Chapter 9
I wake in the sage-colored room, alone.
Upon my bedside sits a steaming mug of tea and fresh bread with jam. The balcony doors are open, allowing the warm air of the Thallo to seep into the room. I hear the familiar sound of running water and soft voices.
After finishing my breakfast I slip into a cashmere robe I find in the wardrobe before slipping out onto the balcony. The gardens below are teaming with life. Birds and other winged creatures of every color and size fly in and out of the blooming flowers.
I look down at my palms as the memory of yesterday resurfaces. The golden light within my hands had saved a life, instead of taking one away. The thought of what my fire had done haunted me, terrified me. This new realization that I could use the fire within me for something good made me less disgusted with myself.
A gust of wind swept through the Thallo, causing the leaves high above to shimmer against the rising sun. I suddenly felt the urge to leave the manor. I wanted to explore the magnificent city…the word city sounded strange as I took in the view before me. Was this place even considered to be a city? Did the people of Skye even know what that word meant?
I thought back to the conversations I've had since my arrival. Though their accents were like nothing I've ever heard before, we spoke the same language. I understood everything that they said, and it seemed that they understood me. Yet at times they spoke as if they were from a different time, a different century.
Had the portal taken me back in time? Were that even possible?
I laugh out loud at myself. The last few days should have proven that anything was possible.
The wardrobe had been replenished with an array of colorful silk dresses. I searched for the most practical one, preparing to be able to do anything Lennox asked of me. I would help prepare for luna plena, whatever that meant. I would make bread, clean the floors…I would do anything to help, to make myself useful, to keep my mind busy.
This world still did and would always terrify me…but I would do everything that I could to keep my head afloat, to never drown again.
Much like yesterday the manor is bristling with energy. My eyes automatically searched for Tomas yet he was nowhere in sight. Lennox was standing on top of a bookshelf in the foyer, barking commands as those below her ran rampant to follow each one.
"Katherine Baird." Lennox said, pointed her slim finger at me when she caught sight of me. "On behalf of Iridessa herself, the faeries thank you for coming to our aid, for saving that boy."
My words catch in my throat. I had not prepared myself to speak about what had happened yesterday.
"With that being said, luna plena is tonight, and everyone must pull their weight-"
"Just tell me what to do, Lennox." I say eagerly, happy to change the subject.
"Help the sprites in the kitchen. When the sun begins to set, meet the faeries in your chambers. We have much to do to make you presentable for tonight."
I fought the smile that threatened to expose me, knowing that Lennox would not appreciate it. She was so much like my grandmother that regardless of her rude remarks, I could not help but want to follow her every command. I saw past the hardened mask she presented to the world around her.
I feel a slight tug on my dress and look down into a pair of large black eyes. The sprite, the green twig-like creature I had seen yesterday, motioned for me to follow them into the kitchen.
I followed the small sprite into the kitchen; they kept looking back at me as we walked, their wide eyes kind and curious.
The kitchen is large and circular, with a massive wooden island in its center. Upon the island sits an array of pastries and bread, the smell of sugar and cinnamon fills the air. The sprites work together as they stuff the baskets full of the freshly baked goods.
The sprite I met in the foyer comes to a stop in front of the massive marble sink. She, from what I can tell due to her thick eyelashes, looks up at me guilty as I look at the pile of dirty pans.
"Sprite fear water." She says nervously, her voice high pitched. "You help with water?"
I understood immediately what she was asking, and smiled brightly down at her. "I can help you with the water. What is your name?"
She smiled shyly, showing her small pointed teeth. "Name is Nue."
"My name is Katherine."
Nue bows deeply, the green skin of her cheeks becomes a deep blue, as if she is blushing.
