by LH Nicole
The calm from a moment ago disappeared in a flutter of rapid heartbeats as she took his hand. Galahad pulled her to an open corner, and she saw that Percy and Lacy had followed them. Aliana met her friend’s glittering eyes just as Lacy stepped into Percy’s arms. Lacy wiggled her eyebrows, and Aliana suppressed a giggle that died in her throat when the band changed to an older Adele song and Galahad wrapped his arms around her.
“I am afraid I won’t be as good at this as your other partners,” he admitted.
“Then let’s try another way.” Aliana placed both his hands at her waist and wrapped hers around his neck, gazing into his eyes as he pulled her close. They moved together in a slow circle to the sweet melody. They didn’t talk. Aliana didn’t know what to say, and she couldn’t find it in her to look away from his beautiful blue eyes. His wintery scent wrapped around her. The band around her heart tightened as he pulled her even closer against his body.
A small part of her brain whispered that he would eventually break her heart, but even with that thought, she couldn’t pull away from him. Everything else faded away except for their swaying bodies. His fingers brushed against her bare skin, sending sparks up her spine. Aliana gasped softly. Did he feel it too?
“Are you all right?” he asked in a soft voice.
“Yes,” she said breathlessly, lost to whatever magic was weaving around her. She was caught in the spell that was his blue eyes.
Galahad smiled then, his fingers still against her skin.
“Aliana,” he whispered, watching her with eyes so dark they looked like liquid midnight.
The song ended, and their fairy-tale world fell away, but the afterglow bliss remained. Galahad kept his large hand at the small of her back when they joined Percy and Lacy near the gallery doors.
“So, are we all having fun?” Lacy asked, winking at her blushing friend.
“You throw a great party, Lacy,” Percy said, smiling down at her.
“Well, thank you, but I didn’t do it alone, and I need to go check in with the others to make sure everything’s set for the rest of the night.” She pivoted away and then peeked back at Percy. “Will you still be here later?”
The giant smiled, nodding. Lacy flashed him a bright but slightly shy smile.
Interesting, Aliana thought. She had never seen her friend be shy with a guy before, and she couldn’t hide her delighted smirk as Percy watched the pink lady disappear.
“Lacy’s amazing,” Percy said. “Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Nope,” Aliana said with a little pop on the P.
Percy was silent for a moment and then followed the path her friend had taken.
“Well, that was unexpected,” Galahad said.
“I love it!” Aliana giggled, wanting to do a little happy dance for her friend. “I just hope Percy is as tough as he appears. Lacy is a firecracker.”
“Do you want to rejoin the others or would you like to walk around?” Galahad asked.
“Honestly, I think I’d like to get away from the crowd for a bit.” Her mind screamed that this was a bad idea. Maybe she was still caught up in the magic of their dance. Either way, she tuned the voice out. With his hand still at the small of her back, he guided her through the richly decorated room to a long curtain, which he pulled aside to reveal a small balcony. “I didn’t even notice this earlier.” Aliana walked outside and leaned her back against the stone railing, looking up at the cloudy London sky, wishing she could see the stars.
“I noticed it before the dancers came to life earlier.”
Aliana followed Galahad’s eyes, twisting to stare out at the brightly lit city. She couldn’t help worrying about everything that was to come in this adventure she found herself tangled in.
“What are you thinking about?” Galahad asked, drawing her attention back to him. He stood only a few inches from her with both his arms coming to rest on either side of her on the railing.
“I was just wondering what’s next,” she said, enjoying the feeling of being wrapped up in him. “I didn’t expect to find another knight here tonight. Much less that it would be Wade.”
“You are unhappy that your friend is one of us?”
“Of course not! It would have been so much harder if I had to keep him in the dark on this.”
“Then what is wrong?”
“It’s just still hard to accept. I need a little more time to adjust.”
Galahad brushed her hair over her shoulder, his eyes tracing its curve. “We have come this far already, Aliana. In only two days we are almost whole again. I believe that everything will be all right. You must understand by now that we…that I would never allow anything to happen to you.”
