Deadlands (The Healer Series, #2) (26 page)

Tierran stepped up to them. His hand was on the hilt of his sword. “
I will show you to your room where you can get cleaned up before your journey back.”

“Um…well,” Willow said cautiously looking at Declan. “I’m afraid the time differences between our realms will be a hindrance to us if we—”

“My King and Queen would be much obliged if you will allow us to fulfill our offer of rest, even if only for the evening,” Tierran intercepted sternly, but formally. His green eyes bored holes into them as if saying they had no choice. He was a very impersonal, authoritative Elf, and Willow wondered why Elirana would want to be with him, whereas Chase was so carefree, loyal, and fun. Tierran and Chase were the exact opposites of each other.

“A little rest would be great, thank you Captain,” Declan said taking hold of Willow’s hand and squeezing. Well, that was settled, then.
Willow didn’t want to start a fight with an Elf. She would end up losing, anyway.

“Please follow me,” Tierran nodded and made his way out towards the golden doors of the library.

They started to follow the Captain when Willow turned around quickly. “Elirana…will you be joining us?”

Elirana’s thin eyebrows rose in surprise
. She looked to the Princess quickly and then back at Willow. “I must meet with my family and share some time with my Princess. However, I will come to you later to talk and say farewell.”

Willow nodded sadly at her reply. Somehow, she wished Elirana would come with them. Yet knowing how adamant she was about how her place was with her people, Willow shouldn’t have hoped for a different response. Turning around, she followed Declan and Chase to the room where they would rest before her final journey began.

Willow stood on the balcony with her hands on the pearl railing overlooking the glowing lights of the Elven city. Her hair was dampened from a recent shower, and the gown she was wearing flowed softly in the breezed. The fabric of the Elven clothes was indescribable. They were light and airy, hugging her figure perfectly. Her dress was an emerald shade of green with a simple golden belt. The material was soft and silky, and she felt quite comfortable in it.

My sisters would die to see me in this
, she thought and smiled in the dark. The Witches in her Coven lived by long Victorian dresses and were always decked out beautifully in older fashions. She had not once seen her sisters wearing jeans or T-shirts. Willow always refused to wear a dress all the time like them, and she always picked on them for looking so old school, so she imagined they would certainly get a kick out of her wearing an Elven gown. Not to mention…she actually
liked
wearing it, which was probably even more stunning.

Tears pricked her eyes as she reflected on her sisters. She missed them so much. Did they know she was fighting for her life? Did they know she was trying her hardest to save them? Did they know how much she needed them right now? Slowly, a tear made its way down her cheek.

“I’m coming for you, Pertussia. I’m coming for you, Portia-Anna. I’m coming for you, Pandora,” she said their names separately, whispering into the wind. She felt so close, yet so far from her goal all at the same time.

She felt someone coming up to stand beside her. It wasn’t Declan.
Glancing beside her, she saw her most loyal companion in the world, her best friend, Chase. He was freshly clean and was wearing a snug T-shirt and dark jeans. His black hair was pushed away from his face, which made his blue eyes stand out. Chase was very handsome.

“Don’t think I don’t notice you checking me out,” he said smil
ing and showing his pretty teeth. He flashed his Wolf eyes once to gain her attention.

Willow rolled her eyes, “Sorry, Wolf-Boy, but you’re hotness is nothing compared to Declan.”

“Hey, you just admitted I’m hot,” Chase wagged his eyebrows. “I’ll take it.” Willow giggled and turned to look out on the city again.

“It’s strange being here, you know,” he whispered
after a while. “The Elves have shown me more hospitality than I deserve.”

Willow smiled. “You were so sure they were going to lock you up, but here you are, a free agent.”

“Yes, but you never know what you’re going to get with the Elves. Sometimes, they’re kind and others, not so much. Apparently they just want to get rid of me. Besides, I haven’t faced her family yet,” Chase said. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I really don’t want to see them.”

“Are you upset…that Elirana isn’t coming with us?”

Chase blew out a deep breath. “Honestly…I’m relieved.”

Willow drew back to look at him in shock. “Why?”

“She’ll be protected here,” he shrugged. “I won’t have to worry about her safety when we go to war with Hekate.”

Tears pricked her eyes again. “Chase, you’re a good person. You deserve so much. You know that, right?”

