[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.Of course it would have to be my father.I took his hand, forcing myself to be civil.He smiled.His deep voice penetrated the air.“You have much of the same disposition as your sister.”I refused to acknowledge his statement.“Why are you here?”“I was under the impression you required assistance.”I narrowed my eyes.“You heard me?”He gave me a know-it-all stare.“In time, you will also have the ability.We are all connected.Did you think I would leave you helpless?”I folded my arms because if I didn’t I would have to punch him.“I’ve never known you.”In a flash he stepped forward, lifting his hand to my temple.Pain exploded behind my eyes, but as quickly it was gone.What remained was the inescapable realization that this man had never left me unguarded.He’d come to me in my dreams.He’d watched over me in school.He’d appeared as different people, but it had always been him.My mind couldn’t handle the information, and my knees wobbled.Taylor steadied me from behind but didn’t say anything.In fact, it seemed as though no one was breathing besides me.“I don’t get you,” I finally said because what else was there?“We have time,” he said.“I’d like to speak with you.”Curious, I nodded.Once again, he lifted his hand to my face.That’s when the world disappeared.RaylaSEARCHING THE REST OF THE FARMHOUSE revealed the same result.It didn’t seem as if the people who trashed the place had found what they were looking for because every room had been ransacked.They’d even torn down parts of the walls and ripped up the wood flooring.I couldn’t fathom what they thought they’d find, but it didn’t matter now.The place would be forever changed in my mind.My memories had been tarnished with what I’d seen, and I wouldn’t ever be able to erase the vision.Once I composed myself, we headed outside again.My mind caught up to what was happening.“Wait a minute,” I said to Heath, who stood next to me.“How did we drift here? I thought fae powers didn’t work in the area.”He inhaled as he watched me, his expression bleak.“It appears the Order captured whatever mechanism your aunt had been using to generate the shield.”I closed my eyes, the whole mess jumbling my thoughts until I couldn’t think at all.“I’ve been so stupid.I should have wiped Valen off the face of this planet.”Heath’s fingers grazed my cheek.“First of all, you were commanded not to touch him.And secondly, how do you know this is his doing?”“Come on,” I said, not sure where he was going.“He’s the one orchestrating things.”Heath shook his head.“Don’t you realize what he did, Rayla?”I opened my mouth but stopped to consider.“He did a lot of things.What do you mean?”“He joined forces with the father of evil.Valen no longer has control of his followers.They have been incorporated into the opposition of the creator.”“You mean the devil?”“You could call him such.What is important here is the separation of fae powers.Free will is the emblem of your God, no matter what humans call him, no matter what religion tells.He allowed Valen and those who followed him to choose for themselves.”I shook my head, hugging myself.“I don’t understand any of what you’re saying.I thought I knew what we were up against, but now, I have no idea.” I pulled him away from the others so we could speak more freely.He laughed at me, but I ignored him.I didn’t like using telepathy.It was unnatural.“I think once we get back to Faeresia, we should call a meeting.I want to step down as queen.”Heath sucked in a breath.His response hissed out so quickly, he startled me.“Absolutely not.I realize you are uncertain, and you don’t have much experience, but you are the best thing to happen to my people in millennia.We haven’t worked together since the beginning.You have us all focusing on life instead of vain ambition.” He shook his head, taking my shoulders between his hands.“Don’t you see? You’ve brought us to a common goal.We don’t need to go back to the way things were.It would be the worst course we could take now.”All my insecurities welled until they burst.“But I don’t know if I can do this.I don’t know how to lead your people.”His brows furrowed as he dipped his chin.Disappointment carved a path down his face and into my heart.“I thought they were your people, too.Or were you lying when you said you’d become one of us?”I wanted to say it was a slip of the tongue, but he knew better.The man could read me without any effort.“I’m trying,” I said, hoping it was enough.He leaned down, pulling me close.Gentle fingers tipped my chin back.“Doubt is natural for mortals, but you need to realize one thing.I have existed longer than you can fathom.I know people and ability.There is no one better to lead us than you.”Before I could respond, his lips whispered over mine.Heat spread from my chest to my toes, and I suddenly wished we could shed this mission and have a real honeymoon.He let out a groan, and I deepened our kiss.I didn’t care if the others were close enough to see us.Natalie laughed.I’d know her laugh anywhere, which brought me up for air.She was near the porch while Heath and I were close to the barn.When I spied her, she shook her head, smiling knowingly.I waived her off, but my neck pulsed with a flush.I’d teased her about how open she and Sam had been with PDA.Well, here I was on the other foot, and it wasn’t a comfortable place to be.As I stared at her, regret hit me.She’d lost the man she loved, while I had mine near.Heath clasped my hand.“She is healing.”I nodded.She’d been smiling a lot more lately, but I couldn’t help feeling responsible for Sam’s death.“I think as much as can be expected.”With all the hustle-bustle going on, I hadn’t made the time to talk to her — to truly catch up.I shot Heath a pleading look, and he bowed out.I mentally promised him some totally alone time later.As I walked to Natalie, I glanced over my shoulder, and he smiled, pumping his brows.I grinned, shooting him a mental image of us together.He started toward me, but I waived him off, giggling.When I spun to face Natalie, she watched me with pained eyes.My heart tumbled to my toes.“I’m sorry.”Her voice, soft and light, had my full attention [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]