Aliana saw the conviction in his eyes and, God help her, she believed him. “Lacy wasn’t far off when she called you a fairy tale. That’s what all of this has been. You, everyone. It’s like you’re all straight off the pages of a book. Every girl dreams of finding her knight in shining armor or her Prince Charming.”
“And which are you looking for?” His head dipped closer to hers.
Her heart raced, and she struggled to take a breath. All she could think about was his kiss. Would he kiss her now? She wasn’t in any danger, so why would he want to, unless…
“Galahad,” she breathed, her hands rising to rest against his firm chest, his arms still caging her against the railing.
His lips hovered over hers, his breath sweet on her lips from the wine he had been drinking earlier. Their gazes locked together, and Aliana realized she wanted this more than she wanted her next breath, but her body stood immobile. His eyes dropped to her lips, and her heart jumped, beating so rapidly she was afraid it would escape. Slowly, his lips touched hers, featherlight. His eyes met hers again before his mouth fully took hers.
Aliana’s eyes closed. A fire burned through her as she gripped his shoulders. His arms closed around her waist, pulling her against him, his kiss consuming her. They were the only people in the world. She heard herself sigh, and felt Galahad’s arms tighten as he nipped at her lower lip.
He pulled away, leaving both of them breathing heavily, and rested his forehead against hers, his eyes still shut with an expression of bliss on his face. Her heart ached and soared at the same time. She had put that look on his face. Her, Aliana.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?” he whispered, brushing his lips against hers for another long moment.
“Thank you,” she said through the fiery haze in her mind. “You are so handsome in that tux. I’m surprised the other women here haven’t snatched you up.”
“I don’t care about any of them, Aliana.” He pulled her gaze to his with two fingers under her chin and kissed her again, softly and sweetly.
“Lia, you out here?”
Aliana pulled back, bumping into the railing as Lacy walked onto the balcony. Her friend’s eyes grew huge with shock before she smiled like an imp.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Lacy said. “Your friends are searching for you two. They say it’s important.”
Aliana glanced at Galahad, seeing the unkind glare he was throwing toward Lacy.
“We’ll be right in,” Aliana said, clearing her throat.
“I’ll just wait for you two in here. Continue, by all means.” Lacy flashed a triumphant smile and disappeared through the drapes.
“We should go find them,” Aliana said a moment later when Galahad still hadn’t made any move to let her free.
He sighed, nodding, but he still didn’t move.
“Galahad.” Aliana placed her hands on his tense arms, and he finally dropped one arm, letting her slip past him. He followed closely as they met Lacy on the other side of the curtain.
“So?” Lacy whispered. “Was it as hot as it looked?”
“Lacy!” Aliana hissed, smacking her friend on the arm and smirking. “I don’t know, but it couldn’t have been as good as yours. Your lipstick’s smudged. Will I find some on Percy?”
Lacy flushed bright
red all the way to her hair. “Um…they’re waiting for you both by your photo display.” Lacy said, disappearing.
Aliana heard Galahad chuckle behind her. “It serves her right,” Aliana said, defending herself.
They found the others right where Lacy had said they would be. Thomas Wylit was with them.
“Who is this?” Galahad asked, stepping in front of Aliana.
“I’m hurt, Galahad,” the cultured voice said. “I would have thought my old friend would recognize me.” Thomas removed his mask.
“Merlin?” Galahad gasped.
“Who else, my friend?” The two men shared a warrior’s greeting.
“You’re Merlin?” Aliana asked.
The dark-haired Druid nodded to her. There it was again, that familiarity she couldn’t place. “And you’re the Destined One.” Merlin smirked. He wasn’t as tall as the others, just a bit shorter than Lancelot, but what he lacked in size he made up for with an air of power so thick it was a wonder none of them had felt it earlier.
“Why didn’t you just say who you were from the start? Why the game?” Aliana asked.
“Merlin is a fan of games, I’m afraid,” Lancelot said. “He’s always had a flare for the dramatic.”
