The Unforgiven (11 page)

After tromping through briars and thicket over hilly terrain for hours, they finally reached a clearing. Paloma immediately trotted to a huge waterfall and drank from the shimmering pool at its base.

Flame gasped in awe while looking around. “Wow…this place is beautiful.”

Massive trees surrounded the area. The reddish-brown trunks were bare, but reaching high into a late afternoon sky were lush green treetops, round and full. Streaks of sunlight filtered down, casting an enchanting shimmer on the water cascading over the rocky cliff. She walked to the waterfall, simply gazing at its beauty before kneeling to drink.

Raef knelt beside her. “Amazing, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “You must have gained significant favor from the Lioness to be invited here.”

“I’m your chosen one, angel.”

Their eyes met and the dawning of her sisterhood’s intent became clear. Raef’s immortality, Naami’s role in rescuing Paloma, the bigger picture began to unfold. Not only had her high ruler used Raef to close the gap, but she also intended to use him in severing the blood-bond to Von.
This is why the Lioness said she wouldn’t force me to give up my Satellite.
Once the bond is broken, she’ll use her powers to bind me to Raef.

“You’ve always been honest with me, Raef. Tell me the truth. Did you know the Lioness orchestrated all of this?”

“All of what? I told you what happened. She brought me back. The council ordained my immortality and sent me here to help you.”

“Haven’t you put it all together? They are determined to sever my ties to Von. He was just another tool to accomplish their goal.”

“You don’t belong with him.”

“Never mind. I can see that they’ve brainwashed you, too.”

“Baby, I didn’t need persuasion. I’ve always been crazy about you.” He grabbed her waist and in one smooth move, laid her on the ground. “I love you. Nobody forced me into any of this. I wanted to come back and be with you. I made the choice.” His lips found hers again and he shifted his weight over her.

She turned her head to break the kiss. “Raef…I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?” he purred as his lips went to her neck, biting and sending chills over her. “Invite me into a blood-bond, angel.”

Her head jerked back. “Who told you about that?”

“Your high ruler told me that we need to complete a blood-bond in order for you to survive the transition from mortal to immortal.”

“You’re moving way too fast.” She panted beneath his onslaught of passionate neck biting. “Let’s find the serum first.”

“Make love to me,” he pleaded, nestling the hard bulge in his jeans between her thighs. “I need you, love, it’s been so long…please.” He stared down at her.

“I won’t lie to you, you’re really turning me on, but we can’t, Raef. I’m in love with Von.”

“You’re also in love with me.” He nipped at her bottom lip. “We were going to work on making a child together. Don’t deny me after I fought so hard to come back to you.”

Tears threatened to break through. She fought them back. “I hate doing this to you, baby, really I do. I prayed over your body until the orderlies dragged me away. I stayed in your house and hoped for a miracle that came too late.”

“Too late?” He arched his brows. “We are here, together, right now. Nothing is ever too late if you want it bad enough.”

“Raef…please…” Tears betrayed her and slid down her hot cheeks. Rejecting him was the most painful thing she’d ever done.

“You’re trembling.” He brushed hair from her face while staring into her, stripping away her self-control seconds at a time. “I feel your desire. Remember our first time?”

“Yes,” she barely breathed out the word. She recalled it vividly, the day he’d caught her coming out of the bathroom, then led her into his room. No sooner had the door been closed than all it took was a look for them to come undone. Days of innocence long gone by. She sighed. “We were amazing.”

“And pure.”

“Yes.”

“You want me. I know you do. I get that you feel obligated to Von for his loyalty. I understand what loyalty means to you.”

“Then why are you pushing?”

“Because I’m starved for your love, my heart is burning for you.”

She reached up and touched his gorgeous face, sad that he’d suffered so. “I’m sorry. I can’t make love to you.”

Seemingly halted for the moment, he eased off of her then helped her up. “For now. Once we are joined by blood, you’ll feel differently.”

They approached Paloma and Flame swung herself onto the horse’s back. Raef leapt on behind her. “Take us to the wall, girl,” she coaxed.

Paloma picked her way across the rocks and carefully stepped into the water. She found an inlet and followed it around the waterfall. Behind the rocky cliff, a mountain of rock coated in green moss rose high into the sky. Flame shielded her eyes from a setting sun and squinted to look up. The cliff was so high that it appeared to merge with low hanging clouds. Paloma made her way from the stream onto solid ground, then stopped.

