Yield (34 page)

Authors: Cyndi Goodgame

BOOK: Yield

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AMES

My girl was a goddess. She was unstoppable, unbelievable, and mine.

We told Mrs. Ryman goodbye on good terms with the promise to see her soon at the coven meeting she would let us know when would happen. I held a certain amount of animosity towards my own maternal grandmother, but it was quickly replaced by the thought of what all she’d have to go through if we took charge of the coven for her.

Emma
was so quick to take on the coven leader role that I feared her reasons. Everything went through my head, but she explained that if we left it the way it was, Mrs. Clark would be in charge. After two of three reminders in my own head of what the woman had done, I could see Emma’s point. We couldn’t let her continue to puppeteer the witch world the way she was. It would be on our conscious. We were both too young to run either group of people and we both felt that way, but who else would? That was the part we were afraid of.

If the two of us went about it together, we could change things. That alone was worth the heartache and we could do it together.

Caydon’s concern for us touched Emma’s heart. When we left the room, he was there with Trigger and Wicker as if ready for attack. I found it amusing to think we were almost enemies ready to fight for the same girl of which I was the only one whom she wanted.

He had his girl now too.

Lily was there waiting in the main room when all of us returned. His love for her was insurmountable to my own for Emma.

His eyes left me, widening at the smile in Lily
’s just the way I knew Emma could read me like a book at her greetings. We were men schooled by women we were totally and utterly in love with.

EMMA

“I need only one last confession to be out in the air before this day ends,” I took a deep breath.

Ames and Caydon looked at me, both worried. Lily sat quietly by as she so graciously did for years.

“I want Ames to know what happened with Rick and that you were the one who saved me.” I pointed to Caydon with my eyes. “I don’t like hiding secrets, and as minute as that one is to you, it isn’t to me. I just want you to know how thankful I am to you for that day. In some ways, you saved my life.”

Ames squeezed tighter around my waist. I was about to explain what really happened, even in front of Lily, when Caydon nodded at Ames.
“He knows. All of it.”

Ugh. Anger rose in me, but relief took over. I didn
’t have to say it out loud. “I didn’t know then, or even when I met you, but it took everything I had not to cut his balls off when I did find out.”
Oh no. “You didn’t...do anything did you?” I was afraid for Rick, though I didn’t know why.

Guy to guy, Caydon and Ames said something between them with their eyes.

“I have him well watched now.” That was all Caydon said that they let me hear. They ended the subject and centered it back on the day’s events.

Caydon’s eyes were so focused on one line of sight in that cosmic sort of way. Lily. They looked the same as Ames’ does when he sees me for the first time in what he calls too long a time apart. Sometimes that’s minutes.

In the short walk back to the main hall, we gave a shortened version of what I
’d just “volunteered” to do. He already knew I was a witch long ago and didn’t react so much to the idea like I thought many would.

“We can survive this world together,” he squeezed Lily
’s hand and looked down into her eyes, then back at me. “Just remember to keep your virtual door open to possibilities and we will do the same.”

“Done!” Ames said.

Maybe it was just destiny, but I still made my own. Like all good tales, a hero or heroin swoops in and saves the world. It just happened to be two very different worlds than I never dreamed as an adolescent sized Supergirl with magic powers none of her friends had.

Alone that night I asked Ames while lying in
our
bed, “What did you think the power absorption was before your grandmother gave it away? I know you had a theory.” He always did.

His face heated. “As corny as it sounds, I thought it was a sign that you were meant to be with me. I didn
’t analyze it past that until my grandmother revealed the truth. It was kind of a letdown.”

I smiled thinking I liked his version better. It was all a witch thing with one power and all a goblin thing with other powers. Keeping them apart was useless.

“So this whole life turn was all planned out it seems. If my grandmother saw me as the future queen, she knew I’d survive. She probably knew I’d be the coven leader too even if she didn’t admit it. The curse was a hoax.”

“No. I remember something my grandmother said before I realized she was an evil troll. Maybe it really was destiny. You really were within the curse of your ancestors if you look back at their short lifespans. It
’s just destiny has a way of making waves reverse for the benefit of something greater. This was your purpose. And me, of course.”

I slapped his naked chest. My naked man chest. All mine.

I so did not want to hear the word
destiny
anymore tonight.

I was right about one thing. The curse was a hoax. Just not with the realms, but with a grandmother wanting to keep her family together. It didn
’t work out in the way she first meant it to happen, but it did work out. She had her granddaughter back and a life of seeing her great-grandchildren one day too. I was glad she changed her mind along the way. Guess we all have a way of letting the ghosts of our past rule our lives. Some of us wake up, some don’t.

As far as Ames grandmother, she never answered any of my calls or even came to the coven meeting to announce my “coming out” party.

Weeks passed. Every night Ames asked the same question.

“What are you thinking
, my love?”

“
How come you don’t call me babe or chicky or something?”

“Because I want to remind you several times a day how much I love you.”

What girl could argue with that?

“So is mine hot bod? You
’ve now commented on my body verbally twice now and counting. I could handle it you know.”

I rolled my eyes. “No, Romeo. I think A.C.E. will do. I
’m returning the favor.”

“You called me that once too. I
’m assuming it has a meaning. Do tell.” He rolled to his side eager enough.

