Electricity shoots out to every nerve ending in my body.
I run my fingers through Arland’s hair, grab his brown locks then pull him up to my mouth again. He grips me with one rough, yet tender hand at the waist, while fumbling with the silky tie of my bodice with the other. Each lace removed sends relief through my chest, replaced by a breathless desire.
Abandoning my mouth, he kisses every inch of my neck, slides a strap of my dress off my right shoulder and kisses there, too. Lifting me from the ground, he takes a few steps forward then sets me on my feet on a blanket under the lush weeping willow—never once breaking the intimate connection we both so desperately crave.
Our eyes lock. We stare long and hard, exchanging unspoken emotions and memories, but longing wins out over all. Without looking, he slides off my other shoulder strap. The white gown flutters to the ground, landing in a pool of silk around my feet.
My body is his to do with as he wishes, and he just looks into my eyes. “
What’s wrong
?”
“
I am memorizing you. Parts of you which were not already memorized
.”
I sit on the blanket, unlace my boots then slide them from my feet. When I’m left with nothing on, I smile at Arland and lie back. “
Memorize away
.”
He rids himself of his leather belt, flinging it aside, removes his boots then joins me. Our lips reunite, settling my craving for more, but giving way to a more powerful ache. Arland shifts so he’s hovering over my body, arms on either side of my head.
I cannot wait any longer.
It’s torment.
Grabbing a fistful of tunic, I lift it over his head. I trail my hands down his back, find the waist of his pants, then work to get them down. When he’s freed of his barriers, our skin meets, and I’m filled with heat, with intensity, with love.
His sculpted chest presses against mine with each deepening kiss. Our breathing in sync. He pulls away, and our eyes lock once more. “I love you, Katriona Maher.”
Hearing him utter my name, his name,
our
name sends me over the edge. My breathing speeds up. I fight the animalistic urge to force him into me. “I love you, too, Arland Maher.”
He smiles, and our bodies truly become one. Flooded with warmth, with love, with Arland, I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.
Our legs are tangled. Arland lies next to me, arm draped over my stomach, fingers tracing lines along my side. I stare at the stars through the green leaves on the Willow while running my hands through his knotted hair. The candles have very little wax remaining. Time is coming to an end. Soon I will have to stand, get dressed and part with my love. Return to living a lie. Be burned for each kiss I give to Perth.
Stars
? I haven’t seen stars since the cave, but here there are millions of them above us. Not a small patch of the heavens, a huge patch as far as I can see. Stars! The sun will shine over everything when it rises. Plants here will thrive, food will grow naturally—that is assuming, of course, these stars are not figments of my imagination and they do not fade like they have so many times before. “Arland?”
He lifts his head and smiles at me in a way suggesting he wants more time, more of me, of us.
I point to the sky and am surprised again. The golden bands still cover my hand. I sit upright, and Arland rolls over. “What are we going to do?”
Face turning white, he looks us over. “We need more time. Look”—he takes my hand and points at one of the bands which first appeared—”this one is lighter than the rest.”
“We don’t have more time. Mom said we had two hours, max. The candles have almost completely melted away; I’m sure we’re already over our limit.” I look around, afraid of being in the open, afraid the concealment spells might have broken.
Afraid
.
Arland wraps his arms around me. “Do not fear, my love. Everything will be okay. We should get dressed and find your mother. She will know what to do.”
“I am afraid her mother has already done enough.” Leader Dufaigh’s cold tone matches the sudden temperature shift in the air. “Stand up, offenders.”
Turning his head in Dufaigh’s direction, Arland’s eyes widen.
I’m frozen. Afraid to see what’s behind me. I don’t want to think of the consequences we somehow knew we’d have to pay for our love, or care about the hideous nature of the man who wishes to steal my life from me.
“
Do not stand up. Do not move. Cover yourself with the blanket. Remember, we knew this might happen, and everything will be okay
.” Arland kisses my forehead, gets to his feet, wraps the blanket around me then stands tall, proud, emotionless.
Naked.
“Arrest him!” Dufaigh shouts.
