I cocked my head to the side and smiled.
“What?” he asked, with a curious brow.
Without answering, I reached for the rim of his shirt. The inquisitive expression on his face lifted as he realized what I was doing. He reached behind, yanking it over his head. My mouth was suddenly dry. The glowing light danced over his pecs, and my fingers ached to touch them. As my eyes fixated on his midsection, I noticed the beginning of the claw marks over his ribs. I ran my finger over the raised skin, and he inhaled deeply. “After you got your wings back, I figured the scars would be gone.”
“I’m glad they’re not.” He sat up straighter, rubbing his palm over his ribcage. “They aren’t my most attractive feature, but they represent everything I never want to become. Plus, it scares the shit out of anyone who sees them.”
He’d gotten those scars as a punishment when he refused to kill me—my hero, in every way. “There’s nothing about you that isn’t beautiful,” I gushed, in a dreamy tone.
“I think that’s my line.”
I pushed his shoulder. “I’m serious.”
“I know.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Thank you.”
Okay, this was the moment. Every nerve ending in my body sizzled, anticipating what I was about to say. I tried to settle my mind as I opened my mouth. “I know we’re running out of time, and maybe it’s too soon—”
“What’s going on?”
The butterflies in my stomach were bouncing around like they were on a caffeine high. I leaned in, closing the distance between us. “I want you.”
In an instant, his expression turned serious. “You don’t have to do this. Not because of what’s happening.”
If the circumstances were different, maybe I would’ve waited. Who knows? But I didn’t have that option. In a few hours, I’d be dead. But before I went, I wanted to experience this even if it was only this one time. I wanted him to know that part of me—to be part of me. “I want to do this because of you. The last gift I can give you.” No chance my face wasn’t beet-red. I felt the warmth in my cheeks. “I’ve never been with any other boy.”
“I’ve been with other girls, but I’ve never been with anyone I cared about.” He ran the pad of his thumb over my cheek. “This is new for me too.”
I kept my eyes focused on him as I lifted my tank top over my head. I hadn’t worn a bra, and I’d fought the urge to cover myself up as his eyes roamed my newly exposed skin. But I didn’t. I wanted him to see me in a way no one else ever had.
“You are so gorgeous. Every inch of you is perfection.” He kissed me, parting my lips with his. My heart pounded in my chest like it was trying to break through my ribs. He ran his hands through my hair, giving me goosebumps on my forearms. I lost myself in him. Breathless. He cupped his hand behind my head, lowering us both to the ground. As I relaxed beneath him, he pulled back. His eyes bore into mine. “I love you, Kalin.”
“I love you too. Always.” I tugged him down. He let out a low moan as he pressed his mouth against mine. At first, his kiss was so gentle that our lips barely touched. But as he unbuttoned my jeans, the kiss deepened. Things seemed to be moving in slow motion. Everything around me faded away. All I heard was our hearts beating.
And as our bodies joined, our hearts beat as one.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Rowan
I’d never known happiness like this before.
Kalin spent the last several hours wrapped in my arms. Her head buried in my chest. The strawberry scent of her hair wafted through my nose as I tried to memorize every curve of her body, every sound, and smell. I kissed the top of her head. She eventually stirred and gazed up at me with a sweet smile.
“We should probably get going,” she said, arching up to kiss me. “It would be selfish to stay.”
My father said his power could only hold the mist together for no more than twelve hours. If we exceeded that amount of time, the crack would grow, and the oldest elementals would start dying. At the moment, I didn’t care. Kalin was about to lose her life. Sacrifice herself because I wasn’t able to find another way to save her. The guilt over this had just about killed me. Once she was gone, I had no idea how I’d ever recover.
“What if you’re wrong?” I questioned, praying against all the odds for the answer I wanted to hear. “The crack on the mist is small. Maybe you’ll only need to use some of your blood. Maybe—”
“I’m not wrong,” Kalin replied as she slipped her clothes back on. “Merlin agreed.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. “How am I supposed to do this?”
She turned to face me. “Do what?”
A lump swelled in my throat. “Let you go.”
“I wish it didn’t have to be this way. I’d give anything to change it. But this is what I have to do.” She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I tucked my head into the crook of her neck. I probably held on a little too tightly, but she didn’t complain. A sharp pain grew in my chest. I was sure it was my heart breaking into a thousand pieces.
As the sun set into the horizon, we arrived at the spot of the clash. The ground bore the scars of the battle. The pristine emerald-colored grass had been burned away in various spots, trees uprooted, and bloodstain peppered throughout the area. My stomach sank. Above our heads, we could see that the crack in the mist had grown a couple of feet. We were out of time.
Out of the corner of my eye, Britta appeared. She stepped out of the forest with her eyes fixed on the damaged mist. As she edged closer, the train of her sea-green, translucent gown dragged across the patches of dirt and burnt grass.
I reached behind, releasing Excalibur from my leather sheath. I presented the sacred artifact to her. “This belongs to you.”
She twisted around, smiling when she eyed the sword. She took the weapon, and telepathically said, “Thank you.”
I bowed my head.
