Genesis (5 page)

The people engulfed me, offering
smiling faces full of friendly comments. I tried not to let my
uncertainty show, but who knows if it worked. After initial
greetings, Taylor led me to a patio where lunch was being
served.

Good thing too, because I was starving.
Heavenly aromas wafted around me, making my hunger ten times worse.
He pulled a chair out for me then settled beside me, his elbow
nearly touching mine. I didn’t get to enjoy the food much with all
the questions in my head tormenting me. I shoved the game hen into
my mouth as fast as I could manage and slurped it down with
whatever punch they provided. I hadn’t even been here a day, yet I
couldn’t wait to leave. The people were nice enough, but what was
the point in me being here?

Taylor had already made it clear to me
that there was no use in trying with him.

“
Rayla,” he said, his sharp
tone bringing me back to the present. He slid his fingers around
the stem of his glass then tugged in a drawn out sip of his drink
before he spoke again. He was studying me, his honey eyes distant.
“Would you like to get settled now?”

He didn’t have to say another word. I
stood, pushing back my chair, and suddenly, he was right beside me,
guiding me up some stairs toward his modest estate. It was smaller
than Roger Wayne’s place, yet it was just as nice. The structure
was made of something I didn’t recognize, but the sparkling black
stone rivaled the glowing air.

Once inside, he led me down the hall to
an understated bedroom, especially compared to what I had seen in
Ignis and Lombarda. It was maybe twelve by twelve with a full sized
bed up against one wall. I smiled. There was a comfortable feel to
the space.

“
The washroom is around the
corner. You will find all you need inside. I have taken the liberty
to obtain a few of your things from your room back at
school.”

I snapped my eyes toward his. “You
did?” When did he have time to do that?

“
I wish for you to be
comfortable here.”

I never expected such a kindness from
him, not in a million years. I decided now was a perfect time to
study the intricate patchwork quilt Aunt Grace had given me. I
hadn’t even recognized it. “Thank you,” I said, sounding shy even
to me.

He didn’t say anything else before he
closed the door softly behind him, leaving me to the silence. Maybe
I had misjudged Taylor. I wasn’t sure of anything anymore: who I
loved, who I didn’t. How could I be sure with compulsion hanging
over me, making me feel things that weren’t real?

I cased the room, looking for my stuff.
He had brought everything I left behind at St. Mary’s College.
Tears formed in my eyes. I still didn’t feel connected to him, but
he didn’t deserve to be treated like a jerk when he wasn’t one. I
made a mental note to try harder.

Clutching my favorite sweats and
t-shirt, I headed for the shower. No one lingered in the hallway
when I peeked around the door. This was just what I needed. Time to
myself. Time to think about what I really wanted, but more
importantly, time to discover how I was going to get it.

The water warmed my skin, releasing
tied up muscles in my back. Man, I was uptight. Fate of the world
stuff was draining, especially when people kept me purposefully
ignorant. Wait. What if Taylor would tell me what the prophecy
said?

Did I even want to know what it said
anymore?

My muscles knotted again. I breathed in
slowly, realizing it didn’t matter what was in the prophecy. I make
my own fate. I was not predictable. Even Tabitha had said that, so
who cared what she had said millennia before. I had planned on
getting some rest, but what I really needed was answers. Hopefully,
Taylor would give me some.

I found Taylor sitting in an office, to
my surprise, up to his elbows in paperwork. Somehow, I thought the
fae would be above all that. A pleasant breeze full of the
fragrance of summer sunshine met me in the hall. The soft light
sifting through the open windows haloed him in gold. He really was
something to behold.

Unfortunately, that frown of his would
have cut lasting lines into his face if he were human. Seems I
wasn’t the only one uptight.

I gave a timid knock on the door even
though I probably should have turned around. As if I had pulled him
from an abyss of utter darkness, he smiled groggily at
me.

Taking no time at all to stand, his
eyebrows pulled together in concern. “Rayla, why are you not
resting? Is your room not to your liking?”

I stepped into the small office,
meeting him halfway. “It’s nothing like that. I just wanted to
thank you for bringing my things here and…talk to you.”

His lips turned in a
delighted smile, all evidence of distress washed away. He gestured
for me to sit then did the same. “I am pleased that you are
pleased. I will gladly get you anything else you need.” An awkward
moment passed between us, cementing the reality we
were
strangers, before he
smiled again. “What do you wish to speak about?”

I didn’t even really know at this
point, but I plunged in anyway. “I have a proposition for
you.”

Wariness settled in his eyes. “I’m
listening.”

I cleared my throat. How best to say
this without getting him all riled up? “I know you don’t really
want me.”

He sat there, eyes wide, for all of a
second before he spoke, “I may have—”

I waived him off. “No. It’s okay. I
feel the same about you. I like you just fine, but I don’t feel the
sort of connection I would need for me to want to be your
bondmate.”

His already unpleasant frown deepened
into a scowl. “You haven’t given this much effort.”

I shrugged, trying my best to be
nonchalant about the whole thing. “Tell me you feel
differently.”

Lips pursed, he let out a ragged huff.
His voice came out pinched. “I am trying—”

“
You shouldn’t have to try.
That’s my point. Connections should be seamless. I don’t want to be
unhappy, Taylor.”

He shook his head, his face unreadable.
“This doesn’t sound much like a proposition to me.”

