck. “I don’t ever want you to feel pressured to do anything you don’t want to.”
I relax a bit. “I’m actually kind of tired from all the portal opening practicing we did.”
He nods understandingly. “You should take a nap. I’ll wake you up when my mom sends a message.”
“Okay.” I make no move to go to the bed, though, wanting something I can’t even explain.
“Do you want me to lie down by you?” he asks me.
How he knows what I want when I don’t is beyond me, but I’m glad he does.
I nod. “Yeah, I really do.”
Smiling, he takes my hand and leads me to the bed. Then we lie down, facing each other, and he sketches his fingers along my cheekbone.
Enchanted Chaos Series: Sky & Foster's Complete Novel Page 31