Arland doesn’t flinch. “
I love you, Kate. Every fiber of your being is pure, beautiful and a part of me. Do not go lightly. Give them what they deserve
.”
“
I will fight, for you, I will fight
.” I think of the dagger, but am unable to move. Everyone might realize what I’m reaching for and kill one of us for it.
Cyric and Deverell march up to Arland, keeping their heads low. They cast me an apologetic glance, take Arland by the arms then lead him away. The two guards have sat by Dufaigh’s side, followed his orders and watched me every evening when I’d grace the great hall outfitted in something new his dressers designed. Neither guard ever appeared happy about his job babysitting me, but I’ve broken laws. I have no idea how deep their loyalties run with Perth, Dufaigh, or High Leader Maher.
“Gather his clothing, Perth. We do not want to scare the women and children in the base with his appearance.”
Perth
? I turn my head but wish I didn’t. Arland stands naked, hands tied behind his back, head still held high, face to face with Dufaigh. Perth trots toward me, eyes revealing the man I thought was long gone—the icy nature of the Ground Dweller Perth swore he was not.
When he reaches me, I glare. “What did you do?”
“I am sorry.” He kneels beside me. “I thought everyone was sneaking away without me. This place, these people, they have lost touch with reality of the world around them—I did not want to be left alone. I followed you and your mother outside. When I saw you disappear behind the concealment spell, I lost faith in our agreement. I broke the edge of the spell and followed you in.” For a split second Perth’s eyes flash a brilliant shade of green.
“How could you, Perth? I gave you my word. You said you trusted
me
. Why would you think we were leaving you?” The fury boiling inside makes it near impossible to keep my voice at a whisper. I want to wrap my hands around his neck and squeeze.
“Calm down.” Shaking his head, Perth glances over his shoulder.
“I made a mistake. As soon as I realized what was happening, I left, but my father followed me. He watched your mother perform the Binding spell, watched as the magic enforced your bond, even commented on how he has never seen one so strong.” Perth wipes his hand over his face like he’s seen things he’d like to forget.
I swallow hard. “You
watched
?”
“No. When your mother came back, we dragged her inside, questioned her and got the guards. No one saw anything.” He shakes his head again. “I am so sorry.”
”Son, leave her to rot. I am sure daemons will find her unchaste body and deal with her. If you would like to punish her for her behavior, I understand, but aside from that she is of no concern to you,” Dufaigh shouts.
Anger inundates Arland’s mind.
We’re still connected.
His thoughts turn murderous. Wiggling his hands, he tries to free himself.
”
Arland, no! We knew this might happen, remember? I will be okay
.”
“
Somehow I knew Perth would be behind this
.”
“
It was a misunderstanding. Please, don’t do anything to make this worse
.”
“I am coming, Father,” Perth says like the perfect son.
“Wait.” I grab Perth by the arm. “If your father was there, why didn’t he try to stop us?”
Perth brushes my arm from his, always keeping up the façade. “My father is cruel, Katriona. He wanted you to suffer for your
transgressions
.”
The only way to make me suffer is … Arland. “What does he plan to do to Arland?”
Perth narrows his eyes then glances toward his father. “He will not do anything to Arland because we will not allow him. Get dressed. Meet me outside the door to the base in half an hour.
“My father was right about you. You are worthless like the rest of them.” Perth clutches the clothes to his chest then runs toward his father, leaving me all alone and naked under the weeping willow.
I’ve been here before. In my visions. I knew this was coming—my mom pretty much told me this was coming—so why does it feel like I’ve just been punched in the gut?
“Put your clothes on, Arland Maher, fallen Leader of Encardia. You will never see her again, do you understand? How dare you go against the law of a High Leader, against your own father … ?”
I turn my head to see Arland one more time before he’s taken away. I want to bask in his healthy glow because I fear the next time we see each other, he will have been punished, and I’m sure punishment will come in a physical form.
Cyric and Deverell free his hands for him to dress then tie the rope around his wrists again.
Dufaigh catches me looking at Arland. “On second thought, Perth, go get the girl and bring her to me.”
