“What? How? It isn’t safe for them.”
In that moment, she loved Aidan for worrying about their safety before anything else.
“We’ve danced around the issue occasionally, but they know … at least a little of what I am. There is so much about myself and my past that I don’t understand, but I do know my intuition is something I trust and my intuition has always told me to keep them out of it—to keep them safe. So we ignore the giant, pink, tap-dancing elephant in the room and pretend everything is peachy.”
“Allie—I’m so sorry.” He reached up and brushed her hair aside, cupping her face in his palm.
“We make up trivial things to talk about so we’ll have something to say to each other.” She shrugged. “It’s depressing.”
“How did your birth parents die?”
“Our world thinks they were assassinated nearly fourteen years ago.” She could see the reality of what she said dawning in his eyes.
“No.” He turned toward her, propping up on his elbow to face her. “It’s impossible, Lex. They had a natural daughter centuries ago.”
“Yeah, and then they had me too.” She stared into his dark, worry-filled eyes.
“A second natural daughter?” His worry turned to fear in the span of a heartbeat.
“My maternal grandmother was Queen Alísun.” Her voice shook and she couldn’t look at him, so she stared down at his chest instead. She absently ran her fingertips through the short tufts of chest hair he never bothered manscaping.
“The prophecy?”
“It seems she foretold of my birth and recorded a false version to keep me safe.”
Aidan pulled her against his chest, murmuring words of comfort, but she could feel his anger and his fear—and his relief, too, that the prophecy wasn’t about him.
“How could he keep this from you?” he finally said. “How could Dad let you continue thinking any of this was just chance?”
“Believe me, your dear ol’ da is on my list. But I think he was in denial. Gregg loves me like a daughter; he thought he was protecting me—waiting until he was sure. The necklace was the final clue. It’s hers.” Allie lifted the teardrop pendant from the chain around her neck. The sparkling black stones caught the light from the stars above them and the worn serpentine loop snaked around the teardrop in a figure eight.
“Allie, you’re like … royalty.”
“Screw that, Aidan Loukas,” she snarled, shoving him back.
“Certainly not a well-mannered princess,” he said dryly. “You would be the closest thing we have to true nobility. People would freak if they knew you were Kassandre and Ashar’s natural daughter. They would flock to you like royalty for that alone. If they knew about your connection to the Indriell Queens … you’d never have another moment’s peace.”
“I trust you won't treat me differently.” The tone of reverence in Aidan’s voice was not something she could take from him. “I swear, I will throat-punch you right here if you don’t snap out of it!”
“You’re still Allie and I’m still Aidan.” He laughed. “You know I will never treat you differently where I can help it. But you are different. Your identity has to remain a secret. It isn’t safe for you—and that will always worry me.”
“People are protecting me, Aidan—have been protecting me and watching over me my whole life.”
“Who?” He frowned.
“My birth parents,” she whispered. “They’re alive.”
“What—how?” he gasped.
“I don’t know how they faked their death … but I-I've known my father most of my life. I always thought he was just a friend of the family. I-I’m not sure about my mother—I think she might not have made it through the assassination attempt unscathed. She must have been taken.”
“You’ve met Ashar?”
“I know him as Navid. It was such a shock when Gregg showed me a picture of my parents. He did it to show me how much I look like my mother, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my father. Gregg doesn’t know. No one can know, but Navid told me I could confide in you—he said I needed to.”
“When? Is he here? Have you seen him?”
“There's a reason I’m a telepath. I inherited it from him.”
“Ashar was— is a telepath?”
“A dreamwalker, actually. He can only speak to me directly with a great deal of effort. He’s spoken to me a few times. Once during my Awakening and then again when Quinn and I were taken. The last time he spoke to me was when Gregg dropped this bomb on me. Since then, I’ve kept my mind locked tight against you, but against him as well. Not on purpose. I was just … licking my wounds, I suppose.” Allie heaved a deep sigh. It felt so good to finally let it all out.
“These last few months, I’ve been so angry,” she said softly, staring up at the twinkling sky above them. “My whole life has been a lie and there he was, all this time, with all the answers. But I need him—there’s so much I have to know.”
“He’s a dreamwalker? So that’s why you wanted me to leave. He came to you there? Ash––Navid?” Aidan’s brow creased in frustration.
She nodded. “We didn’t have long, but we talked. He didn’t have a lot of answers, but I think he will in time.”
“Are you sure you’re okay, Allie?” He turned to face her with a look of concern. “That’s a lot to take in.”
They lay there quietly for a moment in the dim light of the twinkling stars.
“No … but this helps.” She smiled, but her smile wavered. She was so comfortable with him and there was no doubt their relationship was changing—had been changing since Agra. If the intimacy between them continued to escalate, she would either have to break his heart or take a leap of faith. But right now, she didn’t want to put a label on whatever this was.
Aidan absently stoked her hair and kissed her forehead and Allie shoved all of her conflicting emotions into that slightly smaller box in her mind. For the moment, an immense burden had lifted from her shoulders.
“My mother is clairvoyant.”
“An understatement from what I know of her,” Aidan said.
“Navid says they saw hundreds of different versions of my life and this is the one they chose for me.”
