“It means that, if that’s the case—if my father has Legend—then a wolf I trust must be working for my father.” He gently caresses my cheek with his scraped knuckles. “I don’t want you to worry yet. Legend could easily just be out and about, and the guards being in the area could be a coincidence.” He offers me an apprehensive smile before slipping out the door.
Not wanting to hide out in my room, I hurry after him, vowing to myself that, if his father took Legend, I’m going to save him, just like he saved me.
Chapter 35
Days later, Legend is still off the radar. Jules sent some of his best guards to sneakily scope out the land and castle to see if perhaps my vampire friend is being held captive there. Unfortunately, the search turns up no evidence that Legend is anywhere in the kingdom, or has been there since we left. That doesn’t alleviate my worry at all, though, even if Jules told me that vampires are known for their flaky visiting habits. Legend has never been like that, although he did tell me he’d be seeing less of me for a bit. That’s the only drop of hope I have that he’s simply somewhere doing something for the Eternal Vampires.
All we can do for now is keep checking at his place and asking around the city to see if any creature has seen him, which Jules and I do every morning and night.
Not only do I fear something terrible has happened to him, but his disappearance has put a hold on mine and Jules’ plan. If we can’t find him soon, we’re going to have to find a witch who will gain us access to the Sun Moon Realm.
As the days breeze by, I spend most of my time with Jules in dreamland, practicing my ability. When I’m awake, I train hard with Rune, spend any of my free time looking for Legend, and struggling to remember the bits and pieces of my life before the blocking shield was put on me.
While I’ve recalled some lovely memories, I haven’t discovered why my mom made me forget to begin with, what happened that day my parents died, or how I ended up in the Common Realm. I’m fairly sure the answer lies in the most hidden parts of my mind, at least to why my parents are dead. I would like to know how I ended up in the Common Realm and how Slate found me there. Jules and I both agree, though, that more than likely, the king sent Slate to kill me that day. How they found me, though, remains a big, giant question mark.
Jules also took me once to see his mother. The glimpse was brief, and the sight of her brought tears to my eyes, so Jules ushered me out quickly, frantic with worry that I was going to do something stupid, like run into the vines.
I almost did a couple of times, but I would never admit that to him.
While my paranormal life is getting more complicated, fighting is getting easier. I even won a match against Rune, but I suspect he’s still going easy on me.
If I really wanted to win every match, I could, thanks to my nature energy wolf skills. While the gift usually feels like a wretched curse, at night, in my dreams, when I get to openly play with my magic, it becomes a part of me. The more strength I gain, the more my gift begs to come out and play. Flowers, plants, branches, and even the vines call to me when I’m awake.
Shade also informed us that, so far, the king hasn’t noticed that his wife and queen are missing, which proves just how much he doesn’t visit her. I worry what will happen when he finds out, although Jules has it in his head that he might not care. That, considering the king had her locked up in a dungeon, he may not ever realize she’s been taken.
Needless to say, the last couple of weeks have been stressful, and it’s apparently showing.
“You look like shit,” Liberty remarks as I hobble off the training mat in the area located in the main section of the house, sweaty, sore, yet content in a way. Content because I know the more I train, the more I’ll be able to protect myself and the wolf I am starting to care about. Maybe even … love? A question I ask myself daily, but have yet to figure out the answer. I can feel myself getting closer, though, to discovering what lies inside my heart and soul.
“Gee, thanks, Lib. And you look perfect as always,” I say as I pick up a water jug from off the floor and down a long swallow.
Jules and Rune remain on the mat, wrestling around and seeing who can knock the other one out first. Swords are being drawn, teeth snapping. The first time they fought like this, I freaked the fucking crazy wolves out. Now I realize this is normal. Just like this realm, this life is becoming normal.
“I know I do.” She flips her hair off her shoulder and smirks.
Ever since Jules brought their mom here, she’s relaxed. But every so often, she mentions we’re being secretive and makes it known that she’s not happy about it.
