4. Calista
4
CALISTA
Ezra and his soldiers returned me to the border of the forest. It was a long journey, one that took place in the darkness. Fireflies lit the forest floor, illuminating the path through the trees. I was tired but didn’t complain, the sadness heavy in my heart.
We reached the tree line, the world dark without the fireflies.
“You should stay here until morning,” Ezra said. “You can build a campfire, but it must be at least a hundred feet from the tree line. Fire is prohibited in our forest. We’ll come back for you in the morning.”
“Alright.” I stepped away from the company and moved into the opening, feeling the temperature drop once the canopy didn’t cover the sky. It was a clear night and the moon was bright, so I was able to build a campfire but unable to light it because I didn’t bring matches. I just left the forest. I’m at the same entrance where I went in.
IS IT SAFE?
They would never harm you .
I’M COMING .
Minutes later, I heard him before I saw him, heard his powerful wings lift his large body. His silhouette was visible in the darkness, and then he landed with a heavy thud. Without being asked, he released a small jet of fire with his nostrils and lit the campfire.
The flames immediately leaped up and illuminated the clearing.
HOW ARE YOU? He dipped his head to me and rubbed his snout against my cheek.
My heart had been heavy with sadness, but the second I felt his touch, I melted. “I’m okay. What about you?”
YOU’VE BEEN GONE ALL DAY. I STARTED TO WORRY.
“There’s nothing to fear from the elves.”
TELL ME EVERYTHING .
I shared the extensive conversation with Queen Eldinar and Ezra. “I don’t think they’ll ever change their mind.”
THEY CLAIM THEY WANT TO PROTECT THE DRAGONS, BUT THE DRAGONS DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT’S BEFALLEN THEIR KIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO CENSOR INFORMATION.
“But they don’t trust me, so I’m not surprised they won’t share their location with me.”
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHERE IT IS?
“No. But I suspect it’s far away from here. There’s no way the dragons are in the forest. There are open clearings, but it would still be suffocating for someone of your size.”
TRUE .
“We should unfuse…and you should travel to Thalian.”
Inferno lay upon the ground, his chin on the dirt so our eyes could be level as I sat on the boulder. WHY DO WE HAVE TO UNFUSE?
“Because if we don’t, we’ll be able to communicate…and you’ll be able to tell me where it’s located.”
AND WHAT WILL YOU DO?
“They’ve offered to let me live here.”
He watched me, his eyes even more red from the flames. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?
“I have nowhere else to go, so…” I stared at the flames because it was such a painful thing to say. Until I had a family of my own, I would always feel lost and detached from the world. “The forest is beautiful and magical, and my uncle lives there.”
I DON’T APPRECIATE HOW HE TREATED YOU.
“I don’t either, but he lightened up at the end. I’m not sure if we’ll ever be close, but I don’t think it’s impossible either.”
He watched the fire for a while. I DON’T WANT TO LEAVE YOU .
“I know.”
OUR TIME TOGETHER HAS BEEN SO brIEF.
“I know. But you deserve to be happy, Inferno. You deserve to live among your own kind and soar high into the sky and almost touch the sun.”
I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN EVER BE HAPPY, KNOWING MY SISTER IS MISERABLE.
My eyes dropped to the fire.
THAT EVERY DRAGON I’VE EVER KNOWN SERVES AS A STEED TO GREEDY MEN .
“I know it’s hard, but there’s nothing we can do.”
THEY WON’T LET YOU TRAVEL TO THALIAN AND ASK THE DRAGONS FOR HELP, BUT THEY CAN’T STOP ME FROM ASKING.
My eyes lifted from the fire to look into his.
AND I WILL.
“You’re right. You have the right to ask.”
IF I GATHER ENOUGH DRAGONS, I’LL RETURN HERE TO FETCH YOU. WE’LL FUSE AGAIN AND FLY SOUTH TO DEFEAT THAT MAD KING AND HIS SHAMANS.