“
I was getting to that. You
see. I don’t just want to make the best decision for me. I want to
do what’s right for everyone. I think that for me to do the most
good for fae and human alike, I need to be completely invested in
the relationship I ultimately commit to. I don’t know if that’s
possible with how little time I have to get to know all of you, but
I want to make sure I am doing the right thing. I don’t want to
mess this up. I know the prophecy says—”

His face went cold before he
interrupted me. “If you are here trying to get me to disclose the
details of the prophecy, you are wasting your time…and mine.” He
pointed out the gigantic stack of papers on his otherwise orderly
desk. “In case you hadn’t noticed, I have matters to deal
with.”

I flipped a hand in the air. “You know
that’s not why I’m here. Don’t think for one second I’ve forgotten
you are still in my head. I need to learn how to keep you and
everyone else out!” My voice had risen a few octaves, so I made
sure to calm myself before I spoke again. “I could help you,
Taylor, and your people. What would you really gain by bonding with
me other than a pain in the neck?”

He sighed. “This is about more than
just power, Rayla. Despite the congenial façade the courtiers wear
in public, we are on the brink of war. Some within my realm are
hoping for just that. We need leadership.”

I leaned on my arm, hoping he would
explain, but when he didn’t, I asked, “Why are the houses at odds?
I don’t understand. You said yourself that you all have everything
you could want here.”

He raised his dark brows in clear
mockery. “We live on the bottom of the ocean, for
starters.”

I laughed, and instead of
giving me another scowl, he smiled. Wide even. My laugh turned into
a bit of a giggle. “It doesn’t seem
that
bad.” After all, I had mistaken
the water above for sky.

“
It isn’t really, especially
compared to some of the realms, but the idea we
have
to live here is the problem. You
asked me why the water doesn’t come crashing in around us; well,
certain Uldranians have been assigned to the task of keeping the
water at bay at all times. I guess you could say it is their
job.”

I sucked in a harsh breath, my mind
tripping over this new tidbit.

“
Not to worry, my dear. Your
fear of drowning is comical. If you only knew the power you
possess. If you could glimpse a fraction of what I see in you, you
would laugh yourself.”

I wasn’t laughing now. That was for
sure. This was no freaking joke. How would he feel if he was in a
new place with all new people and just found out he could die in
the next second if a few people fell asleep on the job?

He let out a boisterous laugh that
filled the room, the sound hitching my breath. “It doesn’t work
that way. You do have the imagination.” He stood up. “Come with me.
I wish to show you something.”

I followed him into a courtyard below
the main estate. Off in the distance a large pond glittered in the
diffuse light. My whole body tensed when he took me to the water’s
edge. Was he going to test his theory? I could swim, but I wasn’t
that great. I tried to wait patiently for him to do
something.

He just stood there, gazing out over
the water, his eyes showing a pain I had never seen in him. Was I
wrong about Taylor? Did he feel deeply yet didn’t show
it?

He reached a hand toward me, and I
placed my fingers between his, wondering what this was all about.
With sudden stealth, he pulled me next to him, his neck craning
around behind us as if to make sure we were alone. Not a moment
later, he breathed into my ear. “From here, we drift.”

Before I could get the question out of
my mouth, pure matter closed in around me. My mind whirred. Where
was he taking me? I could stop this at any time. I knew I could,
but for whatever reason, I wanted to see what he was up
to.

We emerged at the edge of the woods.
Familiar sights and sounds startled me, bringing a sense of dread I
hadn’t expected.

“
Take me back,” I hissed
immediately. Why did he bring me to St. Mary’s College? Didn’t he
know Ainessa and the Order would be looking for me?

He squeezed my fingers. “If you truly
wish to understand me, this is the best way I know of to show
you.”

Okay?

“
Don’t worry; I would never
let anything happen to you. We are concealed.”

“
How?” I thought Zach was
the only lord capable of manipulating space.

“
I will explain the
mechanics later. For now, please, trust me. You are too important
to my people, nay, to the very existence of my entire race for me
to be careless. You should know that about me by now,
Rayla.”

Yeah ‘cause we’d spent so much time
together. I glanced at him, trying not to let my snarky thoughts
show even though I knew he could still read my mind. His eyes
pleaded for me to give him some leeway. Should I? I had gotten into
too much trouble already by trusting so willingly, but I was asking
him to trust me. How could I give anything less to him? I let my
chin fall in a short nod and found myself pulled into
motion.

I remembered this part of campus. If we
walked a couple of minutes east, we would end up at Le Mans Hall. I
honestly never thought I would see this place again.

The new school year must have already
started because chattering girls were everywhere. I gave Taylor a
panicked expression, but he didn’t react. After a few minutes, I
realized he had to be telling the truth. No one noticed us even
when we walked right beside them.

Taylor was the kind of handsome that
demanded to be admired. From his sensual mouth to his smoldering
honey eyes to his perfectly muscled frame, yet not one person
looked at him…or me for that matter.

To my surprise, he didn’t take me to Le
Mans Hall. We veered down a side path I was sure I had never taken.
He led me into the trees without saying a word. I glanced sidelong
at him, about ready to scream at him to tell me where we were going
because I did not want to end up in the borderlands at the moment,
when I heard singing. A woman to be precise.

Her haunting voice propelled me forward
on invisible wings. I found myself listening intently, hoping she
would never stop.

“
Beautiful, isn’t it? It is
what I miss most about her.”

We turned a corner, revealing a
clearing up ahead. Sister Mary Margaret, or, as I now thought of
her, Lily, sat on a fallen log. If it weren’t for her silver hair,
I would have mistaken her for a student trying to get some alone
time. She was still very beautiful even though the fire of her hair
had long since died out.

Taylor pulled me closer to the woman
that I had originally hoped would help me escape the fae, but now I
was almost glad she hadn’t succeeded. My life had become much more
complicated since I was taken to Lombarda, yet richer.