Immortal Essence Box Set: Aligned, Exiled, Beguiled (42 page)

“You and Zaren? That didn’t take long. I’m sure the
old man
is beside himself.” He was unexpectedly near, walking slowly in the sand behind me.

Michael.

I knew it, but how had he accomplished such a feat? With my immortal hearing, I should’ve perceived him coming. His voice sounded deeper, more arrogant than I remembered. Conflicting feelings tore through me. A part of me wanted to turn and throw myself into his arms. Check him over and make sure he was still in one piece. Another part of me wanted to smack him, yell at him, and ask him where he’d been the last six weeks. My body didn’t allow me to do either.

He moved up next to me, and I stole a sideways glance.
Still as gorgeous as ever.
His hair was longer, and covered one eye. A smirk turned his lips. He crossed his arms over a billowy white shirt. The sleeves hung to his wrists and were cuffed. Ties flapped carelessly against his chest, propping the neckline open. The ends of the shirt were tucked into a pair of black pants and on his feet were black boots. He looked good.

“Hel-
loooo
? You going to talk to me?” Amusement marked his tone.

“No.”

“Damn it.” He laughed, and my lips responded with a smile.

“Where were you?” I finally asked, turning to face him. Rugged, and gorgeous, I thought. My heart raced faster. I ignored it. I chose Zaren. But where had Michael been? I caught his gaze and held it, searching for answers.

“Here and there,” he responded evasively, shrugging.

“Why aren’t you dead?” The words left my mouth before I could censor them. Kelari’s air should’ve killed Michael.

He was human.

Michael cleared his throat and dug one of his booted toes into the sand.

“I’m waiting,” I said, pressing the sand he dug up back into place with my toes.

“Still an excruciating pain in the ass, I see.” He brushed his hair off his forehead and smiled, an easy smile, and its charm shredded my heart. Holy
helker
he was beautiful.

I crossed my arms, hoping to fend off his magnetism.

“Well,” he cleared his throat again, “it turns out I’m not all human.”

I think my mouth dropped into the wet sand. “What?”

“Surprise,” he said half-heartedly.

2. I Alone

“Are you kidding?”

A bird interrupted my question, calling into the night. I searched the bluff behind Michael, looking for the owner of the noise.
Anything to give my mind some time to wrap itself around this newest bit of information.
Was his true identity the reason the gods, Ith and Aetha, wanted me to help Michael find his soul mate? Had they known about Michael? “So what are you?” The question sounded worse than it was. I’d met dozens of creatures from different planets over the years. Some green with ten
googly
eyes. Others were red and similar to spiders, except they spit when they talked. 

“I’m—”

“Holy
cret
, you’re speaking kelarian. How?” I didn’t notice right away because he spoke so naturally.

Michael grunted. “Not too long after your incredible change, I had a transformation of my own.”

“You did?” I wondered what happened and stepped closer, examining his features for a telltale clue to his origin. At the base of his neck hung a silver medallion, bound by a leather chord. “What’s this?” I brushed my fingers over it. The steel rippled at my touch. The medallion had a picture carved into it.
Of a book.
It lay open. On the left page was the image of three beautiful girls. On the right an irrihunter clutched something round, like a disc, in its front paws. On its back sat a boy and a girl. They reminded me of . . .

“Ith and Aetha gave it to me. A sort of present, like your buckle,” he said, clutching the medallion within his palm.

“Nice.”

“Nice,” Michael repeated with a grumble. “Your gods have quite the ideas about you and me.
About Kelari.
About a lot of things actually.
I stayed with them a while before . . .” he let the unfinished sentence hang in the salty air.

“Before,” I prompted. I gave him my best questioning look and he laughed. I realized he didn’t want to tell me everything. What was he?
A kelvieri, like me?
I touched the taut thickness of his chest, ran my fingers down his arms. Michael grinned, and I flushed, self-conscious. He pretty much looked the same. He even smelled like him—like warm sunshine and pears.
Without the overwhelming stench of cigarettes.
 