“My methods aside, it is good to be with all of you again.” Merlin rested a hand on Arthur’s shoulder.
“So now what?” Aliana asked the group, too stunned to think properly.
Less than two hours later, Aliana stood in the middle of a beautiful plum- and peach-colored bedroom in Merlin’s sprawling, three-story, palatial home that had been built in the early fifteenth century. His “house” was hidden deep in the English countryside, well out of the city, surrounded by thick trees, a gothic-looking iron gate, and layers of magical protection.
After Merlin had revealed himself, they had all agreed they’d be safest at his home. After that, the eight of them had piled into Lancelot’s blessedly large SUV. During the drive they’d agreed that their next move would be to find Leyon. But what would come after that? Would they try to find the Grail of Power or reclaim Excalibur first?
Merlin and Lancelot had definite ideas about the matter, and Arthur and Galahad had quietly agreed with most what the two enigmas said. Percy added small tidbits when he could while Owen and Wade exchanged half amused, half confused-and-in-over-our-heads glances. Aliana had tried to focus on the plans, but her eyes kept drooping until all their voices faded as she’d fallen asleep against Wade for the rest of the car ride.
After a quick tour of the main house—decorated with elaborate fifteenth-century flare and filled with priceless paintings and artifacts—Merlin had suggested everyone turn in and get rested before they tackled their next challenge. Aliana had tried to convince them they should get things figured out tonight, but Arthur had insisted that they all get some sleep.
Placing his hands on her shoulders, he’d told her, “Tomorrow morning will be soon enough to get everything sorted.” When she had tried to protest he’d assured her that everything would be all right and walked her to her designated bedroom, which was tucked between his and Galahad’s.
Aliana sank onto the small bench in her large bathroom, suddenly realizing how exhausted she was. Sighing, she changed into a pair of blue and gray plaid shorts and a black tank top. Washing away her makeup and brushing her wild hair, her thoughts turned to her confused feelings about Galahad and their kiss. As much as she debated the why of it, she couldn’t bring herself to regret the kiss. Maybe she was going to regret it later but not right now. Going through her nightly ritual helped calm her and let her get her mind sorted and calmed. She crawled onto the luxurious four-poster bed, curling up under the soft covers as Dagg settled onto the pillow next to hers.
“How can Arthur and the others wait so long to find out what happened to Merlin after he left Avalon?” Aliana asked. “Something about Merlin’s supposed reason for leaving feels hinky to me. There’s more to it—there has to be. And he said he knew my parents.”
“Merlin and Arthur were right to suggest we all rest tonight. Everyone is struggling to deal with all of the sudden changes, just as you are.” Dagg’s clawed hand stretched out to lie against hers. “Everything will look clearer after some rest.”
Aliana nodded, clicking off the bedside lamp. Her eyes were already drooping with sleep.
She found herself once again on the bloody battlefield, surrounded by rotting black knights and mutilated Goblins. Horrified, she watched as Mordrid plunged his dagger into Arthur’s side over and over. His evil gaze found hers, his sick smile and eerie black eyes trying to devour her.
Aliana’s stomach revolted. She’d rather be trapped in the cave that had terrified her as a child than helplessly watch Arthur die. Just like that, she was lying in a pile of jagged rock, her leg pinned as she tried to not choke on the foul air. Eyes wide, she tried twisting her way free, but the rock pinned her too tightly. Gasping in the poisoned air, she searched the forgotten chamber. It was old, way older than anything her father had found so far. Her eyes fell onto the darkest corner.
There, in the darkest black, the sound of a thumping pulse disturbed the silence. She heard a loud hiss, then the scraping of nails, louder and louder as the pulse seemed to beat stronger and stronger.
A monster was trying to escape the blackness—trying to get her!
The darkness touched her. It was like an evil coldness trying to cling to her, to pull her into the blackness. She screamed, desperate to be free, smacking at the evil, trying to fight it away.