I assess the pile of pots and pans as Nue joins the rest of the sprites. Before I have the chance to begin, the large basin of the sink begins to fill with soapy water. Rather than feeling panicked, I decide to immediately get to work, ignoring the perplexing magic that discreetly surrounds me. Once every pot and pan is spotless I begin to sweep up the flour that covers the checkered floors. The sprites watch me with their large dark curious eyes as we work together in silence.
How had I found the sprites to look menacing before? I found comfort in their calm and quiet presence, I felt so judgment from them as they watched me work.
Once the kitchen is cleaned and every last basket is prepared the sprites begin to filter out of the kitchen, each one bowing to me before they leave.
The foyer is nearly empty now; the fairies and sprites had done their job well. The manor is entirely spotless and decorated beautifully, not a single flower or portrait is out of place. I see no familiar faces in the foyer so I decide to head back to my room.
The pressure of tonight begins to consume me as I pace back and forth in the bedroom. The faeries fly in and out of my doorway, each one more cheerful than the next. The manor had become a comfort to me, a safe haven. The thought of heading outside of its walls into the unknown had me biting my nails. I tried to remember my walk through the Thallo when I first arrived, but my memory was blurry due to the shock I was in. The fear of going back into shock, of being locked inside of my own mind again…could I handle this?
"Katherine, quit pacing and sit down. We must get you ready!" Aria barks, annoyed by my reluctance.
"Aria…the luna plena. I'm not sure…I don't know if I'm ready-"
"You are a Baird. The people of Skye need to see you, they need to know that you're alive."
"What if I can't handle it Aria?" I groan.
"You have done well the past few days, no need to work yourself up now. You are stronger than you think, Katherine."
"I don't know if that's true…"
"Let us not forget what happened yesterday, princess." Her normally sweet voice is low, stern. "Children are being killed outside of the Thallo, children. You saved that boy but many others were not saved. The people need to see you, they need to know you are real. I've been to your world, I know how…how different things are here. But your father believed in you, you need to believe in yourself."
My father. The open wound that will never heal reopens at the memory of him. I had been so distracted that I had forgotten why I had found myself in Skye in the first place. My family had been torn apart, in every universe, because of a prophecy. My father had tried to protect me.
"You're right." I see my mothers face. I see Duncan and Aoife…I could not let them die in vain.
"Of course I'm right." Aria rolls her eyes, yet her lips tug upward. "Now please, get ready! Lennox will come after me if you are not perfect."
I rummage through the freshly stocked wardrobe. Dresses of all colors and textures hang neatly, each one more beautiful than the next. I chose an emerald gown, the color reminding me of the canopy of leaves that protect the Thallo. I step into the gown, pleasantly surprised by how well the fabric forms to my body.
The faeries start to bring in porcelain plates of food, ranging from delicate pastries to roasted chicken. I eat as much as I can, my hunger unrelenting.
Two faeries begin to braid my hair as I eat. Aria eyes them as they work, her jealousy evident on her expression.
"She is our princess too." The pink haired one chimes. "Stop glaring."
"Apply the coal to her eyes and rose to her lips, let us do our duty in peace." The other black haired faerie says firmly.
Without another word Aria begins to rub black coal on the outer edge of my eyelids before smearing rosehip oil on my lips. I look into the mirror once they are done and am taken aback by their work.
My copper eyes stand out against the harshness of the coal, my lips the color of rose. My hair…it was as if fire and gold had formed into one, creating cascading strings of silk. Crown of fire…the words had now made sense. My hair was a living breathing crown of fire, brilliant and golden. The faeries had braided the top half, leaving the rest to flow down my back in waves.
"You look magnificent." I hear Tomas's voice say.
I turn and find him leaning against the doorframe, his muscular body taking up the majority of the doorway. His thick hair flows in waves against his scalp, his blue eyes stand out against his white button down shirt.
He looks magnificent, his beauty almost unbearable. I suddenly feel myself become nervous, insecure in the presence of something so lovely.
"Thank you." I ring my hands together, looking away from him.
"I've come to escort you and Aria, when you are ready."