“Finished?” he asked, tugging playfully on my braid.

“Something
is
different about you.” I couldn’t put my finger on it. “If you aren’t human, then what?” I moved away from the friction our bodies created together. His nearness caused me to doubt my decision to pick Zaren. I didn’t need that. I knew I cared for Zaren, adored him really. There wasn’t a person alive who understood me the way Zaren did. Zaren was also completely dazzling. Not to mention kind, sweet, and an incredible kisser. At the thought of his lips on mine, my toes curled in happiness.

“I want to explain, tell you exactly what I am. It’s-” He blew out his breath. “Complicated.”

An explanation didn’t seem complicated. Michael was hedging. Whatever his species, he was either embarrassed, or scared I wouldn’t like him because of it. If he wasn’t kelvieri, it didn’t matter whether we had feelings for each other or not. According to the law of the Universe, different species weren’t allowed to be together.
Physically or otherwise.

“Venus?” Michael touched my cheek with his thumb, and I jumped. My skin flushed and responded in a way it never did with Zaren.

“Don’t touch me.” More quietly, “Don’t.” My deliberations made me angry. Irritated, my body was so drawn to him, like two ends of the same piece of string.  

“Chill.” Michael said, uncomfortable.

“Sorry.” It didn’t make it right to lash out. He had no idea of the thoughts running through my head, the sorts of emotions eroding my insides.
The excited butterflies.
It wasn’t fair to Zaren. “It’s my family. I still haven’t found them, and it’s been difficult.” Tears filled my eyes again.
Cret
, I swore internally, wiping them away.

Michael coughed. “They are the reason I’ve come.”

“What? You know something about Amberlee? About my mom and dad? Six weeks in Kelari and you know it all.” I huffed. Did he come to upset me, to cause me pain? It was possible, I guess. I hurt him when I didn’t reciprocate his feelings in the cave with the gods, and I’m sure seeing me with Zaren made my rejection of him even more painful.

“My father—”

“Ugh. I know, Michael. I’m sorry.
For everything.
But go home. My problems aren’t your problems. This is kelarian business.” He said he wasn’t
all
human
, but that didn’t mean he was kelarian. I wondered why he stayed on Kelari? What were his motives? But then it wasn’t like he had a lot of reasons to return to Earth.
His alien-murdering father.
High school football.
Cheverly? Maybe. 

He shook his head, and blew out his breath in frustration. He was angry.

Great, here it comes, I thought, bracing myself for his worded assault.

He must’ve noticed the stony mask I plastered over my features because he softened. The skin between his eyes relaxed and the tightness of his jaw loosened.

“I’m sorry too,” he finally said.

“Don’t be. You didn’t take my parents. Whatever’s happened, it isn’t your fault.” I tucked my hands in my lavender jacket pockets, and wrapped it around me. “Look, I can’t stay. I’ve a meeting to get to.” I regarded him, imploring. “Please, I’m glad you’re okay, and I’m truly sorry for everything, but I-I need to go.” Even though I felt I had to say the words, to be fair to Zaren, each syllable hurt as I spoke. I’d never told such a blatant lie in all my life. As the soon-to-be Queen of Alayeah there were more important things to worry about than a finicky heart. “Do you have a place to stay?” I wanted to be fair to Zaren, but I didn’t want to leave Michael without a place to sleep, or eat, or whatever his kind required to survive. Those thoughts brought me up short. What was he?

“Of course,” he said quickly.

“Maybe we can get together another time. I’d really like to talk to you. Find out where in the Universe you belong.” I gave a short laugh. 

“This can’t wait, Venus.” Bite enunciated his words.

“You’re so arrogant.” I started up the hill, ignoring the low-lying plants scratching my feet. They didn’t damage, only irritated. I needed space, away from Michael, a chance to ponder my feelings.