I nodded in agreement, but I thought there was little to no chance he would succeed. The dragons wouldn’t upend their peaceful lives to save dragons they’d never met. To risk their lives for someone else’s cause. I’d asked the queen to help me remove Talon from our lands, and she refused. “I wish you the best.”
I was asleep in my bedroll when Inferno’s voice woke me.
THEY ARE HERE .
My eyes snapped open, and I sat up, seeing Ezra’s dark green armor gleaming in the morning light.
Inferno sat beside me, half the height of the trees of the forest.
I left my bedroll and ran my fingers through my hair, trying to make myself presentable before they approached.
It wasn’t just Ezra—but Queen Eldinar as well. Ezra was in the front, acting as her protective barrier, and the other soldiers flanked her from the rear. None of them armed themselves, but it was obvious why they were there—to protect their queen.
I stepped forward to greet them. “Queen Eldinar.” I gave a bow because she was about to be my queen.
She gave a slight nod in acknowledgment before she looked at Inferno. “It’s an honor to meet you, Inferno. My men described the brilliant color of your scales, but their words didn’t do them justice.”
THANK YOU, QUEEN ELDINAR.
I spoke for him since no one there could understand him.
“I’m proud to say that, like Calista, I also have the gift,” Queen Eldinar said. “But I’m happy to converse with you this way instead of intruding into your mind.” Her hands came together at her stomach, and she wore another brilliant white gown without armor or a sword for protection. “I hope you will accept sanctuary in Thalian. The Guardians of Thalian will protect you as you and your kin roam the skies freely.”
THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING MY KIN. HUMANS ARE EVIL—BUT YOU PROVE THAT NOT ALL ARE.
“We are not humans, but elves of Riviana, and as such hold ourselves to a higher standard of life. There are other ways of living rather than killing and enslaving. Protecting others is how we choose to find peace.”
I APPRECIATE YOUR GENEROSITY. I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL TO THALIAN.
“I’m glad to hear that.” She turned her gaze to me. “And what have you decided, Calista?”
“I would like to make Riviana Star my home.” I glanced at Ezra, who had his eyes locked on the dragon and not me, just in case there was an attack…not that there was much he could do if so. “If I’m still welcome.”
“You are.” She turned back to Inferno. “I will share the location of Thalian with you. But you must vow to never share it with anyone, not even Calista. It’s for the protection of your kin. Only a select few of us know of the location, just to ensure the utmost protection. Will you give me your vow?”
Inferno didn’t hesitate. I WILL.
“I will share it with you once you unfuse.”
Inferno bent his head down to look at me. ARE YOU CERTAIN THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT? I WON’T LEAVE YOU IF YOU’D LIKE ME TO STAY?
I’ll be okay, Inferno.
ONCE I CONVINCE THE DRAGONS, I’LL COME BACK TO YOU.
And if the dragons can’t be convinced, I’m sure they’ll let me visit once I build their trust .
YOU THINK I’LL FAIL.
No. I just think it’s a lot to ask. And if you’re happy there…it’s okay to be happy .
I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY TOO, CALISTA. AND I KNOW GETTING YOUR HOME BACK IS WHAT YOU WANT.
It was…but not anymore .
WHAT’S CHANGED?
No amount of revenge will ever bring back what I lost.
He studied me for a while, his wildfire eyes showing his sympathy.
Without the help of the elves, I have no chance against Talon, so I need to let it go and find peace.
I HOPE YOU FIND IT, CALISTA .
Yeah, me too.
ARE YOU READY?
Yes .
Inferno closed his mind, and after a few seconds, I felt the fire in my veins go cold. Felt the strength leave my bones. Felt a sense of power diminish. A hum sounded in my mind, and then the world went quiet. I felt myself fall to my knees because the loss of his soul was like losing a part of myself.
ARE YOU ALRIGHT?
