Daylight, a Timeless Series Novel (30 page)

“He sacrificed himself to save us, Callon,” Daniel pleaded, grasping his brother’s arm. “He held onto Cheyenne and took Marcus’s hits even when we were both screaming at him to drop her. He gave his life for us so we could escape!”

“
You don’t know the powers Marcus has, Daniel!” Maes hissed. “You haven’t witnessed how the mighty have fallen under his command.”

“Colt would never…” Daniel lowered his head, tears brimming in his eyes. I leaned forward and grasped his hand, pulling him back. I knew in my heart
, as Daniel did, that Colt would never betray us.

Callon cleared his throat.

“I think the first thing we need is proof that he’s alive, but honestly I don’t know where to start,” he said.

“Do we have any spies out in the field that we could send?” Dex asked.

“And risk their life and possible capture for the life of one?” Brogan sneered. His fingers tightened on the book’s binding. “Since when did his life become more important than the lives of the rest?” His brown eyes narrowed in on me. “And what does our resident princess have to say about this? Colt was her favorite, after all.”

I gritted my teeth. Brogan wasn’t going to get under my skin this time.

“Colt would have willingly risked his life to save any of you,” I said, taking care with my words. “He’s already paid a larger debt. He’s trapped with Marcus. Death would have been easier.” I knew this firsthand. “And if all you’re going to do is sit here and tell me that all he sacrificed isn’t worth a thing, then I don’t want to listen anymore.”

I stood and left the library.
My heart was getting the better of me, I knew, but what there were saying was just cruel. Colt was out there and possibly under Marcus’s control. I understood he was a risk, a threat that needed to be handled, but not in the way they saw fit.

I headed for the sitting room, the dim lights illuminating enough of the furnishing to tell me that I was alone. Darkness loomed outside the windows. I stopped before the fireplace and sat down, staring at the remaining flames.

It was a two-edged sword knowing Colt was alive. A two-edged sword that had the potential to leave even more wounds in our ragged clans, wounds that could hurt Callon deeply. But it had also cut through my despair. He was out there, waiting for me.

I couldn’t just abandon him…

I glanced to my left where the music area had been set up. I knew this was Daniel’s doing. He’d made sure I’d have it if I needed it. He knew one day I’d need a release, that one day I’d find all of me again.

I
stood and took deliberate steps toward the piano. Sitting on the bench, I opened the lid on the baby grand, exposing the black and white keys. It had been too long since I’d allowed myself this freedom, too long holding things in and bottling them up. It was time to open myself up and allow Callon to know what my heart held for him. It was more than just a responsibility. I was choosing him.

I closed my eyes, resting my fingertips over the keys. It was time to let go.

The first note caused my body to tremble, the crimson-eyed creature waking. It moved inside, unsure of what was taking place. Soon my mind and heart took over, and I felt the notes wash over me, cleansing and healing. Trails upon trails of notes danced before me, spinning and twirling like ballerinas. Weaving in and out of the room, dipping and curving with each spike and tap of the key. The delicate rhythm finally wrapped itself around me, calming the crimson-eyed creature inside. I’d never let it take control again.

Colt’s image, the last image I had of him in chains and resisting Marcus, came into view. The
re was pain and agony in his eyes, but the sheer will to fight on showed in his defiance. I wrapped what I could around him, giving him back a piece of me to hold on to. I knew now, regardless of this outcome, that I needed Callon. There was the obligation, but there was more to it now. He’d been the one who pulled me through; he’d been the one who never gave up on me. He was the one who now believed in me and loved me as I loved him.

Callon could never take Colt’s place, but the love I felt for Callon surpassed more than I could have ever imagined. He held my heart firmly, he cared for it,
he nourished it and treated it with dignity and honor. He’d given up just as much as the rest of us, if not more. It was only fair that I gave myself to him fully as well.

The notes continued to morph into songs, songs of love and admiration for Callon. Songs crying out and letting him know exactly what I felt inside. He knew me; he knew how I expressed myself. He knew what I was saying without ever having to say the words. He knew I was finally giving all of me to him for good.

The music slowed, the passage of time unknown as the notes drifted quietly to the ground like snowflakes. Fresh, new, and untouched. Whole and ready to be molded into the shape it was to become. My fingers once again hovered over the keys. It was done.

A gentle hand cupped my cheek
. Callon’s musky scent drifted over me. His warm breath ran over my cheek.

“You did this for me, didn’t you?”
He sat beside me on the bench, our shoulders touching.

“Yes,” I whispered.

“You knew I needed this, to know where your heart lay.”

“With you, Callon, with you.”

He pulled my left hand closer and from beneath heavy lashes I watched him slide a platinum ring on my finger. My heart began to patter against my ribs. He had a ring for me.

“I’ve been waiting for the right moment, waiting for you to be ready.” He leaned in and kissed the corner of my mouth and then slid to the floor, taking a knee. “Cheyenne Alexis Wilson, will you marry me?”

Tears welled up inside, tears of happiness and joy that began streaming down my cheek. He didn’t just expect me to agree. He was asking me to.

“Yes,” I whispered unable to utter anything else.

