Chapter Two

 

We walked along in silence, and I allowed her to lead the way while I stared at her in wonder. She was so beautiful that looking at her was like taking a long drink of refreshing water on a hot summer day, only the water wasn’t enough to quench my thirst. The more I drank, the more I needed to drink. I felt consumed by her presence.

“Here we are,” she said after a while, gesturing to the area around us.

It was then I realized that I hadn’t paid a bit of attention to where we were going. I had no idea where we were, but it was breathtaking.

All around us were tall mountains with waterfalls that tumbled hundreds of feet over multiple sections of sheer cliff faces into a sparkling lake of water in front of us. An amazingly crafted stone bridge crossed the center of the loch from one cliff side to the other, standing so high out of the water that full sized ships could’ve passed through its many elegant arches beneath.

The vegetation was in wild abundance, the mountain surfaces covered in lush foliage and twisting vines that crept everywhere. Where we were standing, the grasses were tall enough to hide in, and the branches of the giant tree next to us swept the ground under the weight of the dripping lilac blossoms—which perfumed the air.

Eirian led me over to where the flowered branches split apart from one another, creating an entrance into a hollowed out space under the tree. She sat down in front of them, gesturing for me to do the same.

I didn’t sit though. Instead, I stared down, marveling at her beauty. “It’s strange, but I almost feel as if I know you somehow. But that’s not possible, is it?”

“If you’ll sit with me, Bran, I’ll tell you many things.”

Fire rushed through me when she spoke, and I clenched my teeth, closing my eyes for a moment while I tried to control myself.

“Will you also tell my why, when you speak my name, my body goes crazy?” I opened my eyes to look at her.

She smiled, never breaking contact, and I noticed her pale skin flushed a little. “Yes.” She nodded and again gestured to the seat next to her.

I joined her and immediately felt the need to touch her, so I laced my fingers with hers. “All right, tell me all your secrets.”

She paused for a moment, before lifting her free hand to stroke lightly over my brow, tracing around the sides of my face to run her fingers over my lips.

“I brought you here. I’ve been watching you for a long while and placing suggestions in your head, preparing to meet you tonight when the magic is strong enough to temporarily blend our two worlds.”

“What do you mean, placing suggestions?”

“When you were asleep, I often brought the memories of your father telling his Fae tales to the surface, keeping them in your subconscious mind. I told you where to find the seeds at the proper hour that would make you invisible to the Fae sentinels.”

“So I really was invisible?” I asked in surprise.

She smiled, and it caused my heart to beat faster. “In a sense.” She didn’t seem inclined to explain anymore about that. “I also made sure you knew this was the proper place and when the time was right. Everything went perfectly.”

I released her hand, reaching to fondle her silver white hair. “How did you watch me? Surely I would have noticed you in my room.”

“I was never physically there. The Fae can’t leave Faery for too long. I used magic to follow you.”

“Magic?”

“Yes, I watched from a water mirror. It allowed me to see you whenever I wanted. It also allowed me to give you suggestions when your mind relaxed enough to hear them.”

“Why would you go to all this trouble?”

She looked away, staring at her feet. “Because, even though I told you where everything was, the decision for you to come here had to be your own.”

“And what difference did that make?”

“By coming here of your own free will, you answered my call for you. By the customs of my people, it gave me the right to bond with you.” She glanced up, locking eyes with me.

“Bond?” I wasn’t sure what she was saying. “I don’t understand.”

“You and I were bonded when we danced together with the others. The ceremony was completed.”

“Ceremony?” I asked, confused.

“I’m sorry. I forget you say it differently in your world. We were fasted together … married.” She smiled softly.

“We were married?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Are you sure?”

She nodded, blushing again.

“How do I know this is true?”

She blushed harder. “You can hear the truth in my voice.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Bran,” she whispered my name again, and I groaned at the sensation it caused.

“What you’re feeling is something that only happens between couples who are truly bonded.”

I couldn’t believe what she was telling me—or what I was feeling. It was incredible to think this creature had chosen me to be her mate. I wasn’t sure what to say.

“Bran, are you okay?”

I gritted my teeth, balling my hands into fists, my breath coming fast. “Let’s get one thing clear right now. You’re going to have to be careful how many times you say my name.”

She laughed, the color of her skin growing even brighter. “But I like watching what it does to you.”

I shook my head and fell backward into the grass, placing an arm over my forehead. “I’m sure you do.”

“Are you saying you don’t like it?” She frowned as she leaned over me, her long hair falling around us like a curtain.

I could hardly breathe as I stared up at her, her closeness making me feel intoxicated. “I’m not saying that at all. But I would like to know a little more about you before I completely succumb to whatever this is between us.” I wanted her badly, and my mind felt increasingly foggier the longer I stared into her eyes.

She smiled, her head dipping closer to mine. “Patience, Bran. You will get your answers, but I need to do something else first.”

I growled again pulling her body against mine. She snuggled into the cradle of my neck and bit me. Instantly, I could feel her, as if she was under my skin, inside of me. When she pulled away, I saw my blood staining her bottom lip.

“What did you do?” I heard the tremble in my voice, and I fought the lethargic feeling that was settling into my limbs, making them heavy. I didn’t want to sleep—I wanted her to do it again.

She stared at me, looking a little sad at first—then her mouth curved into a small smile. “Now you’re mine truly and I can answer all your questions. But later—for this moment, I need you to sleep.”

She lifted her dainty hand and trailed her fingers over my eyelids, but even as I drifted off, I could see her image burned there.

And then I dreamed—savage dreams of multiple wars and terrifying creatures battling each other to the death; killing in all sorts of horrific manners. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and I didn’t know how to name the images I was observing.