Yes . I pushed myself back to my feet and righted myself. It was a lot harder to separate than to fuse . I looked at the queen and Ezra, who were both staring at me. “It’s done.”
Queen Eldinar turned her look back on Inferno. “If you allow me to enter your mind, I’ll share the details with you.”
I ALLOW IT.
The world went quiet, and since Queen Eldinar and Inferno had their eyes locked, I assumed their conversation was taking place. It took a while, several minutes, so questions must have been asked.
Queen Eldinar turned to me. “It’s done. It’s time for you to part ways.”
I turned to Inferno and moved to his leg, wrapping my arms around his scales. “Until we see each other again…”
He dipped his head, his snout resting on my head, the warm breath from his nostrils blowing through my hair and down my body. I’LL SEE YOU SOON .
“Take care.”
YOU TOO.
He pulled his snout away then stepped back, making adequate space between us. Then he opened his powerful wings and launched into the sky, heading away from the mountains and farther north.
I stared at him until his red scales were just a speck. “I’ll miss you.”
We made our journey back into the depths of the forest, and while I was surrounded by people, I’d never felt more alone. My mind felt like an empty vessel when I had no one to share it with. I might be able to speak to Inferno at this distance, but at some point, that connection would break…and that would hurt.
The soldiers continued to guard the queen like I was a threat, even though my sword and supplies had been left in Riviana Star. We shared no words, and none of them spoke to one another in my presence.
Hours later, we returned to the heart of the forest, greeted by the sound of music. It was dusk now, the fireflies coming out to bring the forest to life. A yellow glow was cast across the trunks and the green grass, creating vibrant colors that belonged in a painting.
Queen Eldinar returned to her royal chambers, while the guards took their positions outside her premises.
Ezra was the only one who remained. “Commander Luxe has arranged for your accommodations. He’ll be out shortly.”
“Giving a stranger a place to sleep seems like a task beneath a commander.”
“You’re no longer a stranger, Calista. I apologize for speaking to you so harshly.”
I couldn’t bring myself to accept his apology, not when the loneliness felt so heavy. All I did was give a slight nod.
“We’re an egoless society, so it’s not beneath his station.”
“What is your title?” His people respected his authority. Even the queen respected his authority. If he wasn’t the commander of their armed forces, I wasn’t sure what he would be.
“General of Riviana Star.”
Wow . “An impressive title for a human.”
“I worked hard to be worthy of the title. Queen Eldinar recognized my commitment to her people…our people.”
“My father would be proud of all you’ve accomplished.”
The mention of his brother seemed to weigh down the corners of his eyes. He broke contact with me and looked elsewhere, the sun continuing to set and the fireflies increasing in number. “When I learned what happened to him…it brought me great sorrow. He was a good brother and a great king.”
“He was.”
He found the strength to look at me again. “Life in Riviana Star is easy. There is no currency system. Take what you need from the market. All we ask is for you to contribute to our society to its betterment. You can volunteer your hands for one of the farms, be an aid for forest preservation, learn a new trade… There are many options.”
“I’ll do that.”
“It’s a peaceful place. You’ll feel like an outsider for a while, but once the elves recognize your goodness, they’ll accept you. They’re not prejudiced against humans, but they don’t care for them either.”
“How many other humans live in the forest?”
“Maybe a handful. The forest is a big place and much to explore, but I ask that you don’t leave the heart of Riviana Star. Others live in this forest, and they aren’t as kind as we are.”
A shiver ran up both of my arms. “Are they elves?”
“Yes…but a different kind,” he said. “Heed my warning and don’t wander off.”
I gave a nod in agreement. “I will.”
Ezra turned his head at someone’s approach. “Commander Luxe.”
“General Ezra.” He joined our company, dressed in armor similar to Ezra’s, but the flower medals pinned to his chest were different. He had blond hair like Queen Eldinar, long and combed back from his face. He was tall and built like my uncle, his blue eyes possessing unquestionable authority. His eyes shifted to mine, and once they did, they remained locked in place, scrutinizing my features like they were details on a map.
