Forever Breathing (Just Breathe #3) (15 page)
Read Forever Breathing (Just Breathe #3) Online
Authors: Heather Allen
I look up at him as a blush creeps through my cheeks.
“So, you’re still dreaming about me, huh?”
I punch his arm smiling and look away still embarrassed.
He gets up and states, “When you’re ready, come out because we need to talk.”
I look back at him and nod.
He leaves as I gather myself. This latest dream is a doozy. I really don’t like the prospect of another injury. Getting arrowed by Sara was enough for me, forever!
When I swim out into the front room he tosses me an apple. I smile widely at him.
Alex is my hero.
He gestures for me to sit in the only chair. I oblige and continue to devour my apple. I’m not sure what happened suddenly that made things goo
His voice takes on a serious edge, “Ever, if you are seriously considering staying here you are going to have to suck it up.”
I was about to take another bite from my apple but I stop mid-bite to look over at him. What in the world? I would never expect Alex to talk like that. I guess the surprised look on my face has him backpedaling a little.
“What I mean is, if you want to stay here, and stay safe, you can’t waver in your convictions. You have to stick with your decision and not second guess it. If you do, Roman will see right through it.”
I nod, following along. I already know this and I am committed. Now that Alex knows my intentions, things should be easier, right? I can only hope anyway.
He continues, “The story we have told them is that you are here to be with me and help defeat Jaspen, right?”
“Yes, that is the story.” I confirm and salute him playfully.
He glides closer and comes to eye level with me.
“You don’t need to be worried about you and me. I wish more than anything that…you could grow to love me and be
with me forever but I just don’t think that is even a possibility anymore.”
He looks away, saddened.
I ask him trying to lighten his sudden mood change, “Why the sudden change of heart? I’m not good enough anymore?”
He swings his gaze back squinting at me and sighs when he realizes I was kidding.
“Actually Ever, you are perfect for me, we just aren’t meant to be.”
I am baffled by this. I’m surprised that it saddens me for a fleeting second, but only for a second. I’m so used to his chase and my laughing it off. This is a different Alex. I know this is the friend Alex, the way it should be. I’m just not entirely convinced that he’s given up.
His voice is steady as he explains, “When I came here, I learned some things about our history as mer-people that explain a lot. You know the theory that everyone has a soul mate, I think that’s the way you say it on land?”
I nod and admit chuckling, “Well, I guess it is kind of a theory but we don’t really put a whole lot of stock into that.”
“It’s real here. Everyone has someone they are promised. For instance, I learned that Seamus and Metea, they were promised, they were meant to be together.”
He pauses waiting for my reaction which at this point I have none because this is a wacky theory. I have no clue what he is talking about. How in the world could those two be soul mates when they weren’t even from the same place? Maybe Alex has finally fallen off the loony wagon.
I ask the only question that comes to mind, “How do you know this?”
He laughs as if he heard an inside joke.
Hello share over here, please.
“Well I know because Metea has been very forthcoming and vocal about her revenge for Jaspen. As horrible as she is, she is heartbroken over losing Seamus.lost s”
He takes a deep breath, “But also according to the history here, you know it when you meet each other. There is electricity when you touch.”
And suddenly my world is spinning but it makes perfect sense. Clarity happens in my brain. The first time Jack touched me at the lake and I felt it. How, from that moment on, I couldn’t get him out of my head. I look at Alex and see now, finally, why I couldn’t let him love me. Why I couldn’t think about anything else except Jack. Why I’m nothing without him.
I grab Alex’s hands and shake them asking, “Electricity like a shock up the arm and a spreading of warmth?”
He nods looking disappointed, “I am guessing you have experienced this?”
A grin forms that I can’t help. Jack and I are meant to be. It is forever just as I was so sure. I want to go back so bad and confirm to him everything that we already know but really make it real for both of us. I look over at Alex and calm myself. He looks miserable suddenly. He takes his hands from mine and swims across the room.
“Alex, I’m sorr…”
He puts his hand up to halt my apology.
“It’s not your fault. This is way bigger than us. You don’t get to choose. Fortunately though, you found each other. I found out that most don’t find each other, which explains why no one knew about it in our city.”
I think about this but then push up and swim at him realizing...
“Actually Alex, I bet Seamus knew.”
My voice grows more fervent, “He knew but he kept it like so many other things. Think about it, if our soul mate could be in the water
or
on land…he would do anything to keep land and water from being together.”
Alex glides over and sinks into the chair I just vacated.
He looks up, “I think you might be right, Ever.”
I relax and settle in front of him. He looks up.
