Fearless Magic (39 page)

I took off the necklace that hadn't left my chest in months and laid it on my dresser. The emerald engagement ring sparkled next to the dull, obsidian stone and I looked away quickly, not able to listen to its silent accusations.

I slipped on some silver, six-inch pumps for good measure and mostly because I knew that it would be a very long time before I would get another chance to wear heels again and walked downstairs.

The house was empty except for Jericho. Aunt Syl had taken Lilly out for the night and I assumed she was reenacting her day with me on poor, unsuspecting Lilly.

I could smell Jericho’s cooking from upstairs, and whatever it was smelled amazing. When I walked into the kitchen, he was busy stirring something on the stove and adding spices from different glass containers. I leaned against the doorframe watching his expert precision as he tasted and re-tasted everything to make sure it was to his liking.

He had gotten a haircut today too, and the stray curls at the bottom of his collar had disappeared. He was wearing a white collared shirt with the sleeves pushed up to his elbow and a brown vest that screamed his style. I expected an apron tied around his waist, but decided he was probably too advanced and skilled to need any kind of protective garment.

“Don’t be shy, come on in,” he announced coyly, with his back still to me.

“Oh, I’m not shy, I was just watching the master in his domain,” I replied.

“It’s almost done; we’re just waiting on the rice....” He turned his burners down and then checked the oven before turning around to greet me properly.

Jericho stood across the kitchen gazing at me and the faintest hint of a smile turned the corners of his lips. He let his eyes sweep over me appreciatively in the gentlest of ways and then slowly walked over to me, pulling me into his arms.

He kissed me with his soft, warm lips, carefully moving them against mine. “Is this Ok?” he pulled away for a moment, until I could answer him with an “Uh, huh,” and a kiss of my own.

Our magics, now accustomed to finding each other, moved around us in connected bliss. I pressed my body against his, fully valuing who he was and how he made me feel. He was a great leader and could command armies, but when he was with me, he didn’t always have the perfect words. He was passionate and courageous in battle, but with me, he was gentle and careful. He was honest with me always, not even allowing a hint of manipulation between us and he was like that from the beginning, from the first time I asked about Lilly in prison. He let me fight, without the desperation to protect me. There were times when he wanted to defend me, wanted to go with me and fight at my side, but he gave me the room I needed to become the warrior that the Rebellion needed. He respected me, he pushed me to be a better leader and what I loved most about him was that he put my brother, this mission, and our cause all before our relationship.

I knew that he loved me. I had known for a long time. But, Jericho did not pursue the relationship in these last several months; he dedicated himself to our mission and to rescuing Avalon. That is what I needed in a man.

I didn’t want him swept away with me and forget everything else, or fight only to save me. Life held consequences and real responsibility, and Jericho understood that. Our personal relationship played second to a cause that would come first in my life until I could destroy every opposition. Jericho not only respected that but fought side by side with me believing in the same purpose.

Even with all of that, all of the reasons to love him and to wait for him until after everything was decided, still his kiss sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach and my magic tingling from excitement. This wasn’t the all-consuming love that I had for Kiran, but it was the healthy, rational love that I needed, the only kind of love that I wanted.

“I think something’s boiling over,” I mumbled, breaking our kiss and moving my eyes to the stove where a pot of something yellow was spilling onto the stove.

Jericho jumped back, stopping the spill with his magic and sprinting back to the boiling pot. I watched him clean up the mess with practiced skill and turn off the stove completely. When he finished he spun around to me.

“Dinner is ready.” He smiled sheepishly, gesturing at the dining room table that was set for two.

A beautiful bouquet of spring tulips and lit candles decorated the center of the table; my aunt let him borrow her fine china. The chairs sat closer together, one at the head of the table and one on the side.

“Can I help you set the table?” I offered, feeling useless.

“No, I've got it, just sit down.” He waved me away, walking to the table with a big pot of yellowish stew and another pot of rice. He returned to the oven and pulled out delicious smelling bread that reminded me of India.

“Did you make Indian?” I gasped, my mouth suddenly drooling.

“Well, Avalon mentioned how much you loved the food over there, I mean before.... so anyway, I thought that I would make you something I knew that you liked.” He sat down next to me, dishing up for the two of us.

“This is absolutely amazing,” I gushed, floored by his kitchen accomplishments and willingness to serve.

We ate in silence for a few minutes; I was too busy devouring his food to bother with conversation. I couldn't believe how authentic his curry was and how delicious everything tasted.

“Wow, Jericho, this is really.... it's so good! I'm just so impressed!” I set my fork down for a minute, afraid I would eat my weight in Indian food.

“Well, good.” He blushed at my compliments.

“So, are you ready for tomorrow?” I asked, pushing my plate forward and turning the conversation more serious.

“Sure, I'm ready,” he said passively, but I could hear the confidence resound in his voice. “What about you? Are you ready?”

“I'm most scared about the trip over there! Do you think Gabriel will mind if we take the Cessna?” I asked, hoping Jericho would take me seriously.

“You know, I could fly over with you, you don't have to go with Gabriel,” Jericho offered, his serious eyes reflecting his concern about our separation.

“I know you could, and I've thought about it.... but I think everyone needs you to greet them at the safe-house. I mean, you're really the one running this show....” I trailed off, not knowing how to explain to Jericho that I needed space from him before the mission. I needed to focus and forget about love and relationships and get ready to lay it all down for Avalon.

“You're probably right, I just.... I can't help but feel like.... I'm just worried about you, that's all,” he found his words, reaching forward and pulling me towards him. I kissed him sweetly, pressing my mouth against his in wordless promises that there was nothing to worry about. “Come on, let's leave this for later and go someplace more comfortable.”

