15. Gravity’s A Bitch
Chapter fifteen
Gravity’s A Bitch
Grabbing a chair, I drag it with deliberate slowness to the head of the table, seating myself among the males. My face remains a mask of indifference.
Ash’s grin splits wide across his face as he throws his arms up dramatically.“You came back!” he exclaims with exaggerated relief. “Thank the gods. I thought I was going to be stuck with broody Oberon forever.” The brightness of his smile dims almost immediately.
“I was beginning to think I’d have to hunt you down again,” Oberon remarks, his tone smooth but edged with steel.
“Oberon!” Ash hisses, snapping his head toward him, eyes wide with disbelief.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart stumbles. Hunt you down.I force my body to remain still, will every muscle not to flinch as the panic claws at my edges. If I hadn’t chosen Oberon’s way, would he have chosen for me?
My expression doesn’t waver. They won’t see the cracks. “I thought being here was a choice,” my voice steady despite the tightening knot of anxiety in my chest.
“It is,” Ash insists quickly, his gaze flickering between Oberon and me.
Then, turning to Oberon with a scowl, he adds, “Oberon, stop being a dick.” The sharpness in his tone surprises me.
It’s serious, almost protective, his smile faltering when he adds, softer this time, “Wait. It is her choice . . . isn’t it? ”
Oberon doesn’t answer immediately. He simply arches a single brow and shrugs, the barest smirk curling his lips. “I did tell you I’d miss you terribly.” The smirk deepens, teasing.
Is he joking? Or would he have truly come after me?
Ash rolls his eyes and slouches back in his chair.
Oberon’s gaze lingers on me, sharp as a blade and twice as dangerous.
“Or perhaps,” he muses, “I would’ve hunted you down simply because I missed you.
” His devilish smile widens. “I didn’t say I’d force you back.
” He leans forward slightly, shadows catching in the sharp lines of his face.
“So eager, little Lyra, to jump to your own conclusions.” His voice drops to a purr, the teasing laced with something far darker.
“Asshole.” The word slips from my lips before I can stop it.The room goes still for a moment before Ash erupts into laughter, pounding a fist on the table.Oberon, however, doesn’t so much as flinch.
He simply tilts his head, thumb brushing his chin, studying me with that same cryptic smirk, trying to figure me out.
“‘Asshole?”” Oberon repeats, raising his brow.
“You wound me. Admit it, you missed me, too.” His voice is smooth as silk, his lips curling into a dangerous smile, flashing his sharp canines.
Ash rolls his eyes, leaning back in his chair with a dramatic sigh.
He throws his hands behind his head and props his feet on the table.
“Well, isn’t that romantic? ‘Oh, Lyra, I missed you terribly. I was so lonely.’ Gods, you two are exhausting.
Just kiss or kill each other already, either way, spare me the drama. ”
Oberon shoots Ash a look I can only be thankful isn’t aimed at me.
“I’m leaning toward kill,” I mutter.
Ash gasps, pressing a hand to his chest. “Ruthless! I like you even more.”
Ash is still grinning when I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “I’m here,” I say, letting my gaze sweep over both of them and linger on Oberon. “Do not mistake my presence with compliance. I have conditions.”
Ash lowers his feet from the table with a raised brow. “Ah, conditions. She does keep things interesting.”
Oberon’s smirk doesn’t falter, though his gaze sharpens. “Conditions?” he echoes, voice smooth. “I’m listening.”
“First,” I begin, voice steady despite the hammering of my pulse, “I’m not now, nor will I ever be your prisoner. If I stay, it’s as an equal. Not someone you keep locked away when it’s convenient.”
A flicker of something unreadable passes across Oberon’s face. He gives a slow nod, saying nothing.
Ash taps his fingers on the table. “Fair. She’s got a point. You do have a habit of coming off a bit . . . possessive.” Oberon shoots him a look, but Ash just grins, completely unbothered.
“Second,” I continue, ignoring their exchange, “I’m not staying in this cabin any longer. If I’m to help, I want to actually help. I won’t sit here waiting for the two of you to decide when I’m worthy of attention. Wherever you go, I go.”
Oberon’s jaw tightens, but his expression remains indifferent. He leans back, studying me in silence for a long moment. Finally, he speaks. “Fine. But I have a condition of my own.”
I narrow my eyes. “Naturally.”
Ash grins widely. “Oh, this is getting good. Should I fetch some wine? Or a sword? Honestly, I can’t tell which way this is going.”