“This is Calista, the newest member of Riviana Star,” Ezra said. “Escort her to her new accommodations.”
“Yes, General Ezra.” He hadn’t taken his eyes off my face.
I looked at my uncle. “I just need my things.”
“We’ll provide everything you need,” Ezra said. “Food, water, and clothing.”
“Then I just need my sword.”
Ezra stared at me, the silence heavy.
Commander Luxe hadn’t blinked once throughout the interaction.
Ezra moved his hands behind his back. “Only those who serve in the army are allowed to be armed. As I said before, Riviana Star is a peaceful place. There are no crimes committed here so no need for defense.”
“I wasn’t going to wear my sword,” I said. “I was probably just going to put it in a closet or…” I stopped talking at the look on my uncle’s face, how the distrust moved into his eyes. “Keep the sword. I’m just used to having it.”
General Ezra’s shoulders visibly relaxed. “Sleep well, Calista. I’m always at your disposal if you need anything.” He said goodbye to Commander Luxe before he walked away—and entered the royal chambers where the queen entered just fifteen minutes ago.
Commander Luxe pulled his eyes away from my face and took the lead. “Follow me.”
I stared at the royal chambers a moment longer before I followed Luxe’s trail, watching his cape ripple and move as his shoulders and back shifted under his clothing and armor. I kept several feet between us, following him through the glow of the fireflies. Now that night had descended, the forest had turned quiet, fewer elves outside their homes.
When I looked up toward the canopy, I saw the houses along the trunks, the staircases that were wrapped around the trees made out of vines. They were tree houses, suspended high into the air, sometimes close to the canopy.
I’d never been afraid of heights, but I’d never slept a hundred feet into the air.
It was a long walk, turning right after we reached the market and taking a trail to a different part of the forest. The carts were still full of produce and baked goods, but you couldn’t steal something that was free.
The sound of the birds had died away when the sun had set, but the quiet music continued. “Does the music stop?”
He didn’t answer my question right away, walking several feet before he answered. “No.”
“Oh.” How did everyone sleep?
“You’ll get used to it.” He finally came to a halt at a tree, a tree house seventy feet in the air. “This is your new home.” He stepped onto the vine, the cord slightly bouncy, and effortlessly moved up and around the trunk of the tree.
I watched him move without effort, so I tried to do the same, but I tripped forward and landed facedown on the vines. I bounced for a second before I used the trunk as a crutch to get myself back to my feet.
Commander Luxe stood there, clearly having witnessed the whole thing.
“Let me guess. I’ll get used to this too.”
“Use the bounce of the vines to drive you forward. It allows you to scale to the top much quicker.” He was a hundred pounds heavier than me, even heavier with that armor, but he carried himself on the springy vines like it was solid ground.
We continued to make the climb, and despite taking his advice, I fell several times. Thankfully, I didn’t fall toward the edge and topple over. I gripped the vines until they stopped bouncing before I tried to get up again. When I lifted my hand, I saw his bare palm, his glove removed.
I didn’t want to take it, not when I had so much pride.
“Let me show you.”
I released a sigh in frustration before I took it.
“There’s no shame in asking for help.” He gripped my hand and pulled me up, but his hand didn’t drop once I was upright. He continued to hold it, staying on the outside of the path so I wouldn’t tumble over the edge. “Like this.” He took one step and then the next, pulling me with him so I would match his cadence and bounce.
I almost tripped once or twice, but after a few minutes, it started to make sense.
He released my hand and let me go alone.
I stared down at my feet and watched the vines as I took my steps, one palm against the trunk for balance. Soon I didn’t need the trunk anymore and I glided upward, feeling the increase in momentum without exerting more energy.
I made it to the wraparound patio and the front door. A fence was erected around the premises so I wouldn’t accidentally fall over if I came outside to water the plants that were already in their pots.