“Aliana!” someone called to her from above. Tears blurred her vision as she looked up. Her father’s worried face and the dark, intimidating face of another man peered down at her. Her father told her to hold tight—they were coming.
She watched the monster in the dark, afraid it might try to get her papa, but another force pushed the dark monster back, forcing it into its hole. Her papa pushed the stones away, freeing her trapped leg, and gathered her in his arms. He barked out an order to pull them up. As soon as they escaped the chamber, more of the roof started to collapse. They all ran. Aliana clung tightly to her papa, watching the demonic hole crumble in on itself.
Her father set her down and checked for injuries. Too shocked to speak, she stared at the other man who’d helped to save her. She recognized him instantly.
“Merlin?”
She shot up in bed, gasping in the clean air.
“Thank Oberon! I’ve been trying to wake you!” Dagg exclaimed. “Are you all right? You were tossing and moaning.”
“Merlin,” she said, clearing her dry throat. “I need to talk to him—now!” She threw off the covers, stumbling out of the cushy bed.
“I can hear him and Lancelot in the kitchen with the king,” Dagg said, opening the door to reveal Galahad with his hand raised to knock.
“What’s going on? I heard raised voices.” His deep blue eyes searched Aliana’s.
“Come on,” she said, dashing down the stairs, the two guys right behind her. She burst through the kitchen doors.
“What are you doing awake?” Lancelot asked.
But Aliana ignored him. “What was in that chamber?” she demanded of Merlin, her eyes boring into his.
“Which one?” the wizard asked softly. His face held traces of the dark intimidation that she remembered from her dream.
“You know which one! You were there when I got trapped as a child. You helped my father get me out of that horrible place.”
“I was wondering how long it would take you to remember.” His eyes darkened, and he smiled, but there was no humor in the gesture.
“Stow the mysterious veneer, Merlin!” Aliana shouted. “What or who was in that darkness?”
“Merlin?” Arthur looked between the two of them. “What is she talking about?”
Merlin hesitated. “That chamber held a gateway. One of a few points on the realm’s magical grid where a gate can be opened to another realm.” Merlin lips pulled into a tight frown. “That par
ticular point was a direct gateway to the pocket dimension I trapped Mordrid in centuries ago.”
“What?” Lancelot and Arthur cried, jumping from their stools. “Explain all of this,” Arthur ordered Merlin and Aliana.
“We need to get the others up,” Aliana told them. “It gets worse.”
Dagg flew from the kitchen to wake the others, and Galahad crowded in close, as if to protect her. “How?”
“I think Mordrid was at the gallery party,” she said, remembering the creepy stranger’s near black eyes and cold, terrifying touch. “I think he was that guy who cornered me after I met Merlin.”
17
Arthur knows—so does Merlin. They know there is more than what I told the others. It’s so hard to explain the centuries, how they’ve changed me. I don’t think even I had realized how much I’ve changed since I left. Can I still be the man I once was? I can’t dwell on that doubt. I need to be sure the Destined One does all she needs to do in order to end our curse. If only she’d focus on this quest instead of on coming between Arthur and Galahad.
~Lancelot
EVERYONE STOOD IN TENSE SILENCE as Dagg returned with Owen and Wade. The men were in different states of partial dress and sleepy awareness, and all eyes were fixed on Aliana. The scene would have been more distracting if she hadn’t been wound so tight.
“What do you mean you think Mordrid was at the party?” Lancelot asked.
“Exactly what I said.” She plopped down at the large kitchen table.
After exchanging looks, the others followed suit, with Galahad and Arthur taking up either side of her.
“Merlin, you did know my father. I remember you now.” She turned her attention to the others to explain. “He accompanied my father on a dig in the eastern part of England. I had wandered off when the ground beneath me crumbled and dumped me into a hidden chamber. I was trapped and there was some kind of power…a monster trying to break free. My dad told me I had been down there for an hour, and during that whole time, that essence kept touching me. It wasn’t until my dad found me that it started to retreat. Merlin was there too.”