“What’s wrong?” Heidi stood still, her worry obvious.
He shook his head and winced at the explosion it caused behind his eyes. He put the heel of his hand against his temples and tried to massage the pain away.
“Here, lay down.” She moved to his side and guided him to her bed where she gently manoeuvred him so that he lay flat. “Can I do anything?”
“No.” He frowned as he felt her raise his head carefully and settled it back down on her lap. She softly moved his hands and replaced them with her own, her fingers massaging in small circles. He relaxed as the heat seeped into his head and the pain lessened.
“When did they start?” she asked softly.
“About three hours after I woke up, I got the first one. This is the fourth one.”
“Did you tell Trista?”
He nodded and gasped as the pain reoccurred. Heidi brushed the bangs out of his face and continued to rub his temples.
“She said it was from the falling on my head. She tried to use the waves to help heal whatever’s wrong, but she couldn’t.” He flinched as the pain intensified.
“Don’t move.”
Tyler grunted at the obvious. She gently moved her fingers down so that she was massaging his neck, the back of his head, and back up to his temples. She felt him relax on her legs and she smiled at his sigh.
He reached up, took her hands in his, and brought them to his lips. “Thank you,” he whispered softly. When it was obvious he was about to sit up, she put a hand on his chest.
“Don’t.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t want to fight, Tyler. I’ve been beside myself this week knowing you were mad about what happened…”
“Heidi, I wasn’t mad. Is that why you were avoiding me?”
“Yes, no, maybe…”
He looked up and backwards and gave her a lopsided grin. “You sound confused.”
“I am.”
His smile softened. “Soon, you’ll be home, and all of this confusion will be done with. You’ll go back to your life and you’ll be happy.”
“And you?” She searched his deep brown eyes for the answer.
Tyler forced his smile to stay on his face.
“And for me, well, it works out perfectly, yeah? The sisters are gone, John is staying here with Trista, and you’ll be gone home. My pack will be back to simply Bird and me and we can go back to wandering.” He sat up and blinked a few times to make sure the headache was truly gone. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Heidi watched him leave and lay on the bed. Everything was working out perfectly. He was right, right?
Chapter Six
Tyler looked out of his window and checked his packs one last time. He’d been unable to sleep and the hours had dragged on as he’d waited for morning to break. Unable to sit still any longer, he walked quietly to Heidi’s room. She’d managed to kick her blankets off and lay on her stomach with her head in her arms, her hands under her pillow. She was wearing his grey tunic. Her legs were bare to mid-thigh. He made his way to the bed and sat softly. Unable to help himself, he brushed the hair from her face. Still asleep, she smiled at the touch and turned her face into it. He closed his eyes.
He was doing the right thing, right? By the moons, she didn’t belong here. Even if he told her how he felt, she’d simply tell him she wanted to go home, right? He took a deep breath and opened his eyes.
“Heidi.” He rubbed his hand along her arm. “Heidi, wake up.”
She groaned and stretched, cracked open an eye and closed it again. “It’s still dark out,” she mumbled into her arms.
“It’s starting to get light.”
She took a deep breath and rolled onto her back. “Tyler.”
“Hmm?”
“Trista was telling me about a sort of holiday that goes on here. It’s to celebrate the success of their fishing year round. She said it’s in a couple of days. I was thinking…” She blushed.
“Do you want to stay until after it’s done?” His heart was pounding in his chest.
“Would you mind? I’d like to see it. She made it sound amazing.”
“That sounds fine.”
The two of them stared at each other for a moment. Tyler blinked first. “Go back to sleep,” he said softly as he stood.
He walked back to his room, dropped his packs on the bed, and headed outside where he promptly shifted into his wolf. He needed to run; he needed to breathe, to think… he needed to get away. He ran along the edge of the cliff, letting the sea air fill his lungs. He leaped over fallen logs and big rocks and didn’t slow as he picked a narrow trail leading down the side of the cliff to a white sandy beach. Once on the beach, he kept going, galloping as fast as he could until he was sure his lungs would give out due to lack of air. The beach ended and he picked another trail that led back up the cliff side. He let himself collapse at the top, shifting back so he could lay with his arms behind his head. He gazed up into the sky, watching the stars fade as the sun started to appear over the horizon.
What was he so upset about? Shouldn’t he be glad Heidi had decided to stay a few more days? He growled low in his throat. It didn’t make a difference; either way she was going to leave. If she wasn’t planning to stay then he wanted her gone as quickly as possible. By the moons, didn’t she see what she was doing to him? He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It was two days. It would go by quickly and then he could concentrate on traveling and getting her home. Just two days; how bad could it be?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The breeze blew the bangs into his eyes. He tried to relax. He was starting to wonder if Heidi had gotten his note when the sound of someone coming up behind him drifted on the wind. He smiled at the feel of her small hand touching his back.
“It’s beautiful here.” Heidi took a deep breath of the salt air.
Tyler nodded and pulled her around so that her back was to his chest and he could rest his chin on her head. When she didn’t object, he hung his arms loosely over her shoulders.
“Heidi…”
“Hmmm?” She glanced back at him and caught her breath at the look in his dark eyes.