“I think of the day I killed Elirana’s brothers every day of my life,” Chase said, not looking at her, but out into the city. “I think of what has happened, what could be, and what can’t. I don’t want to give up on her, Healer. I can’t let her go when I know I need to.”

“You truly love her, don’t you?” Willow asked.

“With my whole heart,” Chase nodded. “Think of what you feel for Declan. Multiply that times infinity and that’s where I am.”

“Oh Chase, I’m
so sorry,” Willow’s tears breached the surface and fell down her face. “We are living in a terrible time. You don’t know how much I wish things could be different. For everyone. For me, for Declan, and for you too. Will there ever be a day when that happens?”

“All we can do is hope, Healer. We have the tools we need,
and we will find this dagger, we just need to believe in ourselves. In times of struggles and war, I fell for my enemy. A Werewolf with an Elf? Healer, you’re lucky. You’re in love with a Warlock. You’re able to be with him. The way it is now…two different races cannot be in love. With you…it may be different one day. If we defeat Hekate…I mean,
when
we defeat Hekate, you can live a long happy life with Declan, healing those in need, all for the good of others. But me? I don’t see a future where I can ever be with my love.”

“Don’t say that Chase,” Willow cried harder.

“It’s true, though, isn’t it?” Chase whispered. “I can never live up to what I have done against her and her people. I may never be with her. I just have to get it through my thick head.”

“
What’s that about you being thick headed?” Declan said behind them. Chase and Willow both turned to see him standing at the entrance into the room. Willow quickly wiped the tears from her face.

Declan
had just gotten out of the shower, so his hair was still wet and slicked back off his face. His hazel eyes roamed Willow’s body freely checking her out and she instantly flushed under his scrutiny. He was also wearing jeans and a blue shirt, looking very dashing.

Declan walked out to the balcony and immediately wrapped his arms around Willow’s waist, pulling her against his back.

“Okay, you two lovebirds, I’m going back inside to sit, unless you want me to gag in front of you,” Chase said leaving Declan and Willow alone. Willow couldn’t help but smile at Chase’s taunting.

“You weren’t thinking about jumping off this balcony, were you?” he teased and played wit
h her hair. One of his arms was still wrapped around her waist firmly. He moved her hair away from her neck and trailed kisses from her collar to her jawbone. Willow instinctively relaxed against him.

“Would you catch me if I fell?” she asked
breathlessly.

“Always,” he said and squeezed her harder against him earning a squeak out of her
.

“Declan, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it, baby?”

“
It’s about….the end of the prophesy.” She felt Declan tense slightly behind her, but she continued speaking. “It said, when two become one so shall it be, the Healer takes the place as Queen.”

“Well, that’s exciting, isn’t it?” Declan asked. “I mean…you’ll be Queen of the Witches. Not Hekate. She
lost that privilege the instant she became an Extractor. Plus, she’s one of the Fates. She doesn’t deserve to be a Queen.”

“No…” Willow whispered. “Not that….”

“What part are you asking about then?” Declan feigned innocence.

Willow turned in his arms and wrapped her hands around Declan’s neck, massaging him. He pressed her into the balcony railing. Their faces were close together.

“When two become one. You and I…the Healer and the Destroyer, does it mean, I mean…we must…” Willow said searching Declan’s eyes.

He smiled sexily and leaned down so his lips brushed against hers. “Must what?”

“Come together…you know…physically?” she hinted.

Declan drew back. “Maybe
…so?”

“So? I mean…that’s a big step,
right?” Willow cleared her throat. “I’ve never been, you know…intimate with a man before. Not in
that
way.”

Declan chuckled. “Are you that
insecure, baby? You know your body is perfect for me, right?”

“I’m just afraid,” she clung onto Declan’s T-shirt.

“Baby listen,” Declan said seriously. “You’re mine, okay? I love you so much. We were made for each other. And one day, I get to show you how much I love you. We can do this the right way. I will marry you first. I will do whatever you want me to, to love you the right way. I cannot wait for that day. We’re stronger together than apart.”

“But I’m sixteen…” Willow breathed out
.

“And I’m seventeen,” Declan shrugged. “Love doesn’t have a time frame, baby. Are you saying that you don’t want to be with me for the rest of our lives? Do you want to leave me to my destructive ways while you go exploring other Warlocks who would die to get you in bed with them?”