The blanket seems very thin all of a sudden; I tighten it around my chest and do not make any effort to stand. Perth runs over, takes me by the arm, lifts me to my feet then leads me to his father.
The red and black plaid blanket trails at my feet.
“Do not be afraid. We will beat this. It is my fault, and I will somehow make it right,” Perth whispers.
“I hope you’re right,” I say, staring straight ahead. I’m watching the back of Arland, afraid he might suddenly fall over dead, or disappear, or be punched—anything where I may need to step in.
Perth stops in front of Dufaigh and releases my elbow. I stand, not as proud and tall as Arland, but I meet Dufaigh’s eyes with defiance in my heart.
“You may have disgraced yourself, but I will not allow you to live easily and disgrace my family. We will keep your crime between us and you will marry my son and be punished every day. An impressive amount of magic secured your Binding to Arland. I have a feeling it will bring you great pain to break that bond.” Dufaigh smiles and bounces on his toes.
My skin crawls.
He’s always wanted to hurt my family and Arland’s. This situation must be like a bonus to what Dufaigh has already done.
Perth shakes his head. “No, Father, I will not marry Katriona.”
Dufaigh places his pale, fat hands on Perth’s shoulders. “Think of the pain it will bring the two of them, and with her in our family we will be safe.”
“You are right, Father.” Perth sighs. “I cannot imagine touching her, let alone marrying her, but she deserves to suffer for her actions.”
No
! This was Perth’s chance to stand up to his father, to fight for his people, to help me and Arland, and he chose Darkness. He chose to stray from the path of Light. Fire burns in my heart, spreads like a flame in a dry forest—
“
Kate, calm down. Perth is playing the game. Look at his eyes, he is not genuine
.” The calm in Arland’s thoughts mimics his exterior.
So many times I’ve seen Perth’s eyes, so many times I wish I hadn’t, but now I find myself captivated by the look of utter terror for all to see in his eyes. Wide and wild, glancing in all directions, as if mapping his escape. Maybe his father believes it to be because of my
transgressions
, but I recognize it as fear of something Perth’s about to do.
Dufaigh slaps Perth on the back, nearly knocking him over. “So it is settled. Take her to your quarters and do not allow anyone to see you. If they do, tell them you were out for a stroll and attacked by daemons. Make up a story about how you saved her life. She will be crying, no doubt, so anything she does will only corroborate your story. Make sure you kiss her if she does not shed tears, the pain will aid you.”
The cruel Leader turns away from us then walks next to his guards. “Now, Deverell, take Arland to the High Leader’s quarters with Leader Wilde.”
Dufaigh turns to me and reveals his yellowed teeth. “We need to discuss how to deliver their death sentences.”
Death sentences
? I hold back a gasp.
Oh, Griandor,please help me. This can’t be happening
.
Dufaigh and his guards leave with Arland in tow.
Perth grabs my hand, lacing his fingers with mine.
My life flashes before my eyes in fading clips. Riding horses on the farm. Hiking with my family. Holding hands with Brad when I was scared. Stepping into Encardia. Brad changing our relationship forever. Meeting Arland. Loving Arland. Discovering magic. Helping people. People dying. Marrying Arland.
No
! He will not die for this. Brad suffered enough for loving me. No more madness. There are bigger things in life to worry about other than who has the most power, the most influential family, or the best wife. There is a god who seeks to destroy this world, and Arland and I together are the only ones who can fight him.
Dropping the blanket, I let it fall around my feet and concentrate on my power, my love, and what I need to do …
form an army
. No more wasting time. No more waiting for other people or some imaginary perfect moment. This is my life, and I will no longer listen to anyone else.
Fire unfolds from my heart and engulfs my skin, igniting the dead forest in brilliant blue light. My tattooed braids brighten and burn warm and golden. I conjure more strength than I ever have before. “Stop!”
My words spark something in Arland …
hope
. It builds in him. He’s never had it before, not like this. He’s always thought he was going to die, even when he told me he wasn’t going to, and he was sure his death would occur here.
“
Show him how powerful you are, how powerful
we
are. Show him you are unafraid
.” Flames cover him as well, blue and gold, warm and beautiful.