Commander Luxe passed me and entered the dwelling. There was no lock or key. It was just open…all the time.
It was a humble abode, a living room with a couch and an armchair, with a bed against the opposite wall. In the other room was the kitchen and the dining table, a nook under the window that was ideal for reading and sunbathing.
“These tree houses are reserved for singlets. If you find a life partner or have children, bigger accommodations will be granted to you.” He opened the closet. “Your clothing is here. Food has already been placed in the cabinets. The pipes have hot water.”
“How is that…?”
“We use the root system of the trees.”
“But how is it hot?”
“Because the water comes from the hot springs.” He faced me, so tall that there were just a few inches of open space above his head before the ceiling. “This is where I leave you. I’ll be stationed here for a few more days before I’m deployed back to the line. If you need anything, my tree house is 12 Waterbrook. I live alone.”
“What’s my address?”
“23 Seedling.”
I nodded in understanding. “Thank you.”
He stared at me for a while, like something was left unsaid. “You’re skilled with the blade?”
“Skilled is a generous word…”
“You have a connection with your sword, so it must have protected your life.”
It was given to me by Talon. Made for my arm length and my wrist size. “I know a couple things, but I’m no warrior.”
He gave a subtle nod. “You can serve in the army, if you wish.”
“But I’m a woman.”
His stare remained blank for a while. “I don’t understand your meaning.”
“I—I thought that was a job only for men. That’s how it is where I’m from.”
He continued to look slightly confused. “We hold no such prejudice. A soldier is a soldier, regardless of their sex. If you desire to pursue the trade, I can train you when I’m in Riviana Star.”
“Thank you. I’ll consider it.”
He stared at me for a moment longer before he turned to the doorway. “Welcome to Riviana Star, Calista Laurier. Open your heart to this forest—and she’ll do the same to you.”
I’d been traveling and living out of a pack for weeks, so the first thing I did was take a shower…and then take a bath.
I soaked in the tub in the darkness, the only light from the fireflies outside the window. It was the first time I’d been alone…in a long time. It was just me and my thoughts, reflecting on everything that had happened with a deeper intensity.
His angry eyes were forever burned into my thoughts.
Once my skin was pruned, I dried off and stepped into the kitchen, the fireflies everywhere I could see, lighting up the forest like it was their duty. I looked at the bowl on the counter and found fresh fruits and vegetables. In the cabinets were various nuts and cooking essentials, like flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and pepper, staples for every kitchen. With the things I had on hand, I whipped up something on the stove then ate alone at the kitchen table.
I wasn’t sure what time it was, but I wasn’t tired.
Too depressed to be tired.
I spent the day in my tree house. There was a bookshelf in the living room full of books. Most of them were in elvish so I couldn’t read them, but a couple were in my mother tongue, so I found entertainment.
I wasn’t ready to venture outside my tree house and explore. I sure wasn’t ready to mingle with strangers and seek friendship. Inferno and I hadn’t been connected very long, but his departure was still painful. A piece of my soul had been taken away—and I wasn’t sure if I could ever get it back.
Footsteps sounded on the deck outside, so I closed my book and stared at the door.
There was a knock. “Commander Luxe.”
“It’s open.”
He let himself inside, but he looked vastly different than he had last night because he wore no armor or uniform. Now he was in trousers and a short-sleeved shirt, the muscles of his arms visible. He looked at me where I sat on the couch, arms by his sides. “May I?” He gestured to the armchair.
“Of course.”
He took a seat across from me, sitting rigidly upright, hands on his lap. “How was your first night?”
“It was nice. I took a bath.”
He gave a slight nod. “Have you left your tree house?”
“No. Not quite ready for that.”
“The elves have been informed of your arrival. Some will greet you with open arms. Others will remain suspicious until you immerse yourself in society, so I suggest you make the effort.”
“I will…just not ready.”
“Have you considered my offer?”