“So they’ve manipulated every aspect of your life? That must be a tough pill to swallow.”
“Knowing that my own parents gave me away and strategically planned every moment of my life.… I’m so angry, Aidan. I’ve never felt such rage. My anger scares me.” She held up her hands so he could see the faded crescent-shaped scabs on her palms. “I feel like I’m losing control of everything—especially my power.”
“That’s not a good sign.” He frowned, tracing the lines on her palm with his fingertip. “We need to work on that.”
“Liam’s been helping me—since the whole Vince thing.”
“You’ve had a shitty few months, Lex.”
She wasn’t sure why she did it; she didn’t even think about it. It felt so natural to tilt her head back, letting her lips find his.
She felt his surprise, but he quickly got over that as his hand slid down to her waist. His other tangled in her hair. The minty, earthy taste of his scent filled her senses. His lips were soft but demanding as they moved over hers.
For once, she refused to think about the consequences. Tonight, she needed his comfort.
Do not overthink this, Lex.
No strings?
It’s just a kiss.
Promise?
Alexis Ann … shut up and kiss me.
~~~
CHAPTER
TWELVE
She shouldn’t have kissed him. She kept telling herself she shouldn’t have kissed him. But over the last week, Allie couldn’t think about anything but that kiss.
It can’t happen again. But she was struggling to remember all of her perfectly reasonable arguments for why kissing Aidan was such a bad idea when it felt so damned right.
The night was late and the music was soothing as Allie atte
mpted to read her book.
Aidan dozed, his bare chest warm and distracting against her back. His lips pressed against her shoulder and his hands began to wander … again.
I am, without a doubt, the biggest dumbass ever. Hands, Aidan!
You have a lovely ass, baby, he murmured sleepily.
Aidan.…
Sorry, my hands seem to have a mind of their own. He pulled away.
You are here in a keep-the-dreams-away capacity. If we are back at intimacy issues, then you might need to go find your own bed for a while. The thought of facing her dreams alone sent a shiver of fear through her.
“It’s much more difficult now that you’re single.” He rolled over onto his back with a stretch. “But I will not shirk my dream duties.”
“I might be single, but I’m trying really hard to give myself some time. I don’t want to be the girl who jumps from one boyfriend to another. I’m sorry I let things go too far the other night. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You were hurting and you needed me. I shouldn’t have taken advantage of that,” Aidan said.
Allie snorted in amusement. “I promise, I was perfectly aware of what I was doing and at the time, it seemed like a really good idea.”
“Eh, you've wanted me since Agra.” He flashed his arrogant smile.
“We agreed to never talk about Agra.” Just the thought of that night had her face flushed scarlet. She’d made such a fool of herself.
Allie’s phone rattled on her nightstand and Aidan reached for it.
“Why is my brother calling you so late?” He scowled at her caller ID.
Allie rolled her eyes—it seemed the boy drama would never escape her.
“Hey, Dare,” she answered, cringing when her voice came out all breathy and teenagery.
“Hey, good, you’re still up. I have tickets to that concert in the flats this weekend.”
“Fink?” She grinned. “I’m so jealous!”
“You’re coming with me, killer. For your birthday.”
“Uh … like a date?” She really liked Darius, but she wasn’t about to stir up boy drama between the brothers.
“Hell, no. Allie, you’re like four.”
“Exactly.”
“Don’t worry, this is definitely a non-date between friends. You can tell little brother he can stop fuming now; I'm not going to steal you away from him.”
“Sure, man. You know she thinks you’re a creepy old dude, right?” Aidan said.
“I do not.” Allie gave Aidan a shove.
“Night, killer.”
“Night.”
It’s not a date, Aidan. She put her phone back on the bedside table. The tension he felt had shot right through her the moment she answered the phone. “Your brother is my friend and that is it. I cannot wrap my mortal brain around the idea that he's technically our age. It’s not exactly creepy, but it's definitely creepy-adjacent, so we’re friends who like the same music—end of story. Now can we please go to sleep?” She was excited about her non-date with Darius, but she knew Aidan expected her to be with him if she was going to be with anyone.
“Did I utter one word in protest?” He pulled her back against his chest and curled around her.
“No, but I know you don't like it. I love hanging out with Darius. We’re really good friends. I won’t insult you and say there isn’t some kind of weird flirty attraction there—but I would never act on it. I'm not going to be another Naomi, making her way through the McBrien boys, careless of their feelings.”
“I know, Lex. But to be totally honest, I don’t like the way you two look at each other. With Darius you’re more like your old self. Like the weight of everything you’ve been dealing with isn’t so heavy when he’s around.”
“I swear it’s not like that,” Allie insisted. It wasn’t remotely like that. They were just friends, but it was true she did feel more like herself with him.
“It took me a while to realize Vince was the guy you needed. And now he’s gone and … I don’t know, maybe I’m afraid Darius is the guy you need now.”
“That’s just it, Aidan.” She rolled over so she could see him, taking his face in her hands so she could make sure he really got it this time. She tried not to tremble when his arms snaked around her waist. “I don’t want to need any guy. I don’t want to be the girl who can’t figure her own shit out so she uses her boyfriend as a crutch to lift herself up.” She pressed her forehead against his. “I especially don’t want to be that girl with you. Maybe I’m afraid to be with you because I feel like I’m just going to weigh you down.”
