Immortals of Indriell- The Collection

by Melissa A. Craven

  “How have you made so much progress lately?” She curled up beside him on the lounge.

  “We tend to experience growth spurts right around our birthdays for the first few years. I’ll be seventeen in a few weeks.” He shrugged. “But tell me about your latest development, Sparky.”

  “That’s so not sticking!” She narrowed her eyes at him as she fished his phone from his pocket.

  “I could have done that for you,” he grumbled at her familiarity.

  “Check this out.” She held out his phone.

  “What am I supposed to see?”

  “Come on! Your phone is doing something it should not be doing!”

  “Lex, why’s my phone charging?

  “Awesome, right?”

  “So you can actually power things using the solar energy you absorb? Like a real walking, talking, cute, redheaded solar panel?”

  “Exactly!”

  “Okay, I’m impressed.”

  “It’s hard to maintain control. If I let my concentration slip even for a second, I have to fight to rein it in all over again. Tuesday during English, I got so focused on Mrs. Barclay’s lecture I accidentally charged Kayla’s iPad.”

  “Maintaining that kind of control isn’t easy.”

  “So how are things with you and Kayla?”

  “She’s doing really well after her latest surgery. I’ve pushed her healing further this time. I’d really like to eliminate her scars completely, but Dad won’t let me, even if I could manage it.”

  “You know that’s not what I meant.”

  “We’re just friends, Lex.”

  “You’ve been dating a few weeks now.” He didn’t like to talk about it, but she was thrilled he was showing an interest in someone else.

  “She’s not into me like that.”

  “Don’t be silly, she adores you.”

  “We get each other.” He looked amused. “It’s nice, but there’s no spark for either of us.”

  “Really?” The way she saw it, Kayla was head over heels for him.

  “Fine,” she relented. “Enough stalling, McBrien. I’m ready for my concerto.” She’d been after him for weeks to play for her, but he always backed out at the last minute.

  She watched as he reluctantly retrieved his violin and realized he was nervous.

  “Hey, it’s just me.”

  “I play alone these days. It’s the only thing I have that’s all mine. A gift that’s just for me. It’s hard to explain, but when you’ve seen me play before, that was just … fake Aidan.”

  “So what’s on the repertoire? Bach? Beethoven? Paganini?” She attempted to lighten the mood.

  “McBrien.” He smiled uncertainly as he tucked his instrument under his chin and began to play. Allie watched as a peaceful tranquility settled over him. She felt like she was finally seeing “real Aidan.” All his walls were down, leaving behind nothing but his intense vulnerability.

  A sad haunting melody filled their warm bubble and she got chills from the shock of it. She could feel the strength of his emotion as he played, his eyes blazing in the firelight. This was like an emotional release for him. He was communicating with her through his music, conveying the depth of his feelings in a way he couldn’t do with words. She experienced the deep sorrow, anger and loneliness he knew before she came into his life and couldn’t hold back her tears.

  She watched a genuine smile light his face as he increased the tempo, and laughed when she knew his joy for the music and his delight to be sharing this moment with her. He was truly an awesome sight, but the music grew exquisitely sad. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He was baring his soul, sharing his most intimate self with her and she was awed.

  She listened for what felt like hours until the last notes faded into the night and he returned his instrument to its case.

  “Aidan.” Her voice was a rasp. “You’re amazing. The way you make me feel your music…” She felt wrung out emotionally, just from listening.

  “I liked sharing this with you.” He took his seat beside her. “I wasn’t sure I would. I’ve never played like that for anyone before. It’s kind of a private thing. It gives me the strength to go on and it’s the only time I really feel like me.”

  “Why do you hide behind your arrogance, even with me? I know you Aidan, that’s not you. The guy I just saw—that’s you. You should let him out more often.”

  “It’s easier to be the jovial cocky guy.” He shrugged. “It’s what everyone expects. The pressure, the expectations I have to live up to every day because I have this power. It’s exhausting. It’s just easier for everyone if I pretend it doesn’t get to me. That way I don’t have to see their pity.”

