Chapter 17

The soothing rumble of the water called to me, luring me to it with the promise of solace. I let it wash over me, easing the throbbing in my head and the uneasiness in my soul. The falls felt like home now. How had I ever not noticed the draw and calming power of water before? It was like before coming to Endova, I’d been sleepwalking through life, barely noticing the world around me. I’m sure dulling my senses with the pills hadn’t helped. I didn’t even miss them since clarity felt amazing. The irritation and sadness enveloping me right now? Not so much.

I couldn’t even explain why I was feeling this way. We just bested two worlds and recovered two elementals. A huge step towards our end goal. I should be feeling ecstatic. Accomplished. Maybe even marginally terrified of what the next jump and the next world had to offer. But no. Instead I was sitting here on a rock, watching a waterfall, while a huge celebration was happening behind me and all I could think was how much I was missing a woman that I knew was long gone. A woman I barely even remembered but yet felt like I’d just lost all over again. It was so messed up.

I laid back on the rock, hands folded behind my head and stared up at the evening sky enthralled as the stars slowly emerged one by one, like candles being lit. The sky was amazing here. So clear and intense. I guess without the millions of artificial lights competing with it, it could shine in all its glory. I tried to pick out constellations I knew but couldn’t even locate the big dipper. Even the sky was different in this world. Interesting. I shivered as the cold air caressing my skin contained a lingering chill of a northerly wind, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t want to go back to the crowded village square. Not yet.

The music from the village wafted softly through the night air. The upbeat tempo from earlier slowed down to a soft beat. A romantic rhythm. I’m sure those silly girls were lining up now to fill Starke’s dance card. Meh, better them than me. I had a ton more crap to worry about than dancing. You know, like saving the worlds and all that.

“Why are you hiding?”

Electricity tingled in my wrist as my heart jumped into my throat and I sat back up, swiveling towards the deep voice emerging from the darkness.

“Dammit, man. You nearly gave me a heart attack.” I glared at Starke as he ambled toward me, my annoyance only edged on by my fright. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you sneaking up on someone in the dark is creepy as hell?”

“I wasn’t sneaking,” he replied amicably. “You were just so lost in thought you didn’t hear me.”

He hopped onto the rock I was occupying, not bothering to wait for an invitation and plopped down, long legs stretched out.

“Please, feel free to intrude. Not like I came out here to be alone or anything.”

He didn’t take the bait.

“Why do you want to be alone?”

“I just do, Nosey Ned. Sometimes people need down time. Away from other people. And Fae weirdos. Just to recharge.”

“Hmm, I always believed humans to be fairly social creatures. Strikes me as odd that you don’t want to be around those having fun. I thought all humans loved to dance?”

The moon hid behind a stray cloud, leaving us in darkness. I peered at him through the gloom, barely able to see his outline.

“Not this human. I think dancing is overrated.”

“Really? What do you have against dancing? It is an honorable tradition.”

“Nothing.” I sighed. “You can’t appreciate it right now because it’s too dark, but I’m staring at you in annoyance. I just wanted you to know that.”

His soft chuckle drifted on the breeze. “Let me fix that then. Your facial expressions are legend. I don’t want to miss out.”

“Legend?” I mocked.

“Yes. Did I use that in the right context?”

“You did,” I answered as I squinted at the ball of light flaring to life in his palm. It drifted upwards and hovered above our heads. It suspended there as little puffs of light broke off and floated away with the wind like a magical dandelion. As much as I’d already seen him do magic, this was enchanting.

“Pretty,” I smiled grudgingly into the dark.

“Glad you like it. That one is always a hit with the ladies.”

“Yeah, I bet you do this a lot then,” I muttered, my irritation back.

He flashed me a look of surprise. “Are you upset over something?”

“Only the fact that I wanted to be alone and someone can’t take the hint. Why don’t you go back to your dancing and those poor girls you’ve been leading on all night. I’m sure they must be frozen by now without you to snuggle up to.”

“Well I am a good snuggler. You of all people should know that.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please. Snuggling with you was not a choice. I snuggled with you so I wouldn’t freeze to death, not because I thought you were God’s gift to women, like those fools.”

“Ah,” he said like he just witnessed an epiphany.

“Ah?” I repeated in confusion. “What does that mean?”

“Ah is used to express a range of emotions such as surprise, understanding—”

“I know what ah means, doofus,” I snapped. “Why did you just say it?”

He leaned back on his elbows and stared up at the night sky.

“Because I know now why you’re upset. You’re jealous.”

“What?” My chin dropped to my chest, before I managed to sputter. “Have you completely lost your mind?”

He sat back up again, facing me. “It’s okay to admit it, little rabbit. I can see it quite clearly. You’re jealous because I didn’t ask you to dance. I was going to. Believe me. I didn’t want to see anyone left out, but there were so many lovely ladies vying for my attention and well, there’s only so much of me to go around. I would have gotten to you eventually. I didn’t want you to miss out on all this.” He ran his hands up and down his body. “What is another human saying of yours? Good things come to those who wait?”

