Raining Light (Fate's Intent Book 5) (3 page)

I couldn’t believe he just said that. It wasn’t going to make Zayden feel any better about them being alone.

“How do you know?” Jaylyn asked.

“Not obvious? Explain why she cares so much. You’re going to have her forever, Zayden. He did that for you so the least you could do is let him have her for five fucking minutes.”

“That depends on how you mean.”

“It shouldn’t matter. That will be her choice and you’re going to let her make it.”

Kole turned towards the horses before anything else could be said and Zayden had his eyes on his back. He didn’t like the idea of it for sure but I could only wonder if Kole was right. Did Adele really love him? Is that why she always cared about how he was handling the situation?

My questions were probably running through Zayden’s mind too while he moved is eyes out towards the trees where Adele vanished within them.

The moment I thought about following with my vision, I looked at Zayden. He was looking right at me and I think he was thinking about asking me.

“Are you sure?” I was curious to know if I should even attempt to use my gift or just let her be.

“No. Forget it. Like he said, it’s her choice. I don’t even want to know.”

I hoped that was true because I didn’t watch. It would have been harder to have to explain if I saw anything.

Chapter 4

Adele

I traced through the trees, making just the slightest sound on the forest floor from my feet as I looked for Ryon. I couldn’t see him anywhere and visibility was getting low due to the setting sun. The sounds trickled to nothing from the campfire and I knew I was getting far away. My eyes moved around for any movement, keeping myself aware at all times.

“Adele?”

I jumped to the sound of Ryon’s wonderment voice and turned to my right to see him. “Oh, Ryon, you scared me.”

“What are you doing out here? It’s dangerous alone.”

“But I’m not alone.”

He turned from me and started walking from the way he came. “Go back. You should be using this time to rest, not out here, getting yourself hurt.”

“Wait!” I hopped over a fallen tree and jogged just slightly to catch back up with him but had to walk at his side when he wasn’t stopping. “I just wanted to find you. Are you okay?”

He sighed and kept his eyes down on the ground like he was watching his step. “Don’t worry about me, all right? Just go back.”

“Ryon!” I stopped by taking his arm and turning him so he would look at me. “I’m trying to talk to you!”

“Why? You shouldn’t.”

“Don’t do this again.”

“What exactly are you trying to prove?”

“Nothing. I just—you haven’t been by since I woke up and then you haven’t said a word to me all day. Did I do something wrong?”

He let out another sigh as he lowered himself down onto a rock with his eyes trying to stay off mine. “No. You haven’t done anything. It’s just me. It’s what I did.”

“What do you mean?” I was a little worried and kneeled down in front of him.

He still avoided my eyes but his voice was clearly filling with emotion when he spoke. “I messed up and some things just can’t be changed. I shouldn’t even be here.”

“I know you didn’t want to come but—”

“No!” He was getting somewhat frustrated and lifted his head. “This isn’t about that! I lost you, Adele and I couldn’t take it! I mean, you almost died! That was hard enough but then—”

“But I didn’t. I’m right here.”

“I know.” His voice seemed calmer but he didn’t look away from my eyes. “But I can never have you again the way I want. I lost that. That’s something else I can never get back.”

“Are we going to do this again?”

“No.” He looked away. “I don’t want to make you feel bad about your choice. I know you’re with Zayden and I know he’s your future. I wouldn’t want to do anything to take that happiness away from you.” He was so sweet. I slid my hand up his thigh and my lips found their way to his but it startled him and he backed away quickly. “Adele! What are you doing?!”

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

“Haven’t you been listening at all?” He sprung to his feet and his frustration was just hard for me to understand. “We’ve had our time, remember? This can’t be anymore.”

“Ryon, I know you want—”

“Yes, I do! I think about it all the time! That’s when everything went wrong! That’s when I couldn’t stand to watch you grow distant and I regret our last time together!”

“You regret it?”

“Only because I didn’t make it special in the way that I would have hoped for it being my last time with you. It was just before you left and you wanted it quick because you had to go. I didn’t get the chance to say good-bye properly and you didn’t even give me that when you got back.”

He was right, wasn’t he? I stepped in closer to him and gently touched his chest with my fingertips. “Because I don’t want you to say good-bye.”

“You don’t know how hard I want that to be true but we’ll have to sometime.”

“Not now.” My hand slid up his chest to his neck and I cuffed the back of it, lightly pulling his head down to me so he would listen and feel what I felt. “Not yet. Not before you show me.”

“Show you what?”

“How you would have done it.”

He was looking into my eyes deeply and I thought he was going to let it happen but I was greeted with a cold rejection. “Adele, we can’t. You don’t know what you’re asking of me.”

“I’m asking you to love me.”

He turned away. “Don’t do this. What would Zayden think if he knew what you were offering me?”

“Don’t worry about what Zayden thinks. He knows he’s going to get me if and when everything works out with his father, just like you do but that doesn’t mean I’m not free to make my own choices until then and I’m choosing this, right now. Ryon—” I hesitated my next words while I looked at the tenseness in his back but they still came out clear and without a doubt. “I love you. I really do.”

There was a long pause before he even moved. I didn’t want to say anything until he did and I kept my eyes on him as he slowly turned just his head to the side like he was going to look at me but never did. “You’re too late. There’s nothing I can give you now to satisfy your insatiable need to keep me around. It’s pointless.”

