The Eden Series: The Complete Collection (138 page)

Aiden’s stomach dropped. He knew he was going to have to make this decision, he just hadn’t expected it to be so soon. He looked over at Ethan and Melissa and saw hope there that he would return with them. Then he looked slowly at his new friends, Elisa, Wolf, Moose, and Logan, all of them smiling at him encouragingly. He turned slowly to Lily, his heart breaking for what he saw there. Acceptance. Whatever he decided she would support him, and it killed him.

“I know I’m technically from this world,” he said to her. “But my family isn’t here. They might not be my real parents, but they’re the only ones I’ve ever known. I love them, and it would kill them if I disappeared.” He took a deep breath. “I can’t do that to them,” he confessed. Eddie’s face came to mind and he knew there was no way he could go his whole life without seeing her again. “I’m so sorry,” he said softly to her.

“I know,” she whispered back.

He looked to the Goddess who was watching him. “I will return to the other world with my friends,” he decided.

She nodded as if she had expected this. “Then it is time for you to say your goodbyes.”

Everyone moved at once after that. Aiden hugged each of them in turn. Wolf gave him a tight squeeze saying, “We’re going to miss you.” Logan did the same saying they’d never forget him. Moose gripped his shoulder without a word. Elisa cried, which broke Aiden’s heart a little more.

“I had myself convinced you’d stay,” she sniffled.

“I’m sorry,” he replied. “I just can’t.”

“I know,” she said, smiling through her tears. “I understand. That doesn’t mean I like it.” He laughed, giving her another embrace. He walked over then to the King and Queen, even saying goodbye to little Felix in his bassinette.

Last he went to Lily who had stood silently by the entire time. He reached up and cupped her face in his, wiping a tear away with the pad of his thumb. “I love you,” he said gently.

She nodded. “I know,” was her reply. He kissed her quickly, knowing if he stayed any longer his resolve would weaken.

“You have made many great friends during your time here, Warrior Aiden,” the Goddess said when he went to her, along with Ethan and Melissa. “You will be greatly missed.”

“Thank you,” he said to her, “for everything.” He wasn’t sure how to put into words what he was feeling, but she looked at him knowingly. If it hadn’t been for this woman in front of him, Aiden would have never been the man he is. He thought of Elex and wondered how he would have turned out had he been raised by Aziz too. The Goddess raised her hands, light coming from her palms, and suddenly the room blurred and Aiden shut his eyes against the brightness.

Then he was falling.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The white light filled the room for only a second before everything returned to normal. Elisa blinked back the spots dotting her vision. Where Aiden and his friends had stood was now empty. A sharp pain hit her in the chest as the reality of the situation sunk in. Aiden was gone. He’d left, and she wasn’t sure when, or if, she would see him again. Tears blurred her vision as she sat back down in her seat, the joy of the day seeping out of her.

The Goddess was no longer there either. She didn’t look around, her eyes fixated on the floor, but she could sense the deity’s presence was gone. The air no longer cackled with energy, so divine and pure one could feel it in every fibre of their being, like it had when she arrived. It had been a moment Elisa would never forget, although now she wished she could. She wished she could turn back time and make it so the Goddess never came and took her friend away.

Elisa could distantly hear others talking, but her mind wouldn’t focus on one thing. She should really be going to Lily and making sure she was okay. If this was hard on Elisa, she could only imagine how Lily was feeling. But she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. How had the day gone from the best moment of her life, to utterly heartbreaking? It wasn’t fair.

“Hey,” a voice said softly, close to her ear. Elisa turned to see Wolf crouched beside her chair, his face full of concern. He looked so incredibly handsome in his formal clothes. The memory of when she first saw him as she walked through the Palace gates, and up to where he’d stood with Chancellor Ottman, filled her mind. Their eyes had met, and she would never forget the feelings that had flown through her. Every emotion he was feeling had been there, written plainly in those eyes that had come to mean everything to her. She knew her own would have relayed the same message. They were becoming one, joining together in the way that meant they would be partners for life.