Neither am I, but Jules insists he doesn’t want to bring Liberty into this until he absolutely must.
I chuckle. “And you’re so humble about it.”
“I never claimed to be humble.” She plops down on a wooden chair woven with leafy vines and pale pink flowers. “You, however, are too humble.”
I snort a laugh as I sit down in a wooden chair next to her. “There’s no such thing.” I stick my hand underneath the chair where she can’t see and trace my fingers along webs of flowers, the petals melting into my touch.
“That’s it. I can’t take it anymore.” Shade bursts into the room, working to unfasten his waist holster. His legs get tangled in the straps and that leads to a dramatic, drama queen sized tantrum of stomping and kicking. “Either that fucking asshole has the highest pain tolerance ever, or someone spelled him into secrecy.” He chucks the holster at the wall, leaving a dent in the paint.
“Slate’s still not talking, huh?” I say, screwing the cap back on the jug.
Slate shakes his head and scuffs the tiled floor as he paces in front of us. “I really think someone spelled him into secrecy. I mean, I’ve used every torture skill in the book, and the fucker still won’t break.”
My thoughts drift to Jules’ mom and what she penned in the journal, how she confessed to the pages that she was spelled into secrecy, clearly by the king.
Could he have spelled Slate into secrecy, as well? Quite possibly.
“Who’s guarding the shed?” Jules asks as he hops off the mat, using his fingerless gloved hand to wipe the sweat from his brow.
“I left five of your best guards there.” Shade kicks his holster again then yanks his hands roughly through his hair. “I needed a break before I ended up killing him.”
“Maybe you should,” Liberty states, standing. “If he’s not talking, what’s the point of keeping him around, other than so he can try to escape and run back to whoever sent him after Lake? And then he can tell them she’s in the realm now, if he hasn’t already.”
I don’t want to agree with her, but I sort of do. “She might have a point.”
Jules scrubs his hand across his jawline, trading a look with me, then glances at Shade. “You think it’s time?”
“You know I hate giving up, but he won’t fucking break.” He grinds his teeth until his jaw pops. “The only other option we have is to hire a witch to see if he has a secrecy spell on him. And the only witch I know of in this realm is Ava.”
“I’m not sure if I trust her with the knowledge that we have Slate chained up in a shed,” Jules mumbles, trading another secretive look with me. “Not when we’re not sure who sent Slate after Lake.”
As they continue to banter back and forth, an all too familiar dull ache pulses behind my eyes. Great. The memories are kicking in early tonight.
I squeeze my eyes shut as I tip my head back, fighting the memories back, not wanting to have a breakdown in front of everyone.
“I should be the one to kill him, then,” Jules mutters. “If it’s time.”
“Why the fuck do you get to do it?” Shade snaps. “I’m the killer in our little group, not you.”
“I’m not as innocent as everyone seems to think,” Jules mutters. “And this is my thing. It has nothing to do with you.”
“Then why the hell have I been living in the smelly-ass shed for two weeks?” Shade explodes. “Do you have
any idea what a rotting werewolf who hasn’t showered for two weeks smells like?”
Blinding hot pain chars my brain, and my eyes flood with tears.
“Elora, we have to go now!” my mom yells at me.
Tears pour from my eyes as a familiar scent grabs the air and chokes it.
“Elora, we need to move!” my mom shouts. “We need to get to the forest.”
“Why does any of this even matter?” Rune’s voice cuts through the memories. “If Jules wants to be the one to kill his alterum dimidium animae’s attacker, then he should be the one who gets to do it.”
“Elora, go into the forest,” my mom whispers in a panic.
“Elora …”
The memory starts to fade into a distant echo. I desperately try to clutch on, yet at the same time, I want to sprint away and forget all over again.
Pain.
Tearing pain through my chest.
“Mommy, I don’t want to leave daddy.”
“You won’t be safe if we don’t leave.”
“Oh, for the love of all stupid wolves, will the three of you shut the hell up!” Liberty shouts, and the memory obliterates into nothing more than smoke.