A familiar wave of heat and electricity flows throughout my body. I can feel it in my fingertips, between my legs…
"Okay," I say breathlessly. "Can I just have one more moment, alone?"
"Of course." Tomas bows.
With one last heart shattering glance, he leaves the room. The heat between my legs pulsates before slowly dimming into nothing. Was Tomas able to see what he had just done to me?
I stand, willing myself to calm down, breathe. I would not let someone I hardly know have such a hold on me, regardless of how good that hold felt.
"He has really grown into himself," Aria beams. "Though, all of the Falconer's are quite handsome."
"There are more of them?" I ask, trying to distract myself.
"Yes…some. They were hunted just as the Baird's were, but some escaped. There is one we don't speak of any longer, the rest are scattered throughout Skye, still fighting."
"Why do we not speak of him?"
"Another time princess, we have somewhere to be."
We make our way down the stairs, where Tomas and Finley await us.
Tomas holds his arm out for me to take. I hesitate for a moment, terrified of what it will feel like to touch him after what had happened earlier.
"If you are not ready Katherine, you do not have to-"
"I am ready, Tomas."
I reach for his hand, prepared for the warmth that spreads throughout my entire body.
"Okay," he says with his heartbreaking smile. "Let us go and celebrate luna plena."
The sun has begun to set, the golden light fading, turning to dusk.
Nightfall is here, yet the Thallo is teaming with light. Bright flickering flames erupt, as do orbs of luminescent light that float towards the canopy of leaves high above. People are chanting, singing…the Thallo is alive with wonder.
"You've never celebrated luna plena before, have you?" Tomas ask as we walk through the gardens that surround the manor.
"No, I haven't." I say, watching Aria and Finley chase after one another ahead of us. "I'm not even sure what we're celebrating, to be honest."
Tomas contemplated for a moment, his bright eyes dazzling in the soft light.
"Us humans, we receive our power from the earth." Tomas says as he holds his palm towards me, emerald swirls pulsating within. "We celebrate earth during the summer and winter solstice, giving back for everything that we take. There is a full moon every solstice, a luna plena…our ancestors chose that name, we've used it ever since."
"My…power. The light in my hands is golden, red at times. Why is yours different?"
"You're a Baird. You have fire in your heart Katherine, in your soul…you can control it. I am a Falconer, our power comes from the earth itself. Elijah and Killian, they both descend from a long blood line of those who have mastered air."
"The elements of earth." I say, the realization hitting me.
"Yes, that is an excellent way to think of it, for humans at least. None of us know where true magic yields from, humans have searched for that answer for a very long time."
"Like the magic within Aria and Finley?"
"Yes, and all of the other creatures that we share this land with, even the demons."
"What happened yesterday…were all of the Baird's able to heal? Like the faeries?"
"No…" A soft line forms between his eyebrows. "I have never seen a human heal before."
He stares at me so intensely that I have to look away. My cheeks begin to heat, giving me away.
"This place, Skye. The Thallo. It's all so…beautiful." I change the subject, unable to look him in the eye.
"It was." His eyes darken. "The Thallo, it is the only place left where magic can thrive safely. We've been able to stay hidden here, safe."
"Because of the Demigods." It is not a question.
"Yes." Tomas nods. "For tonight, they do not exist. We all deserve one night of freedom."
We cross over a bridge into the center of the Thallo as music and laughter erupts around us.
Humans, faeries, and creatures all join together, surrounding the massive weeping willow. Some bow while others dance, their movements fluent and intoxicating. The long flowing dresses from this afternoon have been replaced with strappy cloths, the slim attire hugging tightly to the women's breasts and curves. The men, the human men, are shirtless, showing their bare muscular chest. They all dance to the beat of a drum, as if they are in a trance, as if the earth herself is calling to them.
I suddenly feel overdressed, my sage dress overflowing with fabric.
