Ever Winter (10 page)

Shade’s heart was breaking, even though everything that he’d said was correct. How he could send her feelings into a tangled mess was disarming. He pulled her closer then, letting his searing lips find hers. She let his mouth explore hers, desperately as though to find some treasure hidden deep inside. It wasn’t the same as before, but he knew her better than she gave him credit for. Knowing what he had for so long and yet, here he was, still pressing her against him and kissing her wi
th a fury that was all-consuming. It made her barriers fall with an incredulous crash−this acceptance of her, no matter what.

Coming up for air, she touched her fingertips to her mouth. Surely they were now cherry-kissed and vibrated from his lips. He rang
his fingers through her hair once more, admiring every detail he could see clearly in the growing light.

“Goodbye, Shade.” A smile formed on his face, making his eyes shine and his face light up even more than the sun peaking over the horizon onto his skin could. Shade was speechless, unable to form anything coherent as he slipped away, his eyes never leaving hers. As he got past the bed and walked toward the door, he never let go of her gaze. They were locked still, connected in some way which still remai
ned a mystery to Shade.

“No−
wait!” She felt off centered and frantic as she watched him leave.

“No, I’m sorry, Shade. If I could change how you felt, I would. I hope this journey, whatever it ends up in, helps.” He turned, snapping the lock open and slippe
d out so quickly, she couldn’t register what had just happened.

Alone on her bed, the emptiness of the spot Soap had just left beside her, made her gut twist. He was right in what he’d said, but how could he leave so easily? Like a bullet, he had ripped open and exposed her thoughts, leaving her to pick up the million tiny pieces which had dropped and imploded all over the place. She could do nothing but slip back onto her pillow and let the tears spring out of her eyes.

The wind shook the world outside. Trees whipped their branches in a rippled dance as they shifted from the force. The sun had lit up the land and greeted the new day with brilliance and might. No comfort from the world came to her; nothing but emptiness where a black hole already resided within her. Soap had been her best friend, a loyal companion, a reciprocating love who had been nothing but patient with her. How had she gotten it so wrong? He was right, wasn’t he? She wasn’t in love with him, not like that. Not like he wanted from her. A complete and all-consuming love.

Her love for him was something more than friends, yet it wasn’t enough for either of them in the end. Closing her eyes, she saw Dylan in her mind’s eyes. His black hair, his steely eyes gleaming toward her as he beamed at finding her again. His was the love that felt like it fit. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe it would all come and bite her right back after all was said and done. Who knew? For now, it was as it was, and she didn’t blame Soap one bit for walking away. How right he was to leave her. Yet, how wrong it felt to watch him go.

Part II

The Great Divide

Chapter Ten

NOTHING EVER CHANGES
. Even on the brink of the end of her world, Shade felt as if no one around her realized how destroyed she really felt. Glancing around the triangle of three, a ripple of fear weaved its way through her thoughts, and she felt ever so alone. Brisa had to remain at the Glass Castle, but she’d given Shade a tight hug before the journey, knowing Shade might not return. Only Dylan, Camulus and Shade were making this trip into the desolate wilderness of the frozen wastelands of the Arctic, deep into the Ice Kingdom to a place Shade had never wanted to visit, let alone know about. The Great Divide.

“Ready?” Dylan clutched at her hand and gave it a firm squeeze. His eyes shined to see her looking almost normal and not deathly sick like she’d been in the infirmary. The magic Ilarial and the healer had done on the darkling’s mark had done wonders for Shade. It’d made it impossible to believe she would die in three days if the dark magic was left unchecked. Shade ran her fingers over the spot on her arm, through her coat, where the mark lingered under the fur. The coat was from Soap, and it was the softest leather, with layers of insulation to keep out the freezing temperatures. It had her sweating at the moment.

“Yes.” She blew out a breath, hoping to calm her agitated nerves as she reached out to clasp Camulus by the hand. He was dressed with a coat too, but not as thick as hers. It made her pause for a moment wanting to ask him why he wasn’t so concerned about the cold when Dylan leaned in to whisper to her once more.