“I won’t make it pointless. I said I still wanted you a part of my life and I meant it.”

“Just as friends but that life is over for me now. I can’t even have that.”

“Ryon, look at me.” He paused but eventually gave in to my demand and turned his body so he could see straight into my eyes. “Don’t make me take this from you. I want what I want and I want it now.”

A slow smile started to appear on his face and he never strayed his eyes from mine. “You’ve always been so persistent and I’ve always loved it but I don’t think you’re thinking clearly.”

“I just want you to be you again. Fun and a pleasant company, not so distant like you’re making yourself.”

“That would be doable without this but I’ve got to tell you, it won’t be easy. The closer we get there, the worse it gets and we’re not even a full days out yet.”

“I know but we can get through it. If it has to be together then fine. It will be.”

“Zayden won’t share you and especially not in the way you were just hoping for.”

“But he’ll let me make my choices. He knows I care about you and there’s nothing he can do about that. So, will you at least come back with me? Nothing is out here to get us.”

He took a step closer and touched the side of my face with the back of his hand. “If that’s what you want.”

“It’s a start. Just don’t turn away from me again.” I put my hand over his, touching my face and squeezed his fingers with mine.

It was reminding me of how we used to be. It seemed at times I almost forgot how beautiful he was. His sky blue eyes watched me while mine watched him and I stepped in a little closer.

“I want you to.” I moved his hand down my mostly exposed body to my waist and let him clutch my bare back. He took a slow breath and had to swallow. Maybe he was being nervous or he was thinking I was right but he’s the one that leaned towards me this time.

The moment he even moved the slightest, proving that he wasn’t going to turn away, I moved in even quicker and our lips found each other’s again. I wanted to let it last as long as it could but it seemed he still felt differently. “Adele.”

“Hmm?”

“You should get back.” He pulled back so I couldn’t kiss him anymore. “I don’t want things to go too far. I know you’re with Zayden and he wouldn’t like it.”

“You don’t want to then?”

“I know we shouldn’t. I’m trying to do what’s right for you. Would you just let me?”

“Well, are you going to come back with me?”

“And do what?”

“Kole hoped that I could make you fun again.”

He laughed. “Yeah. I bet he did.”

“Come on. Just amuse him, would you?”

“Sure. As long as you don’t mind having everything like it used to be.”

“How do you mean?”

“You know, smart ass comments, rude and childish behavior. The usual stuff with Kole. I won’t let up a bit.”

I smiled and hooked my arm through his. “As long as you’re happy, I’ll be—well, I’ll manage to tolerate it.”

He smiled back and we started walking back south in the direction of the campsite. “Come on, Rift.”

The little white wolf pup jumped over a log and started to follow.

“How long have you had him?”

“Since the night you got back from your mission.”

“Is that why you went running off?”

“Yeah. He’s the only survivor. I’ve tried to get him into another pack but the males have a problem with that. I don’t want them to kill him so he’s officially a pet, I guess.”

“He likes you. That should be a good thing.”

He was quiet for a moment. “Yeah. He likes Zayden too.”

“Does he?”

“Must be the animal in him or something because he started out being very cautious about humans but not with him.”

All I could think about was that vision of Seth and the white wolf. It was this one, it had to be if Ryon was saying he was a pet. He’d never survive on his own. It was almost a hope now.

The campfire was getting close. I could see the glow of the flames through the brush and Ryon casually pulled his arm out of mine.

“What are you doing?”

“I don’t want to cause any problems.”

“I completely understand. Just go ahead and ignore me however you feel necessary. Just give Kole what he wants. I think he’s disgruntle about the current company. Trever’s off with my father so he’s just lonely.”

“I’m sure Jay’s not helping.”

“Yeah, I’m sure she’s not but you can help distract him. You’ll be doing everyone a favor.”

“I won’t be seeing it as helping. Try my best to ignore you, remember?”

“Well, great. Then I will you and I’ll start right now.” I hopped away from him quickly out into the clearing where the fire was and immediately approached Zayden from behind, startling him when I sat myself in his lap. “Relax. It’s just me.”

“I know. I just didn’t expect you to do that.”

I laughed.

“You all right?” Ruby asked.

“Of course.”

Ryon stepped out from the dark behind me with the wolf pup and walked around without making eye contact with anyone.

“Is he all right?” Jaylyn asked, following him with her eyes.

“He’s fine.” Ryon answered, still not looking over. He had somewhat of an attitude on his voice but I guess that would have been expected of him and he just went on ignoring us after that by whistling ahead at Kole and tossing a gold coin in his direction at the same time.

Kole caught it instantly before he even turned around and laughed while he did. “You’ve been thinking of that all day, haven’t you?!”

“A good portion. I actually made a list so you better get started.”

Kole was stopped before he could reply when my father and Trever walked over side-by-side and interrupted the steady balance of separation between the groups.

“Zayden, may we have a word with you?”

Zayden’s eyes glanced around and started to get out of his chair, making me move from his lap. “Yeah. Sure.”

“Zayden.” I grabbed his arm to stop him from taking another step from me.

“Adele, you’re doing it again.” My father smiled.

I looked back at Zayden and he could probably sense my worry. “It’s all right, Love. Stay here.”

My father nodded to the advice and Zayden slowly pulled from my arm, following them farther from hearing distance.

I still had my eyes directed that way, cautious about what was happening.