The Eden Series: The Complete Collection (82 page)

Just as she reached for the handle, she felt something move behind her. She turned quickly to find Elex standing in the hall.
I didn’t even hear him!

“You’re not supposed to hear me,” he answered out loud. She narrowed her eyes, and opened her mouth, but he held up a hand to stop her. “I know, I know, stay out of your head. I am, you just show what you’re thinking clearly on your face.”

“What do you want?” she asked, irritated at how perceptive he was.

“I just came to bring you this,” he said, holding out the bag with her purchases in it. “I thought you’d want them.” She took the bag from him wordlessly, wondering why he would have thought to go back for them. Before she could even thank him though, he was gone. She looked down the hall, but he was nowhere in sight.

Thank you,
she projected. He didn’t respond, so she turned and entered her room, not surprised to find a hot bath already made for her. As she finally lowered herself into the glorious water, leaning her head back and breathing in the familiar scent of lavender, she heard his voice.

You are welcome.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

They had been riding at a hard pace for hours, covering a greater distance than Diana had expected. She rode behind Jameson and Turk. Elisa and her new fiancé, Markus, were a few positions over from her, directly behind the High King and his Captain, but she hadn’t spoken to them. She wondered how it came to be that they were set to be married. After seeing the look on the girl’s face, when she thought no one was watching her, she decided not to pry. She had been there once too. Not knowing what road to take in life, to marry for love or to do what was expected. She wanted to offer her some comforting words, try to guide her to what would make her the happiest in life, but decided she wasn’t one to talk.

Her eyes roamed over to Jameson again. Until recently, Diana was definitely happy with her life, and hadn’t questioned her decisions since the moment she made them. Ever since her encounter with Jameson before they left the Capital though, something had changed. Every time she looked at him she felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She’d remember the way she had kissed him and that moment of hesitation from him, and heat would fill her cheeks. Jameson had been a person strictly from her past, someone she made good to avoid. Now they had been thrown together more often than she would have liked, and it was doing strange things to her logical thinking.

He sat straight in his saddle, every bit the King that he was. His golden brown hair, although shorter than it used to be when they had been lovers, still fell in soft waves around his face. The years had affected him only slightly, and if she was being honest, she’d have to say those minor changes were actually for the better. No longer did he look like the young, irresponsible Prince that he had been growing up, but a man. A leader. He had done things, seen things that made him wiser now, was someone who could lead people, and give them cause to look up to him. She couldn’t help but wonder if he thought she had changed at all. Would it be for the better or the worse? She didn’t think she had changed much, or at least that was what she was told. Her long white, blonde hair still hung down low on her back. Her blue eyes had no wrinkles around them, nor did her mouth. No, she thought confidently, she hadn’t aged much since last they were together. Still, she wondered what he thought of her now, or if he did at all.

The further they rode, the more Diana found herself watching him. Sometimes with openness, other times discreetly from the corner or her eye. Despite his outward calm, she could sense how tense he was becoming the closer they came to the south. Or, she corrected, the closer they came to Callum. She did not like the thought of the two brothers fighting. Callum looked quite different now, so she was told. She couldn’t imagine Callum being the hardened looking soldier everyone described him as, although she knew many years had passed since they last saw one another, and people could change a great deal in even a short amount of time.

That thought made her look back through the men to Aiden. Goddess had the boy changed since the first time she had gone to his world to bring him over, and it had only been
half
a year! It made her smile to see his newfound confidence. The men looked up to him, and he held himself with a great deal of maturity and assurance. It was as if he understood that he needed to portray that strength to those around him, so that they would feel more confident in their own abilities. He understood his place, and she felt nothing but pride for the young man. The fact that he seemed to have gotten the attention of the forest girl was a bit strange. Their kind weren’t normally attracted to other races. There was no future for the two of them. She wouldn’t interfere, she reminded herself. Everyone had to have a chance to learn for themselves, and to experience the things the world had to offer, even if that didn’t mean forever.