“It will be over soon; your magic will be yours once more. It’s cause to smile, not grimace.” He winked and straightened. The sweet smile he threw her made her feel a flutter inside her belly. A hesitant look passed over his face, and he hadn’t moved from his spot quite yet. “Shade?”

“Yes?”

“I have something for you.” He reached into the pocket of his jacket, built for freezing temperatures even though the cold rarely bothers the Teleen. It was going to be colder than any place he’d ever been. Better safe than sorry. Pulling out a small charm, he held it out in the middle of his palm. It shined like gun metal and looked tiny and fragile on his skin. It was a small metallic acorn looking seed, complete with a fused-on loop to hang on a necklace or bracelet. He grasped her hand and dropped it into the center.

“What is it?” She studied the tiny charm, liking the light, cool metal feel of it as she rolled it around in her palm. It vibrated with magic, a familiar earthly kind.

“It’s an Ancient Oak seed. I placed it on a loop so you can wear on your necklace. It’s kind of like a memory charm. That way, no faery or magical being can make you remove it.”

Turning it around in her fingertips, she let its power infuse itself into her. It was good magic. Fresh. yet ancient. The only being she’d ever met that felt like old magic was Corb himself. But his was not so simple, not so innocent. “What do I do with it?”

“I wanted you to have it, for whenever you’re in trouble or in need of sanctuary. You can plant it anywhere, and in an instant, it will grow into a gigantic oak tree. Once it’s grown, you can touch it and it will take you somewhere safe. There are hundreds of these trees throughout Faerie, so it can take you to one of many different places, anywhere one of these trees has grown.”

“How do I know where it will take me?”

“Easy, just imagine the Teleen Caverns. It’ll take you there immediately, faster than teleporting with Camulus.”

“There’s one at Teleen? But, won’t it take forever for it to grow?”

Dylan shook his head, amused at her questions. “Yep, one Ancient Oak tree sits in the middle of one of the tallest, open caverns in the center of Teleen. You never got to see it when we were there. Don’t worry; it will grow within a minute. “

“If I’m trying to get away from someone, won’t they be able to use it too?”

He shook his head, brushing away a wisp of hair which had fallen into her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. This little gesture made her insides turn into a fluttery mess and her face flush scarlet. “Nope, it offers sanctuary only. It will not work for another Ancient being, like Corb, or someone with dangerous intentions. It will never show anyone where it took you. Teleen will be safe for you. Just imagine you’re there and there, you’ll be.”

Shade huffed, looking off into the distance. “Why would I ever want to go back there?” The place was hardly sanctuary for her.

Dylan’s eyes darkened, knowing what she meant. “It will be safe. I swear it. Darren is banished from there. I made sure you will always have a place amongst my people. They’ll keep you safe and fight for you. Teleen will always be sanctuary for you
and
me.” He turned away, letting his memories run amuck behind his eyes. She grasped the tiny seed in her palm, amazed at the amount of power that could be contained in something so miniscule.

“Thank you,” Shade whispered, hoping she hadn’t insulted Dylan. She pulled the silver chain from her neck and looped it on. It fell alongside the two memory vials she had dangling on it. Fastening the clasp back on, she peered up to find Dylan watching her. “I love it. Thank you for giving it to me.”

He smiled, the light had already returned to his features, making him even more handsome. “You ready to go The Great Divide?”

She nodded, “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Taking Camulus’ hand before teleporting far away from the Northern Realm, Shade was already missing the Glass Castle and her friends. Why no one else was going was a mystery to her. What if they met extreme resistance? Only Dylan and Camulus accompanied her, and she found it highly unusual. It was starting to rub her the wrong way and made her wonder, as they spun to their destination, why it all felt so off. And why no one else had noticed it.

A vision of white spread before them as it appeared suddenly in the whirl of the jaunt. She let go of Dylan’s and Camulus’ hands and took in the vast landscape of pure crystalline white snow. There was nothing but an endless abyss of white. Her breath came out in puffs of vapor, and the temperature drop was already permeating her clothes. She turned to see if Camulus was feeling it and was surprised to see him stepping away from them.