He slid back up on the bench, his hands framing my face and wiping my tears away. There was a light in his hazel eyes, a light I hadn’t seen in a long time. A light of hope, love and restoration.

“I love you, Callon.” My lips quivered as he drew closer, my eyes falling closed.

“I love you more than you can understand, Cheyenne,” he muttered over my lips. “So much more than I thought possible.”

A
cascade of emotions poured over and through me. Soft, gentle caresses lingered on my lips, pulling me deeper into the moment. A stolen breath taken, but then given back as his mouth covered mine. A swarm of butterflies erupted in the pit of my stomach, sending goosebumps trailing over my skin.

His hand gently tipped my head back further
, directing me how he wanted to deepen the kiss. My hand came to rest on his chest. His tongue ran over my lower lips, and my fingers slipped up through his brown wavy locks.

It had been too long since we’d shared a moment like this. It
had been too long since he’d released the passion bottled up inside. Every twist and turn of his mouth only showed me how he felt, the man I was to marry.

He pressed even deeper, stealing away my breath as I stole his. Every twist and turn only made me
fall more in love with him. He was the one I’d be sharing my life with, and it would be far from loveless. I knew this was only the tip of the iceberg with his passion. One day he’d show me more.

His kiss slowed
, and he drew back, his fingers tracing my neck.

“You’ve given me everything I’ve ever needed, love. Thank you.”

He placed a tender kiss on my forehead, and I leaned in closer, snuggling into his chest. He gently placed his arms around me so he wouldn’t hurt me, but I didn’t care anymore. I’d take the pain and suffer just to feel his love surround me and give me strength.

I leaned closer to the sitting room window
. It was a rare day for sunshine, and my engagement ring was sparkling in the sun’s beams. I stared at the intricate design. Had it been in Callon’s family for years? It looked vintage, and small imperfections were etched into the band itself. The ring felt heavier than expected. I was guessing the diamond was at least a carat if not more.

“I believe it’s called a European cut,” Dex said.

I smiled and examined the ring closer. The center stone was accented with four smaller single cut diamonds placed on each side.

Dex sat across from me at the small game table extending his hand.

“May I?”

I lifted my left hand for him to inspect the ring.

“I’d say around 1930s if I were to guess,” he added thoughtfully. “I think it’s been in the family for a long time.” He smiled.

“Old is good,” I replied.

“Congratulations.” His hazel eyes softened. “I know this hasn’t been easy on you, Cheyenne, and I just want you to know that Lilly and I are very proud of you.”

“I said yes because I wanted to, not because I had to.”

His smile deepened. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.”

“Cheyenne?” Andre’s head peeked around the corner from the main entrance.

“Over here.”

“I’ve been searching all over the place for you.”

She’d pulled her black hair back into a ponytail, and she had a pretty blue sweater on. She’d done her makeup, too. I couldn’t help but giggle.

“What
?!” Her right nostril flared slightly.

“You look nice
. That’s all.”

“Is there a crime in that?” She smoothed down her sweater.

“The only crime committed here is you looking pretty,” Dex said with a grin.

Andre rolled her eyes.

“Your fiancé wants to see you in the library, Cheyenne.”

I couldn’t wipe the grin off my lips. Andre was dressing
up for Maes, though she’d never admit it.

“He’d like you there too, Dex.”

Dex and I followed her into the hall, but she didn’t stop at the library doors.

“I thought you said the library?”

“The private library.”

“Oh.”

We continued through the hall to the metal studded doors. Andre pulled a key from her pocket and unlocked it.

“You have a key?” I asked.

“No, it’s Callon’s. He just gave it to me to bring you here.”

We continued down the dimly lit hall. Even with the lights on
, it still was too dark and gloomy for me. A cold breeze drifted by, and a shiver ran down my back.

We stopped at the library doors
, and Dex moved between us. He whispered a phrase, and the door unlocked, just like it had done before when Callon spoke the spell.

“Ladies,” Dex said and opened the door
, ushering us in.

Callon immediately rose from the desk and neared, placing a kiss on my cheek. For just a brief moment I witnessed what looked like distress flash through his eyes.

“Love,” he greeted me.

Callon led me to
a chair and had me sit next to the fire. Andre disappeared back into the hall, but within moments she was back again, Maes, Brogan, Koda and Daniel following. What was going on?

Callon exhaled and moved back to the desk. He sat and opened a drawer
. He hesitated a few moments, but then reached in and placed a small brown package on the tabletop. I sat up straighter, trying to see it better.

“A package arrived today
. The Campbell’s brought it over.” Callon’s voice was devoid of any emotion. “It’s addressed to you, Cheyenne.”

His hazel eyes met mine
, and the distress I’d witness earlier had returned. I blinked.

“I have a package?” I asked.

“Yes.”

Maes, Brogan, Dex, Koda, Andre and Daniel
gathered round, inspecting the package.

“That looks like…” Daniel trailed off deep in thought.

Callon stood and moved to the ottoman between the two chairs, holding the package in his hands.

“You need to open this, Cheyenne. It’s addressed to you.”

I nodded, still confused about who would send me a package. No one knew where I was except…my hands began to tremble. I read the label, and I pressed the Servak ring into my palm. I knew this handwriting. I inhaled a shaky breath.