Facing forward, she glanced over at Jameson again. He was laughing at something Turk had said, his head thrown back in his usual carefree manner. A smile tugged at her own lips as she looked at him. That was one thing Jameson had always been exceptionally good at, among others she didn’t like to remember, was that he could make her laugh. Even just seeing him find joy in something made her smile in return. His enjoyment was contagious; it’s what made the men love him so much. No matter what was happening, Jameson would find the humour in it, and ensure all those around him did too.

Suddenly Turk broke away from him, and headed straight in her direction. She sat up straighter, smiling at the Captain as he neared.

“Diana,” he greeted with a gentle smile.

“Captain,” she replied respectively.

He gave her a pointed look at the formality, but she didn’t correct herself. In front of the men she always addressed him by his station, rather than his given name. In private it was another matter. He constantly reprimanded her for it, but Diana always insisted. “How are you holding up?” he asked, dropping the unspoken argument.

“Better than I expected,” she said honestly. “I’m not used to riding this long, but I’m managing.”

“Well we’ve made better time than we expected, so we should crest the hill before sundown.”

“So soon?” she asked, her heart skipping a beat.

He nodded his head solemnly. “We rode faster than I thought possible. It won’t be long now.” They rode in companionable silence for a moment. “Jameson has asked a favour from you.”

She looked curiously over at him, and then to the figure of their King. He was speaking with one of the other soldiers now, his back completely turned to her. “What sort of favour?” Why hadn’t he come to ask her himself, she wondered.

“We need someone to go over to Callum’s camp once we’ve settled. The details of the battle must be worked out ahead of time, so that everything remains fair. Jameson thought it would be – politically correct – to send you over.”

“Really?” She was genuinely shocked at the task. “Why me?”

Turk shrugged casually, although she could tell he wasn’t completely comfortable with the idea. The movement was slightly stiffer than it normally would be. “He believes you were always neutral when it came to him and his brother, so he thought perhaps Callum would be more willing to discuss things rationally with you than he would, say, with me.” He looked over with a grin. “I don’t believe we’d get along very well, him and I.”

She smiled, despite the growing anxiety in her stomach. Jameson thought she was neutral when it came to him and Callum? Did that mean he didn’t think she supported him completely? As much as she still cared for the younger Prince, she didn’t sympathize with his position in any way. The thought had her feeling cold. Did he think her such a traitor?

“You don’t have to do it,” Turk said, regarding her carefully. He was mistaking her growing concern over Jameson’s impression of her for fear of the favour being asked. She quickly schooled her features and tried to reflect calmness.

“Of course I’ll do it,” she said evenly. “Anything I can do to help, I’m most certainly willing to do. Just let me know when I should go.” He took another long look at her, and then nodded, clearly content with whatever he saw in her face. Kicking his horse, Turk resumed his position beside his best friend and leader. Diana looked forward, suddenly noticing the faint hint of salt on the air. Oh yes, they were quite close now.

She had begun to enjoy the warmer temperature, when a feeling of dread suddenly hit her. Breathing became difficult. She found herself gripping the saddle until her knuckles were white, desperately trying to keep herself from falling off the horse. There was always an underlying feeling like this, ever since the war had begun, but this – this was ten times the intensity. The sound of approaching hooves came from her left, and then there was someone there. She looked over to see Aiden watching her with deep concern. Lily sat in front of him, not looking at Diana, but rather up in the sky; her face paler than usual.

“Diana, are you okay?” Aiden asked, moving his horse closer. Diana could feel hers growing restless, sensing her sudden unease.

“I-I’m fine,” she replied, sucking in a deep breath of air.

“Something’s coming,” Lily suddenly said, drawing both of their attention. “You feel it too, don’t you?” she continued, turning to face Diana. The girl’s normally beautiful violet eyes were now almost completely black. She saw Aiden react out of the corner of her eye. His hand immediately went to one of her arms, gently rubbing it from shoulder to elbow.

“What’s going on?” he asked, not directing the question to anyone specific.