“I…” I shook my head at him. “I truly don’t know what to say. You are the most egotistical, narcissistic, self-centered—"

He began laughing. Like a huge belly laugh, his head thrown back and peals echoing across the lake. I stared daggers at him.

“What the hell is so funny?” I gritted through my clenched teeth.

“You should see your face right now.” Another bout of laughter had him holding his stomach.

“So not funny,” I snapped as I punched him in the shoulder, even though my lips were twitching now that I knew he was just pulling my leg with his ‘I’m all that’ act.

“Oh, I disagree,” he laughed, wiping the corners of his eyes. “It was pretty damn funny. Your face was priceless.”

“Hmph, well I stand behind what I said. You are an egotistical asshat.”

“That may very well be, but I also stand behind what I said. I really did want to ask you to dance. And now is good a time as any, yes?”

He leaped to his feet and bowed from the waist, hand held out. “Bridjette O’Hare, will you dance with me?”

I looked down at his hand before switching back to his face. “No.”

A brow raised in surprise. “No?”

“No, dude. I have two left feet. I can’t dance.”

He straightened up. “Of course you can. Everyone can dance. You just move your feet to the music.”

I nodded. “Yeah, sounds pretty easy in theory, right? But trust me, if I dance with you, you’ll be sporting broken toes tomorrow. You don’t need that.”

“Then I’ll heal myself. It’ll be worth it to dance with you.”

His smile caused a wave of warmth to rush over me. He really was too charming for his own good. Or mine.

“Not gonna happen.”

“You really believe yourself to be that uncoordinated?”

“I know it,” I shrugged. “I was once told by a ‘dancing partner’ that he’d rather tango with an overweight, angry hippo. Stuff like that does not instill confidence.”

“Then you had the wrong partner, my sweets. Come. Dance with me.”

He stuck his hand in my face. I pushed it away.

“Nope.”

“I insist.”

“Don’t care.”

His hand shot out and grabbed my chin, twisting my face so I was staring directly into his.

“Dance with me, little rabbit. Please.”

His voice was so gentle; his look so persuasive that I suddenly found myself unable to say no. Damn his Fae fineness.

“Fine,” I growled. “If it gets you to leave me alone, I’ll dance. You got five minutes.”

He pulled me to my feet, his teeth gleaming at me in the dark. He held his free hand in the air and a dozen more of those lit puffballs appeared, dancing over our heads like a little galaxy of stars. I couldn’t help the tiny smile that escaped.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” I growled at him as he placed a hand at the small of my back and wrapped his other hand around mine.

“I’ll take that chance,” he whispered in my ear as he pulled me close. I rested my hand on his shoulder, trying to push him away a little. He was a little too close for comfort. I ignored his snigger at my futile attempt.

“We are going to do a simple waltz,” his voice rumbled in my ear. “Let me lead and follow my example. It basically consists of three steps. Left foot going forward, step to the side with your right, step back with your left."

He moved me in time to his words. I managed to do the first two steps no issue, but as soon as he stepped back, I stumbled over his foot.

“See?” I growled. “I told you.”

“Let’s try again. Trust me. Just relax.” He smiled down at me. “Step, step, back. Step, step, back.”

He kept moving with me, the same three steps over and over, until finally we completed the moves effortlessly.

“Good,” he purred in my ear. “Now we are actually going to move around in a counter-clockwise position instead of staying in place.”

“Wait,” I panicked. “I just got this part down. Don’t be throwing in anything new.”

He ignored me again. “There is a rise and fall with this waltz, so when stepping forward, you go down a little, the next two steps, up, up. Like so … one-two-three, one-two-three. Left-right-left, left-right-left. Down-up-up. Down-up-up.”

His words all jumbled together in my head, but his fluid movements kept me on track. I started counting in my head, trying to keep rhythm as he moved me through the field, the tiny lights above our heads following us everywhere.

“That’s it,” he cried as I matched his movements perfectly step by step. “You got it.”

“I’m dancing?” I uttered to myself as I glanced down at my feet staying in rhythm with his without stepping on his toes. I shifted my gaze back up to his face. “I’m freakin’ dancing!”

“That you are, Jette.” The smile he shot me was filled with pride. Like he had just mastered showing his pet dog a new trick. I didn’t care. I was freakin’ dancing. I started laughing, a bubble of pleasure swelling in my chest as he whirled me faster, forcing me to pick up speed and follow along.

He pulled me closer and I laid my head on his chest, his heartbeat strong and steady, as we swayed to the music. Being in his arms felt so damned awesome, as much as I didn’t want to admit it.

“Get ready for a dip,” he whispered in my ear and I shot back up, eyes wide.

“Starke, no” I squeaked in protest as he placed his hand firmly on my upper back and gently forced me backwards into a low dip, my leg automatically straightening out in front of me like we were Baby and Johnny Castle or some shit. I relaxed in his strong grip, my head hanging back, laughing up at the night sky and letting this feeling of ecstasy wash over me from head to toe.

