We were high in the mountains, meeting at a previously decided place. We hiked for hours through the midnight sky, deep into the Romanian wilderness and far from the ominous castle. I couldn't remember exactly where Amory and I waited for Avalon and Jericho and if this was it or if this was some place new entirely. The forest muddled together in my memory, it was all a beautiful haze of thick trees and rough terrain.
“Will you be all right?” Rosalind asked with concern. She stopped her own silent vigil to sit down next to me. Freedom for her rested only moments away and not only that, she would be reunited with her daughter. I felt her joy, and saw the anxious excitement on her face and felt satisfied. I could be miserable a few more minutes to give her peace.
I could be miserable the rest of my life to give my people peace.
“I'll be fine,” I promised. I wiped the sweat away from my forehead with the back of my hand. “It's only a little heat. Besides, I'll have my magic back in no time and I'll hardly remember feeling hot at all.” I smiled with forced confidence, wondering how I would find the strength to pull my own magic from my brother.
“Will it be very hard?” Rosalind asked, referring to the task of reclaiming my magic.
“I don't know,” I answered honestly. “I've never done it before.” When her brow furrowed with concern, I continued quickly, “But, Sebastian has, and so has Avalon, so I know that it is possible. I just have to figure it out for myself.”
“And in enough time so we can get to the castle before dawn,” Kiran mumbled, unconvinced.
“What's your husband's first name?” I changed the subject quickly, unwilling to let Rosalind think Kiran's doubts all the way through. “I know who you are, but Lilly never gave me either of your first names.”
“My husband's name is Allister,” she answered.
“He will be Ok,” I promised, believing my words as much as I wanted her to. “I'll find a way to let him know that you're free, and make sure he is taken care of. I promise,” I whispered the last of my words, not wanting Kiran to hear them and shoot down my commitment with negativity. I knew he could hear me despite my soft tones, but all he did was look at me. He didn't try to dissuade Rosalind or tell her the truth.
“Thank you,” she gushed, a single tear escaping the corner of her eye.
“Eden?” a quiet voice called from a distance.
“I'm here,” I answered back, equally as quiet.
“And you're Ok?” Avalon called carefully from his vantage point at a safe distance.
“Will you just get down here!” I sighed, exasperated. We were on a schedule.
Six figures walked through the trees, spreading out in a semicircle around our small group. They were imposing and cloaked and if I didn't know better I would have felt very intimidated. At least until the smallest of the figures broke rank, crying out in happiness, her vibrant red curls bouncing in the moonlight as she rushed to her mother with arms open.
Lilly and Rosalind found each other, both crying hysterically and squeezing each other tightly. I found myself crying, too, at the joy of watching them reunite. I looked into the distance, wondering where my own mother was but knowing she would have to stay far away from this castle as long as Lucan was alive and ruling.
I was surprisingly swept off my feet and into a tight bear hug. I threw my arms around Avalon in return, finding absolute bliss in being near him and so many others that I loved. He held me to him for a long time, struggling not to cry, while I didn't even bother to stop the flood of tears that drenched my face and his shirt.
“Jericho's here,” he whispered into my ear and I pulled away from him.
“Where?” I demanded, looking beyond him at the men who became recognizable now that they were close.
And then he was there, standing back from the crowd, watching me. I pulled Avalon down to me, kissing his cheek quickly and then pushed him out of the way roughly. I found energy that had been missing for more than a month, ran toward Jericho, frantic to get to him.
Abruptly I was stopped. I pushed angrily against the magical force-field Kiran put into place, frustrated with endless boundaries and constant arguments. I fought against the wall, but Kiran remained unrelenting, torturing me. I turned on him, desperate to get to Jericho and ready to expel my wrath against Kiran.
“I can't let you wander off in the dark,” he defended himself quickly. “Jericho is more than welcome to join our circle. But Eden, you have to understand what a liability you are.”
I opened my mouth to tell him exactly what I understood, but Sebastian beat me to it, “Kiran, I'll keep an eye on her. She's a big girl; she understands what's at risk.”
The force-field dropped with Sebastian's logic and I resumed my elated journey to Jericho. I threw my arms around his neck, while he picked me off the ground, spinning me in a circle. I kept my body pressed against his, my face buried in his neck, inhaling him and reveling in being held by someone who truly loved me.
He set me down on the ground, pulling away ever so slightly. His hazel eyes, glinting with brilliant green, took my own eyes captive in his. His dimples held his smile in place, pure joy marking his angular face. There were no words spoken between us, nothing needed to be said that wasn't communicated in our gaze. His lips found mine then, soft but furtive as he kissed me passionately underneath the Romanian full moon.
I sighed in sweet surrender, feeling his magic wrap around me and press me even tighter to him. I felt the eyes of the crowd watch us and after a few moments, my cheeks flushed red and I couldn't stop the giggle from escaping my lips. I promised myself there would be more of these moments, and at least one more before I left him tonight.