"This part of the festival can be overwhelming for some." Tomas says, noticing my discomfort. "They are paying their respects to mother earth, each movement is coordinated, well- practiced."
"They move so elegantly." I cannot look away.
"The humans have been doing this dance for generations." Tomas laughs, "the movements are meant to entice you, to draw you in."
"Why are you not out there, dancing?" I tease, suddenly feeling brave. The energy around me is contagious.
"Because I am your escort tonight, princess." He moves closer to me, the electricity between us alive and thriving. "I cannot take my eyes off of you."
"Finley and Aria have done their duty well, they can keep me safe."
"Still, I cannot look away."
We stare at each other for a long moment before the intense drumming comes to a stop, replaced by the strings of a symphony of violins. Some people continue to dance while others become still, taking in the lovely music.
"Tomas." Aria chimes, landing on his shoulder. "I would very much like it if you showed us to the elves. It has been a long time since I have seen my friends."
"The elves have left, it was known that they would only be here for a short while."
"Did they take everything with them, even the wine?" Aria asks shyly, twirling a piece of Tomas's golden brown hair.
"Do not be a bad influence on our princess, Aria."
"I watched her guzzle down mead from a complete stranger!"
"Aria!" I fume, my inflamed cheeks burning brighter.
"Please, Tomas! Just a drop." Aria emphasizes the word please.
Tomas looks to me, as if asking for permission.
"I cannot fight this battle for you, especially against her." I point towards Aria, she sticks her tongue out.
"Okay." Tomas throws his hands into the air in mock enthusiasm, causing me to laugh.
Laugh. I am laughing in this strange world with these strange people, after everything…after the world as I knew it had been changed in ways I will never truly understand. When was the shock going to latch its sharp teeth into my flesh and consume me whole again? Why was I not screaming and rushing back to the only world I had ever known?
"Come on Katherine!" Aria groans, snapping me out of my racing thoughts.
We walk through the center of the Thallo slowly, taking in the lovely music that radiates throughout.. People take notice of me but quickly become preoccupied with dancing, the smell of wine and ale in the air. Men clash their mugs together, thick bubbling liquid splashes onto the cobblestone streets. Children run screaming and laughing, enjoying having their parents momentarily distracted. A young girl with chocolate brown skin and pointed ears smiles brightly at us as we pass, showing her canine teeth. She is beautiful, eternal. The urge to protect the Thallo becomes stronger, fortified.
Tomas stops before a building made of gnarled wood. Inside flickering lanterns hang from the ceiling. Tapestries hang on the walls, each depicting a vast landscape. A massive piece of oak makes up the bar, stretching across one side of the room to the other. Two men sit at the bar, the rest of the tavern is empty.
"Killian, Elijah." Tomas greets them, a large smile on his face. He looks to the women behind the bar and bows, "Layla, hello."
The woman is beautiful, there is no denying that. Yet I am caught off guard by her blue silky skin. She is tall and slender, everything about her is elongated. Her thick black hair flows in waves, her slanted eyes bright and welcoming.
"Tomas, Aria." She looks at me, her eyes widening. "A Baird…"
She is at my side in a flash, her yellow eyes wild. She grabs for my hands, holding them softly, "I had heard the rumors…"
"I…" My face is on fire, my words stuck in my throat.
"Layla, please release Katherine and let us share a drink together."
Layla hesitantly lets go of my hands. She walks behind the bar, her eyes on me the entire time.
"Time to focus." Aria says as she lands on the top of the wooden bar. "The elves, I know they left something here, and I want it!"
"You leave without as much as a goodbye and you expect me to give you my best mead and ale?" Layla shakes her head, yet her lips curve into a smile.
"We have a princess among us!" Aria wines.
"That we do." Layla's eyes are on me again.
"You will be very well compensated, Layla." Tomas says, encouraging the barmaid.
Layla smiles at Tomas before pulling a key from around her neck and unlocking a cabinet behind the bar. She places multiple bottles of burgundy liquid and six glasses made of crystal on the counter.
