We didn’t often venture into the forest. His avoidance was deliberate; he never wanted me to find my way back to the Nevermore. Somewhere in its depths was an invisible doorway to another realm, and in that realm, my ultimate demise. It was also the realm where my father was, which was the reason I had to find a way back.
“Can you at least give me a hint as to where we’re headed?”
He flashed a crooked smile. “So curious.”
“Like that’s anything new. Just tell me.” I hate surprises. Too many of them turned out to be bad. Very bad.
He shook his head like I was a lost cause, a quick action that sent a lock of hair sweeping over his gorgeous forehead. “You know most girls your age would love to be taken on a mystery date to a secret location.”
“I’m sure I don’t need to tell you, I’m nothing like most girls my age.”
“This is one surprise you will enjoy. Trust me.”
I knew that was all he would say. I’d have to suck it up and wait to discover where this out-of-the-ordinary trek would lead.
In the midst of the navy blue dusk was a secluded alcove by the river. A full picnic table was set with a tablecloth, candles, crystal and real china. The wicker basket was surrounded by sparkling lemonade, assorted cupcakes and dozens of white daisies. I shook my head in wonder at the decadent spread.
“When did you do this?” I said, just noticing the chandelier handing from a branch above us. If it was even possible I fell deeper in love with him by the moment.
“While you were busy serving customers. Do you like it?”
I stretched up on my toes to kiss his cheek. “This is beautiful.”
Tall torches surrounded the table, their flames casting a mellow light as well as providing some warmth to the chilly air. It was always cool and damp in the evening, but for once the rain didn’t spoil things. Of course if it had, I’m sure Adrius would have erected a full sized gazebo.
“You know, I would have been satisfied with burgers at the diner,” I said, peeking inside the basket. I ambled over to him and wrapped my arms around his neck. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
I pressed my lips to his. He responded, cupping my face, tilting my head back to deepen our connection. His tongue brushed mine, and I shivered.
Finally, he pulled away, his eyes glazed and his breathing as ragged as mine was. I blinked slowly to dampen the fire he’d ignited.
He trailed his fingers down my arm and a slow grin spread across his face. He knew what I was thinking. And with all of my energy going toward keeping my restraint, I had little left over to keep my thoughts shielded from him. Even without his backward, outdated rules when it came to our relationship, there were other reasons forcing us to wait.
Venus.
She was still bonded to Adrius, which meant that in his world, he could only belong to her. He risked a lot being with me, and while his physical pain had subsided, he could never give himself to me fully the way he wanted to. It was my mission in life to break the curse so we could be together.
My cell buzzed and I pulled it out briefly to check in case it was Peterson.
Adrius gave me a look.
Sheepishly I turned it off. “Sorry.” I shrugged. “I’m lost without my cell phone.”
“I know, it’s like another appendage.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“No, but you’re also lost without your MP3 player, your e-reader and your laptop… I’d say you’re a little addicted.”
“I value communication.”
He laughed. “Really? Remember the time you forgot it at home and you barely made it through the day?”
“Well, you know, withdrawal.” I shrugged.
His hand caressed my cheek and smiled. “Yes, I know. Like I said… addicted.”
After the third shudder rippled through me, his eyes locked on to mine. “Are you cold?” he asked, knowing very well I wasn’t.
A head shake was the only response I was capable of.
“And you’re flushed.” His hand stroked my cheek which flamed under his touch. All the moisture in my mouth evaporated, rendering me speechless and motionless. I licked my lips and Adrius inhaled a sharp breath. Then he ran a hand through his hair and narrowed his gaze, suddenly becoming preoccupied with my mouth.
“How is it I’m the one who’s willing to throw the rules out the window?” I was startled by the rawness in my voice.
His eyes narrowed. “Is that what weighs on you? That you don’t tempt me— that it doesn’t take every ounce of strength to keep from consuming you right here, right now?”
I felt the redness return, and I looked away, trying to fill my thoughts with small talk. There were a lot of things we could talk about, but this special moment he’d planned called for a limited topics of discussion. We meticulously avoided anything of real importance, like the curse still binding him to another girl, Camilla’s disappearance, or the dark magic now swirling in my world.
I dipped my spoon into the lemon pie and pulled it out again, not really hungry for food at the moment.
When I looked up he was staring at me with questioning eyes. “What are you thinking now?” His voice was cautious, as though he wasn’t sure he could handle my reply.
I drew in a deep breath. “I was wondering why magic is suddenly working in a world where isn’t supposed to. And I was remembering what happened that day in Mythlandria....with Octãhvia.”
His shoulder relaxed, but then his eyes softened and the smile vanished. “I still have her magic inside me, Adrius. I can feel it,” I murmured.
He nodded slowly. “I remember.”
“And… I don’t know. It could be nothing really, but my finger… when I pricked it on a thorn in Gran’s garden.” I held up my index finger to examine it closely. It no longer hurt, but a tiny red mark remained, something I’d never experienced before. “It seemed to take a long time to heal,” I said.
He glanced at my finger and frowned, then reached into the picnic basket to pull out a book. “There’s something I have to tell you. I’d just planned on discussing it a little later.”
“What is this?” Running my fingers across the worn leather cover, I looked up at him. I carefully untied the thin straps binding it, and flipped through the yellowed parchment pages filled with handwritten notes. Recipes, lists of ingredients, botanical instructions, covered most of the book. There were a few sketches of moon phases and horoscope signs, and some symbols I’d never seen before. Some of it was written in English, and some in an unknown language. It was a spell book.
“It belonged to your grandmother. Maybe whoever broke into her house was looking for it.”
I studied the book again, the handwriting familiar. I’d come across countless herbal remedy blends Gran had scrawled around in the café and her garden house.
My gaze shot up. “Where did you get it?”
“After I took you home that night I went to Camilla’s place, looking for more info on who or what had been there. The book was hidden behind a false wall in the den, and it sort of found me more than I found it.”
“What could be in here that was so important someone would trash her house and possibly hurt her for it?”
A fierce look came into his eyes. “That’s what I was going to tell you earlier. I gave the Book of Shadows to Hawthrin to translate…”
He paused mid-sentence, dragging his hands through his dark hair. His head fell forward and his hair partially hid his face. “I’m sorry, Lorelei. This was supposed to be a romantic evening. Not one filled with horror stories. Let’s eat something. You look like you haven’t had a decent meal in days.”
It had taken my stomach a while to get over the disgusting trip to meet with Peterson. But food was the last thing on my mind.
Adrius opened the picnic basket sorting through its overflowing contents. “What would you like to start with? I brought some of those goat cheese and tomato sandwiches you like.”
“Tell me what Hawthrin said, Adrius.”
He sighed and set down the basket.
“We have to make the most of the time we have. I wanted this evening to be special.”
My heartbeat picked up in tempo. “You’re freaking me out. What did he say? Please. Tell me.”
Dark olive eyes met mine, the flickering torchlights reflected in them.
“The book contains a spell that cuts off the human world from the Faery realm.”
I felt as lost as I had the time I’d wandered into the woods alone when I was five. “What are you saying?”
Adrius broke our gaze first. He stared past me at some invisible point through the darkening forest.
“I’m saying the veil between our worlds is going to be sealed. If that happens, we’ll be separated. Permanently.”