by V. M. Marsh
I patted myself on the back for remembering that feature I’d never needed until now. It would help me keep him out of my bedroom. Holy guacamole, what was wrong with me? Of course, he would be staying out of my bedroom.
“The bathroom is two doors down. Good night!” I chirped and sped down the hall before he had a chance to respond.
Shutting my bedroom door behind me, I leaned against it and released a pent up breath. This situation had trouble written all over it.
Chapter Four
Rolling out of bed the next morning, I scratched my head and shuffled to the kitchen. Bleary eyed, I snatched the fresh pot of coffee the Echo had made. All I could think about was caffeine. As I poured a cup of strong black coffee, I whirled at a noise behind me and nearly dropped the pot.
Heart hammering, my hand rose to my chest to calm it. “You scared the crap out of me, Lars. I forgot you were here.” I grumbled while turning back to my garden painted mug. I finished filling it and placed the pot back on its warmer.
“If you want some coffee, mugs are in the cabinet. I'm not going to serve you, so help yourself. As long as you're here, my house is yours.”
As I took a deep whiff over my mug, I closed my eyes. Then I took a large gulp and smiled softly. Strong black coffee was my jam.
“I would have taken you for a cream and sugar girl. Also, what happened to cheery Emma? You're not that nice in the morning.” I glared at him.
He held up his hands in surrender. “Not that I'm complaining. I like when you walk on the dark side.” He winked while I rolled my eyes. Damn it. Why did he have to be so cute?
It was too early for perky Emma. There was no way I'd manage it before a couple of cups of magic brew. Not literally, it just seemed magical the way caffeine fixed my mood.
I needed to come up with an excuse to give him. He was right; perky Emma would probably wake up bright-eyed and bushy tailed every morning singing songs to animals or some shit I did not have the energy for yet.
“I’m not walking on the dark side. I just can’t function until after coffee.” There. That should be good enough.
Lars raised his brows. Or maybe not, but it was the best I could come up with on short notice while still half asleep.
“There’s cereal in the cabinet and eggs in the fridge. If you’re hungry, make something.” I growled.
Chuckling, Lars headed for the cereal. Closing my eyes, I sipped my coffee. After hearing the clink of a bowl set on the counter and pouring cereal, I reopened my eyes and refilled my cup. This was all I needed for breakfast.
“I’m going upstairs to get ready for the day. You’re in luck-it’s my day off, so we’re going for a hike. Get dressed when you’re done eating.” I tossed over my shoulder as I stomped from the room.
“Damn you’re bossy.” Lars called after me from the kitchen. “You have no idea how much that turns me on.”
I stumbled on the stairs making coffee slosh over the rim of my mug. Damn him. With my free hand, I swiped at the drips before they fell to the floor. I was fairly certain he was messing with me, but that didn’t stop my heart from skipping beat.
Once safely behind my closed bedroom door, I threw on yellow leggings with a hot pink shirt and matching sneakers. I liked bright colors but overdid them in public to make me seem brighter, pun intended. Loud clothes made a more subdued attitude seem perkier than it was, so I could be a little less “on” when wearing them.
I was almost to the stairs when Lars came out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel. Stumbling to a halt, my mouth grew dry. Water dripped from his hair to trail down hard pecs and washboard abs. My mouth fell open when the drops reached the top of the towel haphazardly draped across his hips.
A low chuckle rumbled through me to make me shiver as I shut my mouth. Avoiding his gaze, I scrambled to the stairs, and his chuckle turned into a roar of laughter behind me.
Scurrying to the plush sofa, I curled up in a corner and opened a magazine to wait for Lars. It was still sitting on my lap opened to the same page when his loud steps echoed on the stairs.
I lifted the magazine to my face seconds before Lars entered the room. Peeking over the edge, I found him watching me with a huge sloppy grin on his face.
“If you want to see what’s beneath the towel next time, all you need to do is ask. Or if speaking is too much for you to accomplish before my godlike physique, you can just nod.”
With pink cheeks, I snapped the magazine shut and tossed it on an end table. I thrived on challenges. Two could play at this game.
Under the guise of retying my shoe, I leaned over my knees and squeezed my arms together so that my breasts pushed up and together. Checking his response from beneath lowered lashes, I was pleased to find he was now the one frozen in shock with his mouth hanging.
Smirking, I plastered innocence onto my face and looked him straight in the eye as I stood. “If you want to see what’s beneath my shirt, all you have to do is dream about it. Because it’s never going to happen.”
I paused when his brow rose to mock me. “Well, it’s never going to happen again. Besides, my body is quite different from the last time you saw it, so you will have to dream about it. Not that I want you to, just if you want to, that’s the only way you’ll get to.”
Frowning and cursing, I spun around as Lars began to laugh at me. Again. So much for rising to the challenge. I hated the way he flustered me and got under my skin.
My eyes narrowed as I stomped to the front door. I would have to work on that if I wanted to win. Winning was my favorite thing, so I would make sure I had my head in the game next time. Glaring at him, my eyes told him to bring it. At least, I hoped that’s what they were saying.
He smirked and nodded. “Where are we hiking today? Lover’s Path?”