No, Mom, come back.
“I’m so sick of everyone being stressed out all the time,” Liberty continues to yell. “Two full weeks of freaking out about every single thing. And then, of course there’s the fact that I know Jules and Lake are keeping stuff from all of us.”
I wince as I open my eyes, the memory slipping through the cracks of my mind.
Liberty pauses, giving us time to explain, and I almost do it. But then Jules gives a quick shake of his head, and I keep my lips zipped.
“Fine. Don’t tell me, then,” Liberty snarls. “You all can stay here and argue with each other. I don’t really give a shit.” She seizes my wrist and yanks me to my feet. “But me, Kylan, and Lake are not going to stick around to watch you three try to prove who’s more alpha wolf. We’re going to go have some fun.” She stomps toward the arched doorway, dragging me with her.
“Liberty,” Jules warns, his boots pounding against the tile as he chases after us. “You can’t just take off with Lake and go party in the city.”
Liberty grinds to a halt and reels around. “I’m not just going to party in the city. I’m going to go show her some of the experiences she missed out on while she was gone for the last decade, like a good best friend should.” She releases my wrist to cross her arms. “You talk all this talk about wanting Lake to be happy here, wanting her to feel like she belongs, wanting to make up for all those years she’s been gone, yet all you do is make her fight, make her remember, and make her afraid.”
“I don’t make her do anything.” Jules looks at me, panicking. “Do I?”
I shake my head. “He really doesn’t, Liberty. He always gives me a choice on whether I want to do something or not.” He more than gives me a choice.
“But he hasn’t given you the choice to do something fun, has he?” she asks, and not wanting to lie, I shake my head. “Well, there you go.”
Jules appears hurt. “I didn’t mean not to let you have any fun. I just got caught up in trying to help you heal and keep you protected.”
“I know you have.” I rub a dirt smudge off his forehead. “And I’m completely grateful that you have. I get why you don’t want me going into the city.”
“But …?” he says, sensing there’s more.
“But it would sort of be nice to see what you guys do for fun around here,” I tell him apologetically. “What I missed out on while I was gone all those years.” And to escape the fear and worry constantly hovering over me like a cloud.
“And she probably wants to shift, too,” Liberty tacks on. “That’s, like, one of the best parts of being a werewolf. And tonight is one of the best nights to do it. There’s a full moon, and the portal is aligned with the Violet Mountain star. Plus, she’ll get stronger once she does. You know that.”
“I do,” Jules says, considering it.
Whatever face I make causes a smile to grace Jules’ face.
“Don’t look so nervous,” he teases. “I told you I’d make the first time enjoyable for you.”
“Ew.” Liberty punches his arm. “I don’t need to hear that shit.”
My cheeks flush as I shake my head.
Jules just shrugs as he stares at me, his gaze sweltering, his teeth teasing his lip rings in a way that I’m discovering makes my stomach flutter.
We haven’t gone any further than that night I asked him to touch me, mostly because we’ve been so caught up in everything else. I do think about it during the fleeting moments when I’m not worrying.
Liberty throws her hands in the air. “Whatever. You two seriously need to screw each other so the rest of us don’t have to witness anymore eye fucking.”
Jules shakes his head, pink tinting his cheeks. “For the love of wolves, Lib, you got upset with what I just said?”
“What? I’m just saying what needs to be said.” She gives us an innocent shrug. “And now that it’s said, I’m going to take Lake upstairs, get her all dressed up, and show her the better parts of our realm that don’t include fighting, stressing, or having to deal with any savage werewolves. If you or any of the other wannabe alpha wolves over there want to join us, be at the foyer by nightfall.”
With that, she sashays us away.
Chapter 36
She takes me up to her room, leaving Kylan outside the door.
Everything about the area matches her style from the purple walls, black hardwood floors, and an ebony bed, to the lacey black drapes and dimly lit chandeliers.
