Legendary (38 page)

“Yeah, we…remember when I explained to you about girlfriends and boyfriends?”

Arthur nodded, his face set in the calm mask he only seemed to drop when they were alone.

“Well, I guess that’s what Galahad and I are now.”

Arthur was silent for a moment and Aliana frowned, worried, until she saw the corner of his mouth turn up. “I assume our chats and dance lessons won’t be continuing.”

“Why not?” she asked.

“I would think you’d be busy with Galahad.” Arthur watched said warrior tackle Wade.

“Just because the relationship between me and Galahad has changed doesn’t mean I don’t want to spend time with you, Arthur.” She looked up at the king, taking his hand. “I like spending time with you. It’s fun and I feel like it’s one of the only times I can just be myself. You’re my friend. Galahad will understand.”

Arthur appeared relieved but something in his expression still seemed troubled. She guessed that he was probably thinking about his mystery love again—the vague memory of her seemed to constantly plague him.

The night ended soon after that. Lacy followed Wade, Leo, Percy, and Owen to their wing of the house, where Flora and the other Pixies had prepared a room for her.

Dagg flew off to the kitchen, intent on grabbing a snack before bed, giving Aliana and Galahad privacy to say good night. Galahad followed Aliana into her bedroom. It was the first time he had been past the doorway, and he paused a moment to take in the lovely room. “I see you like flowers,” he said, noticing the bouquets Flora had placed around the room.

“They smell nice.” Aliana stood with her hands clasped, completely distracted by having the gorgeous knight taking up so much space in her room.

Galahad was suddenly in front of her, catching her startled gasp with his lips. The kiss was long and sweet, his hands brushing down her arms and circling around her waist. All too soon, he pulled back, his eyes still closed and a satisfied smile on his lips. “Good night, Aliana.”

“Good night, Galahad,” she whispered back, still out of breath. He leaned in, kissing her softly one last time before stepping into the hall and closing the door behind him.

“Wow,” she said, falling back onto the soft covers of her bed.

22

I knew something had changed the moment they stepped out from the house. When Aliana told me that she and Galahad are dating I had to battle down my howl of anger, and I’m ashamed to say, my jealousy. Losing my chance with her hurts more than struggling to remember my ghost woman, yet I must accept it. Both women are a distraction from my duty to my friends, my kingdom, and to fulfilling the Fae queen’s prophecy. Saving the realms must come first. Yet that knowledge doesn’t make the decision to not wake the girls as we prepare to face Mordrid and Morgana any easier. But I agree with Merlin; it is for their safety.
~Arthur

“L
IA
, W
AKE
U
P!”
Lacy demanded, pulling Aliana’s pillow out from under her head.

“What the heck, Lacy!” Aliana whined, noticing Dagg perched on Lacy’s shoulder.

“Get up! The guys are suiting up to leave!”

Those words banished Aliana’s sleepiness. The brunette jumped from her bed, grabbing clothes from the floor and running into the bathroom to change. “When did this happen?” she asked, hopping on one foot, trying to get her jeans on.

“Merlin located Morgana early this morning. They want to attack before the rain clouds clear. Mordrid and Morgana won’t be expecting an attack this soon,” Dagg explained.

Aliana’s temper flared, realizing that the guys weren’t going to bother to wake her. Galahad hadn’t come even after everything he’d said the night before. Thundering down the stairs, the trio stopped in the foyer, watching the eight men strap weapons onto their chain mail- and leather-covered bodies.

Leo had
katanas
strapped over his shoulders and was loading a crossbow, securing several bolts for reload. Percy, Owen, Lancelot, and Wade all had broadswords hanging from their right hips along with shorter, thinner swords on the left. Dagger handles peeked out from their boots.

At his waist, Arthur had attached the beautiful sword the fire Elves had forged for him. At his feet was an honest-to-God spiked mace. He was breathtaking, but this time it wasn’t his good looks that made Aliana’s heart race. It was the realization that they were actually doing this.

Galahad had his sword strapped across his back with several daggers and long knives at his waist. His eyes met hers as he kneeled down, hiding small knives in his boots. He rose, like a terrifying and strong warrior god ready to defeat his enemy using any means possible.

Worry and terror swamped her. This wasn’t a good idea. They should wait, but what could she say to convince them? “Were any of you going to wake me before you went running off into a fight for your lives?”

She and Lacy hadn’t even had time to pull together a decent plan to follow them. Lacy had come to her room late the night before to tell her she’d been successful in getting some information from Percy and Owen. But Wade had caught on to her snooping and cut her off.

“This is our best chance. We have to take it while we have the advantage,” Lancelot said, straightening his vest.

“Aw, come on, don’t look at me like that, sis,” Wade said as Lacy went to his side, worry evident on her pale face. She had to be having a harder time with this than Aliana—at least Aliana had seen them fight before and knew what they were capable of.

“Do not fret, Aliana.” Arthur smiled, coming over to kiss her hand. “Our plan is solid and the dark clouds will give us cover. We know what we’re doing.”

She wanted to believe him, but the little worrying voice in her head wouldn’t be silenced. No sooner had he let her go than Merlin announced it was time to leave.

“How are you even getting there?” Alana asked, growing more frantic by the moment.

“I am taking us through a grid portal, and Lancelot will guide us the rest of the way,” Merlin explained.

“Can I at least help?” Aliana tried one last time. They all shook their heads.

“You are learning fast, Aliana,” Merlin said. “But you’re not ready, and it’s safer for you and us if you are here. If you were on the battlefield with us, we would be too worried about you. None of us would be able to focus on the enemy.”

“You mean you want us hidden away while you
men
go off to battle,” Lacy snapped.

“Lacy,” Percy said, drawing the blonde to his side. “We’re trying to protect both of you.”

