“Yeah…” I trail off, distracted by my dream—there was lightning in it.
His finger traces my cheekbone. “What are you thinking about?”
“Just stuff… about you.”
“What about me?”
I find his hand under the blanket and interlace our fingers. “I just don’t want to lose you.” My voice shudders like it always does whenever I speak my feelings aloud.
“You won’t.” His fingers rub the black star marking my wrist—our forever mark. “See this thing right here. It means you’re stuck with me forever, whether you like it or not.”
I stifle a smile, stroke the star on his wrist, and graze his lips with mine, giving him a quick kiss. I lean back, but his hand cups the back of my neck and he deepens the kiss. His tongue slides in my mouth and my whole body shivers. His chest presses against mine and our legs tangle together. I choke my anxiousness down and clutch the hem of his shirt as I roll onto my back.
He shifts over me, rising on his elbows, licking his lips, wanting more.
“You said we were just going to sleep,” I joke, my nerves jumbled.
He arches an eyebrow. “You want me to stop?”
“Not yet.” My breath falters and I seal my lips to his.
He moans in response and pulls me closer, until there’s no space left between us. We stay that way until the sun rises, breaks through the clouds, and silences the storm. As I drift to sleep, cuddled against him, I can’t help but think how beautiful the moment is. But it’s fleeting and soon I’m consumed with a dark thought.
What if our forever has a loophole?
Chapter 3
I wake up to an empty bed. Outside the window, the golden sun glistens across the rippling lake and the trees drip from last night’s rainstorm. I sit up and stretch, ears perking to the voices downstairs. I glance at my watch.
“Two o’clock?” I mutter to myself. “What the hell am I still doing in bed?”
I shuffle into the hallway, lit by lanterns that hook into the brick walls. All four of us live in the Keeper’s castle—Alex, Aislin, Laylen and myself. My grandmother, Sophia, sometimes stays in the master suite, when she’s not off on one of her “travels.”
The castle technically belongs to the Keepers, but none of them visit. Not after Stephan and his slaughtering spree. None of us know how many Keepers survived. We could gather everyone together, but Alex says it’s a useless attempt unless the world is endangered. So as far as I know there are five Keepers left: Alex, Aislin, Laylen, Sophia, and myself. But Alex assures me there’s more.
As I pass the banister, I freeze at the sound of a voice I haven’t heard in a while. I back up and trot downstairs, not caring that I’m barefoot and half dressed in pajama shorts and a tank top. Alex, Aislin, and Laylen are gathered in the living room, having a private conversation. But that’s not what’s pissing me off.
Nicholas sits comfortably in the opposite sofa, sipping a cup of coffee.
“Why are you here?” I cross my arms and narrow my eyes at the tricky blonde faerie/Foreseer. “I thought we told you to stay away.”
Nicholas’ golden eyes travel up me and a menacing look consumes his face. “Did you throw on that outfit for me? Or do you always walk around half naked?”
I don’t budge so he won’t know he’s getting under my skin. “Again, why are you here?”
He sets the cup on the coffee table and rests back in the red velvet sofa. “Oh, don’t pretend like you don’t want me here. You know you do. You’re still just pissed because I won’t help you save your father from the Room of Forbidden. But I’ve already told you I don’t know where the Crystal of Limitation is.”
The Crystal of Limitation is a device that can free a Foreseer from the solitaire of their mind, also known as the Room of Forbidden—a place where a Foreseer is sent after they commit a crime. Or in my father’s case, they get branded with the Mark of Evil and alter the world’s future by tampering with visions.
I clutch my hands into fists and stalk toward him. “Letting my dad stay trapped in his mind is wrong.”
Nicholas stands up. “Wrong or not, it’s the consequences he has to pay for being a Foreseer who tampered with visions.”
I get in his face, breathing fire. “I fixed the vision. He shouldn’t have to suffer anymore. And you know how to free him, but you won’t share it!”
His eyes scorch like cinders. “Lean a bit closer and we’d be kissing.”
“Move a little closer.” My voice is low, nearly a growl. “And I could kick you between the legs.”
He licks his lips. “You know you secretly enjoy this. Deep down inside, you want to be with me. You just won’t admit it.”
An image presses against my mind of our lips touching, my fingers running through his hair, his hands on my back…
“What’s the matter, Gemma,” Nicholas whispers. “See something you like?”
I don’t have a clue what’s wrong with me, but there’s definitely something wrong because I have never EVER thought of Nicholas that way, nor do I want to. My skin reddens and adrenaline zips through my blood.
“You did something to me.” I start to back away, but he clamps his hands on my wrist. Aislin and Laylen leap to their feet, ready to throw him down.