I couldn
’t help myself. I’d thought it up not long after meeting him and it fit him so well. “Don’t get a big head, mister. I stands for Arrogant Cunning and...Exceptionally hot! I was angry with liking you at the time.”

He laughed and laughed to the point his eyes teared up. I loved that laugh.

AMES

My friend Wicker once said to be careful what and how you say what you’re really thinking to a woman. After much screwing up in that department with Emma, I’ve learned it’s not what you should hide, but what you say that makes her react the way she does. If I am unable to make myself clear, as I so often do, it’s more likely going to go to pot if I try to explain how I really feel. Instead, I rework in my brain what she
needs
to hear. I don’t always nail it, but I’m getting better at it. And it’s always the truth even if it isn’t how I see it.

Is it deceiving? No. It
’s being considerate and aware that she is an emotional creature, and that for some crazy reason, craves my attention. I love to make her happy. My jumbled up mess of a mind isn’t important in the long run if it just confuses her. So I choose words carefully. When something goes right, I use it over and over again.

And that first touch wasn
’t a magic to make us fall in love. You fall in love with the one who is right for you, no magic involved. The first touch is only a goblin king thing, a way to make the king and queen in sync. No law book told us this. It will just have to be a new item of importance that Emma will add in her journals. Along with the first kiss that changed our lives forever.

I once said I was caught in her spidery web the day we met, fascinated and spellbound by her beauty outside and in. I have the distinct advantage to see inward to her best attributes as well as her outward features. She was this perfect creature all the way around with faults and fears not far from my own. We were meant to be together.

So if that day was a fate already decided, then the curiosity of the way we met could be questioned, but not the meeting. Would we have still found each other? Would we still be destined to a curse or would fate have worked a way around it without our own intervention? It may have all been set up by two nosy, over inventive mothers who “had the best interest at heart” but it didn’t work out the way they wanted. The best intentions aren’t always for the best. And with all the lies, who couldn’t wonder if they didn’t cause the untimely deaths of their own children themselves? They concocted a grand lie for the simple reason that they wanted their way.

The heart wants what the heart wants and sometimes our stingy brains fail to see what the real outcomes will be.

I’m full of words like that now.

Thinking poetically wasn
’t in my nature. Before. Now it seems I spout off all kinds of earth shattering memoirs to make Emma notice me. Just seeing her face light up was a piece of art.

EMMA

“No frappe today?”

“
EARL GREY TEA actually. But I love you more than all the tea in England and India put together.”

He smiled oddl
y giving me no sign of a dimple. “That’s a sentiment I’d never have guessed anyone could have put to words but you. Tell me though, what tea is in India that has its place in such an equal standing to me?”

“Darjeeling. It
’s even better than Earl Grey and that’s saying something,” I assured him with my best fake smile to egg him on more.

“Really, I may have to entertain with this tea more often to sway you over to the dark side. My Jedi force is not strong enough to keep your attention,” Ames smiled strongly meaning only humor. But oh how it was delicious. I
’ve discovered something new about his smiles of late. His dimple still rests on the same side it has since the day I met him. But recently, he started lifting the other side of his lip to form the same beautiful dimple to double the trouble. I was in head over heels in love with Ames Cahn.

He was referencing the t-shirt he got for me. I wanted to be sure he didn
’t think I meant it that way at all so like the fool I was I bumbled my words and came back with, “I didn’t mean that it wasn’t...that you...that I—

All I felt was his lips. A too short kiss later. “I believe I found a solution for your mishaps. When you think I don
’t understand your crazy talk sometimes, and believe me I don’t, I am simply going to kiss away the worry. I know your heart and that is all that matters.”

If a girl is stupid enough to get mad over that, she doesn
’t deserve the guy who is saying it to her. I was in wow with Ames Cahn.

I found myself sighing with perfectly contented happiness. The feel of his arms around me the next morning will be one of the greatest moments of my life.

“What are you smiling at Mrs. Cahn?”

I really just stared at him. I just couldn
’t believe this beautiful man was mine to keep.

“I
’m just very happy husband. Up in the clouds.”

He kissed me gently. When the kiss deepened, I edged closer to him. If that was possible. My fingers laced in the curls formed on the back of his neck where he was slightly warmer right now.

“Yeah, well I heard once the trouble with up is there is always a down.”

I knew my face wrinkled up into a frown from him stopping the kiss. “Not in my vocabulary. Besides you vowed rather recently to stay with me through
all
the ups and downs.”

His grin was amazing when he was happy.

“There’s no way you’re happier than I am right now, wife of mine.”

His lips hovered just above. I wanted to come back with a witty reply, but well...his mouth was just too inviting. So I shrugged under him and moved us in rhythm to the sound of two hearts beating as one.

Ames Cahn was mine...forever.

EPILOGUE

Destiny is what you make it.

APPENDIX

jornete- herb extract used to dull pain

siltlum- herb that thins the blood and helps with clotting

mannon- herb used to produce energy

wakenite-herb used to help produce sleep

gruroot- herb used by those who know it it’s magical properties to reverse effects of something

One realm during the reign of 1887-1947 A.D.

King Edward
(GOBLIN)
and Queen Leesa
(HUMAN)
Torrer (no children)

One realm during the reign of 1947-1999 A.D.