“That’s bullshit. The way you see me—it’s not remotely accurate.”
“Right back atcha,” she whispered, her lips dangerously close to his as they breathed the same air, staring at each other. Her heart beat against his chest and she really wanted to throw all her fears aside and just kiss him.
“Nephew, if I have to throw you out of here one more time, it will be head first off this tower.” Liam stood on Allie’s balcony glaring at them both.
“Liam, I swear this isn't like Agra,” Aidan said. Since that night, Liam had developed a habit of checking up on Allie and routinely kicked Aidan out of her room.
“You're half naked in my sister’s bed and I’m pretty sure I’ve interrupted at just the right moment … again. I’d stop talking while you’re ahead.” He shot an icy glare at Aidan.
“Liam, I promise this isn’t—”
“Zip it, little one. Aidan, I’m certain you have a bed of your own to get to.”
“Fine. Between my brothers and uncles, I’m never going to get any sleep tonight anyway. Sorry about the night terrors, Lex. Just remember I’ll be suffering right along with you.” Aidan had clearly had enough; he was gone before she could protest.
“Night terrors?” Liam scowled.
“Yes, you big oaf! He sleeps here for a very good reason that has nothing to do with sex!” She threw her pillow at him.
“Trust me, that's all that's on his mind.”
“Liam, when I dream, it’s usually terrifying, whether I understand what I’m seeing or not. When I sleep with Aidan it’s like our telepathic minds merge when we're in the same sleep cycle. I don't know if it's an extension of his healing gift or what, but this is the only way we can actually sleep. When I see, it’s not restful sleep—for either of us. If it weren't for his help, I'm not sure I'd still be sane.”
“Of course he wants to help you, Allie. He gets to sleep with you.”
“It's not like that. It's not that simple.”
“He is seventeen years old, little one. It is that simple.” He folded his long arms across his chest.
“It doesn't even matter. It’s sleep with Aidan or no sleep at all.”
“I see.” His scowl grew deeper. “That is not a permanent solution.”
“We know. But it works. What else can we do?”
“Discuss this with your mentors like you both know you should. There must be a way for you to manage your dreams on your own.”
“It’s complicated, Liam. And it’s late. And apparently I have some dreaming to do.”
Her hands shook as she retrieved her pillow. She’d had dozens of disturbing dreams since they began months ago. They were always about fire and churning black smoke. A dark night filled with screams under a terrifying blood red moon. But she never understood what it meant. Her only reprieve was Aidan.
“You really are scared to go to sleep, aren’t you?” Liam’s anger subsided, now that it seemed he finally grasped the severity of the situation. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”
“Dreaming’s not fun. But I’m exhausted.” Allie settled back into her bed and pulled the covers up to her chin.
“I can stay here with you and wake you if it gets to be too much,” Liam offered.
“Sure. That’d be nice.” She rolled over and prepared for the onslaught. She didn’t have the heart to tell him he'd never be able to wake her.
Let him ob
serve, Aidan said. Maybe he can help. He's right; this has never been a permanent solution.
Will you be okay? Allie hated her dreams, but she hated making him watch even more.
It's okay, Lex. Don’t worry about me.
“Relax, little one. Take deep breaths and close your eyes.” Liam’s voice was soft and soothing. He drifted into an old Norse song. His tenor voice sent waves of intoxicating peace through her and within moments she fell into a deep sleep.
~~~
Blackness engulfed Allie like the oppressive void she fought during her Awakening. Her breath grew labored as the familiar panic overwhelmed her. She drifted. But not aimlessly as if she had no body. She could sense the world around her. The rough wood of the small boat beneath her was little more than a raft. The gentle rocking of the listless waves was much too peaceful for this ominous setting. The chill of the heavy mist spoke of something more sinister. The scrape of the marsh grass against her shoulders made her shiver.
Shapes began to emerge from the fog, and Allie realized she was adrift along the marshy bogs of Lake Erie, far away from the city. The world around her was an unnatural green, like the eerie light before a storm. The murky water was thick with the grass and muck that hid whatever creatures lurked in the bog below. The marshes stretched all around her in every direction. She couldn't even see the shoreline in the darkness.
Allie trembled in anticipation. Something churned in the water.
I have to get back to shore. She searched the small boat for an oar, anything she could use to paddle out of the bog and back home where the water was clear and nothing could harm her.
The boat was empty and the only way she could maneuver out of the swamp was to pull herself through the wet grass growing in thick patches along the surface of the water. She'd gone only a few feet when the lake erupted around her. Slithering bodies churned as far as she could see.
Snakes! She couldn't stand the sight of snakes and they were everywhere. Huge and black with shiny scales and empty, red eyes.
Pay attention to the important elements and discard everything else. The rest is just noise. This was the mantra she’d repeated to herself over and over since the cave dreams started months ago. It was just noise, but she had to decipher what her gift was trying to tell her amidst all the chaos.
Immortals of Indriell- The Collection Page 63