Successor

  I laugh as I reach her, feeling it in my bones. “You totally do.”

  She smiles and pulls her glasses off, closing the temples. She shakes her head and pulls me to her. “Come here, freak.”

  We hug for a long time, twisting back and forth a little. I close my eyes, not wanting this moment to end.

  “I’m proud of you.”

  Tears threaten again. “What am I going to do without you?”

  “Be miserable until you see me again.” We both laugh and pull apart. “Make sure you come back and visit. A lot.” She has tears on her cheeks, too.

  I smile and wipe away my own. “I promise.”

  She lifts her brows. “Before I forget.” She reaches into her back pocket and pulls out something on a metal ring, offering it to me. “A going-away gift.”

  I take the present and laugh—the fortune ball keychain from the party store. My fingers curl around it, and I hold it against my chest. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”

  “Just a little something to remember me by, though I don’t know how you’d ever forget me. I’m pretty awesome.”

  I chuckle, shaking my head. “You’re definitely something.”

  She smirks and nods toward the field. “You better go before I change my mind and decide to keep you here.”

  A deep breath and I pull her into one more hug. “Thanks, Lei. For everything.”

  “I’ll always have your back. Remember that.” I nod and she adds, “Now go give that hottie the ‘hello’ he deserves.”

  I laugh, the nerves in my stomach jumping at the thought. “Take care of yourself.”

  We pull apart, and she puts her hand on the back of my neck, giving it a squeeze. “You too.”

  My father stands a few yards away, his eyes shining. I walk over and pull him into another hug. He wraps his arms around me and holds tight.

  “I love you, Dad,” I mumble against his shoulder.

  “I love you, too, Evs.” The words come out gruff. He gives a quick squeeze and releases me, holding me out at arm’s length. “Like she said, make sure you visit. A lot.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  His hands fall away, and with a fortifying breath, I turn and walk into the field. When I reach the right spot, the residual energy of the rift envelopes me. The doorway between the two planes is still ajar, waiting to be closed. My eyes close, and I tilt my head back to let the sun warm my face.

  Let us return.

  A wave of relief washes over me, making me almost giddy.

  About damn time you showed up.

  If it was possible for the Link to smile, I would be feeling it.

  Let’s go.

  Heat starts to build in my stomach and radiates up through my chest and down my limbs. I turn and look back at my father and Leila one last time. They’re standing in the shadow of the barn, my father’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. I lift my hand as the heat turns to pressure, and they wave their goodbyes. My muscles constrict as the air stills in my lungs, and the world around me falls quiet. The white shimmer fills the edge of my vision, and I close my eyes as I’m pulled through the rift.

  Time and space suspend around me. It’s as if I’m without a body, and only my mind exists. Sensation rushes back as the pressure disappears, and my eyes fly open.

  Trees surround me with branching burns marring the lengths of their trunks. The air has a sweet edge to it, and a thrill shoots through me.

  “We’re back.” A deep inhale. No breath has ever been so satisfying.

  The people will welcome your return.

  My heart skips a beat and I head toward the village. Let’s go surprise them.

  I realize I’m still holding the keychain Leila gave me, the little black and white fortune ball warming my heart. A piece of the world and the people I’ve left behind. Not forever, of course. They’ll always be there when I need them. But for now, this is where I’ll stay. I tuck the ball in my pocket, vowing to keep it close, always.

  Leaving the alcove behind, I make my way toward the edge of the forest where bright sunlight illuminates everything, bringing out the brilliance of the trees’ colors. The tall grass wraps itself around my bare legs as I walk. I’m glad I’m wearing shorts and a tank top this time.

  At the edge of the forest is the lake in all its glory, the bright sunshine reflecting off the ripples on its surface. Somehow, it’s more beautiful than when I last saw it, and I breathe it in. A calmness settles in my heart, and I can’t help but smile. My mother must have felt the same thing whenever she came here.

