Endless Night (Fate's Intent Book 3) (4 page)

Chapter 8

Darius

Was she talking to me?

I had to look back just to check and Adele had the biggest smile I’ve ever seen her give. She was definitely talking to me but I was still unsure.

Zayden and Troy silently insisted that I go for it and I knew someone had to. I took a breath, running my hands back through my hair and knew I was waiting for this but I didn’t think it would be so hard. My palms were almost sweating and for the first time I was actually nervous about seeing her. I’ve truly never known this emotion before and it was making me feel jittery from the suspense. Even my hand shook as I reached for the lock on the door and I opened it even slower. It was really her. Ruby. Finally.

“It’s about ti—” She paused mid-word and stiffened in front of me. She was wearing a red and taupe elaborate dress that was only really covering her through the red embroidered flowers with a beautiful mask that matched around her eyes.

Her eyes slowly lifted to mine and they were like gold, sparkling under the light and nothing could have been more beautiful at this very moment.

I was wrong.

“M—Muscles—” She stuttered my pet name I’ve grown fond of and lifted her mask so I could see her beautiful face. “Is it really you? I’m not dreaming? Tell me I’m not dreaming.”

I was glad to know that she seemed just as nervous as me and I took her hand towards my chest. “I’m here. This is real.”

Tears formed in her eyes and she flung her arms up around my neck. “I’m so sorry! It was all my fault! If I just refused none of this would have—”

“This is not your fault.”

“But you know it was.”

“No. It was mine. I shouldn’t have left you. I would have never let that happen.”

“I don’t want to worry about that anymore. You’re here. That’s what I care about more.” We finally shared a kiss and it was the most perfect kiss she could have ever given me—well, for now.

I was pushed up against the door and the aggressiveness she used caused me to instinctively react with my own. I slid both hands down to her hips and lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around me as best they could in the dress and I turned her towards the door.

She felt so perfect to be back in my arms but the moment couldn’t last.

“Um—” Adele cleared her throat behind us. I knew it was her. She had that same attitude about it. “Other people present and I’m sure you don’t want this ending in death.”

Her words amused me and I placed Ruby back down on her feet carefully while turning. “It wouldn’t end in death. She hasn’t killed me yet.”

She seemed surprised because her eyes widened. “What? You mean you’ve actually—”

“Yes.” Zayden cut in. “And apparently it’s why we had to get you out so soon.”

Adele’s widened eyes narrowed and fixed on Ruby beside me. “Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that it’s your fault. My dress please?”

Ruby stepped out into the hall and picked up a bag tossing it to Adele. “How long have they been here and did you ever plan on telling me?”

“Relax. They just got here. I would have told you when I saw you tonight though I wouldn’t know how I’d start that conversation since I haven’t seen you in a week.”

Ruby laughed a bit falsely and tried not making eye contact with anyone. “Yeah. Sorry about that. I just—came to—get my shoes.”

She walked out and I looked back at the others before following. Something was wrong. “Ruby?” She stopped just a few steps down the hall but kept her back turned. “Are you all right?”

“I’m sorry. I—I don’t want to talk about it.”

This was my fault. I approached carefully and touched her arms from behind. “I’m sorry that I made you wait so long. It was more important to me that you got out safely no matter what.”

“I know. It’s just you didn’t come when I needed you to.”

“You don’t need to worry. I’m here now and I will be for however long you want.”

“Forever!” She snatched her words greedily as she turned around. “Like you said.”

“Then I will.”

She smiled and pulled my head down so I could lean into her lips. It was a soft kiss and it only made me want more. I pulled her body into me, caressing her skin and she seemed to like it but she pulled away. “We should wait.”

“Wait?”

“You’ve survived once but what if you couldn’t do it again? I’ve never gotten passed the first time before.”

She was expressing real concern and I smiled to it, touching her face. “You shouldn’t have to worry. I know you can’t hurt me.”

“But—”

I wasn’t finished. I immediately moved my hand to her mouth to stop her. “But I agree with you anyway. We’re going to have a lot to deal with soon with my being here and I don’t want our—”

“Please don’t say it.”

I smiled with the thought of it. “Our personal life to effect the success of my staying with you. If that’s still what you want?”

“You know it is. It’s why you came. I only wish you could have been with us. Every step I had to take away only made things worse.”

“You don’t have to worry about doing that again because from here on out, I’m going to be with you every step and no one will make us separate again.”

Ruby’s eyes watered but she tried smiling and hurled her arms around me. “Promise?”

“Guarantee it.”

“Come on!” She got her excitement back and started pulling me down the hall like she was never sad. “I have to get my shoes.”

I happily went with her all the way down to the very last door on the right. She opened it and backed into the room with her smile watching me. I wondered why until I looked around.

Ruby gemstones of all sizes were everywhere, lining her room. They were used as trim on the walls, top and bottom. Rubies lined the windows and the balcony door. They were placed as handles on drawers and cabinets and around her vanity mirror and even on the bench seat that sat in front of it.

I couldn’t seem to blink at first. The room was beautiful or at least that’s what I thought until I saw the bed. It outmatched the rest of the room. Rubies, starting at the size of my palm and getting smaller as they rose up, formed four bedposts that reached beyond even my height and the headboard had rubies imbedded into the dark wood in the shape of an ‘R’ with its mirror image. I wondered if she knew. My last name was Revier.