There was a race of beings that fought the Fae. Blood-dripped fangs protruded from their mouths—long, slender, pointed teeth—that when combined with their muscular frames and fighting skills made them extremely lethal. They fed on the Fae, sucking them dry and turning them into screaming, ghost-like creatures that evaporated, to near nothingness, becoming helpless, drifting beings.

The Fae, despite all their magic, appeared to be unable to stop the advancing army, and I was sure their society was about to be obliterated. I wept for the destruction I saw, unable to believe such cruelty existed. But I could do nothing to help. I was a silent observer, a lone individual in a vast plain of inhumanness—until I saw her.

Eirian. My Eirian, geared for battle in sleek armor and weaponry, standing ready as she faced an onslaught of the terrifying creatures flying toward her. She looked so brave and fearless, until she cast her gaze to the tree line where a small figure huddled.

I didn’t have time to inspect things further because the attack was imminent.

She lifted her wickedly crafted bow and arrow.

“Eirian!” I called out desperately, and she turned.

“Bran!” she whispered, paling in disbelief, right before the creatures fell upon her.

I groaned loudly in reaction to her speaking my name, sitting up abruptly to find myself half-naked, my torso exposed and sheets twisted every which way from my waist down in the bed I laid in.

I gritted my teeth, trying to calm both my racing heart and labored breathing. I was sweating as if I’d run a race.

Looking around the stone-walled chamber, I noticed Eirian sitting on a cushioned bench beneath a large, arched, glassless window, clothed in a thin, white shift. She was staring out with a solemn look upon her face, a few strands of her long hair mimicking the movement of the white, sheer curtains that blew in a soft breeze. She looked ethereal, like something so beautifully frail it might break if you held it too tightly.

She turned her head to look at me. “What did you see?” she asked, her gaze traveling over my body.

“War. A terrible battle between the Fae and some other creature I didn’t recognize, though they resembled the myths and lore that my people call Vampires.”

She nodded, but didn’t reply.

“You were there as well, armed and ready to fight.”

She arched her eyebrow, and I couldn’t help but notice how attractive the lines of her face were.

“What does it mean?” I prodded, trying to get some answers.

She shook her head slightly. “Who knows for sure? It sounds like you were dreaming of the future.”

“I thought you were about to die.” Just saying the words aloud made me shudder, and I marveled over how much her safety meant to me. I didn’t even know her, yet she was already a part of me.

“We all die, Br . . .” She caught herself before she actually spoke my name this time. “Death is but a door to another existence.” She turned back toward the window.

She looked so sad, and my first reaction was to go and comfort her, but I realized I was wearing nothing under the sheet.

“How’d I get here?” I asked, taking in the elegant though simplistic bedroom I was in, minimal in furniture, but the pieces were carved with the most amazing craftsmanship I’d ever seen.

She smiled now. “I’m very strong.” She turned to face me once again, her gaze raking over me. “Would you believe me if I said not all strength lies in large muscles?”

I glanced down at my work-chiseled form before making eye contact with her. “What’s wrong with large muscles?”

She smiled even wider now, and I swore the room grew brighter with its radiance. She moved across the room toward the bed and sat on the edge next to me. “Absolutely nothing.” She reached out, tracing her finger lightly up my arm onto my shoulder, then over my chest and down to my stomach. “I think you’re  . . . beautiful, a masterpiece.”

I grinned and chuckled. I was pretty sure no one had ever called me that before. An image of a girl tried to fight its way into my mind, but I was unable to grasp onto it so I let it pass.

“A masterpiece, huh? How did you come to that conclusion?”

“Your physique is very wonderful—all valleys and ridges, each area so . . . defined. I find it to be . . . inspiring.”

“Don’t the men of your race appear the same?” I was curious.

“No. They are strong, only more like smooth marble on the surface.”

“I see.” I didn’t really, but at the moment my mind was mostly paying attention to the sensations her fingers were causing.

“I prefer the ridges,” she added.

I swallowed hard. “Good to know.”

Her tongue darted out and wet her lips. I wanted to be there tasting her as well. We leaned toward one another, as if drawn together, and her sweet breath brushed over my skin, heating it even more with its warmth.

She closed the rest of the space between us, brushing her lips lightly against my own. It was so brief, but still produced fire inside me.

“Do you want to be with me, Bran?” she questioned.

“Yes,” I grounded out between clenched teeth. “Yes, I do, Eirian.”

Her skin flushed red, and she clamped her eyes shut as I spoke her name for the first time.

“I was wondering when you would realize that.”

“Oh, I figured it worked both ways—I was just waiting for the perfect time to torture you with it, Eirian.”

I grinned as she tossed her head back and moaned. “Let’s finish this then,” she replied when she’d recovered.

I shook my head. “No.”

“But you said you wanted to be with me.” Her look was one of sorrow and concern.

“And I will, after you’ve answered some more of my questions. If we’re truly bonded as you say, then we have a lifetime to continue our present discussion.”

Eirian got up and walked away with a slight huff, seating herself again on the bench by the window.

“I didn’t say you had to leave.” I patted the spot on the bed next to me.

She shook her head, her sleek hair floating about her. “It will be easier for us if we are separated. You distract me.”

I chuckled and gave her a nod. “Likewise.”

“What do you want to know?” She didn’t look at me, instead tracing her finger lightly over the windowsill. She appeared calm on the outside, but I could feel an undercurrent running through the space between us, and her other hand kept pinching at her shift. She was nervous about something, but I had no idea what. I watched her for a moment longer, waiting to see if she would look at me again. She didn’t, though.

“I want to know why you picked me.”