“To join the army?” I asked. “No, I haven’t considered anything, really.”
“I can escort you through the market if you’d like. Give you a tour of the forest. Make introductions.”
“That’s very sweet of you, but I know you’re off work right now, so you should enjoy your time.”
“As the commander of Riviana Star, I’m never off. My purpose is to serve this forest and Riviana, and I’m happy to do so.”
“Who’s Riviana?”
“The Great Tree. The source of all power and music in this forest.”
“So, she’s a spirit?”
“She’s a god.”
“A god…?”
“Yes. God of Caelum. Gatekeeper of the afterlife. The tree is her connection to our world—and we guard it with our lives.”
I believed in the afterlife, believed there was something beyond this, but I didn’t know such a god existed. “So, has she spoken to you?”
“Not me, specifically. But she’s spoken to Queen Eldinar. And I’ve seen her in our forest.”
“Riviana?”
“Yes.”
“How’d you know it was her?”
He stared at me as he considered his response. “She glows with her own light. Music follows her through the trees. The world around her changes. Flowers bloom even when they aren’t in season. Dead roots come back to life. Her effect on the world is mighty and powerful.”
I pictured a beautiful woman in a white dress moving through the trees, flowers in her hair, the command of life in her palm.
“She makes an appearance rarely. Last time I saw her must have been three hundred years ago.”
“Three hundred years?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t look three hundred.”
“It’ll be a long time before I begin to age. Elves have remarkable life-spans, so long that death becomes a blessing.”
“I don’t understand your meaning,” I said. “Why would anyone want to die?”
“Because if you live too long, you start to go mad. To live forever is unnatural, and even if Riviana offered that gift to us, we would reject it. It’s not the way of things, not the way things should be. My longevity is a gift—but so is my demise.”
Talon didn’t age, but he wasn’t an elf and he didn’t seem to know Riviana Star existed, so I didn’t know what kind of magic ran in his veins to maintain his appearance. He’d said his family was killed thirty years ago. Based on that math, he should be in his fifties or sixties by now.
Commander Luxe stared at me for a while, giving me the opportunity to say something. When I didn’t, he continued. “General Ezra tells me you were fused with a dragon. A dragon with fiery red scales.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“And then you unfused with him so he could travel to Thalian.”
“Yes.”
“A noble sacrifice.” Like Queen Eldinar, direct eye contact was no discomfort. It seemed normal in their culture to be as forthright as possible. “Is that why you’re sad?”
“Why do you think I’m sad?”
“You’re lucky enough to be accepted among the elves in Riviana Star, but you’d rather sit alone in your tree house.”
My eyes dropped to the coffee table where I’d set down my book. “I guess I feel alone…”
“General Ezra says he’s your uncle.”
“But we aren’t close. I’ve never known him.”
“Now is your opportunity.”
If Ezra pursued a relationship with me, I wouldn’t fight it, but I was still wounded by the coldness he’d shown me. I was vulnerable and broken, and I needed warmth and affection…not cold rejection. The damage was done. “Perhaps.”
“Something else troubles you.”
“When you’re connected to someone the way I was connected to Inferno, it’s hard to let go.” He didn’t just light the fire in my veins and merge his soul with mine. He gave me an intimacy I’d never known, a friendship that was pure and real.
“I can’t imagine.”
I looked up at him again.
“I can’t tell you where Thalian is located, but I can tell you he’ll know nothing but joy in the beautiful wildlands. The Guardians of Thalian watch the horizon always, ready for a battle that’s not coming.”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy there, and that makes me happy.”
It was the first time he broke eye contact, looking at the book I’d been reading. “I’ll leave you in peace.” He rose to his feet and walked to the door. “You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
The sun set beyond the trees, and dusk arrived with a crisp coolness. Fireflies danced in the air and brought a glow into my tree house through the open windows. Riviana’s song changed, becoming more solemn and quiet.
