Shades of Atlantis (52 page)
Read Shades of Atlantis Online
Authors: Carol Oates
Just a few more minutes, please, I begged.
Okay, Caleb conceded. But we’ll miss our flight.
I opened my eyes to see him standing before me in all his golden glory, wearing a gray, casual jacket over a black, roll-neck sweater and faded jeans.
As always I caught my breath. I still couldn’t get used to seeing him every day and knowing he was mine forever. I was just taking one last look around, I sighed, scanning the view in all directions.
Caleb’s eyebrows rose, then he grinned and put his arm around my shoulder.
We’re only going to Camden for a few weeks. I don’t think it’s going to change much while we’re away, Caleb teased.
When Ben and Amanda returned to Camden, they immediately started to spread the story of Caleb’s death being faked and that he had been in witness protection. The town was awash with rumors from a mundane corporate embezzlement trial to the fantastic alien autopsy that someone said he was involved with. But not one was anywhere near the truth.
I can’t believe you’re making me do this, I grumbled indignantly as I pulled my coat tighter around my body and crossed my arms over my chest.
Caleb laughed, his sapphire eyes creasing up. He laughed a lot lately.
So many burdens and so much guilt had been lifted from his shoulders.
I’m not making you do anything, he corrected me, chuckling. It’s Amanda doing all the making. I’m just facilitating your return. I rolled my eyes. As if it mattered who was making me do it. I hate all this attention, I groaned, thinking of all the fingers that would be pointing in our direction.
I think it will be Amanda getting attention this time, so you should be fine. He kissed the top of my head. The shivers ran all the way down to the base of my spine. You need to see your family too, Caleb added.
That much was true. I hadn’t seen Lewis or Carmel since I’d left Camden, and they were definitely looking forward to us visiting. The other side of my family, Caleb’s side, would be there for the celebrations too, as well as Jonathan and Jen. I sighed, giving in. Two weeks. I could do two weeks, and then I could come back to Ireland, back home.
Okay, I muttered.
Caleb kissed my head again, and putting both his arms around me, breathed into my ear. We have a long lifetime together here or wherever you want to be. I promise.
I pulled back to look at him. The color in his eyes burned like blue flames. Caleb having been there with me when the Stone roared meant in
Guardian tradition that if I was queen, he was my king. Another thing I still struggled to get my head round. Queen! Still, he was my own perfect fairytale come true.
The fact that the Stone’s magic worked for Ben meant he also carried the royal bloodline and he and Amanda were also married that day. But Amanda still wanted the human ceremony too. One day the bloodline of our family would continue from my side with a Guardian and from Ben’s with a human.
I love you, Caleb said as he placed his hand on my stomach, sensing my thoughts. I placed mine on top of his, both of us longing for the same future and for the first time it seemed within our reach. The child we would have someday would be the first of a new kind of extended human and Guardian family. Not an end to either, just a new beginning for both.
Caleb beamed a smile and every other thought I had in my head melted away. His joy was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile too as we both looked ahead with real hope.