Page 70 of Rekindled Prophecy

“Here’s to enemies turned allies. Even if it is just this once.”

She watched with fascination as he raised the flute to his lips and took a long sip, draining the glass. Acknowledging the toast by slightly raising her flute with a half-smile and an exaggerated roll of the eyes, she did not take a sip. Instead, she walked over to the small brick wall of the gazebo and placed the glass down.

“Thanks, but after my night I was thinking of something much stronger than this stuff. As for an update on tonight’s events … let’s just say that things are settled … for now anyway. All is taken care of, and you can go back to your evil ways as soon as you vacate the premises. However, I’ll have to give you a rain check on that dance.”

Her mind was already fogging up just being near him. She had arrived with a clear mind and purpose, but now struggled to remember what that was. It clawed at the back of her brain, like a cat on a scratching post. All she could see was Kael. All she felt was the overpowering need to lift her hands to his chiseled face and bring his lips down to hers. One last flicker of sanity reared up before she fell victim to her own desire. Just that one second of clarity rang loudly like an alarm bell …Get away from him as fast as you can … or gut him now.

Never throughout their countless encounters had she dared to think of him as anything but evil. Insanely attractive … yes, but evil, nonetheless. Being thrown together like this had taken its toll on her. She could not deny the attraction any longer. The burden would weigh on her for the rest of her existence. Deprived of the luxury of a romantic personal connection to anyone for centuries, and here she had fallen for a dark guardian. She could not mess up any more horrifically than that.

Greylyn knew any future meetings with him would be much more dangerous. His mere presence muddled her brain. He made her weak. And the worst part was that he knew it too.

Even as she tried walking away, a live wire sizzled inside her, waiting for that one small touch to set off a spark. That spark could incinerate her. If anything, this weekend had shown her how deep-seated her vulnerability to him was. She did not trust herself anywhere near him anymore.

What faint hope she had of simply walking away faded in an instant. Before she took a step, Kael’s hand reached out and grabbed her wrist to stop her retreat. All resistance fled as she blindly allowed him to lead her over to a small stone bench.

Bowing over her hand, planting a soft kiss on her palm. “Well then, let me assist you one last time. I’ll run into the house and grab us some stronger drinks. Wait here.” His tone was gentle yet firm. His message clear. He was not going to takenofor an answer. Sheer exhaustion and lack of will kept her from doing the reasonable thing: leave immediately, hide in her room. She was certain if she did, he would knock down the door to get to her, regardless of the pain it would cause.

Resigned, Greylyn looked out over the horizon as the moon continued its descent. It was not even until that moment that she realized the cloud cover had dissipated completely, and the sky was a magnificent scene of dazzling stars and a nearly iridescent full moon. Sunrise could not be far away as the sky had already begun to fade to a deep purple hue.

A sense of peace washed over her mind and body as she listened to the bull frogs’ song intermingled with the fainter symphony of crickets and other nocturnal creatures. A soft breeze rustled tendrils of her hair. A fish jumped in the pond. Her gaze fell to the water where she stared in fascination at the smooth ripples along the surface before turning up her face again to the masterpiece above.

Unsure how long she had been gazing up at the stars, the moment of tranquility vanished when a soft crunch on the gravel path announced Kael’s return.

“Here you go. One extra strong beverage as ordered by the lovely little angel.” Giving her a mock bow, he handed her a leaden glass tumbler of deep amber liquid.

She took the glass and nodded her thanks but waited to see if he would drink from his tumbler first. With a provocative wink, he held out his free hand.

“Here. Give me your glass.”

He then proceeded to take a sip from his glass and then hers as if to prove his innocence. “Happy, now?”

Accepting her tumbler back with a small, embarrassed laugh, Greylyn took a long swig. The amber liquid tasted bitter yet with just enough sweetness. It had been years since she had an honest to goodness “Godfather,” half scotch whiskey, half amaretto. Based on the smoothness of the beverage, he had used the good stuff too. Just what she needed after the ordeal of the last couple days. Too bad he had not brought the liquor bottles out with him. She was sure she was going to need another.

How had he known the perfect drink for her? The question lingered for just a second before she gave up caring about the answer.

An awkward silence settled between them as they sat and enjoyed the warmth of the scotch. She realized that this was probably the first time, and maybe the last as well, when two such opponents would be this close without trying to kill each other. A quiet giggle escaped.

Kael raised an eyebrow in question.

“Oh, come on. This is a rather hysterical historical moment that sounds more like a bad bar joke. ‘A guardian angel and a dark guardian walk into a bar …’”

They both burst out laughing, startling the bull frogs into silence.

She was certain that no one she knew would see the hilarity of the situation. Jasper’s reaction alone … oh, she did not even want to consider that right now. There was no way he would ever understand or condone this behavior. He would expect her to slice and dice Kael to ribbons, not this.

Honestly, she could not even think about Jasper right now, or anyone or anything else for that matter. Kael’s closeness shut out all thoughts, particularly those of common sense. She had had a purpose when she arrived. To ask him something. To pummel him into a bloody pulp for something. Nothing registered in her brain.

When his arm brushed up against hers, heat radiated outward, warming her entire body. Blood pounded like a bass drum in her ears. Everything else blurred.

As they continued to sit in silence, the sky lightened to a dusty purple haze, and the glittering stars faded away. The bull frogs did not take up their chorus again and the crickets fell silent.

Even as the whiskey took effect and eased the built-up tension in her body, a figment of sanity flared. That inner spark deep within would not shut off the danger alarm.

Downing the remainder of the beverage in one long gulp, she stood up to leave. With what she hoped came off as a nonchalant tone, Greylyn briefly turned to face her nemesis with her own stoic mask in place.

“Thanks for the drink, but I really need some rest. It’s been a hard couple of days.” Even Greylyn realized how trite she sounded. Her hopes of an easy escape went up in flames as he stood up lightning fast and caught her elbow.

“Not so fast, little one. You owe me a little more than a mere, ‘Thank you.’ At the very least I deserve to know what you’ve been up to away from here, especially since you sustained such injuries last night. I’m simply happy you returned in one piece this time.” As if to hold her in place, his large hands rubbed up and down her arms.