Awakening (38 page)

“No, I won’t let it. You mean too much to me to let one or two kisses interfere with our friendship.”

Caitlyn wondered why he said the last part telepathically, when she heard footsteps coming from behind her and a familiar pair of arms wrap around her waist a minute later. Garrett’s lips touched the top of her head before he stepped out from behind her to turn to Declan.

Garrett’s face was much warmer than the last time Caitlyn witnessed an encounter of the both of them together at the Gala. “Declan.”

This time it was Declan to stiffen. “Garrett.”

Garrett reached out his hand. “Declan, I want to let you know that I am aware that there is not a lot of reason for yourself or Caitlyn to trust me after all I withheld from her, especially after she has always been so honest with me. I understand if you, as her mentor, are weary of me. Please believe when I say I will never do anything to hurt her and I will be completely open with her from now on. I wanted to thank you for giving me the opportunity to come back and resume my mentoring of Caitlyn.”

Declan, who had still not taken Garrett’s hand, responded. “You don’t need to thank me. You need to thank the Tribunal.”

“Well, nevertheless I want to thank you anyways.”

Declan’s voice was strong and authoritative. “If Caitlyn chooses to trust you, then I will choose to trust you, because I respect her and her decisions. But if you so much as hurt her in any way, I will make sure that you are held accountable in a very swift and very harsh manner. Is that understood?”

“Absolutely.” With that, Declan reached out his palm to return Garrett’s handshake.

Garrett looked down at Caitlyn. “Kit Kat, I have to go to another meeting later on this evening. Would you like to have an early dinner with me first? I am afraid it would have to be now.”

“Of course.”

Garrett glanced at Declan. “You are invited to come too, if you would like.”

Declan’s eyes quickly passed between the lovers. “No thank you. I have to get going anyways. Caitlyn, I will talk to you soon.”

“Okay.” Garrett wrapped his arm around her waist, leading her out of the Gazebo. As Caitlyn walked away, she couldn’t help but turn her head back, expecting Declan to have already disappeared. Instead, he still stood there, his eyes locked on her. Her eyes met his for a brief moment, Declan’s azure eyes a reminder that she now held her own secret.

She heard Declan’s voice in her head once more, his voice tender.
“Ni thugann an croi amaideach faoi deara na rudai ata de dhith air go dti go mbionn se rodheanach.”

She knew that it was Gaelic. Declan had told her that all Descendants were required to speak it fluently and he had spoken it on several occasions in front of her. Never had it sounded so beautiful however.

A short while later at dinner, Caitlyn asked. “Garrett? Do you speak Gaelic?”

He made a face. “Close to perfect. My mom made me study it for years. I found it incredibly boring when I was a child.”

“Could you translate something for me?”

“Of course.”

She repeated the phrase that was still lingering in her head.

Garrett lifted her hand, and kissed the back of it lightly. “The foolish heart never realizes what it truly needs until it is too late. Where did you hear that?”

Caitlyn shook her head and lied. “In a book I was reading last night. It’s been bugging me all day.”

“Well, it is beautiful.”

Caitlyn couldn’t help but agree.

About the Author

J.E. Swift is the author of the Trust Series. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire (Go Wildcats!). J.E. Swift’s passions include writing, the New England Patriots, and bad karaoke. She lives with her husband and two children in a potentially haunted house in New England.