  “You don’t feel like your power is yours, do you?”

  “Who am I to have so much?”

  “Aidan, your power is you. How many times have you reminded me of that?”

  “I know, but you have just as much difficulty accepting it as I do.”

  “Cheers to that,” she sighed.

  “It’s so easy to be myself with you.” He pulled her close, his hands slipping around her waist.

  “I love you, Lex.”

  “I know.”

  “You know you love me, too, right?”

  “I know.” Her voice was small.

  “So why the pretense with mortal boy?”

  “Aidan, don’t.”

  “Lex—”

  “No, please don’t do this.”

  “Alexis Ann, you should be with me,” he said softly. “You know it’s what you want.”

  “No.” She turned to face him. “How many times do I have to tell you I’m with Vince? I love him. I’m sorry, Aidan, I’m just not that girl. She exists in your mind and I couldn’t possibly measure up!”

  “Love? You cannot love him!” His eyes blazed with fury

  “Aidan. I love you—I do. Just not how you want.”

  “He has no idea how amazing you are.”

  “Can’t you see he’s what I need?”

  “It doesn’t make sense! How can we be so utterly perfect, and you chose the douche who doesn’t have the first clue what he has?” He jumped to his feet and paced around their small bubble. “You should at least be with someone who understands what you’re going through. Graham would be a better choice! Even Darius would be a better choice!”

  “Who the hell is Darius?”

  “My brother.”

  “Jeez, how many brothers do you have?” She rolled her eyes. “And why are you so hung up on me dating Vince when you’re clearly with Kayla?”

  “It’s not love, Allie! There’s a huge difference! You’re just going to get hurt pretending to be someone you’re not.”

  “It’s none of your business!”

  “You have no idea what it could be like for us.” He reached for her.

  “Aidan I—” But his arms were suddenly around her, his lips brushing hers, catching her by surprise. Every nerve in her body responded to his touch.

  His soft simple kiss was so powerful, she couldn’t breathe. When he finally pulled back, he gazed into her eyes. She knew he was the one person who understood her best. A small gasp escaped her and he was kissing her again, gently, slowly, as if he intended to kiss her all night.

  “Lex,” he breathed, his earthy scent was intoxicating as his lips crushed over hers. She could feel his quiet desperation. He was conveying his feelings through his touch now, just as he had with his music. His warm hands slid down her body, leaving her heart pounding in her chest.

  Blood rushed through her veins and all thought escaped her. She responded to him, her fingers sliding through the silkiness of his hair. This was very different from anything she’d experienced with Gavin or even Vince. This was too much. She couldn’t bear it.

  Logic told her to end it, but she was too far gone. He continued his slow, effortless assault on her senses. She could feel his desire to make her happy, to make her laugh, to be her equal in every possible way. She was overwhelmed by
his capacity to love. Overwhelmed by his loneliness and need.

  As the heat of his power melded with hers, her body hummed and her mind raced with all the thoughts she never allowed herself to consider. It would be so easy to love Aidan. They could be amazing together, this kiss was proof of that and all she had to do was let it happen.

  I could kiss him forever...

  They tumbled back onto the lounge, Aidan no longer gentle as he showed her exactly how he felt. She responded without hesitation, clinging to him despite everything that told her to end this now. Before they both got hurt. She feared this heat between them would just swallow them up until they were nothing without each other.

  Finally, reality slammed into her. She was ruining the best thing that ever happened to either of them.

  It took all the strength she had, emotionally and physically to break away.

  “I’m sorry!” she cried between shaky breaths as she scrambled to her feet.

  “It’s okay, Lex.” His eyes heated with golden light. He stood, reaching for her again, claiming her mouth with another smoldering kiss.

  “No! Please! We can’t do this!”

  “You can’t deny we have something incredible!”