“Well? You did say you wanted to see it.”

“Yeah but I did not expect it to be anything like this.”

Ruby shrugged and looked around too, being modest about how nice it really was. “I’m pretty used to it. Hang on I just have to get one thing.” She opened her closet door and took out a pair of red shoes to go with her dress. “Okay, come on. Adele will probably need my help so she can get ready faster.”

I didn’t want to but I closed the door behind me and followed. “I don’t know how long it will take me to get used to that.”

“You have awhile, remember?”

“Yeah. Lucky.”

Ruby laughed and we headed back to Adele’s room. I naturally looked up, something most people do when they walked and I saw a familiar face standing placid at the end of the hall.

Chapter 9

Jaylyn

Ba-boom Ba-boom Ba-boom

My heart fluttered so loudly I couldn’t hear my own thoughts clearly.

Ruby was happy. She was smiling and that man next to her—he was smiling. Was this really happening or was I only dreaming again?

“Hey, Jaylyn. You look good.”

His deep voice broke passed my sound barrier and I was standing unmoving with my eyes locked on him. I was a statue with just one thought tracing through me. “W—where’s—”

That’s all I could say. My head was pounding with the beat of my heart and my tongue became confused about how to speak but they knew. They knew my longing question and Ruby pointed to Adele’s door just feet from me. “He’s in there.”

My stare finally broke and I got all my movement back. I rushed quickly towards the door, unhesitant to open it and there he was. Troy, my long lost lover. He came for me. He finally came for me.

He turned his body towards me and his smile was all I needed to see. I missed that smile.

“Jaylyn.” His voice made my body shutter like the very first time all over again. It was smooth and real. He was really here.

My knees buckled and I reached for the door frame so I wouldn’t collapse to the floor. I couldn’t believe I was seeing him or that’s just what my eyes thought. I hoped this was real. He came, he must have really loved me. I knew it.

I rushed right over to him without a word and hugged him tightly. I buried my crying eyes against the metal of his breastplate and Troy put his arms around me just as quickly. I felt his pain and was shaking in his arms to finally be back in them. No other moment in the world could compare to this one.

“It’s all right.” He whispered, his hand touching my blonde curls that spiraled down my back. I knew how much he loved them and I have kept my hair like this, waiting for him. “I promised didn’t I?”

“I missed you so much! You’re not leaving me again! I won’t let you!”

“It’s okay. You won’t have to.”

“She’s been waiting for this more than you think.” Ruby said.

“Well, she’s not the only one.”

I tried to get myself to breathe more calmly to silence my tears and backed away, looking up in the evergreen of his eyes. “What happened to you? Why did you take so long? Do you even realize that you left me to die?”

“We’re sorry that it took so long. Making sure you were safe was top priority for us but I never stopped thinking about you. Not once.”

I reached up to his neck and pulled him down so I could kiss him. “I’ve needed you.”

“I know you did and I know this should be happy but we’ve brought a job for you.”

I was a little confused and Troy approached Darius, taking off his right shoulder armor. His shoulder was wrapped and signs of dried blood was visible.

“What happened?” Ruby asked, worried like she didn’t know about it until now.

“It’s all right. I just got hit on our way out. I don’t even feel it now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Adele said. “I would have gotten you to her sooner.”

“I’m not priority. We wanted this to be happy. It’s not like I’m dying or anything.”

“Let me see.” I got closer and started taking off the wrap. “I can fix it.”

“Good. I’d hate to have that scar flaw my body.”

He was being cute and I laughed but I would really never let that happen. Of course I would fix it. I put my hand over the wound and focused. A green light from my eyes shone around us and the skin under my hand started to become clean and healed.

“Thank you. I guess I did feel it and just got used to it but this feels much better. I’m glad we met you.”

“I’m glad we met you too. So, how long have you been here?”

“How long do you think we’ve been here?”

I really wasn’t sure. They were dressed in their armor but it would have been safer for them to wear it daily.

“We just got here.” Troy put his arm around me and kissed the side of my head. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t have made you wait very long.”

“I hoped not. So, what’s the plan now, Adele? This isn’t going to be easy like we want it to be.”

“I know but tell that to Zayden. He wants to talk to my father to get him to let them stay.”

“What?!” I shouted it in a loud simultaneous echoing voice with Ruby.

“That could never work!” Ruby raged on. “Are you serious? If he knows you’re here, you’d be dead before you could even get around to asking.”

Zayden was just standing there smiling while Adele went on with an annoyed tone. “But that’s the thing. He thinks that he probably already does know so just coming out with everything will be a good idea.”

“I never thought you were such a dreamer, Zayden.” I said. “How could you even think that would work?”

Zayden looked over at Adele with his smile still visible. They obviously knew something we didn’t and I was ready to find out what.

Adele sighed and folded her arms. “Because my father will be in a delightfully good mood.”

“He will?” Ruby asked. “Because I don’t think that we’ve ever seen that.”

“No. He will because I’m going to do everything that he wants. Starting by wearing this dress.”

“They’re here and you’re still going?” I couldn’t believe it. “There’s no way I can now.”

“You have to.”

“But—” No. I wouldn’t. I clenched Troy’s arm tight in mine and stepped in as close as I could get. “We won’t be separated again and there’s no way they’d be able to step foot near the palace without being recognized. You know what that could do.”

“They could wear masks like us.” Ruby suggested.