He pulled me back up and I bounced hard against his chest, our laughter mingling with our breathless gasps.

“You’re an idiot,” I whispered, smiling up at him. His face changed as he stared back at me, the laughter fading away and his eyes darkening with some new emotion. He reached down and touched my parted lips with his fingertip, outlining their shape.

“Beautiful.” His low growl caressed my skin, and it suddenly felt like every breath of air was suctioned from my lungs. My gut flip flopped as a wave of heat swept over me at his words.

“You better not be using magic on me, weirdo, or else—”

“Shhh,” he whispered as he placed a finger over my lips. “You talk too much.”

He removed his finger, his big hands caressing my cheeks as his head dipped toward mine. The tingling in my wrist at his proximity, exploded and shot through my body as every nerve ending sparked alive.

I buried my hand in his hair, and he tipped his head down, deepening the kiss. His lips scorched mine, his hands cupping my face burning my flesh. His touch rushed through me in sensual waves, heating my core to a raging inferno. The kiss was fierce and possessive, yet tender and giving. Perfect in every way.

He moved closer to me, our bodies melding together flawlessly. Like we were meant to be.

Finally, when I thought I may just black out from lack of oxygen, he parted his lips from mine. I felt a pang of almost physical pain as he pulled away. His hands still cupping my cheeks, he leaned his forehead on mine, like he was at a loss for words.

“Wow,” he whispered, and my kiss-swollen lips tilted up.

“Uh-huh,” I agreed. Smooth.

He raised his head and stared into my eyes.

“I’ve wanted to do that right for so long.”

“Me too,” I squeaked. Yup, smooth as a baby’s butt.

“I admire you, Jette.”

Admire? Not quite what I was expecting after a kiss that had rocked my world.

“That’s…good?” I questioned, totally confused.

He nodded. “It is. I admire your strength. Your integrity. Your willingness to accept everything that has happened to you and not let it control you. Instead you have learned from it and grown to become a fearless elemental. I am proud to have you fight by my side. And I—”

Whatever else he was about to say was lost in the shouting.

It took a moment for me to notice the music had stopped, replaced by the yelling. I stepped away from Starke in confusion and stared toward the village.

“What’s happening?” I threw at him even as an alarm bell started echoing through the night air. Without another word, we broke into a run heading toward the raised voices. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

“Starke. Jette girl.”

Bishop was the first to see us, his usual stoic look replaced by concern.

“Bish, what’s happening?” I questioned, as I looked around. The villagers that had all been dancing, smiling, and happy earlier were now running for shelter, worry and fear etched in their faces. The village square was emptying faster than a bar with a bunch of underage kids during a police raid.

“Intruders at the door,” Bish growled. “Be prepared.”

Jill and Zoe separated from the group, running towards us. I spotted Kara from the corner of my eye as she flanked my grandmother striding with purpose our way.

“Lady Athena,” Bishop called out. “You should take shelter. We do not know what is out there.”

She waved his concerns aside dismissively.

“We both know that isn’t going to happen. I will not hide. My place is here with my people.”

“Is it Asha?” I asked, reaching for my sai, only to come up empty. Crap. I left my weapons inside. Along with everyone else. None of us had our instruments with us. Fingers crossed whatever was out there didn’t make its way past the guards lining the path to the rippling portal up ahead, since none of us were prepared to fight right now.

“We will know shortly,” Kara whispered as the door sparked with power and Baylor and his men came through.

At first I couldn’t quite understand what they were carrying. It looked like they were dragging in bags of flour. Then it hit me with sickening clarity what was in their arms. Bodies. They were carrying people.

Baylor came through, staggering under the weight of the big man he was supporting and they both sank to their knees once they passed the door. The man looked up and I sucked in air while trying to keep my stomach contents inside. Half of the man’s face was burnt away, down to blackened bone, like he’d been dipped into a vat of acid. He reminded me of Two-Face from Batman. How the hell was he still alive?

Our gasps were joined by a shocked, “Dyson?” as Starke hurried toward the downed man. Realization set in at the same time for me. This was one of Starke’s guards. The one who had accompanied him when Starke had come for the meeting with the clan leaders. This was Starke’s people.

“Kara, fetch the healer,” Athena snapped as she followed Starke’s hurrying form toward the guards and the mounting pile of injured.

There were eight in all, the guard appearing to be the most severely injured. Two women and five children made up the rest. Cuts and bruises covered their bodies only adding to the horror of their terrified faces.

I joined Starke as he hunkered down, facing the guard who reached out with a burnt hand. Starke gripped the man’s uninjured shoulder.

“Tell me what has happened?”

The man groaned in agony, his one remaining eye rolling back in his head like he was about to pass out.

“Stay with me friend,” Starke growled as he squeezed the man’s shoulder.

“We were…attacked, Sire. Asha… morquals…they burnt everything. The village…is gone.”