  “Yes, we do,” she said evenly, pushing hard against his chest to put some distance between them. “We have the most amazing friendship I’ve ever known, and we’re screwing it up!”

  “We could have so much more than friendship! Has mortal boy ever kissed you like that?” He raked his fingers through his hair as the warmth of their cozy bubble collapsed.

  “No.” Allie choked on the word that spoke volumes. “Aidan, I won’t risk losing our friendship when it means everything to me!” After a life spent mostly alone, she couldn’t begin to tell him what he meant to her, or how much that scared her.

  “Dammit, Lex! Why can’t you just let this happen?”

  “LISTEN TO ME! I want to be with Vince. I won’t lose him!” He gave her the one thing Aidan couldn’t. Something normal and easy in the midst of chaos.

  “You love me, Allie,” he said firmly, his nostrils flaring in anger. “Every time you deny it, you’re lying!”

  “I can’t handle this. It’s too much! Vince is like an escape when I can’t take the pressure anymore! When I’m with him I don’t have to think about how everyone expects me to just adapt to this life I never asked for! I don’t have to think about how I’ll outlive my entire family! You have yours forever, Aidan! I don’t. In a few decades I’ll be utterly alone and that scares me more than you can imagine!” She sobbed as she desperately tried to rein in the power raging inside her. She knew he was fighting the same battle for control.

  With a deep breath, she continued in an even tone. “When I’m with Vince, he makes me forget. I need you to let me have that.”

  “You just need more time.”

  “No!” She took a step back. “I won’t risk loving you when I’m only going to lose you. Our friendship means the world to me. Nothing can ever happen.”

  “Don’t say never. Not to me, I won’t accept it.”

  “I couldn’t survive losing you. Our friendship will have to be enough.”

  “I won’t go back—I can’t go back.” His voice broke in despair.

  “Please, Aidan—”

  “I don’t want your friendship, Allie! I’m done.”