I scoffed. “You know as well as I do there is no such path. We’re going on one of the extreme trails. Are you up for it?”
“Of course. I can take whatever you throw at me.”
“We’ll see.” I remarked with thoughts on the conversation ahead. It would throw him for a loop I wasn’t sure he was ready for despite his claims otherwise.
Since my cabin was furthest from the lodge, it was closest to the more difficult trails. They were my favorite, which was another reason I picked this particular cabin when I moved out of my parents’ house. One of the main reasons was the seclusion so I could take off my mask and just be me.
Remembering my persona, I grinned at him. He frowned in confusion, but he would get used to me smiling all the time. Hopefully, my cheeks wouldn’t cramp up today. The muscles were mostly used to all the happy expressions, but occasionally still gave me trouble.
Reaching a steep hill, we looked at each other from the corner of our eyes. Mine narrowed as a smile spread across his face. Just as I realized he was up to something, he sprinted up the steep incline.
Oh, no he didn’t. I was born to win. I sped after him.
He arrived at the top first. Instead of waiting, he ran down the other side. So this was how it was going to be. He wanted to race? I’d give it to him.
We ran down the trail jumping over roots and sprinting across the flatter spots between leafy green ash trees. Our sweat glistened on our arms in the heat, but cool breezes whispered across our skin to keep us from overheating. It also helped that branches swayed and stretched across the trail high above our heads to create canopies of shade.
We were gasping for air by the time our run came to an end at a fast flowing river. Bending, I planted my hands on my knees to steady myself as I struggled to breathe. Just when I caught my breath, Lars peeled off his shirt.
“Let’s go for a swim to cool off.” He suggested.
“Let’s not. I’m not stripping for you and that current is too strong. It will sweep us away.”
Kneeling on the bank, I splashed water onto my face. Then I leaned back to watch the churning water sparkle in the sunlight.
“The Sanctuary is so beautiful,” I breathed.
Lars was staring at me when I glanced at him. “You never explained why you need sanctuary. This seems as good a time as any, so spill. Why are you here?”
“Would you believe me if I told you I’m here because I missed you?”
I gave him a look, and he sighed. “I didn’t think so. Look, I appreciate you giving me a place to stay, but I’m not going to talk about it. We’re safe here, and that’s all that matters.”
“You know I’m the queen of interrogation now, so you should save us both the trouble and just get it over with. I’m not going to give up on this.”
“And I’m not going to talk. I did a lot of things I’m not proud of while I was away, and I want to leave it in the past. I want to move on and start fresh. Beginning with you.”
I gulped as my heart leaped.
Sadness crept into my voice. “That’s never going to happen.”
Before he could pry, I continued firmly. “I get wanting to start over, but sometimes you have to deal with the past before you’re able to. If you have to hide here, this seems like something you need to deal with. You can’t hide in the Sanctuary forever.”
“True, but I’ll handle it if it becomes an issue. Unless that happens, you’ll just have to drop it.”
I glared at him in frustration. Like me, he appeared open and forthcoming, but he had just as much hidden. It seemed we were quite the pair of illusionist masters.
I was tired of it. Besides, I needed him to accept his fate soon, so we could work on a plan or training or whatever it was we needed to do to make my vision transpire.
Staring at him, I could feel deep in my gut that he would take his past with him to the grave if I let him. Time for a new strategy.
“Sorry to tell you this, but I already know some of your past. I’ve seen it.”
I waited for the shock to ease from his face before I continued. “I’m a Seer, and I’ve had visions of you. Of your past and your future. I’ve seen some of the things you’re done, although, I don’t understand it out of context. I don’t know why you fought those men or were with Bradley.”
Again, he reared back in shocked horror.
“Yes, I know about the Power Thief named Bradley, and I know you spent time with him. It’s the main reason I initially denied you sanctuary; I didn’t know the nature of your relationship with him. I couldn’t tell if you were running from him or in with him on some big plot to steal magic from those protected here.”
He stared at me in stunned silence before abruptly spinning from me. Rubbing his hands over his face, his head hung. “That’s a huge bomb to drop on a man all at once. I don’t know what to ask about first.”
Shaking his head, he turned back to me. “When?”
“When what?” I asked hesitantly.
“When did you become a Seer? You didn’t have that magic when we were together. Or did you and you kept it from me?”
“I suppose I always had the predisposition for it, but the world would be crazy with too many Seers. My ability was activated when my grandmother, the previous Seer, died.”
Giving me his back, he stormed a few feet away. Hugging myself, I watched birds dance in the clouds as I gave him space and waited for him to come back.
Glancing at me over his shoulder, he shook his head. He stomped angrily back to me. “Is that the real reason you broke up with me? I thought we were solid when we made it through your grandmother’s death together. Then suddenly, you were spouting all this nonsense about us not being right for each other.”
I shrugged. “It was part of it, yes. We thought my mom would become the new Seer, and it freaked me the hell out when I started seeing all these crazy things. I didn’t know how to deal with it. I needed to learn.”
“We could have done it together. You know I would have been there for you, just like I was for everything else. You didn’t need to end things over that.”