“I…” He smiled and turned her head so she was looking at the ocean once again. “Just look straight ahead until I’m done.”
She nodded and put her hands on his arms.
“I need to tell you something. I wasn’t planning on saying anything, but the longer you’re here, the more I realize that if I don’t tell you, I’ll hate myself and forever wonder if things could have been different had I said something. I also realize that you miss where you’re from and that you have a mate there, but I’ve come to care for you, Heidi. A lot. By the moons, I’m falling in love with you and I know this is only going to get better the longer we’re together. You’re amazing, beautiful, brave, smart.” He smiled. “You like to fish.”
She started to laugh despite the effort she was putting in not to do so. “That’s a requirement, is it?”
He chuckled. “It is.” He turned her so he could watch her reaction. He gazed into her grey green eyes. “I want you to know that staying is an option.” He cupped her face lightly in his hands, his heart threatening to pound out of his chest. “You don’t have to answer right away, but if you decide to stay, I can guarantee you’ll be making me a very happy man and I promise to spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret your choice.”
He bent slowly and paused a mere inch from her lips. When she didn’t pull away, he closed the distance between them. Their lips brushed together lightly. Heidi’s hands moved up his back so that they tangled in his hair. Tyler groaned and parted her lips with his tongue. All he could focus on was her taste on his lips. His head spun. Heidi moaned and his heart jumped.
He made himself pull away. The urge to keep going, to start exploring her was overwhelming. He had to stop now or he’d never be able to.
His heart dropped at the feel of the cold blade against his throat. The grass tickled the back of his neck. By the moons he’d f
allen asleep and been so involved in his dream he’d let his guard down.
Heidi giggled and he relaxed and opened his eyes. She pulled the dagger away and sat beside him.
“It must have been a good dream,” she commented and grinned at him.
He felt the blood rise into his face. “What makes you say that?” He sat up and rubbed his hands over his face.
“I’m not the best at sneaking up on people and I could have killed you if I’d felt like it.”
“I wasn’t talking out loud, was I?” He glanced sideways at her then back to the ocean to hide his embarrassment.
“If I say yes, will you get any redder?”
He chuckled. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
She smiled. “No. You weren’t talking.”
Thank the moons for small miracles, he thought to himself.
They watched the waves in silence. A large white bird with black feet floated lazily on the air currents. It spotted something it liked in the water and dove in after its prey before reappearing with a small fish in its talons. It flew to its nest on the edge of the cliff. Tyler glanced sideways at her and took in the peaceful look on her face, her grey green eyes slightly squinted as she looked at the view. She tucked a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear. He took a deep breath. If he was dreaming of asking her to stay, then maybe it was time he did.
“Heidi…”
“Hmm?” She cocked her head to the side and her smile softened.
He grinned. “You just cocked your head like a dog.”
The two of them laughed. “I suppose if you live in a pack for over two months you start to act like everyone else. You know, I will never look at my dog the same way again.” She looked at him expectantly.
By the moons, what was he thinking? She had a life to go to. Could he ask her to forget about everything she loved just so he could have her?
“Tyler.”
“Hmm?”
“You were going to say something.” Heidi frowned as his eyes returned to they’re slightly guarded state.
“Was I?”
She raised an eyebrow at him and he gave her a small smile.
“It mustn’t have been important.” He pushed up off of the ground and offered her a hand up. “I’m sure I’ll remember later.”
Heidi took his hand and let him pull her up. “So, have you been to any other fishing festivals?”
Tyler shook his head. “Never. I was too young to attend any festivals or celebrations before the war and since then, I’ve avoided them.” He looked down at the feel of her hand on his arm.
“You really don’t like crowds, do you?” She frowned at the smirk on his face. “We can go, if you want. We don’t have to stay.”
“No, it’s fine. This will be the one and only time you get to see this. I can avoid them for the rest of my life.” He smiled. “You’ll need a dress.”
“What?”
He chuckled at the disbelief on her face. “The first night of any festival in Quelondain is a dance. The requirement for attendance is a dress for the women and a jacket for the men.”
“But…”
“Heidi. It’s not a problem.”
“Tyler, I don’t have any money and I’m not going to let you buy me a dress just so I can wear it once.”
Tyler started to laugh. “By the moons, now you’re starting to sound like my Aunt Hayden. The woman would rather be seen naked than in a dress.”
“It’s not that I don’t like dresses. Actually, I have quite a few at home. The problem is that this is going to cost money.”
“And I just told you it wasn’t a problem.”
“Look, maybe it’s none of my business, but you don’t live anywhere, you don’t have a job, and yet you still seem to have no lack of funds. You buy supplies and you bought me a dagger and you got me clothes and now you want to get me a dress. I know things here aren’t free.”
Tyler frowned at the look on her face. “You think I’m a thief?” His frown deepened as she turned red.
“Are you?”
“Would it matter? Would you find someone else to stay with?” He stopped talking and faced her. “Would you leave me?” The last sentence came out so softly it was almost a whisper and he wanted to slap himself for saying it out loud.