“If you join us,” Oberon says, voice low, “you will stay close to either Ash or me. You will not wander off. You will not get yourself into trouble. This isn’t to imprison you, it’s to keep you safe. Should you choose to leave at any time, Ash or I shall escort you where you need to go.”
The room goes still. His words are calm, but there is an edge to them that lets me know the warning isn’t empty.
I hesitate, then give a reluctant nod. “Fine.”
Ash leans back with a grin, folding his hands behind his head. “Look at us, negotiating terms, so touching. Do we seal it with a handshake? Or?”
Oberon shoots him another glare. Ash holds up his hands, smirking. “Kidding. Mostly.”
Oberon exhales sharply. “Any more conditions?”
“Yes.” I straighten. “How long have I even been in this cabin? I don’t know how much time I’ve lost here.”
Ash blinks, exchanging a quick glance with Oberon. “Oh,” Ash says, voice light but eyes glinting. “Right. That.”
Oberon remains silent, his expression giving nothing away.
Ash gives a dramatic sigh, glancing at Oberon. “Well, don’t all jump in at once. I guess I’ll be the bearer of bad news.”
I stiffen. “How long?”
Ash drums his fingers on the table before flashing me a sheepish grin. “Six months.”
The words hit harder than I expected. “Six . . . months?” I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper. Oberon watches me closely.
“Yes, give or take a few days,” Ash adds, attempting a light tone. “Though, in our defense, you weren’t exactly up for a social calendar.”
I stand abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. “Six months? And you kept me locked in here?”
“Easy,” Ash says, raising his hands. “I suggested bringing you along sooner. But you know, His Majesty here thought you weren’t ready.”
Oberon leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. His gaze pins me in place. “You needed time. You were barely alive when I brought you back.”
“That wasn’t your choice to make,” I shoot back.
Oberon’s eyes darken, but his voice remains calm. “No, it wasn’t. But I made it anyway.”
I glare at him, my fists clenching at my sides. The thought of six months slipping by gnaws at my insides.
Ash clears his throat, attempting to break the tension. “Look, what’s half a year between friends? You’re alive, aren’t you? And, hey, you look great. Honestly, the cabin did wonders for you. Fresh air, quiet reflection. Very healing.” I shoot him a look. He grins, unfazed. “Okay, tough crowd.”
“I could’ve helped,” I say, directing my frustration back to Oberon. “I should have been helping.”
“And now you will,” Oberon words land with a quiet conviction while his gaze remains steady. “Starting today.”
My breath catches. Something in his tone is final and certain, sending a shiver down my spine. “Where are we going?”
Ash flashes another grin. “Now that is a surprise you’re going to love.”
“Or hate,” Oberon adds, rising smoothly from his chair.
“Wait—” I hold up a hand. “You expect me to follow you blindly without so much as an explanation?”
Ash shrugs, already heading for the door.
“Well, you did agree to Oberon’s terms. Time to keep up, sunshine.”
“You’re part of the team now.”
“Under conditions,” I remind him.
“Oh, right.” Ash grins over his shoulder. “Stay close. Don’t wander. Try not to die. Got it. But if you’re looking for bonus conditions, how about this—” He winks. “No stabbing Oberon unless I’m there to see it.”
I groan. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, so charming,” Ash quips, throwing his hands behind his head again. “Now, come on, Lyra. Adventure awaits.”
Oberon pauses by the door, glancing back at me with that same infuriating smirk. “Six months or not, you’ll keep up. I’m sure of it.”
I grab the box, the only thing in the cabin worth taking.
The necklace lay inside, its chain glinting faintly.
From my pocket, I retrieve the pendant, unclasp the chain, and slide the pendant beside the small trinket already hanging there.
The weight of both charms feels oddly comforting.
Without hesitation, I slip the necklace around my neck, tuck it beneath my blouse where it lies cool against my skin, and shove the empty box into my pocket.
A surge of relief washes over me as I follow the males outside. A part of me feared some hidden ward would drag me back inside, a trick, a trap. I didn’t truly believe it, but the thought still lingered.
We step into the clearing nestled atop the mountain. Dense forest surrounds us on all sides, making it impossible to see beyond the tree line.
No horses. No beasts. No carriages. Just the endless rustle of leaves and open sky above.
Oberon always materializes here from nothing, shadows curling around him like living things. Ash . . . well, Ash is a mystery. I don’t know how he usually gets here. He has to have some mode of transportation, but standing here now, with nothing but trees and rock, makes me wonder.