I shook my head sadly. “It was only one reason, and I can’t talk about the others. Not with you.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but I held up my hand. “Besides, we have bigger issues right now, like your connection to Bradley and why you’re here.”
“I’m not working with him anymore. That’s all you need to know.”
“I suspected as much when I had a vision after you showed up in the lobby the other day. I saw you kill him. We need to make that happen.”
Hurt, surprise, and confusion flittered across his face before it hardened into blank stone. “I can’t take him on. I almost died the last time I tried, which was right before I came here. If that’s the only reason you let me stay, it was in vain. I can’t do it.”
He about-faced and stomped dejectedly away from me-from my life. I could feel it and panic set in.
“Stop. I know if we work together, we can make it happen. You can win, and Bradley won’t be a threat to anyone anymore.”
I hurried after him, but he began to run.
“I’m not the man you need. Find someone else.”
I sprinted after him, but the gap between us widened. Damn him and his long legs. Soon I could no longer see him ahead of me. Damn my short legs.
My breath came in labored gasps when I reached my cabin. However, he was already gone. I knew it before I found his room emptied of all his belongings. He must not have unpacked yet if he was able to leave so quickly.
Sitting on his bed, my shoulders slumped. He left me. Again.
I know I pushed him away the first time, but I’d never gotten over that he’d let me. Even though I knew it was futile, stupid teenage me had desperately wanted him to fight for me. But he didn’t. Instead, he’d run off and left me far behind.
I’d asked him to stay this time, but he’d done it to me again. I scowled as tears spilled down my cheeks. Even if we couldn’t be together, it killed me not having him around. I didn’t realize until now how very much I still wanted him in my life.
I needed to get out of here and gain some perspective. And I knew just where to go for it.
Practically flying, I barely registered my surroundings as I ran down the stairs, out the front door, and on a partially hidden path. Branches scratched and clawed at me, but not even they penetrated my haze.
Leaving the path behind, I ignored a waterfall splashing into a large pool of water and ran up the steps of a wide veranda. I didn’t hesitate before throwing open tall mahogany doors guarding the entrance and rushing between them.
Toeing off my sneakers to leave at the door, I hurried out of the opulent entryway full of rich marble. Floor to ceiling windows overlooking the waterfall didn’t distract me as I raced passed a living room filled with a mix of shiny and velvety greens to complement the outdoors. The colors changed with the seasons.
Finally, I pushed my way through white double swinging doors. Not normally found in homes this large and fancy, the doors were purely to make the staffs’ jobs easier.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I slowed to watch my mother. Since she was short like me, she didn’t have to bend very far to reach the lower oven. Her shoulder-length silvery blonde waves swung as she slid bread from the oven rack and turned to place it on the counter behind her.
Dusting off her dainty hands with a towel, she hummed softly to herself while her yellow broom skirt swished with her sways. A soft smile graced her face until I ruined her atmosphere.
“Hi, Mom.” I said.
Jumping back in surprise with a hand over her heart, her hazel eyes shot to my matching ones. “Emma! You frightened the dickens from me.”
Lightly chuckling, I crossed the floor to her.
“Starflower, what’s wrong?” She asked once she got a good look at my face.
“Lars,” was all I had to say. She opened her arms wide to embrace and squeeze me once I flew into them.
“I knew this would be too difficult for you. Anyone could see plain as day light you still have feelings for that boy.” She shook her head.
“Is it that obvious?” My question muffled against her shirt
since I hid my face on her shoulder.
She kissed the top of my head and rubbed soothing circles across my back. “Unfortunately, yes. However, I know just what you need: a new focus and cooking. I was just starting dinner, so you can help.”
She pulled back while giving me one last pat on the shoulder and then set to taking ingredients from the pantry. Judging from the items she set on the counter, we would be making vegetarian lasagna and some sort of salad. Maybe grilled watermelon with goat cheese?
“Starflower, you need to let that boy go. He’s no good for you or the Circle. You need to concentrate on your mission: getting him to defeat the Power Thief. If that isn’t enough, you need to think about Jace when you’re with Lars. Jace is a much better match for you.”
She paused to give me a pointed look. “While pining over Lars, you aren’t giving him a proper chance to win you over. That’s not fair to either one of you since you are destined for Jace.”
I scowled as I filled a pot with water and set it on the stove to boil. “I don’t feel anything more than friendship towards Jace, and Lars has been gone for years. If my feelings for him haven’t changed by now, will they ever?”
She wagged her finger at me. “I told you, it’s because you’ve been letting your feelings for Lars block anything from developing with Jace. Think on it.”
The back door swung open as Dad filled the doorway. I chuckled when he had to duck to enter the room. He was such a big bear of a man. A teddy bear with a flaming red mop dancing like fire from the breeze following him into the kitchen.
“Emma! What are you doing here, love? I’m always happy to see you, but you haven’t come over much lately. Was there a dinner or special occasion I forgot?” His booming voice filled the kitchen.
“You didn’t forget anything, Dad. Mom never lets you miss anything important. You’d be lost without her.” I joked with him.
He snorted. “Right you are. Your mom is an angel.”