“Tyler…”
“Ah, but you can’t leave me, can you? Not if you want to go home.”
Her grey green eyes flared with anger. “You think that’s why I’m still here? If you’ll remember correctly, John was supposed to get me home. You told him how. If I wanted to leave you I could! All I’d have to do is find someone to get me to Sageden and then I’d need to find Hayden and Jasper. You know what, Tyler? Right now, that sounds like a fine and dandy idea to me. Don’t worry about it. Go on and leave and go on your merry way. I’ll get home by myself.” She turned and stalked off toward Harring.
Tyler clenched his jaw in an effort to keep from yelling something he knew he’d regret later. By the moons, maybe he should take her up on her offer. Going off on his own, getting lost in the woods, that seemed like a fine and dandy idea indeed, but the thought of her relying on someone else… He growled and jogged to catch up to her.
“Heidi…” He fell into step with her. When she wouldn’t look at him, he took three long strides to get ahead of her and turned so he blocked her way. She stopped short and turned her head. He noticed the tears glistening on her cheeks. “Heidi.” He pulled her to his chest and felt her relax against him. “I’m not a thief or a cheat. I find work here and there in my travels. I’d done anything from training pups and cubs to spar to farming to raising florshs, to… well, I could go on, but I’m hoping you get the point. I have money because I don’t spend it.”
Heidi took a few deep breaths. “I’m not staying with you because you’re the one who can get me home.”
His heart jumped as he thought back to her conversation with John. “I know.” He kissed her forehead.
“You do?” She buried her face in his chest, too scared to look at him.
“I do.” It was his turn to take the deep breaths. “And I wish you could stay, Heidi. More than anything, I wish you could.” He tightened his hold on her. “But you need to go home.” He smoothed her hair. “And I promise I’ll get you there.” He took her hand and started to lead her toward Harring. By the moons, this was going to be a long couple of months.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
John took a sip of his sloan and looked up as Tyler walked into the pub. He raised an eyebrow at his friend.
“You didn’t think to shave?”
Tyler shrugged then rolled his shoulders to readjust the dark blue jacket that ended mid-thigh. “I shaved a couple of days ago.” He felt his jaw and shrugged again. “It’s not like I’m trying to find a mate.” He sat took a sip of the sloan John had already ordered for him.
John grunted. “You could show up to the dance wearing ripped pants and tunic and you’d still have offers.”
Tyler rolled his eyes then smiled at his friend. Almost three months after they’d first met, the transformation in him was amazing. He’d put on the weight he’d lost and just the confidence alone that he’d gained made him turn some women’s heads.
“Are you planning on leaving tomorrow first thing?”
Tyler shook his head. “The morning after; I imagine it will be a late night tonight.”
“Tyler…” John stopped short at the dark look his friend sent his way. “Never mind.” He looked at the door and beamed as Trista appeared in a pale yellow dress that fit tight in the bodice and flared from her hips to the ground. Her red hair was pulled up and tied in a sort of loose bun, leaving her neck and shoulders bare. He stood and pulled a chair back for her. She giggled as he placed a soft kiss on her exposed skin.
Tyler, who had been watching the pair with a mixture of gladness and jealousy, jumped at the feel of a small hand on his shoulder. Heidi laughed.
“I don’t remember you being this easy to surprise,” she said
with a grin. “That’s twice in two days, now.”
Tyler stood, ready to defend his lack of attention, only to be rendered speechless by the sight before him as he turned.
Heidi blushed as he closed his mouth with obvious effort. “Do you like it?” She performed a little curtsy and full turn for his benefit.
He watched as the light blue of her dress swirled around her feet. His gaze moved up to her slim waist where the satin material hugged up her torso. The dark blue trim along the low cut neckline made the skin over it seem paler than usual. Her hair hung in dark loose ringlets. He touched the two white flowers she had pinned over her right ear.
“You look…” He shook his head as he tried to think of the word he wanted. “Beautiful, but more so.” He smiled and kissed her forehead. “Heart stopping.” He pulled the chair next to his out before sitting back down. He stroked his jaw again and smirked. “I should have shaved.”
Heidi shook her head. “I like you like this. You look fabulous, by the way. You really do clean up nice.”
“Yes, well, only for you.”
John raised an eyebrow at the two of them. Neither noticed.
“Would you like a drink before we leave?” Tyler stood before he was even done asking the question. He looked around the table, smiled at their nods, and headed to get four more drinks. John came to stand at his side.
“What are you doing?”
Tyler frowned. “What do you mean?”
John looked to the table and back to his friend. “I mean, what’s going on between you and Heidi? Has she decided to stay?”
Tyler shook his head. “No.” He glanced at Heidi and gave her his best smile. “No, she hasn’t. I haven’t given her the option.”
“Really, because, sitting across the table from the two of you, it looks as though the two of you have decided to take this past the friendship stage.”
Tyler chuckled. “Well, then, it’s working perfectly.” He ordered four sloans. “You were right about the attention any unfated man or woman is going to get tonight. I’m not interested in it and neither is Heidi, so for tonight, we’re together.”
Tyler's Story (Tales of Quelondain) Page 12