Chapter Seventeen
“Apassing fancy or a livable fancy?” I teased.
Aleixo shuffled the cards in one hand. “A living fancy, obviously.”
“Very funny.” I nearly laughed. “I don’t know how to play with those. Are they like tokens?”
His hands stopped mid-shuffle, his cards flying all over the table. I picked up one that fell in front of me before standing up. He followed suit, leaning to gather what had spilled. “Do you not have cards in this realm?”
Eyeing the strange symbol on one, I shrugged. “We have tokens with similar symbols, but not cards…although, I have heard of them somewhere before.” I couldn’t place where, but likely a traveler.
He walked around the table so he was standing in front of me, taking the hand that was holding his card, before slowly removing it, still holding my hand. “Isn’t it strange how there are realms all over with parallel lives, yet you can just miss someone without ever knowing?”
His words caught me off guard and I looked up at him, mesmerized by his blue eyes. They were so beautiful that I missed the rest of his words. His brow raised and he leaned closer, waving his free hand in front of my face before I finally realized I had been caught staring.
“Hello? Calista? Cali? Java? Someone? Anyone?” His voice trailed off, using every name he could think of for me, and I continued to blink up at him. “Are you lost?” He reached up to touch my face gently.
I knew he was kidding, but I couldn’t think.
“I must be.” It came out soft as a whisper, but I saw his eyes widen in surprise.
With a scramble, my words rushed out as I heard Dewdrop stir behind us.
“But then again, in a realm such as this, who isn’t?
I know where we are in relation to the portal, but does one ever really know? ”
The cards in his hand disappeared into a pocket and he turned to shuffle his feet instead of the cards. “We should talk.”
Oh no, not those words. I couldn’t hear those words. They were too real. Real words were the things of nightmares. I had to think of something to say. Why could I never think of something good to say?
“We should,” I started. “Our plan for tomorrow is a bit loose, and I fear we need something more set in order to make better time. We’re a few days away, and it wouldn’t do to tarry too long here.”
“I meant about—”
My finger flew to silence his lips. “We cannot.”
“Why not?”
“Because goodbyes are terrifying, and I do not wish to say goodbye.”
“Then don’t,” he whispered. “Just say goodnight for now.”
I wanted to give in. I so badly wanted to give in to every emotion I felt with him, despite the fact that there was no time when that emotion had begun.
When had he gone from being the obnoxious man I was bound to, to being someone I no longer wished to say goodbye to?
There was no such thing as love at first sight, and there was no way I could feel for someone in less than a week.
“I know what you’re thinking…” he pushed. “I can see it in your face. We don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, but I’m thinking it as well.”
“Perhaps it would be best if we retired for the night.”
The dashing grin was back as he winked. “Shall we?”
“In our own rooms, sir!”
“I knew that! I was just teasing.”
He walked over to his door, and I followed so I could lock it once he’d left. He paused and looked at me, his eyes catching mine. “We don’t have much time left together.”
“Two days or so, if my estimations are correct.”
He took a step, then stopped, turning once more. I looked up at him, waiting for him to speak, to say something, but there was only silence. He bent down quickly, and I felt a light kiss on my cheek before the rushing warmth washed over me.
“Goodnight, Calista.” And then he was gone, only the soft sound of the lock as I turned the key without thinking.
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there. If I moved, I had to acknowledge the moment—perhaps the only moment we would share like this.
He would be gone before long, and I would likely be either running through realms to escape the Realm Guard as he chased me, or I would end up his bride.
There was no escaping this strange destiny I had now found myself in.
“Are you leaning up against the door, too?” Aleixo’s voice startled me from the other side.
“No…”
“Right…” More silence, and then he awkwardly added, “Well… Goodnight for now.” He laughed softly and then all was quiet.