The Broken Destiny (38 page)

“Let’s go,” he said, smiling at me.

“It’s okay,” Kronan nodded.

Maya came forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek. As she did so, she placed something cold and hard in my hand. I looked down and saw that it was the necklace I had lost while we were on the canoe.

“How did you…”

She winked. “Oh, I just called it.”

“Ha!” I stared into the glimmering purple stone.

Some of the memories attached to it were heartwarming and some were extremely unpleasant. It made me realize that I had to take the bad with the good.

Once outside the big glass tower of the Council hall where the library stood, the wind rustled through full green leaves. Troy handed me a helmet and pulled me in close, his lips almost touching mine. All I could do was stare at him. His breath was sweet and intoxicating. My legs felt numb. He smiled his famous half smile then let go of my hips and hopped onto the motorbike. I held on as he spun the bike around and we shot off. I was very scared at first as he’d only held back a little on his speed. The buildings and trees flew past in colorful bursts as we ducked beneath the low hanging branches through the park. As we sped past the orchids, I turned to see the sun rising over the buildings, its soft light bathing the day in a pink haze. Being so close to him made me feel like I had finally found what I had been missing all along. It felt so right that it hurt. I wanted the feeling to never leave me. I hugged Troy harder. I was nervous that I was making the wrong move, but the tenderness inside me had compelled me to do it. He held my arm tightly against him. I let go with the other and stroked the rush of air, wanting to feel free from weeks of pent up sorrow.

“Hold on!” he shouted as he drifted around a bend, quickly and smoothly.

I promptly grabbed onto him again and screamed a little. He laughed. We went past all the shops and just after the last café on the strip, we turned left into the forest. I had never gone that way before. It was dark and the ground uneven, huge roots suddenly protruded from the forest floor and then just as suddenly, they retreated back into the earth. I closed my eyes every now and then when it seemed like we would slam into one of those roots, but we never did. The bike jerked and I felt Troy bend over slightly.

“Hold on! We’re going to jump!”

“No!” I protested.

It was too late. Our helmets collided as we left the forest floor behind and went flying through the air. I closed my eyes and dug my fingernails into him. The bike jerked again as he pressed some kind of button, the wheels folding away under us and the bottom of the bike was transformed into a motorized water bike. I looked down. We were falling into a huge hole. All I could see below was a vertical tunnel of red, pink and white sandstone. Plants and roots jutted out of the stone walls. A pool of navy water came into view and turned silver as the sun’s rays pierced through the forest’s sky above. We hit the water a little gentler than I had expected. Just a small spray of water shot up and only a refreshing squirt of the cold water splashed my arms.

“Nice landing,” I said.

Adrenalin coursed through my body – I felt alive again. He nodded and turned the handle of the motorized water bike, gently guiding us through a limestone tunnel dressed with green fern protruding from little gaps in the stone. When we broke through the other end of the tunnel, the bright glare reflecting off the water stung my eyes. Troy slowed down, almost allowing the water bike to float on its own. The cheerful sound of birds and other creatures calling to each other happily captured the essence of what had already been a magical day. We floated smoothly down the river, totally surrounded by high walls of stone and a row of silverwood trees branching over us from the banks. Small patches of light flickered through, causing the water to reflect sparkles of white light all around us – all so surreal. I was totally lost, forgetting about the chip underneath the cut in my finger, forgetting for a second what I had done to myself and what I had gone through the last couple of weeks.

“Wow,” I said, staring in awe at what looked like a painting of colors as the gray stone faded to light pink and yellow sand.

Troy turned off the water bike. He swung his right leg over the handle bars so he was facing me, removed his helmet and flicked his hair so that his dark, golden locks fell neatly around his face. I kept my gaze on the trees above, my stomach somersaulting wildly. He cleared his throat and I looked into his eyes. They were almost green. I stared back, my body on fire. He smiled. His smile made my heart throb. I thought it was going to explode when he pulled me toward him, slowly removing my helmet. I breathed in deeply. My heart pounded in my chest. I could hear blood rushing in my ears and I could feel myself turning scarlet as he gave me that stare – the stare that penetrated my soul and brought on an entire new fear – the fear of never feeling
that
again. He smiled his lopsided smile once again. It was the smile of a naughty cowboy. The sound of the water gently rocking us back and forth slipped away and everything but his face blurred. I wished he would kiss me already. I couldn’t handle the suspense anymore.

“Now you can’t run away anymore,” he said gently, holding onto my hips.

I knew he was mocking me and I smiled.

“I assume my father told you what’s going to happen to you if you keep running from the truth.”

His words stung me in all the right places. I felt myself come alive with clarity. I knew the truth of what I had done, realized the instant I had given myself away, I just didn’t want to admit it, to anyone. I smiled again, nervously this time, and my eyes fell to my hands resting on the seat separating the little space between us. He took my hands in his, their warmth unreal. I looked up at him.

“Talk,” he said firmly.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t want to tell him how I really felt. I didn’t want him to know that I didn’t feel bad for killing Enoch, for raging out and hurting people. I didn’t want him to know that I had given myself over to power and that somehow, I was not yet feeling the consequences of it; that I had spoiled myself, but mostly, deeply regretting that I would never be good enough for him. He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“What?” he said irritably, glaring at me through his fingers. He shook his head.

I gasped. “You, too?” I pulled away from him.
How dare he have read my thoughts!

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to,” he said, as soon as he saw the appalled look on my face.

“Then why did you?”

“I…” He faltered. “We’re just so in tune. I usually only read someone’s mind if they give me permission to do so, but when it comes to your mind I can’t stop myself. You’re too open.”