  “No! Don’t shut me out!” she cried as something shattered between them. She saw the old Aidan return, the one she’d only heard about. She fell to her knees when he glared at her with such a cold stony facade she hardly recognized him. Allie crumbled under the weight of his cruelty. He was gone. Whatever connection they had was broken.

  ~~~

  “Allie! What in God’s name is wrong with you?” Gregg growled.

  “Nothing.” She hefted herself back onto the balance beam.

  “You haven’t fallen this many times since your first week!”

  “I know. I’ll do better.”

  “Take a break.” He sat back on the mat. “You’re useless today anyway.”

  “Sorry.”

  “What’s with you two?”

  “Nothing.”

  “I’m not stupid, Red. You’ve both been pathetic. Aidan will not talk to me, or Nae. I haven’t seen him like this since ... before you.” He scowled at her. “And you’ve been quiet and docile: two things I’ve never known you to be. It’s disturbing! I don’t want the gory details, but between my brothers and my sons, I’ve raised a lot of teenage boys and they were all bletherin’ idiots at sixteen.”

  “We just had a fight,” she said.

  “Well, I’m going to take a stab at it.” He lay back on the mat, staring up at the ceiling. “I think my bloody impatient son declared his feelings and I’m guessing it didn’t go as he planned because he cannot get it through his thick skull you need more than a couple of months to accept your immortality.”

  “Right.” If only it were that simple.

  “My son has been incredibly lonely for a very long time and I suspect you have too. Your friendship means everything to him. Talk to him, Red, whatever happened, don’t let it fester. It isn’t worth the heartache.”

  “He doesn’t want my friendship.”

  “Of course he does, sweetheart. Aidan is a powerful boy and he shoulders a lot of responsibility for one so young. More than any child should ever have to bear. You understand him in a way no one else can. Don’t let him push you away because his pride is injured. You need each other, whether or not that ever turns into something deeper. Just don’t blame him for falling so hard, you’re kind of a catch.” He winked.

  “How could it ever be anything more than friendship? He has some Complement person out there waiting for him. What’s the point in setting ourselves up for heartbreak?”

  “Aye, you both have someone who will be your life’s companion but it doesn’t mean you cannot experience love elsewhere. Believe me, I did not spend eighteen hundred years alone. As a matter of fact, Ems and I have quite a steamy history, but that was long before Daniel and Nae were in the picture.”

  “Ew! I can’t unhear that, can I?”

  “Sorry, TMI?”

  “So, what happens when I date an Immortal and just when I feel like I’m happy, his Complement shows up and he’s suddenly off bonding with her and I’m left out in the cold?”

  “I forget how much you still don’t understand,” he said. “I promise it doesn’t work that way. When I was a young man, I loved a much older woman. Kassandre was beautiful, ancient and mysterious. A powerful Clairvoyant and my first long term experience with an Immortal lover. Kassandre recognized her Complement while we were still together. Ashar was my good friend, but he knew for over a thousand years he belonged with Kass, and he waited very patiently for her to acknowledge their bond.”

  “They were the Chief of Justice that was assassinated, right?” Allie asked.

  “Yes, they were a truly great leader. I miss them terribly.” Gregg had a funny far off look in his eye.

  “She broke it to me gently, of course, and I was sad to lose her when I still loved her very much. But it was because I loved her that I was able to step aside. I could never fault her or Ashar for what happened. They belonged together and spent far too long apart. How could I be angry because this woman I loved finally found the completion we all seek? Their joy only served to remind me I would find the same for myself one day and it would be far greater than anything Kassandre and I ever shared. Don’t be afraid to love someone you can truly be yourself with. I would wholeheartedly approve if you chose my son, but honestly, the last thing either of you needs is a complicated relationship. But my son is a dunderhead, completely distraught over a pretty redheaded lass.”

  “Thanks.” Allie said, “but I’m a little confused about something else now.”

  “I’m an awful teacher.” Gregg fell back on the mat.

  “You are not!” She laid back across from him. Her forehead creased as she stared at the ceiling in frustr
ation. “How did Ashar know for a thousand years that Kassandre was his Complement? Wouldn’t they see it when they first met? And why wouldn’t he have just told her?”

  “Once again, we’ve not explained things well enough. You’ve seen much of our story by now, so you should remember the first time I laid eyes on Naeemah?”

  “I could see the heartbreak on your face when she showed me her memories.”

  “Aye, I lived without her for over eighteen hundred years,” he sighed. “And just the memory of that day still takes my breath away. We cannot know our Complements until we’re ready for it. It’s not a fairytale, love-at-first-sight kind of moment, although that’s not unheard of. Just ask Ming and Jin. You’ll not recognize your Complement—even if she stares at you across a crowded bazaar—until you’re open to the possibility.”

  “She wasn’t ready. That’s why she didn’t recognize you,” Allie said sadly.

  “Aye, it was the worst moment of my life. She was so beautiful and regal and our eyes met for just the briefest of moments. But she was young, just beginning to venture out on her own. I searched for months, but she vanished into the Himalayas on her way to the Shaolin.”

  “That’s so sad.”

  “It’s all about timing, Allie. For a woman like Kassandre, the timing was just never right. It took her longer than most, but she always did do things her way.” He smiled fondly at the memory. “Ashar kept his silence because it would have been incredibly wrong of him to tell her. Such a revelation is a huge milestone and if you aren’t ready for it, it can be painful to hear.”

  “It will not happen until you’re ready. And when it does, you may have some patient waiting to do. Somehow I’m guessing you’ll be stubborn like Kass, and when you finally get around to accepting the idea of your Complement, you’ll find a poor, longsuffering lad has been waiting for you.”

  “How long until you finally met Naeemah?” she asked, all pretense of her training gone as she lay on the floor listening to his story.

  “Well over a century. But that tale will have to wait.” He jumped from the mat in one fluid motion. “We’ve talked away our entire session, so we’ll have to double time it on Saturday.”