"To luna plena, and to the last Baird finally returning home!" Layla chants as she pours the thick liquid into the glasses.
We each grab a glass as Aria sits on the ledge of hers, using her hands to scoop up handfuls of the swirling elixir. We all clink our glasses together before I take a long gulp without hesitation. Burst of strawberry and vanilla coat my tongue as the liquor warms my entire body.
"What is that?" I exclaim as I begin to feel pleasantly lightheaded and weightless.
"None of us truly know," Elijah grins. "The Elves brought gifts with them when we granted them access to the Thallo. Their leader, Erskine, claimed the drink to be similar to wine and ale. I believe it to be something greater."
All of the tension in my body loosens. I feel as light as a feather, as open as a novel. I did not care that Killian watched me like a hawk, his dark eyes assessing every move I made. I did not care that I should be terrified, that something may be truly wrong with me. The strings of the violin are growing stronger, turning from poetic to energetic. I want to move my body, release the energy trapped within me.
Cheers filtered into the tavern, people were beginning to dance in the streets.
Aria looks to me, her hazel eyes glazed over, a sleepy smile spread across her delicate face.
"Aria, would you like to dance with me?" I can feel laughter erupting from my chest, unable to contain it. I did not know this suddenly outgoing girl inside of me, she was foreign to me.
I suddenly feel a warm hand on mine. Tomas lifts my arm delicately into the air before twirling my entire body in one swift movement. His arms are around my waist the moment my spinning body comes to a halt. As if I am as light as a feather, he lifts me into the air. Laughter erupts from my body like molten lava. Euphoria and lust crash into my subconscious like the roaring waves of an ocean.
Tomas pulls me close to his stone chest, leaving a small gap between our bodies. His smell of peppermint and grass engulfs me. His blue eyes are glassy, his full lips twisted into a crooked smile. I want to close the space between us, I want to feel his skin on mine.
"She asked me to dance!" Aria wines, distinguishing the fire between Tomas and I as she hovers between us.
"I do apologize, my lady." Tomas says as he lets go of my hand, bowing towards Aria.
My hand feels cold in the absence of his. I want to reach for him, feel his warmth on me once more. Yet Aria has begun to twirl before me, the feeling of euphoria has its claws in me again. I move my body to the music, enjoying this moment with my new found friend.
Out of the corner of my eye I can see Tomas and Killian speaking. Killian's body is rigid, his facial features hard. Tomas places his hand on his shoulder, Killian's features soften within the blink of an eye. Elijah joins them then, and then the three towering men embrace each other.
Brothers. They are brothers, regardless of the blood that runs through their veins and the color of their skin. Seeing the embrace causes my body to still, my heart to ache for the family that I lost.
The effects of the elven wine are beginning to fade, my confidence going with it. Yet I still see Tomas, his striking face and dauntlessness. I can still feel the pull between us, taught and as strong as it had been under the effects of the wine.
His eyes find mine, as vibrant and tantalizing as ever. Tomas takes one step towards me before a piercing scream echoes throughout the tavern.
The music comes to a sudden halt. The entire Thallo is silent apart from the echoing scream. A wave of nausea consumes me as images of a purple mist flash into my mind. I see Duncan's body decomposing right before my eyes, lighting raining down on a village, people screaming.
I sway, sweat coats my entire body. Tomas is at my side, holding me upright. Aria lands softly on my shoulder, gripping onto the fabric of my dress. Layla has already disappeared, as if into thin air.
"She must escape, at all costs. Killian, take Katherine and Aria to the manner, the tunnels will lead out of the Thallo. Elijah you will come with me-"
"What is happening?" I demand, trying to calm my racing heart. "Have they found us?"
"The alarms of infiltration have not been sounded, we do not know what has happened. We will keep you protected." Killian says as he wraps his arm around me, keeping me steady. His features stay hardened, yet I know that I can trust him despite his feelings towards me.