He held my hand, leading me into the living room and onto the couch. He lit the fire with his magic and I cuddled close to him, sinking down into the soft cushions. He radiated warm and happy magic. I couldn't imagine leaving his arms for the coldness of a mission tomorrow, or wanting to belong anywhere else than next to him for the rest of my life.

“This is nice,” I sighed, breathing deeply and setting my magic free. I didn't realize I was holding it back, a natural reaction from old habits. When my magic met Jericho's it was like taking a full breath, breathing in deeply just to let it out slowly again. He supplied safety and happiness, everything I wanted.

“We've been through a lot together, huh?” he commented quietly, resting his lips against my hair.

“Yes we have,” I agreed and then sat up to stare him in the eyes, “like the first time we met and you threw me off the rooftop!” I gasped, surprised that I still remembered how to flirt.

“I didn't throw you!” he defended himself. “You fell off!”
“No way! You totally pushed me!” I laughed, settling back down into the nook of his arm.

“Well, in my defense, I didn't think you would really get hurt, you are immortal after all,” he mumbled, still laughing at me.

“Do you really think that? Do you really think I'm immortal?” I asked, and the tone of the conversation was suddenly sober.

“I do think that,” Jericho answered, his tone matching my own. “I mean, I thought the same thing about Amory and eventually the world outlived him, but when you look at a life as long as his, it's hard not to say that he was anything but.”

“You're right,” I agreed, remembering my grandfather before he died. Death offered peace for him, like going home. I had watched him slip away into the other side of eternity with a smile on his face and eyes that looked towards heaven and I envied him.

“Why do you ask?” he whispered, his voice hoarse and thoughtful.

“I don't know, it's just that I haven't known about magic for even an entire year yet, but these last few months have already felt like a life time. I can't imagine fighting battles like this forever. I can't imagine Lucan as my enemy for the rest of time. And if I'm immortal, surely, after Amory's death Lucan is too. And the king's goal is to make his son just as allergic to death as we are. If it's going to be the three of us fighting for all of eternity, I think I will just give Kiran my magic and call it quits! Doesn't that sound awful?” I whined, truly afraid of the words I was speaking.

“It won't just be the three of you, though, we are going to get Avalon back. You might as well consider his company guaranteed, and then your parents. They will at least live for a very, very long time. And then your husband, whoever you choose for that role; I mean, he'll share your magic so.... I mean, he will also be immortal,” Jericho finished his point slowly, as if he hadn't meant to bring the last part of it up.

“Oh, right! My husband. I forgot about him! I wonder what he will be like?” I tried to remain serious, and get under Jericho's skin, but I couldn't keep a straight face.

“He's going to have to be a patient man,” Jericho teased, “a very patient man.”
“Hey now! That's not very nice!” I acted offended, but, secretly, I agreed with him.

“Eden,” his tone changed back to serious, and I could sense the direction he was going before he said anything else. Butterflies attacked my stomach and I could feel my cheeks blush with anticipation. “I'm a patient man,” he whispered and I breathed in deeply with confirmation that he still loved me.

Logically, I knew that he did, but emotionally, I needed to hear him verbalize his feelings. He said the words before, but I wasn't ready to hear them. And now that my heart was ready, now that I was subconsciously planning our future and not having a single thought that didn't include him, now that Kiran was an embarrassing memory and my magic had moved on, now I would hear those words and say them back. I would believe them and hope that he believed me.

“I know that you are,” I admitted, turning my face to his. “You were patient all this time. I had to find myself first; I had to remember who I was and become the person I was meant to be. You have been there for me patiently while I searched for you, even when I didn't know I was looking for you, you were there.”

“And, did you find me?” he asked, nuzzling his nose against mine.

“Mmmm... hmm.... I did, I found you,” I closed my eyes, relishing every moment of our togetherness.

“I love you, Eden, I always have,” he whispered sweetly and I almost cried at his sincerity.

“I love you, too,” I answered honestly, and with all that was left of me.

He kissed me then, sealing our commitment to each other with a kiss. Our magics pressed against each other, refusing to leave one another and my lips mimicked the sentiment. I loved Jericho in the way two people are supposed to love each other, with trust, commitment and honesty.

We settled down, nestling into each other and falling asleep on the couch. We had eternity before us, there was no need to hurry, no need to rush things. Part of me felt like we had been together for a long time, and that he was always my intended destiny once life had turned upside down. And the other part of me felt like for the first time, tonight, with our words and purpose for each other we were finally together and I had been waiting forever to be with him.

I curled up, even closer to him, offering him my future and trusting him with what was left of my heart. I struggled to get closer, finding it hard to get comfortable and relax. I argued with myself that I was just panicking, that I had been hurt before and so I wasn't willing to trust happiness that felt too good to be true. But these moments on the couch, with my soul bared and promises whispered felt more like goodbye than the start of something.

I eventually shook the feeling, and fell asleep to his peaceful, measured breathing. I promised myself that all I needed to do was get through Romania, I just needed to get Avalon back and then every night thereafter, could be spent like this with Jericho. I just needed to rescue Avalon first.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“Please, Lilly, I'll never forgive myself if something happens to her!” I pleaded, begged and almost cried out to my friend.

“Eden, of course I will stay with her! Of course I will,” she said quickly, soothing my desperation. “As long as you're sure you would rather have me stay with Syl, then go?” I could tell that Lilly was disappointed she wouldn't get to go on the mission, but I awoke this morning with the urgent need to protect Aunt Syl and Lilly. I started thinking about the mission and how Lilly was already in prison twice and I decided I couldn't let Lilly risk her life again or leave Aunt Syl alone again, for even a moment. So, because they loved each other so much, and because I couldn't bear it if something happened to either of them, I turned them to each other and forced them to promise me they would take care of the other one.