Lacy smiled sadly at the knight she was falling for. “Then you and Wade better come back in one whole piece or I’ll kick your asses! That goes for all of you.” She tried to glare at all the guys.

The guys chuckled, but Aliana couldn’t even crack a smile. One by one they walked out the door, all offering smiles and reassurance that they would be back. Aliana, Arthur, and Galahad were the only ones left inside after Lacy and Dagg joined the others. Galahad wrapped his arm around Aliana’s waist, tucking her against his side.

“Were either of you going to wake me before you left?” she whispered, holding back tears of frustration and worry.

“Yes,” Arthur assured her. “But we wanted to be prepared first.”

“So you could take off quickly if I tried to follow.” She was livid, but she couldn’t bring herself to separate from Galahad.

“We are sorry, Aliana,” Galahad said, rubbing his hand over her waist.

Arthur bowed his head to Aliana and left.

“Galahad, please tell me where you’re going!” she begged. They had just gotten together. She couldn’t lose him so soon.

“Far enough away that you will be safe.” His fingers traced the skin bared by her short tank top. But even the sparks that came with his touch couldn’t calm her.

“Please be careful. I have a bad feeling about this,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist, not caring that the hilts of his daggers pressed into her sides.

Galahad tipped her face up to meet his, taking her mouth in a warm, deep kiss full of promise and love. Pulling back, he stroked his fingers across her cheek before claiming one last, intense kiss. Aliana clung tightly to him, her fingers gripping the thick leather he wore over his chainmail.

Galahad broke the kiss and rested his cheek against hers. “I will see that everyone comes back safely. Please promise me you will stay here. I cannot focus if I’m worried your friend will talk you into doing something foolish.”

Aliana flushed. Wade must have ratted them out.

“I thought so.” Galahad sighed, kissing her forehead.

“I’ll stay safe,” Aliana assured him. She would be safe with her magic and Dagg watching her back.

“They’re waiting,” Lacy said, her face somber as she poked her head inside. Dagg was on her shoulder.

Aliana and Galahad walked outside. He kissed her hand and then followed Merlin and the other Knights of the Round Table into the thick trees, toward battle. Here was another dream come to life before her, but Aliana couldn’t feel any of the happiness or excitement that she had in Avalon. Maybe she would when they came back safe.

She and Lacy stood in the driveway, not willing to go inside until the guys were gone from their sight. A quick flash of yellow streaked into the woods.

“Is that—?” Aliana whispered to Lacy, not wanting to alert Dagg just yet.

“Yep. Flora’s leaving us a trail,” Lacy whispered before Dagg wrapped himself around Aliana’s shoulders.

Wondering when Lacy had roped Flora into all this, Aliana took Lacy’s hand, pulling her inside the house and toward Merlin’s armory.

“And what do you two think you’re doing?” Dagg asked.

“About that.” Aliana picked up a curved bow—thanks to all her training, she was now a better shot than most of the knights. “You didn’t really think we were just going to sit back and let this happen, did you?”

Dagg landed on the quiver she was about to pick up, glaring at her with disapproval. “I heard you make a promise to Galahad.”

“I chose my words carefully. I promised him I’d be safe.” She picked up the Dragon and set him aside. “And I will be—with you there to watch our backs.” Dagg continued to argue, but both girls brushed his worries aside. “Like it or not, those guys are going to need me. I just know it!”

“That doesn’t mean you should make the situation worse by doing the opposite of what they want you to do.”

Lacy rolled her eyes. “If it were up to them, we wouldn’t ever be allowed to leave the house.”

“I could stop you with magic,” Dagg threatened.

“But you won’t,” Aliana said softly, calling his bluff.

Slinging the bow across her back, she caught the staff Lacy tossed her way. Her friend buckled a sword around her waist. Unlike Aliana, Lacy had no problem handling a blade. Like Wade, Lacy had been in martial arts training since she was a young kid and knew how to handle a lot of weapons, including swords. Her brother hadn’t been joking when he’d told the guys she fought dirty—he’d taught her almost every dirty defensive trick there was.

The trio whirled around as the heavy door blasted open with a bang. Flora plopped onto a table, hand on her chest. “They…used the portal…by the stream.” She gasped, fighting to catch her breath.

“Now you’ve involved the Pixie?” Dagg growled, exasperated.

“Would you have followed them for us?” Lacy asked, shooting the Dragon a dirty look.

Aliana opened a cabinet filled with thick leathers designed for fighting. She had been surprised a week earlier when she’d discovered the battle suits made for women. When she’d asked Merlin about them, he’d simply said that was a tale for another day.

Suited up and with weapons secured, Aliana and Lacy left the protected house, following the golden-hued glow that Flora had left for them.

“This is not a wise plan!” Dagg insisted again, following the pair into the woods.

Drawing on her magic, Aliana reached out, connecting with the earth. Merlin’s forest was lush and teeming with life. She felt the energy of the animals and the steady rush of power as the earth pushed toward her.

“Don’t take in too much at once,” Dagg reminded her, apparently deciding it was no use to argue anymore. “Your body can’t handle the stress yet.”

Aliana didn’t need the reminder; she remembered what had happened in Avalon and against Morgana. She wouldn’t be of any use if she couldn’t control the magic, so she closed off her connection.

“Lady Aliana.” She looked around for the familiar, silky voice. J’alel stepped out from behind a large tree, his friendly face a welcome sight.

“J’alel!” She walked toward him. “What are you doing here?”

“I heard the king was planning an attack. I came to offer my aid.”

She returned his warm smile.

“They’ve already left. We were following them.”

“They do not know you are joining them?” His questioning gaze wandered from Aliana to Lacy and then Dagg.

“Don’t tell us we shouldn’t go,” Aliana implored the Elf.