“Is this it?” Flame slid from her back and stroked her silky coat.

“You have the key. Don’t you know what to do with it?”

She shot him a pointed look. “Yeah, I’ve been to many flaming walls over the years. I know exactly what to do,” she snipped. “Of course I don’t know. I was told to rescue the horse and find the wall. The Lioness didn’t give me a handbook.”

“Try wearing the necklace,” he suggested.

“It’s broken.” A strange sensation crept over her as the Lioness’s words came to mind.
She will only return to the secret location when commanded to do so by the one wearing the key.
Flame began to believe that her ruler had compelled Raef. He simply knew too much.

With a loving touch, he moved her hair to one side. “I’ll hook the clasp onto one of the links. Hold still, love.”

His touch sent shivers down her arms. She cursed the arousal in her soul, knowing that something mystical was taking place. She hoped for enough strength to resist whatever powers of persuasion lay ahead. Once the necklace was reattached, she whistled for the horse, who had wandered into a small meadow. Paloma’s head sprang up and she pranced her way back to Flame.

“Okay.” Flame exhaled. “Looks like we have her attention now.” Again, she mounted her bareback and Raef hopped on behind. “Paloma, take me to the Flaming Wall,” she commanded.

The horse reentered the sparkling stream and continued onward. The waterway ran alongside the towering cliff. They wound their way downstream until nightfall before a spectacular sight emerged up ahead. Mossy growth gave way to a slick surface as they approached what looked like an impassible wall of solid marble where the stream came to an end and flowed into a pool of iridescent clear water.

“Oh, wow.” Flame dismounted, gazing up at the fiery wall above the pool.

“Yeah.” Raef stood beside her.

Paloma wandered to the side and lay in the lush grass beside the stone pool. Luminous flames danced off the multi-colored rock from the ground to the very top of the wall, creating a vibrant display of color.

“Now I know where you got your name,” he muttered. “This has always been your true destiny.”

“I never considered that.” She couldn’t look away, utterly mesmerized by the sight before her. Power emanated from the rock in unseen waves, yet she felt it nonetheless. “I wonder where the serum is.” The urge to touch the flaming rock called to her. She longed to become part of the most captivating fire she’d ever seen. “Look at how the flames bring the marble to light…it’s incredible.”

“Don’t get too close.” He clutched her arm. “You’ll get burned.”

Shaking him off, she dismissed his warning. “I’ve waited my entire life to get burned like this.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Yes.” She flashed him a wicked grin. “Are you game?”

A look of apprehension filled his eyes but he accepted her outstretched hand anyway. Turning back toward the wall, she stepped carefully over the slippery rocks and into the water to make her way to the most concentrated area of fire. Raef held her hand tightly as they neared the wall.

“Wait!” Raef stopped suddenly, pulling her back. “This is where you’ll transition!”

She slanted him a curious look but said nothing. Energy raged inside her soul at an all-time high, making her deliriously brave. She felt no fear whatsoever.

“Angel, the Mirari Tear isn’t the key. It’s only a piece of jewelry infused with a spell to guide the horse to this destination—
you
are the key.”

“Then so be it. I will fulfill my destiny.”

“You won’t survive without a blood-bond. Mortals cannot merge through the elements without help. I don’t want to lose you again.”

“So…” She smirked. “My supreme ruler is the one who put my back against the wall. If I want the gift of immortality, I must make a blood-bond with the man they chose for me. All or nothing, is that the deal, Raef?”

“Would it be so bad? We love each other.”

“Seems that you knew more than you let on,” she said with a tilt of her head.

“I’m sorry. The conditions of my return were steep. The Lioness is not happy with your decision to love Von. There is no serum. Going through the Flaming Wall is the path to immortality. But you must have an immortal liaison.”

“And you agree with the Lioness about my choice.”

“He
was
Twilight’s tool, angel. How could I accept him as your mate?”

“
Was
being the key word there. Do you realize that Von could’ve killed you that night on the beach? He didn’t have to relay your messages to me after you died. Do you know why he spared you? Do you know why he allowed you to use him?”

“No.”