I look between the two. “How the hell do we leave?” Sarcasm drips from my words as I add, “What’s the plan, Oberon turns us all into shadows and spirits us away?”
Ash grins widely, lifting a hand with a smooth, circular motion. “Oh, ye of little imagination.”
Before him, the world distorts, the air shimmers, the sky, grass, and clouds twist together in a spiraling vortex, and the scene melts into a mesmerizing swirl of deep greens and blacks, twinkling lights dancing within like distant stars.
I take a step back. My heart pounds. “What the actual—?” I mutter.
Did they drug me?
Oberon stands still, unreadable as ever. Like he has seen this a hundred times, his calm only unsettles me further.
Ash’s grin deepens, enjoying every flicker of disbelief on my face. “This, my dear Lyra, is a wormhole.”
I blink at him. “What in the fuck is a wormhole?”
At that, Oberon, cold, controlled Oberon, actually chuckles, a low sound, almost imperceptible, but there, with the smallest crack in his perfect mask.
Ash leans closer, eyes gleaming with amusement. The swirling vortex whips wind around us, tugging at my hair and loose clothing.
“He controls gravity,” Oberon says simply, as if that explains anything.
My eyes widen in awe. “Gravity? How is that even possible?”
Ash spreads his arms wide, bowing dramatically. “What can I say? I’m pretty remarkable.”
Despite myself, I laugh, short and incredulous. “Seriously. How?”
Ash taps his chin thoughtfully. “Think of it like this: instead of spending days walking from point A to point B, we . . . hmm.” He snaps his fingers. “We jump there. One quick jump.”
“B—but” I stammer. “J—jump? Through that?” I gesture wildly at the swirling mass.
Ash shoots me a cheeky grin. “You just walk through it.”
I stare at him. “That’s it? Walk? No magic words? No ‘brace yourself for spatial disintegration’ warning?”
Ash smirks. “You want a warning? Fine. Don’t trip. Gravity’s a bitch.”
“Helpful,” I deadpan.
“Also, no running. It’s embarrassing when people faceplant into another dimension. Trust me, it’s hard to look cool after that.” He winks.
Oberon turns toward the vortex. “Let’s go.” His tone leaves no room for argument.
Ash follows without hesitation, tossing me a wink over his shoulder. I, however, stand frozen, my feet rooted to the ground. Every instinct screams do not walk into the swirling abyss.
Oberon pauses, glancing back. His sigh is deep, almost impatient. “Space and time are like a fabric. It’s stretchy and flexible. Gravity bends it. Planets, stars, they curve the fabric, and that curve is what you feel as gravity.”
I stare at him. “Is this really the time for a physics lesson?”
He continues, ignoring my skepticism, “A wormhole is a shortcut. A tunnel through that fabric. Instead of traveling around the curve—” he gestures with a hand, tracing an arc in the air “—you cut straight through. Two distant points in space and time, connected by a single passage.”
Ash leans in with a wink. “Takes an extreme gravitational influence to pull it off. Lucky for you . . .” He flashes his most charming grin. “I’m extremely impressive.”
I cross my arms. “Impressive? Debatable. Terrifying? Absolutely.”
“Flattered,” Ash shoots back, dramatically throwing his hands behind his head and propping his feet on an invisible surface, lounging in thin air. “Now, come on, sunshine. Time waits for no one.”
“No,” I say flatly, crossing my arms. “I’m not walking into that thing. You two can go. I’ll find my own way.”
Ash pauses mid-stride, glancing back with a grin. “Aw, come on, Lyra. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
“Dead. I’m currently working on my sense of self-preservation,” I shoot back.
Oberon sighs, deeply annoyed. Shadows stir at his feet. “You’re wasting time.”
“I’m not going,” I argue, pushing back.
Without another word, Oberon closes the distance between us. His arms wrap around my waist with alarming ease.
My protest barely leaves my lips before he hoists me over his shoulder like I weigh nothing at all.
“What the—Put me down,” I shout, pounding a fist against his back. “Drop me now, or I swear—”
“Careful,” Ash teases. “Threaten him too much, and he might accidentally toss you into another timeline.”
Oberon doesn’t stop. “You’ll thank me later.”
“LIKE HELL I WILL!”
Ash doubles over with laughter. “Oh, this is so much better than watching you walk.”
And just like that, Oberon steps through the swirling vortex, taking me with him, whether I like it or not.
I can still see Ash strolling after us, hands behind his head, whistling a jaunty tune. “Next stop: anywhere but here.”