“First, we need to pick out something for you to wear.” She leaves me standing in the middle of her room as she wanders into her closet.
“Where exactly are we going?” I roam around, wondering what sort of memories this place holds for her.
Jules said this house was their safe place growing up. Does that mean she had fun here when she got to escape her father? Was she happy? Is she happy? Does happiness exist? If someone had asked me a couple of months ago, I would have said yes, but with skepticism. Now I know it does. Even in the darkness of this realm, I’ve tasted happiness, sometimes in the present and sometimes when memories twirl across my mind.
“It’s a surprise.” She emerges from the closet with a floor-length dress.
“Some place fancy, I’m assuming.” I eyeball the dress. “You know I’m going to have to wear a glamour when I go out.”
“I know, but that doesn’t matter. You’re just dressing up for Jules. No one else.”
“But Jules never said he was coming with us.”
Rolling her eyes, she hands me the dress. “Oh, he’s coming. There’s no way he’s going to miss out on this once I tell him where I’m taking you.”
I smooth my fingers along the leather bandeau top, and then the chain that connects the top to the waistline. “So, he gets to know where we’re going and I don’t.” I pout, though I’m not that upset. I do feel guilty, though, for wanting to have fun when Legend could be anywhere at the moment, maybe even hurt.
“Don’t pout about it,” she jokes, tugging an elastic from her hair. “I have to tell him because he has to be the one to take you there. I want it to be a surprise for you because surprises are fun. I will give you a hint, though. While this is going to be fun, it’s also going to be part of your training.”
That alleviates my guiltiness a little.
I fiddle with the chain on the dress. “And what’re you going to do for fun while I train?”
She shrugs. “Play with Kylan.”
I’m not sure what she means by play, but I know better than to ask. With Liberty, sometimes being confused is for the better. Still, I have to wonder …
“Have you and Kylan ever …?” I throw the half question out there, hoping she’ll throw me a bone and answer without teasing me.
“Have we ever what?” The impish glint in her eyes makes me shake m
y head.
“Nothing. Never mind.” I remove the dress from the hanger.
“Man, you and Jules were really meant for each other—you’re both so shy.” She smiles widely as I narrow my eyes at her. “But, because I’m so awesome, I’ll answer you, though you didn’t actually ask.” She pulls open a dresser drawer and rummages through her clothes. “No, Kylan and I have never hooked up. We haven’t even kissed. But I used to think about it sometimes.”
“Not anymore?” I wonder as I set the hanger on her bed.
She shakes her head, her glossy eyes hued with sadness as she glances at me. “While I once wished Kylan could be the wolf for me, I quickly learned he didn’t see me like that.”
“Are you sure?” Because sometimes I catch him staring at her in a way that can only be described as longing.
“Trust me; I’m sure. Kylan sees me as just a friend. Not even that. Just the werewolf he’s supposed to guard.” She glides the drawer shut. “Go take a shower, my smelly friend. Then put on that dress, do your hair, and meet me in the foyer.” She escapes into the closet so swiftly I wonder what she’s trying to hide from.
After I shower, I put on the dress. Or, the pieces of fabric, anyway. While the dress is floor-length, the split up the front goes all the way up, leaving very little to the imagination. Add that with the open sides, the strip of leather as a top, and I’m revealing more skin than I ever have. If Jules hadn’t already faded my scars, they would’ve been on full display.
As I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I wonder how in the realms I’m supposed to do any sort of training in this gown. Maybe Liberty was lying about the training. I hope not, or else I’m going to feel awful all night for simply having fun when so much doom looms over us.
To feel more comfortable, I splash a little of my own personality into the outfit, adding a metallic cuff choker, thigh-high lace-up boots, and a few leather bracelets. I opt to leave my hair down, frame my eyes with kohl eyeliner, and set out for the foyer.
When I arrive, the wide area is crammed with Jules’ guards, along with Liberty, Shade, Rune, and Kylan. And just like Liberty said, Jules is there, waiting for me.