Happiness so pure had filled her then, and after as she celebrated, surrounded by friends and family. Now it felt like a distant memory, even though it was only a short time ago. She wanted to find that again, but how could she? Aiden was gone. Lily was heartbroken. Elisa was still dealing with the loss of Jameson and Alistair. There was just so much happening still that her mind couldn’t keep up. And yet, before her was someone she knew she could lean on during this time – his face, a mask of worry as he waited for her to say something in reply. The world felt like a heavy weight on her shoulders, but she didn’t have to carry that weight alone. The realization made her want to throw herself into his arms, and beg him to take her away from it all.

“You okay?” he asked, placing a warm hand on her thigh. She gripped it with her own, looking back up at him.

“I will be,” she said. “Right now, I just want to be alone with you.”

A small smile tugged at his lips. Not the suggestive one he would have usually worn after a statement like that. He understood she was dealing with a lot, and she could tell he was trying to be sensitive to it.

“Come on then,” he said, pulling her up with him. They said their goodbyes to the King and Queen. She gave her father a quick kiss on the cheek, before returning to Wolf, who grabbed her hand in his again and led them out of the throne room.

“We heading to the tavern?” Logan asked, walking out behind them. Moose reached over and smacked him on the back of his head. “Ow! What was that for?”

“It’s their wedding night,” Moose said. “What makes you think they’d want to spend it with us?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” he replied, affronted. “We’re good company.”

“Says who?” Wolf said over his shoulder.

Logan grumbled something she couldn’t hear, walking down the corridor that led outside. She and Wolf were staying in the Palace tonight, a gift from Callum. Moose stopped in front of them. Elisa looked around as the three of them stood in the hall.

“Where’s Lily?” she asked.

“She left not long after Aiden,” Moose said. His mouth pinched in concern. “She didn’t even say a word to anyone.”

“I’m sure this is hard for her,” Wolf said, draping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. Elisa let her body lean into his, welcoming the warmth and comfort he offered.

“What do you think she’ll do?” Moose asked.

“Go back to the Forest People,” Wolf answered. “Her kind don’t do well behind walls. And I’m sure there is nothing but painful memories here for her.”

Moose nodded his head slowly, brows furrowed. “I liked her,” he said absently. “She actually seemed a bit normal, compared to the others.”

“Maybe this experience will make it easier for the Riders and the Forest People to interact,” Elisa offered.

Moose shook his head. “It will go back to the way it was. We’re both people of habit.”

“Are you coming or what?” Logan yelled from down the hall.

Moose rolled his eyes. “I better go before he gets any louder,” he said. He looked at his brother. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow. Father needs me home. I’ll make sure to tell Mother you send your love.”

Wolf nodded. “Elisa and I will try to come for a visit within the next month or so – once everything has settled down here.”

“I’ll let them know.” He looked to her with a smile. “I’m sure our mother will be overjoyed to see you again. She’ll probably organize a second wedding just so she can see it herself.”

Elisa laughed. “She can do whatever she wants. I won’t argue.”

Wolf snorted. “As if you arguing would change it anyway. You don’t know my mother. If she gets something in her head, there’s no arguing about it.” He shuddered.

Elisa smacked him on the arm. “Stop being mean. She can’t be that bad.”

They both laughed. “Let her find out for herself,” Moose said with another chuckle. “I hope we’ll see each other soon. I’m happy for you two, just so you know.”

“Thanks, Moose,” Wolf said. He let go of her and stepped forward to embrace his brother. “May the God and Goddess watch over you on your journey.”

Moose pulled back, squeezing Wolf’s shoulders. “Thank you. I’ll need it, because I’m pretty sure Logan has decided he’s coming along.”

“Better warn the women,” Elisa muttered. Wolf and Moose looked at her and laughed loudly.