“Please know that I am sorry Alex. I love your friendship and for now, until you find
your
‘soul mate’ I will fill in for pretend. And I grin down at him. He gets up and gathers me in his arms for the best ‘friend hug’ I’ve ever had.
p>
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Chapter 24
James
A thought occurs to me as I sit across from Alody, eating clams from the shell. This I can stomach way more than fish.
I wonder if my blood will help her father. I know it didn’t heal Ever right away when she was shot with the arrow but it helped speed the process a little. I’m not sure of her father’s injuries though.
I look over at her. She is staring out across the room lost in thought. Her profile is so soft and beautiful, I could get lost in it.
After her father fell asleep, we swam to this room which is similar to the first room I waited in. It is filled with tables and benches. She explained that this is where they have their meals. A long shelf extends the entire far wall housing different food items. It amazes me how these people just gave up their normal way of life and closed themselves up from the open sea to stay safe from Roman. The more I hear about him, the more I’m convinced he is just an all-around bad dude. I admire her completely for what she is doing. Her father is in charge and if he passes, she will be the one to make all of the decisions. She turns her gaze to me and frowns.
“James, I said this before and you ignored me, but I really don’t think it’s safe for any of us if you are here. Roman will be looking for you. He’s left us alone for a little while now, but I know he will be back to finish the job. He won’t put up with any kind of rebellion.”
She is so tiny but so confident. I can’t help the smile that spreads at this thought. I look down at the table to avoid her gaze and notice a heart carved into it. It strikes me as an odd thing to be here. I trace it with my fingers and notice the initials KP + DP. She reaches out and traces them behind my fingers.
Her voice has softened, “They are my parents. KP is Kara Prince, my mom and DP, is Derek Prince. My mom got sick and passed about five years ago. But here they are together always.”
As her fingers touch mine, the now familiar spark flows up into my hand. I look up and meet her beautiful green eyes. I stare at her and savor the warmth flowing up my arm. She smiles slowly at me and asks carefully almost shyly, “Do you know what that means?”
I’m confused. I ask, “What?”
She grabs my hand firmly, “That electricity when you touch me?”
I shake my head, “You know about that, when you touch me? It’s as if a shock shoots through me. Wait, it happens to you too?”
She nods and sm/fo>
She looks back to the table and traces the heart again.
“My mom told me about it. I thought she was full of it at the time. The whole idea of it seemed so out there.”
She turns to look back at me, “But here you are and this.” She lifts our entwined hands.
I’m unsure of what exactly she is talking about. Maybe she is missing her mom and with her dad being hurt...
“It’s an old mer-people tale about being promised to another person. Most, don’t believe in it anymore but my parents did. My mom told me that when I meet the one I am promised to, the one I am to be with forever, I’ll know.”
I ask without even thinking about her meaning, “Do you believe in it?”
Her eyes seem to bore into me, “I’m thinking now, it just might be a real thing.”
I digest this. It would explain my sudden feelings for this girl that I can’t seem to turn off. But that is impossible isn’t it? A promised person, as if you don’t have a choice. Not sure how this sits with me. I look back up into her eyes and I know she’s right. I can see it in the look she is giving me. This is the girl that
completely knocked me off my feet the moment I saw her. The jury is still out on how I feel about this.
I ask, “Do you want me to go?”
I have no desire to leave her, ever. But if she asks, I will do whatever I need to, to help these people.
Her mouth turns into the most adorable pout and I want to kiss her at that moment. It is so enticing but I squeeze her hand a little instead. If she really wants me to leave, kissing her will make it harder to leave.
“No, James, I really don’t want you to go. But some of the others are talking about turning themselves in. They think Roman will go easy on them if they come without a fight.”
My eyebrows go up, “Do you believe that?”
She shakes her head slowly, “No, I think he is against all Erebus and it won’t matter how we go about it. He wants everyone not of pure blood, gone.”
The mention of blood reminds me of her father.
I decide to change the subject. If we can avoid this conversation a little longer maybe I can convince her that I can help if she allows me to stay.
“I’m not sure if it will help but I do have healing abilities in my blood. How was your father injured?”
“Roman stabbed him in his side with a spear. It pierced his lung. We have prolonged the damage with some natural things from the sea but I know he doesn’t have long...” Her voice cracks at her words.
I climb off the bench, “Let’s go and see if I can help then.”
She slowly gets up and tells me, “Roman has some medicine that heals almost any injury. I was on my way to try and get it when I ran into you. Do you think your blood will work? I’ve heard different things about healing with the blood of others.”
I shrug my shoulders, “I really don’t know. My sist knt thinter was shot with an arrow. It took three days but she came back from it. We thought we were going to lose her.”
She nods and starts swimming toward the door to the tunnel that will take us to her father’s room. I pray that this works. I can see that she’s been through enough already.