“Oh,” I said, disappointed.

He took my hands again and closing his eyes, took a deep breath. I guessed that he was trying to tune me out. My gaze fell on his full lips. They were soft, moist, the color of the early morning sunrise. I wanted to kiss him so badly. An extremely wicked smile crept up the corners of his mouth.

“Stop that!” I spat, punching him on the arm.

“I’m trying. I’m trying.” He laughed while he rubbed his arm.

Forcing myself to focus on something other than him, I turned my attention to our beautiful surroundings, but I soon found myself staring at him once again. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. I inspected his strong jaw, loving the fact that he had stubble. It gave him an aura of rugged sexiness. His thick, dark blond hair hung down past his tiny, adorable ears. It was a bit too long, but it completed his look perfectly. Everything about him was perfect, including his not-too-manly hands, which were gentle and warm. His lips attracted my attention again. I felt myself blush. He smiled again and leaned in closer. My stomach was on a spin cycle. I closed my eyes expectantly, and then he pushed me into the water. As I landed in the cold water, I let out a soft scream. I was furious when I emerged.

“What the hell?” I cried out.

“I can’t focus with you forcing your thoughts into my head.” His eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Fine,” I said and started swimming away from him.

I looked for a way out of the water and a means of escape from the deep ravine. Troy dived in behind me. I tried to swim faster than him, but he caught one of my legs and pulled me back toward him. I was beginning to think I was not the great swimmer I thought I was. I spun into him. His hands automatically cupped around my lower back. Water dripped from his hair, down his face and over his lips.

“I’ll never let you go,” he said.

I brushed my fingertips across his lips.

“I never want you to.”

“Ava.”

He said my name so tenderly and softly, I wanted to melt into him right then and there, or cry from it. We bobbed in the river, our legs intertwined beneath the surface.

“You have to let go, Ava, of all of it.”

I closed my eyes and bit down on my lip. “I don’t know how to,” I replied, a lump forming in my throat.

“Sure you do,” he said, stroking my cheek.

I opened my eyes. Our foreheads touching, I could smell his scent all around me. His gaze was sad, tortured even, as he looked into my eyes.

“I’ll try,” I said.

“You have to,” he said, and then his lips brushed mine.

Burning with desire, I shivered with anticipation. I closed my eyes and felt his breath on my lips. My breathing quickened as he pulled my body against his and kissed me so gently and so passionately, that I was positive nothing else would ever exceed the crescendo of pleasure I felt in that moment – nothing. His kisses fed the slow burn of an ever-growing flame. Our bodies fitted together like matching pieces of a puzzle. I never wanted to be anything other than what I was when I was with him. He brought clarity and strength to my entire being. I was more alive than I had ever been, this I
could
feel, this is
all
I felt and it terrified me. With him, I couldn’t be anything but myself and that scared the crap out of me, because I had never existed like that before. I had found a second wind for life with him. Actually, it was more like coming alive for the first time and living the life I was meant to have lived all along, as I had only then realized my potential.

“I see you,” he said, ever so softly.

I knew exactly what he meant, because I, too, saw myself for the first time. My stomach ached from my hunger to nestle up to him. We sank beneath the water and the air between our kisses kept us breathing until we melted into one, but a loud howl coming from the surface crushed the moment. Startled, I pulled away and submerged. Troy followed and pulled me back toward him, giving me a soft peck on the cheek.

“We’re here,” he said.

I hadn’t realized we had floated down the river, the bike trailing behind us. Troy looked up and over my head. I turned to follow his gaze. Robert was crouched on the forest floor above us; David and Greg were both perched in a tree above him. Troy pushed me toward the wall of the ravine as a long rope came tumbling down.

“Tie it around your waist,” Robert called out, while the other two dropped out of the tree.

Troy swam to the water bike and pulled it closer. He wound the rope around my waist, tied a knot and stroked my head. The rope jerked, the knot tightened and I was yanked out of the water. The sound of the water cascading off my wet clothes echoed throughout the ravine and resonated all the way down the river. I placed my feet on the edge of the ravine wall and the boys pulled me to safety. Troy released the water bike’s anchor and climbed up the walls and onto the ledge without a rope. I crouched down, squeezing the water from my jeans, my feet slipping in my soaked shoes. The breeze blew a soft chill over me making me shiver. Helpfully, Dave handed me a sweater. I cleared my throat, signaling for the boys to turn around so I could change. I peeled off my wet, sleeveless top and pulled the sweater over my head. Troy had politely turned his back and was blocking anyone from taking a peek. His protectiveness was heartwarming. I rolled the sweater’s sleeves up and giggled at how I must looked drowning in Dave’s sweater. Troy took my hand and our fingers automatically laced together.

“We have something to show you,” Robert boasted.

I didn’t reply, but I let them lead me through the forest. The faint smell of smoke drifted in the air, and in the distance I could hear the soft beating of drums. I stopped dead in my tracks, my stomach leaping into my throat. Troy pulled me forward.

“Come on.”

“Troy.” My voice wobbled. “I’m not ready.”

I stared down at his outstretched forearm as he tugged me along; I saw the muscles pull tighter as I moved back.

“You’ll never be ready,” he said, pulling me closer.

“That’s right,” Robert declared and let out a resounding howl.

“Troy, please,” I pleaded.

“Just trust me,” he pleaded back, his forehead scrunched into a million folds as he stared at me through his thick, brown eyelashes.

As we drew closer to a clearing, my hands started to sweat. I pulled free from Troy’s grasp to wipe the stickiness from them.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Troy said gently, staring into my eyes to comfort me.