A moment later, Orion and Marlena were at her side. He wore a tunic with chocolate-colored pants, while she dressed a bit more formally in an aquamarine gown drenched in gold jewelry. Since the Ring of Dispel blocked magic, they wouldn’t have known about our fight with Valac. I imagined they'd had to sense the damage after he’d escaped. They both stared up at the incision. Marlena placed her fingers over her mouth as tears swam in her eyes.
Orion put his arm around her, casting a sympathetic smile. He glanced at Kalin. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” Kalin replied, with a forced smile. “We tried our best.”
There was a brief period of silence as the reality of the moment sunk in. I felt as if I were being torn apart from the inside out. There’d been moments in my life when I’d had to deal with difficult situations. Each time, I’d managed to find a reasonable solution. But not now. Not when I was the most desperate I’d ever been. I’d searched everywhere, tried everything. And nothing. As with Marcus, it made me question all I’d done. Everything we’d fought to protect and all we had lost.
Was it worth it?
Kalin had come to terms with her fate. Like she almost expected something to happen. Her selflessness was one more reason I loved her so much—one more reason I questioned my role in all of this. I was destined to end it all because I couldn’t allow her to sacrifice herself. As a king of my court, I knew it was the right thing to do. It would allow us to move forward and heal what Valac had broken. But as someone who loved her, it ripped me to shreds.
“Rowan,” Kalin said, breaking me from my thoughts. She pointed behind me, and I spun around.
Marcus headed toward us with a large canvas satchel over his shoulder. He made his way over to Orion, handing him the bag. He looked inside, pulling out the helmet of the Green Armor. “All of the pieces are inside, but one of the metal arms is damaged.”
“How did you get it back?” Orion asked.
“Valac sustained life-threatening injuries during the final battle, and he tried to return to the eternal flame for healing. We intercepted him,” Marcus said, rea
ching into his pocket, handing me the Ring of Dispel. “I couldn’t have done it without Selene.”
“Is he dead?” I asked.
“Yes,” Marcus replied sternly.
We each glanced at one another with a sense of relief. The threat was over. Soon, we’d be able to balance the courts and heal the damage done in the mortal world. We’d recreate the high council, and I’d make sure the lines of communication were always open. Each of our courts had to be stronger and managed stricter. In a way, I understood my mother’s firm hand in court. She’d taken things to the extreme, but her methods held our court together for centuries.
Marcus was the only one who held a blank expression on his face. He stood silent like a soldier awaiting further instruction. Taking Valac’s life had given him no relief. Although he’d saved us all, he couldn’t bring back the love of his life. He showed no emotion, broken after such a terrible loss. It was a feeling I would soon come to know. I glanced over at Kalin as she stared up at the mist. The moment she was gone, I’d know that emptiness he felt firsthand.
Was I strong enough to let her go?
“Kalin?” Someone shouted from a distance. I scanned the area with my hand on the grip of my sword. I’d be ready for anything. A few twigs snapped, then Kalin’s mother worked her way through the thick brush. As soon as she saw her daughter, they raced toward each other until they embraced.
“What are you doing here?” Kalin asked her.
“I won’t lie and say it was easy for me to accept your decision. It wasn’t.” Her mother wiped tears away with the back of her hand. “But I’m here now. If this is goodbye, I won’t let you go through it alone.”
“Thank you,” Kalin replied, holding onto her tightly. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Once she released her mother, she made her way over to Orion and Marlene. She hugged each of them. “Thank you for being such a good friend to my father and our court.”
Orion wiped a tear from his eye. “Thank you for being so brave. Your father would be proud of who you have become.”
Marcus glanced away as she stood in front of him. It was as if it were painful for him to see her face. “Don’t let this consume you. Ariel would’ve never wanted that. She’d want you to move on, no matter how difficult it may seem right now.” She tilted his chin, turning his face to make eye contact with her. “I need you to promise me that you will help Rowan through this.”
“I promise,” he whimpered, pulling her into a hug.
The world moved in slow motion as she strode toward me. I wasn’t even sure if I was still breathing. She clasped her hands on my cheeks, and I wrapped my arms around her waist. Pushing up onto her tiptoes, she kissed my lips. “I’m not sure how to say goodbye to you.”
My chest ached. “I don’t think I can.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “No matter what happens after this, I will always be with you. Every time you feel a cool breeze against your cheek, know that it will be me.”
I kissed her again, not caring that everyone watched. I needed to feel her, to take in her scent, to taste her one last time. “I love you, Kalin.”
She pulled back, wiping cheeks. “I love you, too.” Glancing around, she said, “I love you all.”
A lump swelled in my throat as she strode toward the mist. The crack was several yards deep now, and sparkles of magic dripped from the hole. As my father had, she stepped toward the shimmering mist. Unease crept through me. The moment I’d been dreading had come. But I wasn’t ready. I couldn’t, even though I knew it was right. There had to be another way. It wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to Kalin. Not after everything she’d overcome, the trials, and what she’d lost. Life had never been fair, but this was torture. In an instant, I was ready to give up everything to save her. Nothing else mattered. Not even my court that I’d fought to protect. Not the lives of my friends that I knew would perish.