“Moose! Let’s go! I’m thirsty,” Logan shouted.

“Seriously. Warn them,” she said.

Moose leaned in and kissed her on the forehead before turning to walk toward Logan. Wolf pulled her close again as she watched her friends leave. It was weird how everyone’s paths were separating. They had been together for what felt like forever, and now they were going in separate directions. It was an end to a huge era of her life – of all their lives.

They walked to their room in silence. Inside, a roaring fire was already built, the room warm and inviting. The bed was sheathed in bronze fabric that glimmered in the dim lighting. Pillows were piled at the head, rose petals scattered across them.

“Wow,” Wolf said, amused. He walked over and picked up a petal, rolling it between two fingers. “They really went all out, huh?”

Elisa laughed. “I’m going to guess that Franca’s been here,” she said. “No one else would put rose petals on our bed.”

Wolf smiled wide. “I definitely didn’t think it was your father.” He walked back over to where she stood, his steps slow and measured. She held his stare, even though she suddenly felt nervous. He stopped just before her, his hands cupping her face gently. “You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen,” he said softly. He bent down placing a kiss on the corner of her mouth. “My beautiful wife.” He kissed the other corner. Her eyelids fluttered shut, her body swaying toward his.

“You’ve made me happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life,” he continued, dropping a kiss on the middle of her bottom lip. She pushed forward, seeking more, but he’d already pulled away. She opened her eyes to see him smiling down at her. “I never imagined this day would actually come. Seeing you walk toward me was the most surreal experience of my life. I couldn’t believe someone as perfect as you are was actually going to marry
me.
”

She laughed. “Then you obviously didn’t get a good look at yourself this morning, because dressed like that, you’re pretty perfect yourself.”

His mouth quirked up into his cocky grin. “You should see me without these clothes on.”

Elisa tried to fight back the smile trying to break through, but lost. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

His eyebrows wiggled. “And I haven’t even removed anything yet.”

She pushed him away, shaking her head. He didn’t let her get far before pulling her close again, this time wrapping his arms around her waist. He buried his face in her neck, his laughter tickling her. His eyes were bright with humour when he lifted his head so they could look at each other again.

“I love you,” he said simply.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting her fingers play with the soft strands of his hair. “And I love you,” she said. He kissed her then, his lips gentle on hers, taking his time. They explored one another, every emotion she felt before, infused in her touch and movements. The loss of Aiden was still there, like a heavy weight in the back of her mind, but being with Wolf, and lost in what they had together helped to ease some of that weight.

When they pulled apart, both of them were breathing heavier. His hands gripped her hips firmly, plastering her body against his.

“What will we do now?” she said.

He cocked an eyebrow. “Do you really need to ask that? I’ve had one thing on my mind since the moment I saw you in this dress.”

She smacked his chest. “That’s not what I meant.”

He laughed. “It’s true though.”

“You are insatiable.”

He leaned down, resting his forehead against hers. “You have no idea.”

“I’m serious, Wolf. What happens now? Our friends are gone, there’s a new king, the war is over, and everything’s changed.”

“What happens now?” he repeated.

“Yeah.”

He brushed his lips across hers before pulling back to look down at her with so much affection it made her breath stop. “Now,” he said, “we live happily ever after.”

Callum watched as Felix’s breathing evened out. His little lips moved in his sleep like he was still suckling. It was the cutest thing he’d ever seen. Watching his son was fast becoming his favourite thing to do. The worries of the Palace could wait while he looked down at this bundle of perfection.

Slim arms encircled his waist from behind. Rose rested her cheek on his back as they stood like that in silence. Finally he turned away from their son, wrapping his arms around his wife. Ottman had filled him in that morning on a number of things that had taken place in their absence. His hold on Rose tightened. He’d almost lost her, and he hadn’t even known. The fact that he had come that close to losing everything that was important to him was too much to even think about. He’d already lost his brother. To have come home and discover he had also lost his heart would have ruined him.