He’s staying for you!
The voice burst through my brain. It sounded female, yet kind of growly. “No,” I whispered, but stopped. Was he staying for me? My heart knew it was true. He told me he loved me. He believed I was his soul mate. But I rejected him. Surely he was furious, humiliated even. I would be. 

He’s a part of you. He risked his life for you.

The snarling voice was right. It didn’t matter that I picked Zaren. What mattered was I wanted Michael around. I wanted him to be happy. And I wanted to know all about what he’d been doing the last six weeks. The Chans and their meeting could be rescheduled. 

“Michael!” I turned back, and ran directly into his chest. Michael had followed me, but I hadn’t heard him. Again.

He grabbed hold of my waist. “I’m right here. You don’t have to shout.” He smiled as he spoke, and his white teeth shone in the moonlight.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” I patted his chest.

“I know, Princess.”

His soft voice pushed away all the barriers I’d built up. With those three little words the dam inside burst. I swallowed, choking down a sob. Tears leaked onto my cheeks, and I let them. I didn’t care anymore. The past several weeks I pretended I could handle everything—being the leader of Alayeah—the perfect kelvieri princess, but I wasn’t. I couldn’t be what my country demanded. Not yet. There should be another couple of hundred years before such a mantle was passed on.

Michael brushed away my tears, his features scrunched in concern. “Venus. Stop. Shhh.” He pulled me into an embrace. I wrapped my arms around him. My head rested against his chest, and I drew in a deep breath. I’d missed him. Michael. Full realization of how much consumed me.

“I know where your parents are. That’s why I’ve come,” he whispered into my hair.

I froze, all cozy feelings toward Michael disappearing as quickly as they came. He knew nothing about Kelari.
About me.
The pain and agony I’d gone through searching for my parents. He was playing me. Whatever his real origins, they must be evil. Otherwise, why would he say such things? Lie to me. I didn’t understand. “How dare you?” I balled up my fists, and releasing all of my pent up agony, pounded on his chest.

“I hope you’re happy now. I hope you feel better. I hope you rot in
hel
—”

“Would you stop,” he said, grabbing my wrists in his hands and glaring. “I’m telling you I know where to find your parents. I want to help, so why do you keep freaking out?”

“Really?” I tried to read his strange expression. “You can’t be serious.” I casually wiped my nose on the sleeve of my jacket as I searched his eyes.

“For
cret’s
sake. I’m totally serious.” He dropped my wrists, rubbing his neck. I knew he used my favorite swear word to ease the tension suddenly between us, but it didn’t work. I was a wreck with emotion.

“Where are they, then?” The words quivered as they tumbled out. I wanted to believe he spoke the truth.

“Well, here’s the thing. Um, they’re in Helker.”

“Impossible.” I stepped toward the crashing waves.

He moved with me. “I’m not lying. They are there. I swear.”

“Why would you say such a thing?” I asked, facing him.

His features hardened. “Why do you have to be so exasperating? Can’t you trust me? Accept what I’m saying without twenty questions?”

“Seriously? You want to know why? Because up until a few minutes ago I thought you were human. Now I learn you aren’t, yet you wait six weeks to come and find me.” I poked him in the chest with my finger as I spoke. “Do you even remember what Helker is?” By the look on Michael’s face it was obvious he remembered and more. “Have you been?”

Darkness, an angry fury, twisted his features. Frightened me. “As a matter of fact I have.” The words rumbled out of him, low and intense.

Afraid, I moved away, my feet splashing in the surf. A strong energy abruptly began to pulsate from Michael and shot through me, pulling at my core. It didn’t hurt, not really, but the sensation startled me. “What are you doing? Stop!” I grabbed at my chest; trying desperately to force whatever he was taking from me, back inside. “What are you?” If he was kelvieri, he certainly wasn’t like any I knew. Was he human at all? Terrified, I receded further in the water, but stopped when it reached the middle of my thighs. My teeth chattered. The hem of my dress soaked, weighing me down. I felt trapped between Michael and the water.