I sat on the couch with my book in my hands, but my eyes kept moving out the window by the front door, mesmerized by the glow of the fireflies and the light it cast upon the canopy. It was a peaceful place, but it would take a long time for that peace to heal my heart.
My eyes turned back to my book, and I continued where I left off.
But then I felt something.
It was hard to describe. It was a change in energy, the peace replaced by an intensity so potent it had the wrath of a forest fire. Riviana’s music was suddenly muffled and distant. The light felt dimmed. I felt the edge of a sword against my neck when I was alone.
My eyes lifted to the armchair Commander Luxe had occupied earlier that afternoon.
I expected it to be empty, but it wasn’t.
There he sat, leaning back in the armchair with his hands over the wood of the armrests, looking at me with that stare he’d given to me countless times.
I jerked and dropped the book into my lap. My eyes closed as I gave a gasp, and when they reopened, I expected him to be gone, a trick of my mind, a glimpse of a dream because I’d fallen asleep on the couch…but he was still there.
Talon—The Death King.
His knees were spread, his chest and feet were bare, and he wore the same dark trousers he’d worn when he visited my bedchambers. His chest was still, and he appeared unnerved by my knee-jerk reaction.
My heart slammed against my chest, and my pulse drummed against my neck. The window was cracked and the cool breeze flowed into the room, but my palms were suddenly slick with sweat.
He hadn’t blinked this whole time. Didn’t speak a word. Didn’t explain his presence.
“Is—is this real?” My voice came out as a raspy whisper, the fear like a rock on my tongue.
He continued his stare, so still he looked more like a statue than a real person. Carved from the stone of his heart, he remained immobile, his eyes not even shifting as he regarded me. Then he spoke, his voice as deep and angry as it’d always been. “Yes.”
“How?” I glanced at the front door, which hadn’t opened or closed. “I don’t understand.” How did he make it into the forest, all the way to Riviana Star, and then locate my tree house—half naked—and all the while not being spotted.
“You don’t need to understand. You just need to accept that I’m here—with you.”
I continued to breathe hard, unsure if I should run or scream.
His eyes hardened on my face. “You can’t run from me.”
I was frozen, locked in place by his relentless stare. “You’re going to kill me.” He was far more powerful than I realized, walking straight into my home without triggering a single alarm. He had no weapon, but all he needed were his hands.
His head tilted slightly, and his eyes narrowed just a fraction. “I let you go.”
“And you said if we crossed paths again, you wouldn’t be so kind.”
His hand lifted to his chin, and his curled fingers lightly brushed against his lips.
I waited for him to say something, but he’d never been one to explain himself. He kept everything inside—and left me in the dark. “Why did you spare me?” His blade had drawn a dribble of blood, but the wound was so insignificant it was barely superficial.
His eyes hadn’t left my face, hadn’t taken a second to blink. Just like our nights spent in my bedchambers, he was thoroughly absorbed with me and nothing else. “You know why.”
I met his angry stare, felt all the rage he didn’t form into words. “I really don’t?—”
“Because I can’t hurt you.” Now his voice was stronger, louder. “I could never hurt you.”
I swallowed, feeling the sincerity leave his lips and melt onto my skin. All the terror I’d felt seconds ago was washed away by his protective river. My heart slowed, but it was still faster than it had been before he’d entered my presence.
“But I’m angry.”
My eyes moved back to his face.
“Fucking angry.” Now he looked at me like I was his enemy, like the sweet confession he’d just made had never happened. We were across from each other on the battlefield once more, the trees burning around us, the dead forming a wall to block all escape.
When his stare became too much, I looked away.
“Look at me.”
I obeyed, my eyes shifting back to his.
“I understand your decision. Even respect it. Doesn’t mean I like it.” He dropped his arm back to the armrest. “We’ve been parted for weeks now, and I’ve given your words great thought. I have no choice but to admit that you’re right. That I did to you exactly what was done to me. You should want me dead.”