“I’m not sure,” Diana answered. “But there is something coming. I can feel the change in the energy. It is similar to what I would feel when Aziz’s beasts were nearby, but this – this is much, much worse.”

Aiden looked around quickly, surveying the land around them. “Could it be a large army of them?” he asked, turning back to face her.

“No,” Lily answered this time. “No, this is much different. This is much stronger than anything we’ve encountered before, and it’s headed straight for us.”

* * *

Night had fallen. The King’s Army was camped on the top of the hill, overlooking the opposing army stationed along the coast. They had reached the area just before the sun set. War cries from the northern army filled the air when they came into view. Aiden had spotted the other Prince come out of a large tent. He couldn’t see the man’s face from where they were, but he could see the stiffness of his body when he looked at their army. Jameson had also grown incredibly still as he peered down at his brother. Now they sat in the King’s tent; Lily and Aiden on the floor, Turk motionless at the entrance. Diana stood off to the side, her face still pale from what happened to her and Lily earlier. Aiden was worried about them both, but they assured him they were fine. Apparently they were very in tune with the energy in Eden, and whatever was now headed their way, was disturbing that energy immensely. Jameson paced the small confines of the tent, his face determined.

“What could it be?” he asked again, for what seemed like the hundredth time. No one replied, since no one had the answer. They were all just as lost as he was. Lily said she had never felt a disturbance like this before. At the time, Aiden thought he felt something too, but to him it wasn’t anything bad. On the contrary, a wave of calm had settled over him. Almost like he was missing something and it was suddenly returned. Diana’s and Lily’s reaction had stopped him from voicing his own. He wondered what on earth it could mean.

“Whatever it is, it is clearly the sorcerer’s doing,” Lily answered.

“That is what I’m afraid of,” the King said, raking a hand through his already dishevelled hair. “By all accounts, he is supposed to be too weak still. Could he have regained his power so quickly?”

“It is possible,” Diana answered. Aiden saw that her hands were clasped tightly together, her knuckles white.

“What do we do?” Turk asked.

“Face whatever it is when it gets here,” Aiden answered confidently. Whatever was coming,
he
could handle it. Some part of him was sure of it.

The King looked at him with mixed emotions. “An unknown enemy is never easy to face,” he replied calmly.

Turk stepped forward a little. “No, the boy is right. This cannot deter us from what we are here to do. Let Aziz send us his new horror. We will fight it just like we did the last. Do not lose faith in your men.”

The King now turned to him. “I do not lose faith in them,” he answered solemnly. “I also do not want to send my men to a certain death. There are women and children, fathers and mothers waiting for them back home. I cannot turn a blind eye to this new development.”

“We have no other choice,” the Captain countered. The King’s face still showed lines of worry. “Callum will be waiting for our representative. We shouldn’t hold off any longer.”

Jameson’s eyes looked to Diana, doubt plainly written there. “We cannot send her, she isn’t well enough.”

“
She
is fine,” Diana answered instantly. “Do not discuss me like I’m not here, Jameson,” she continued. “I have already agreed to do this.” His face went cold.

“I can accompany her,” Aiden offered. “If it will make you more comfortable.”

Jameson continued to look at Diana, his face unreadable. Aiden watched as she fidgeted under his scrutiny. “Honestly,” she breathed. “I’m fine, there is no reason to delay this any longer.”

“Everyone leave us for a minute,” the King said, turning to face one of the tent walls. Aiden and Lily stood and left, followed by Turk. Outside the men were getting settled for the night. They were talking loudly, seemingly unconcerned for the events that would transpire tomorrow.

“It says something about a man if they can still find happiness in a time like this,” Turk observed, his gaze observing the army.

“That’s what makes them the best of the best,” Aiden replied. The Captain snorted, and turned to look down at him. He smiled, giving Aiden a slap on the back.

“You’ve turned out to be a fine soldier, Aiden,” he said in his gruff voice. “Go get your horse. You will accompany Diana.”