was going to be the death of me before I even had the chance to reject it.
He grabbed my hand and ported us to a remote area surrounded by trees, and the rushing sounds of water could be heard over the pounding of my heart. The moon sat high in the sky, giving us just enough light to see about ten feet in front of us.
“Where are we?” I asked, very much aware of his hand still holding mine.
“The only hot springs within Arvayta. I stumbled upon it one day when I’d been out hunting, and I come here from time to time when I want to think. I thought it might be somewhere you’d enjoy as well.”
I had no idea why he was telling me this or even sharing it with me, and to be honest, I didn’t like it. If he was simply trying to torture me so I’d disappear faster, it was working. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to run as far away from him as I could.
My heart couldn’t take his rejection followed by his kindness. If he was trying to make up for earlier, he was doing it all wrong.
“Well, thanks for showing me, but I think I should head back now.” I tried to pull away from him, but he tightened his hold on me.
“Will you stay a little longer? I’d like to apologize for earlier.”
“No apology necessary. Let’s just keep the interactions to a minimum and we’ll sort out the details later,” I said, once again trying to pull my hand away and just barely succeeding.
The hurt on his face when I did that confused the hell out of me. I took a step away, trying to decide where I wanted to go before porting. I had no desire to face Jordan, because what I really needed was some therapeutic crying. The kind that was loud and ugly and included some yelling at the top of my lungs to help me get over whatever Ryland was doing to me and needed to be done alone.
After that, I could have my time with Jordan, filled with wine and music and laughter, because even if nobody had said it yet, I knew in some way I was already bonded to her. She was my best-friend soulmate, and I’d count on her to see me through whatever came next.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know how to do this. I wish the Fates had come to me before I spoke with you, but they didn’t, and I’ve made things worse. Please just sit for a minute,” Ryland begged with not only his words, but also his eyes as his hand reached for me once again, and my window to disappear was gone.
My heart won, and I accepted his hand. When we touched, I embraced the power that flowed between the two of us and briefly let myself pretend he was mine.
He led us to a rock that overlooked the hot springs. Steam rose from the water and had me itching to dive in, but Ryland once again demanded my attention. As soon as he spoke, everything else around us disappeared.
“I don’t know how else to explain it, so I’m just going to say it. Sara was not my Meraki. One of the Fates came to me today after I left your house and explained some of my past. I was deceived by Sara, who had been working with Alaryk.
“The dark fae has been fighting to get you since long before you were even born. I’m sorry I fell for his tricks and hurt you in the process. I hope you can find a way to forgive me, but I understand if you can’t. Though, I need you to know that I will do everything I can to erase the hurt I caused you and earn your forgiveness. I won’t be able to move forward without you by my side as my true Meraki.”
Cheese and rice, what was happening in my life? I could barely process his words. They’d hit me like a freight train and broke every bone in my body, leaving me unable to move or speak. My soul was dancing, but everything else was numb.
“Kali?” Ryland waved his hand in front of my face, then grabbed both of my shoulders. “Kali?” The frantic tone in his voice had me snapping out of my stupor, but not in the best way.
“I have to go.” Scrambling from his grasp, I wasted no time before I