"I can help you…all of you. My fire, I've used it before. I can help protect you."
Tomas stares at me, rage and confliction flickers in his eyes. "You are our last hope, Katherine. Without you…"
"I will fight, Tomas. I have too." The fire in my palms begins to simmer as I see my mothers face. I would not stand by helplessly as innocent people were slaughtered, not again.
"Stay at her side, Killian." Tomas keeps his eyes down, unable to look me in the eye.
"Tomas, we must-"
"She is a Baird." Tomas says as he puts his hand up to stop Killian from speaking. "I am a Falconer, you know that I must follow her orders."
"If you die, we all die. Do not forget that." Killian whispers into my ear, his tone venomous.
I hold my head up high, my palms beginning to warm. I see the flayed demon in the back of my mind, I know what I am capable of. Once the danger is directly in front of me I am sure that I will be able to ignite my flames again.
"Stay at my side, all of you." Tomas's gaze lingers on me for a long moment. "If we have been infiltrated, we kill every single demon we come upon, we show no mercy."
"For Skye!" Elijah chants.
"For the Baird's." Killian says softly, standing as still as stone at my side.
A white light glows from Elijah's palm. He flicks his wrist and a gust of wind erupts, slamming into the tavern door and busting it wide open.
Outside of the tavern the cobblestone streets are empty. The horrific scream had given the people of the Thallo a chance to run, to hide. I clenched my fist together, willing the molten fire to appear, yet I feel nothing but a simmering warmth.
Where are the demons…the amethyst mist? I wait for the screams, yet there is nothing apart from the sounds of our steps against the cold stone ground.
I can feel it then, the presence of something sinister and powerful. The fire within my palms sparks, whispering that the presence is close, within my reach. The men around me move forward, yet I can feel the presence behind us. I slowly turn to look behind me, trusting the fire within me.
In the middle of the road stands a man, dark shadows dance around him. His emerald eyes shine bright against the blackness that surrounds him.
I gasp.
Strong arms wrap around me before yanking me backwards. The three men create a wall around me. Their arms are upright, each palm faced towards the man.
"Hello, brother." A familiar seething voice says.
"You are no brother to me." Tomas hisses.
"You wound me." Alasdair says sarcastically.
"Why have you come, Alasdair?"
My breath catches in my throat. Alasdair is here, he has come to finish what he started. He has come for me. I stare at him through an open space in the wall created around me.
Brothers. Alasdair and Tomas are brothers. How had I not noticed it before?
Alasdair's eyes, though emerald, are the same shape as Tomas's. The lips, the nose, even the sharp jawline…everything is nearly the same. Yet while Tomas shines with light, Tomas is bathed in darkness. His features are sharper, more intense.
The sun and the moon.
"You made an oath to protect Skye, yet you're hiding the very thing that can save us all." Alasdair says.
"What do you believe me to be hiding?"
"The last Baird of Skye, of course."
"You have mistaken, there is no Baird among us." The lie rolls perfectly off of Tomas's tongue.
Alasdair shakes his head, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "I followed her into the Thallo, little brother. I've been watching her, watching you watch her. Hidden among your people, and you did not even know it."
"What do you want?" Tomas says through gritted teeth.
"After all this time…after everything you have sacrificed." Alasdair draws out the word, looking at the vibrant village that surrounds us. "You are now going to jeopardize the very future of Skye, all because you want to fuck our princess?"
Tomas lunches, closing the space between himself and his brother so quickly that it makes me gasp. He smashes his fist into Alasdair jaw. Alasdair reacts, sending his fits into Tomas's gut. Muscle slams into muscle, stone on stone. Both men move so elegantly that their flight becomes a dance.
I rush towards them, only to be swept up into Elijah's arms.
"They are brothers Katherine, let them fight." He whispers into my ear as I trash. "Alasdair could not have passed through the gate if he were here to cause harm."