I sheathed my sword. “I can’t do this.”
“Rowan, no,” Kalin replied, putting up her hand. “Please don’t.”
“I’m sorry, Kalin.” I came to stand in between her and the mist. “I’ve failed my court, and even myself, but I don’t care anymore. I won’t let you kill yourself.”
Marcus came to stand at my side. Growling, he said, “Rowan, please don’t make me do this.”
“There’s nothing you can do to stop me.” I held up my palm. Using my power, I thrust him backward. He fought for control of his body, trying to shift into his animal form. I resisted him.
A wall of water formed, separating Kalin from me. A second later, the liquid froze. I sneered at Britta. “I won’t let you kill us all, Rowan.”
Still fighting off Marcus, I placed my other hand on the wall of ice. A fire burned from my fingertips as the ice melted, more formed. Britta fought with the full strength of her power.
All of these attacks at once rapidly drained my power. I weakened by the second, but I had to hold on. I wouldn’t lose Kalin. I refused to let her die.
“I’m sorry, Rowan,” Orion said, spinning two large sand tornadoes above his head. His hands thrust forward and pushed me backward.
I hit the ground with a thump, landing on my back. Pain radiated from my spine. As I got to my knees, Kalin strode into the mist. For a few seconds, I saw her shadow.
Then she was gone.
“No!” I screamed, running toward the mist.
“She’s gone, Rowan. I’m sorry.” Marcus said, grabbing hold of me. I squirmed in his grasp, but he wouldn’t let go. “It’s done.”
The entire mist glowed a radiant white with a rainbow of glittering lights moving throughout. The gaping hole shimmered as it sealed back together. The incision disappeared completely, and the mist returned to its translucent tint.
Marcus released me, and I fell to my knees with my hands over my face. Soft, warm arms embraced me. It was Kalin’s mother. I turned, pulling her into an embrace. Besides Marcus, she was the only other person that shared my ache. Agony rippled through me in waves. The pain was so unbearable I had to fight to take a breath. “She’s gone. I can’t believe it. She’s gone.”
“It was the only way, Rowan,” Britta said, telepathically.
“Did you know this would happen?” I asked her as I tried to hold myself together.
“After Merlin was released, I received a new thread of possibility,” she replied. “I came here to see that it came to fruition.”
I looked at each person that stood around me. How did they all know exactly where we’d be and when? The woodland territory went on for miles and miles. Orion hadn’t known about the fight with Valac in his territory. If he had, he would’ve come to our aid. But he somehow knew we’d be here now. Marcus had left hours ago without asking where we’d be. What about Kalin’s mother? How had she known?
There was something they weren’t telling me. “Did you summon everyone here?”
“I sent for the leaders of the other courts.” She briefly glanced at Marcus. “The hound came on his own.”
I stood, crossing my arms. “Why?”
Her pupils disappeared, and her eyes went white. She had a vision. “There is a chance we can bring her back.”
My brief moment of happiness shifted to anger and resentment. Britta let Kalin believe there was no other alternative. She’d fought against me as I tried to keep her from entering the mist without ever revealing there was a way to save her. I scanned the faces of everyone around me. Had they all known? They each appeared as surprised as I was. I sensed she’d kept this from us all. I clenched my fists. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I had to let the vision play out exactly as I had seen it,” she replied firmly. I had no doubt she wasn’t pleased by my reaction. “If I altered even the smallest piece, I might have changed the outcome.”
Britta was right. Every choice we made could alter our future. I released the tension in my shoulders. In a calmer tone, I asked, “What did you see in your vision?”
“Kalin has made the ultimate sacrif
ice.” Her eyes returned to their normal icy blue. “Once the mist absorbs her power, she will be given a choice. If she returns, it will take all of us to make her whole.”
I stepped toward her. “What do we have to do?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kalin
As I entered the mist, everything around me glowed white.
It felt as if I was floating on air. Something took control of my body. I tried to move, but I froze in place. My body shook like I was having a seizure. Long scratches appeared all over my arms and legs. As the wounds tore open, I screamed from the pain as blood poured out. The mist absorbed me. My vision hazed as the crimson fluid drained from my body, and I became lightheaded. My limbs sagged.
And then everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, I stood in the caverns below the air court castle. Above my head, a massive gust of wind twisted. Within the airstream, warm yellow shadows shifted around. One particular silhouette grew larger as it floated out of the wind, appearing to come toward me. The shape stood next to me and materialized into a solid form.
It was my father.
“Dad,” I screamed, running toward him. He stood with his arms opened wide. I hugged tightly around his waist. “I missed you so much.”
“I’m so proud of you, Kalin.” He kissed the top of my head. “You saved the world.”
Gazing up at him, I asked, “Am I dead?”
“No.” He pulled away, pointing into the distance. The scenery changed. We now stood on a dark flat surface surrounded by nothing but blackness. “The in-between is a reality that exists between the world of the living and the dead. Mortals refer to it as purgatory.”
Mortal Enchantment Complete Box Set Page 64