“DEC!” she hit his chest, but he smiled widely. “Of course not! You’re who I want.”

“So let me take you in every single way.
When all of this is said and done, I will make you mine forever, regardless of what you say.”

“Bossy much?” Willow smirked.

“Only when it comes to you, baby. And don’t worry, when the time comes, I won’t make you beg for it. I’ll happily deliver whatever my baby wants.”

Willow’s mouth dropped open, but not before Declan closed the space between them and kissed her with fervent, desperate, zealous passion, sending Willow on another drunken high for his toxic embrace. Their lips collided in such a way that Willow’s knees literally buckled under her. Declan gripped her waist and held her immobile as his kiss shut down every insecurity she had about being with him. He was hers forever
and he was letting her know.

“I want you so much,” Declan said pulling back. Both their hearts were beating hard in their chest, and Willow placed her hand over his, feeling and loving the rhythm of his heart. Declan put his hand over hers. “God Willow, I love you. I wish I could take you right here, right now….”

“Well, my love,” Willow said slyly and pulled out of his arms. She walked towards the room, rocking her hips back and forth-overdoing it, really. Declan smiled and crossed his arms as he watched her retreat. Willow put her hands on her hips and looked back at Declan biting her lip. “You’re just going to have to wait until I’m ready.”

She turned and walked back into the room, almost bursting into laughter when she heard Declan mutter, “I hate waiting.”

Willow didn’t know what to expect when walking back into the large room the Elves had given them. Chase lounging on the couch snoring perhaps. What she didn’t expect to see was Elirana and Chase in a heated argument. She approached them cautiously to listen in.

“I’m coming with you, Chase Hawthorne, whether you like it or not,” Elirana
said placing her hands on her hips.

“Um…no you’re not!” Chase yelled right back. “You’re staying
right here, where you can be safe! Where you belong!”

“I thought you wanted me around!”

“Oh no, don’t even start that shit! You’re staying here, and that’s that. Besides, I’m sure your precious Captain will want you to stay here. And what about Princess Aralee? You’re telling me you’ll leave her again?”

Elirana crossed her arms. “And when have you known me to follow the orders of my people?”

“Hey!” Willow shouted confused. “What’s going on?”

“Hello, Healer,” Elirana said and smiled brightly. Her blonde hair was pulled back in an elaborate braid and she had
changed into a long blue dress, no doubt because it was her favorite color. It somehow looked like a battle smock.

“Um…hello,” Willow said looking to Chase. “Have you come to say farewell? We’re all cleaned up
and ready to go. We just need to gather a few things and can be shown the way out of your realm.”

Elirana gestured to the couch, where there were swords and sheaths
as well as a bow and quiver with arrows. “I’ve brought these from our armory. Our weapons are specially designed to kill its target upon contact. Of course, you have to make a deep enough impression on the enemy, but they will not fail you.”

“Thank you,” Willow said
thrilled and picked out a nice looking Elven blade. Declan also grabbed a sword, as well as a belt with several small daggers. Elirana picked up the bow and quiver, adjusting them nicely to fit her body.

“She thinks she’s coming with us, Healer,” Chase interrupted their preparations. Willow looked at Elirana.

“Is this true, Elf girl?”

Elirana smiled. “
That is my desire.”

“Why? I mean…what does your Princess have to say about it?”

“She doesn’t have to know,” Elirana said with a twinkle in her eye. “Which is why we need to leave as soon as possible. They will know when we leave the realm.”

“Why are you doing this, Elirana?” Willow asked. “I thought you wanted to stay with your people. I thought you wanted to be with your family.”

“In the short time that I am back in my realm again, I have realized something. Sitting back and doing nothing, living a quiet, very conservative life is not who I am. It’s not what I was born to do. I was born to be a doer and a tracker. Letting the human realm go down in flames, while my people look on unfazed is wrong. I stand with the side of good, and I refuse to sit idly by. Leading you through the Deadlands and experiencing all the evil there has taught me to follow my heart. I cannot sit here knowing that army will be unleashed upon the world. My people are the ones who contained the creatures there, and I feel somewhat responsible if they are loosed upon the world. What small part I have played in helping you was not enough.”

“That’s gallant of you, really” Chase crossed his arms angrily. “But you’re not going.”