My eyes flicked away.
“But you don’t.”
I inhaled a heavy breath, looking at the book on the table.
“I told you to look at me.”
“It’s hard?—”
“I don’t care how hard it is. Look at me.”
My stare lifted again, seeing his dark eyes where that tiny fleck of gold shone deep in the sea of blackness. Memories I wished I’d forget rushed through me, all passing simultaneously, that last night together in the tent…that first night in his bed. My heart had never felt more alive…and never more terrified whenever I was with him.
He stared back, his look just as intense, his hard body even harder as he clenched every muscle inside his ripped body. Even when he sat, his stomach was flat and hard like the trunk of a tree. The lines that separated his groups of muscles deepened as his physique tightened. “You can’t kill me. And even if you could, you wouldn’t. I see it in your eyes as we speak. I said I cared for you, and I know you care for me.”
I was desperate to look away, to end the connection that gave him access to my soul, but if I tried, he would just command my stare once more. He hadn’t touched me, but he somehow controlled my body like he did.
“Let’s move forward.”
“Move forward?” I whispered.
“Come home, and let’s finish what we started.”
Home . It was the most painful word I’d ever heard. “You think that castle is home to me?”
He stared for so long it seemed like he wouldn’t respond. “I think I’m home to you.”
It took all my strength not to react, to hide my hand like my life depended on it. My eyes remained on his, and I resisted the sudden pain that burned in my chest, the heat that moved up my throat. “You think very highly of yourself.”
He regarded me in silence for a long time, that stare absorbing all of my emotions like a sponge. “Baby?—”
“Don’t call me that.”
“You had no objection to it before?—”
“I said, don’t.”
He turned quiet.
I stared out the window, and this time, he didn’t demand my attention. “I wasn’t your baby then, and I’m not now… Nor will I ever be.”
He stared at the side of my face. “You’re angry with me.”
“You’re the reason my father is dead?—”
“That’s not what you’re mad about—at least, right now.”
I turned back to look at him again.
“You’re mad that I never gave you what you wanted.”
“I didn’t want anything from you, Talon. I always knew I was going to run.”
He was quiet, looking around at the surroundings for the first time. “I don’t believe you. There’s a difference between fucking and making love—and we crossed that line. I confided something to you that I’ve never told anyone but Khazmuda, and you have no idea how hard that was for me.”
“Making love?” I asked incredulously. “It’s not making love if you kick her out when you’re done.”
Victory moved into his eyes. “I knew it.”
I looked away again, reacquainted with all the feelings of hatred I felt for him. I hated his arrogance. I hated how he ran hot and cold, saying something that made me weak one moment and then saying something that broke me the next.
There was a long stretch of silence, so long it seemed like the conversation was over.
Then he broke that quiet. “Our ambitions haven’t changed, Calista. We still want the same things.”
I stared at a painting on the wall, an image of a flower in a pot.
“Come home.”
“No.”
“Calista—”
“I said no.”
“And what will you do? Continue to plot against me?”
I refused to answer.
“I apologized to you. How many times do I need to apologize?—”
“So if Barron apologized to you, all would be well?” I snapped.
His stare immediately turned angry. “Not the same thing?—”
“You lost your father. And I lost mine.”
The warning was in his eyes, a wall of livid fire. “I lost a lot more than that.”
“My father was all the family I had—so I lost my entire world, just like you did.”
His stare hardened, the cords in his neck becoming more strained in his silent anger.
“Why is your pain more important than mine? Why am I the one who has to forgive and forget, while your crusade lives on?—”
He vanished.
I blinked, staring at the chair where he’d been just an instant before, and he was still absent. “What the…?”
I got to my feet and looked around, searching in the corners and the hallway, but I knew he was gone. I knew because the music of the forest returned, because the tense energy he brought had vanished, because the light from the fireflies was a little brighter.
I’d thought I understood the extent of his powers, but now I realized I didn’t understand them at all.