Alasdair is laughing, hysterically. Blood coats his perfectly straight teeth. "Is that all you've got left, Tomas? Has the Thallo made you soft? You cannot protect her."
"You're a bastard Alasdair, a waste."
"I'm not the one hiding."
Tomas lifts his palms towards his brother, but Alasdair is faster. Black whips of smoke shoot from Alasdair's palms, wrapping around Tomas's neck, lifting him from the ground.
"Shit." Elijah breaths, both him and Killian unleash the swords strapped to their side.
Tomas's trashes, gasping for air.
"Listen to me, little brother. The only reason you're still alive is because we share the same blood, that is it. I am stronger than you." Alasdair grinds his teeth, his shadow tightens around Tomas's neck.
"Stop it!" I scream. Where is the fire that had flayed a demon just a day ago?
"The Demigods took everything from me!" Alasdair roars before releasing Tomas, his body slamming into the ground. "And our little fox here is going to help me slaughter them."
I run to Tomas. Blood gushes from his mouth and nose, a ring of black and purple begins to form around his neck. He is trying to stand but I place my hand on his shoulder, pushing him back towards the ground.
"I found her first. I am here to collect what is rightfully mine." Alasdair says, wiping blood from his lip. "I will leave silently, as long as the princess is at my side."
"I am not-" I stop, swimming through my thoughts to find a solution. Alasdair is deadly, if I defy him what is stopping him from hurting Aria? Finley? "Just…just give me a few more days, and I will go willingly Alasdair. My fire, it's gone. I can't feel it like I did before. I need time to ignite it again. And then I will go with you, I swear it."
"Katherin, don't." Tomas says hoarsely, his throat raw.
"You swear it?" Alasdair says as glares into my eyes.
"I do."
Time stands still. I stand frozen as Alasdair's shadow slowly ebbs towards me. The shadow caresses my cheek softly, it feels like cold silk against my burning skin. Alasdair's emerald eyes glare into mine, yet I feel no fear as I glare back.
Time begins to move again, the shadow disappears into thin air.
"Do not disappoint me, princess." Alasdair says condescendingly before looking towards his brother. "You may think of me as a waste yet I have done more to protect Skye, to protect you, than you will ever comprehend. The moment the princess learns how to fight, she and I will fulfill the prophecy of Skye."
Alasdair's shadows engulf him before he disappears into thin air.
I rush back towards Tomas. Aria's palms are on his neck, glowing softly, the gruesome purple ring around his neck begins to fade to yellow. I reach my hand out to him and he takes it, his warmth spreads through me. I decided then that Tomas is like the sun, filled with a light I did not know I had been craving my entire life.
"We will find a way out of this, Katherine. I won't let him take you." The anger inside of Tomas's ocean eyes is palpable.
I give him a reassuring nod, my words catching in my throat.
Once the people of the Thallo are informed that they are safe luna plena resumes, yet the energy is not the same. The sight of Alasdair has everyone reeling, most decided to stay hidden.
Tomas's eyes are distant as we walk back towards the manor. The urge to reach for his hand, to pull him close to me, lingers. We reach the front doors with nothing but silence between us.
I begin to make my way inside before I feel a slight tug against my hand.
Tomas pulls me towards him softly before he presses his soft lips against my forehead. Warmth spreads throughout my body; I want to pull his body close to mine, to feel his lips on mine.
"Sleep well, princess." He breathes against my skin.
Tomas releases me and takes a step back. He stares at me for one short moment, his eyes longing. He bows deeply before turning away and walking into the night.
I stare after him, breathless.
Of two things I am certain of at this moment. The first is that I will do whatever it takes to fulfill the prophecy, to save the world my father lost. The second being that my feelings grew stronger for Tomas with each glance, every conversation. As moronic as it was, there was nothing that I could do to stop this catalyst between us now.