  I start walking along the lake’s edge, and when I look ahead to gauge how far it is to the footpath, my feet stop moving. In the distance a man stands next to the lake, looking out over the water. My heart goes into overdrive. I’d know him anywhere.

  Ren’s back is to me as he faces the cliff sitting at the far end of the lake. He wears his quiver as always, the bow in his hand. He stands as still as a statue.

  I resist the urge to call out to him and decide to put my ability to the test. With my heart in my throat I start toward him, willing my steps to be silent. The first few are loud as usual, but then the sound fades and blood roars in my ears. I draw closer and closer until there’s less than ten feet separating us. He still faces the other direction, the warm breeze moving his dreads the slightest bit. He hasn’t moved a muscle this entire time. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I release the sound waves and wait.

  The only warning is a stiffening in his shoulders. He whips toward me with his bow up and an arrow drawn back on the string. I try not to flinch; I expected this.

  It feels like an eternity passes before his eyes widen in recognition. In reality, it takes just a few seconds before the bow lowers to his side and falls from his hand. He stares at me, frozen, and I force myself to stay still and wait.

  Eventually he takes a step forward, pulling his quiver strap over his head and letting it fall to the ground with his bow, leaving his chest bare but for the scar on his shoulder. A couple more steps and he’s standing right in front of me. He continues to stare, his expression unchanging.

  With my nerves wreaking havoc in my stomach, I can’t take the silence any longer. I open my mouth to speak, but as soon as I do, his hands are on the sides of my face and his mouth collides with mine.

  Electricity shoots from my chest to my stomach, and I grasp his arms to keep from swaying. My heart is in my throat as his lips mold to mine—possessive, tinged with desperate relief. When he finally pulls back, he rests his forehead against mine, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His heart is racing like mine, its muted thuds breaking against my chest in soft waves, warming me.

  A breathless laugh escapes me. I squeeze his arms under my fingers. “Hello to you, too.”

  “You are here.” His voice is an awed whisper.

  I nod, and his hands thread through my hair until they reach the back of my neck. “I’m here.” My brow quirks at him. “Looks like I can be stealthy after all.”

  He pulls back and searches my face, his eyes full of wonder and disbelief. He draws his thumb down the side of my face from temple to jaw, caressing my cheekbone. “I did not think I would ever see you again.” His gaze settles on mine, and the pain in them makes my heart clench. “I thought my dream had come to pass.”

  I reach up and grasp his hand, pulling it down and pressing his palm to my sternum. I hold him there. “I’m right here.”

  His fingertips press into the skin above and below my collarbone. “When you left, I felt like I would never breathe again. I tried to see you—”

  “I know,” I stop him, squeezing his hand. “But I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t say good-bye to you. It would have killed me.”

  His eyes search mine, full of wonder. “But you have come back.”

  I smile. “I think I always knew I would. I just needed to realize it.”

  His fingers splay wider across my chest. “How long do you plan to stay?” Hesitancy fills his voice, like he
’s preparing for what he doesn’t want to hear.

  With a deep breath, I take my hand from his and place it on his chest. “I’m Laraek now.”

  His eyes widen, and I can hear his heart skip a beat.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  All of the fear and pain fades from his eyes. The smile he gives me takes my breath away, and he wraps his arms around me, lifting me off the ground as his lips clamp down on mine again. I can feel every emotion flowing through him wherever our skin touches, and I pour as much of myself into him as I can. Eventually he sets me down and pulls away, the smile still there.

  He gazes at me. “You are really here.”

  I tighten my arms around his neck. “I’m home.”

  He touches his forehead to mine, and we close our eyes, breathing each other’s air and finally letting peace fill us.

  A word about the author…

  Rae Miles started creating characters at the ripe age of nine, dreaming that one day they’d have a place to call home. Many years and a creative writing degree later, that dream became a reality with her debut novel, Successor.

  When not writing, Rae’s absorbed in reading, movies, music, and napping. She loves animals of all kinds, and currently lives in Wisconsin with her three quirky cats.

  Visit Rae online at http://www.raemiles.com.

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  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

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  contact us at

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