“Then I will,” I stood up, determined.
“Absolutely not,” he also stood up to face me, adamant. “There is absolutely no way you will go to that trial. You will not set foot in that country, or outside of this town. Do you understand?” his voice was raised and he ordered me around in a way I had never seen him behave.
“You have no say in the matter. If you are not willing to do what is right, then I will.”
“I have every say in the matter. As your Prince I demand that you remain in your house the entire time I am gone. In fact, I am placing you on house arrest until I return,” he was so angry and so determined that his face was red and I could see real emotion behind his eyes, but instead of trying to understand him, he only made me angrier.
“You can’t do that,” I shouted, stamping my foot.
“Yes I can, and if you push me I will leave Guards at every door and window,” his voice once again softened, but the hardness to his tone was unmistakable.
“I wouldn’t have to push you if you would do what any decent person would do! You have the power to save her, to give her another chance, but you’re wasting your influence. Instead of placing me on house arrest, why don’t you help someone who actually needs it!” I knew I had gone too far, the look that crossed Kiran’s face was pure anger. I closed my mouth, unwilling to step down, but too afraid to say anything more.
“Do not question me,” he seethed. When I opened my mouth to protest he held up one hand and I was silenced. “Do exactly what I say or I will have you thrown into prison. Do you understand?” when I didn’t respond, his voice turned even colder. “Do you understand?” I nodded, but just barely.
Kiran brushed past me with a chilling coldness that made me regret everything that was just said. He blew open the gates with one blast of magic, sending the ten foot, chain link fence flying. I watched silently as he stormed back towards the school without ever glancing again in my direction.
Chapter Thirty-Six
I was there again; wandering the same beautiful and colorful forest, looking for the same person who was meant to share this place with me. My fingers slid over the wildflowers, their velvet petals bending to my touch. A warm breeze swirled around me, sending petals dancing through the air and invoking an intoxicatingly sweet aroma.
I heard the brook beyond the trees whispering sweetly as it ran over rocks and white sand. The sun shone brilliantly in the clear sky above, sending beams of light through breaks in the trees and making a sort of polka dot path of light for me to follow. Butterflies and fireflies buzzed around delicately, their presence was comforting.
I saw him in the distance, his strong build a stark contrast to the delicateness of the forest. The light played off his skin, illuminating him through the flowering trees. His blonde hair glistened and his blue eyes pierced my soul.
Even in this dream like state I was nervous and excited. My emotions flooded my senses, leaving me overwhelmed and confused. As I walked slowly closer to him I saw that he was only wearing a pair of baggy, gray sweatpants, his chest bare. The muscles from his neck to abdomen were clearly defined; I took in the sight of him and was left breathless.
Kiran waited patiently for me to approach. His face was a mixture of emotions, none of which I could define. He stood alone, a grove of trees encircling him. The space was too small to be called a meadow, but was hollowed out by a perfect ring of forest surrounding it. He leaned against a tree opposite me; and gave me a saddened version of his smirk.
I stopped short of entering the circle, a little afraid of him but more afraid of what he wanted. His eyes appraised my entire figure before he let them fall intently on mine, beseeching me with words not spoken. The silence was so beautiful that I was afraid to break it with even the smallest sound.
After several moments of what began to feel like a pained longing, Kiran approached slowly, gently. He closed the empty space between us, pulling me into his arms and holding me close. The fears I had just felt, the apprehension that made me careful before, melted away and I let his energy consume me.
Our magic united together in an excited aura of frenetic energy. His closeness made me dizzy, his scent had me lightheaded and the warmth of his skin against mine felt as though my soul was strangely complete. I could never have left that moment and it wouldn’t have been enough.
Kiran tipped my chin up so that I looked directly into his eyes. Leaving his fingers firmly on my chin, and with his other hand on the small of my back pulling me tighter to him, his lips found mine in glorious connection. Time stopped moving forward and the world stopped spinning and for the seconds my mouth was connected to his, I felt utter bliss.
“Eden!” Avalon screamed through the beautiful perfection of my dream, ripping me out of it in a most unpleasant way. “Eden!” he shouted again fully shaking me out of any sweet memories remaining.
“What?” I shouted back, groggy and disoriented.
“Wake up!” he said again loudly, too loudly.
“Why?” my voice was hoarse and scratchy and I could not get past confusion.
“Ummm….” Avalon struggled for a reason. “I need your help.”
“What? With what? Can’t it wait?” I turned over in bed, burying my face into my large feather pillows.
“Yeah, I guess,” he started to leave my room, but then burst through the door again. “No, it can’t wait. Come on, get out of bed,” he ripped the comforter off of me, leaving me freezing and pissed off.