Chapter 59: Chapter 59

Elari

I didn’t sleep that night. Kades words kept echoing around and around in my head.

It was about us. I didn’t want to believe him. But I did. Deep down I knew there was something special about us , right from the second I had set eyes on him. That’s when my magic had flared to life for the first time. Being around him made me powerful.

Being apart from him made that magic unpredictable. It was a no win situation. And if anyone found out then we would be in real trouble.

I was fated to be with my step brother and what was worse. I was completely in love with him.

I could deny it until I was blue in the face. I could tell him I didn't want to be with him but that didn’t change the truth.

I was in love with him.

And he was in love with me.

And we were probably fated to bring the world to an end.

All day I thought about it. My head low and my eyes locked to my feet as I went through my classes alone. None of my friends were anywhere to be seen and when I had spotted them in the cafeteria at tea time, they had quickly finished their food and left before I had even got mine.

My friends, or who I had thought were my friends were shunning me. All because I was born into the wrong family. If it had been Serephina or her cronies it wouldn’t have hurt so much. I expected it from people like her.

I ate alone at a small table before going back to my room, and even there I couldn’t bring myself to stay there. It felt too small. Like the walls were closing in around me.

I was outside and headed towards the cave before I knew what I was doing. My feet slipping and sliding down the slope as I left the well worn paths and dropped into the trees.

There was a feeling inside my gut, a kind of twisting. It took me a while to realise what it was. My wolf. She was restless. She wanted to be free to run and howl and do all the things she needed to do to be healthy. All the things she wasn’t allowed to do because she wasn’t meant to be free yet.

“I thought I would find you here.”

Giving a little scream I whirled around, only to find Kade to the right of me. Leaning heavily against the wide trunk of a snow laden tree. Muscled arms crossed around his chest, his eyes were bottomless but there was a smile pulling up the corners of his mouth.

“How-“ I looked around me wildly. Half expecting to find Serephina and his other cronies lying in wait. Which was just stupid. Last night we had made a deal. We would continue with the ruse that we hated each other but be there for each other if we needed to.

“How did I know you would head down here?” He asked softly and took a step forward slowly. And then another and another until he was right in front of me. “I could feel your pain, Lari. It’s been eating me upside all day. I knew sooner or later you would come to the cave because that’s our safe place isn’t it?”

Not waiting for an answer he crushed me to his chest and I didn’t put up a fight. For the first time all day it felt like I could breathe.

“It’s all such a mess.” I muttered into his chest. “I don’t know what to do. Maybe I should leave.”

“Don’t you dare.” He growled. “Don’t you dare run away. You’re stronger than that Lari and we will figure it out.” A giant hand rubbed up and down my back. “And if you leave I will have to follow. There isn’t a corner of the world where you could hide from me.”

Tilting my head up I stared into his face. “I have the trails after my birthday. I’ll get kicked out if I don’t get through them. Of course I could die doing them anyway.” I gave a half hearted thug.

Kades grip on me tightened. “You won’t fail then and you won’t die. I won’t allow it. Plus you are so strong Lari.” Kades face lowered over mine. And I closed my eyes in preparation for his kiss. Only his lips never brushed against mine.

“Someone’s coming.” He whispered. “I have a plan after you come of age. But I’ll have to tell you about it after-“

“Elari?” Rivan's voice called down the hill. Still far away but to close for comfort.

“I’ll find you soon and we can go over the -“ kades eyes narrowed. “I fucking hate that your with him. I hate all of this but I’ll make it right. Go to him.”

Kade didn’t kiss me goodbye, he didn’t even say the words. He just vanished into the woods.

“Elari where are you?” Rivan called again.

Sighing I sat down on a large rock. Head in my hands. “I’m here.” I called back.

It took maybe three seconds before Rivan appeared. Falling to his knees in front of me. “I saw you disappear off the trail when I was coming to find you. I wanted to apologise and -“ his eyes widened as I lifted my head. “Goddess.” He swore and scooted back from me.

“What?” Panicked I made sure my bracelets covered my wrist. “What’s wrong, you said you were coming to find me?”

“Yeah.” He ran a shaking hand through his hair. His eyes were glued to my face. “I wanted to talk to you and say sorry but now- “

“What’s wrong, why are you looking at me like that?”

The only way to describe the look on his face was fear.

“You’re eyes Elari.” He whispered. “Your eyes have changed. How long have you had your wolf?”

My hands went to cover my eyes and I winced back.

Oh shit.