“He knew how much I loved you. He couldn’t bear to see me in pain. He’d tossed the hands of fate to chance and gave me a choice because he loves me so much that he’d let me go before hurting me.”

“I didn’t know.” Raef tightened his hold on her hand. “He’s gone, though, or he’d be here. Don’t let bitterness destroy your soul. There is a rare gift waiting for you, but you need a blood-bond with an immortal to help you survive the process.”

She showed her left palm. “I have one.”

A mix of shock and disdain traversed his face. “If Von is dead, which is likely, you’ll kill yourself going through the wall without an immortal link.”

“Do yourself a favor—break your ties with the sisterhood. Make yourself a free man. Von did. He fought hard to free himself of Twilight’s control.”

“You’re turning on your nation?”

“No.” She scoffed. “I’m saving anyone who wants to be saved. My birth and my life have been meticulously controlled. Everyone connected to the Supreme Lioness is a pawn in her scheme—even me. Innocent lives were sacrificed so that she could obtain the ultimate tool. I was purposely born of both worlds—now I carry the power of those worlds. My high ruler outwitted the evil realm by sending me after their Satellite with the goal of becoming the most powerful realm at any cost.” Flame paused, giving him a hard stare. “However, she made one mistake.”

“How so?”

“She underestimated the power of love.”

“He’s gone, angel. Don’t risk it. Let me help you.”

“If my high ruler cannot accept my choice in a mate, then she will not have me. She has deliberately tried to separate my blood-bond with Von. If he’s gone then I will be, also. I want to be where he is.”

“You love him more than you love me? How?”

“You don’t understand.” She stepped toward the wall.

He reached for her but she backed away. “Flame, no!”

With a calculated smile, she leapt into the fire.

The last thing she saw was Raef lunging for her, but his fingers only touched hers before he disappeared. If Von had truly been killed, their bond would already be in the process of weakening. If she survived the transition—even if Von was gone, at least she’d have his child. Yet a small seed of hope kept her hanging on to the fact that he was trying to find her or find his way back.

Intense heat engulfed her as she merged into the wall.
Raef told the truth…I am the key.
An eerie sensation enveloped her, as if time and place ceased to exist. She felt absolutely nothing for a fleeting moment except space. The fire did not hurt her, yet her body continued its passage through the wall. She looked around and saw blazing colors. A sense of awe filled her.
This is nothing like traveling through the void.
In a flash of light, vast knowledge came to her.

Sitting on top of the universe, she felt everything become clear for a split second—yet in that brief instant, she was able to embrace all of it. Flame saw her entire life from past to present play before her at warp speed.

Mother!
Her beautiful mother was riding on the back of a motorcycle with a very handsome man. She looked so happy. They looked blissfully free. Then she saw her mother giving birth and handing that newborn infant over to a warrior with auburn hair.
Naami? Dear God, no! Naami is the warrior who took me into the sisterhood. How? That was forty-one years ago.
The answer flew into her mind.
Naami is immortal!
Then another revelation stunned her.
Naami is sister to the Supreme Lioness! No wonder Naami has so much power and never grows old. She and the Lioness have been conniving together!

Flame didn’t have time to dwell on it before the vision of her mother dying in the arms of Cooper flashed before her. Cooper openly wept, which made Flame feel for him.
He really did love her.
Her eyes welled with tears while watching him grieve the love of his life. Remorse flooded her over killing her own father. He appeared utterly destroyed after pushing her body out to sea. Then she witnessed rage filling him, saw Cooper strike Von down, then Raef. Compelled by both realms, he’d become inhuman. Flame broke down and silently wept.

Another birth came into view. A smile replaced her tears as she saw her first daughter come into the world—an infant she’d never been permitted to lay her eyes upon or even hold one time. Flame paid close attention to who the Supreme Lioness handed the child over to.
No! No, no, no!
Her throat went dry while watching Naami take her baby into a hut. The urge to scream burned in her chest yet she could not make a sound in this uncanny place.

The child grew and played happily among selected others. Flame noticed the young girl sneaking into the woods to play with weapons, then Naami came and led her back to the living area. She guided the girl toward another group of children, females born of royal blood.
My daughter was never allowed to be herself.
This grieved her deeply. As the years flew by in supernatural style, the child merged into womanhood and Flame saw her in the Royal Hall sitting at a desk with Naami.