AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The men fell to silence, staring dumbfounded for several long moments. It was Atlas that finally rolled from their grips to surge forward and gather the coats in his arms, flashing the men behind him an ornery grin as he brought his fingers to his lips. His eyebrow had a minor cut, but nothing of note, compared to the scar he had now.
“Atlas, don’t,” Torryn warned, golden eyes fixed on the tree line in the distance, refusing to look at the naked women. “It’s cold as a witch’s nipples out here.”
“At least as cold as theirs.” He laughed, rejoining the shifters.
“Hey,” Laramie shouted, finally realizing the men stood on the bank. “Drop those coats, or I’ll make you all wish you were never born.”
“I’ve never been scared of a witch, and I have no intentions of changing that today, woman,” Atlas yelled.
“Then you haven’t met the right witch,” another of the girls called, trying to cover her bare body with her hands.
Not Laramie, though. She stormed across that lake, each step a stomp, as if daring the ice to betray her. Confident and mad as hell as she jumped onto the frozen grass and moved to stand before the boys, hands on her hips.
“Look away, boys,” Atlas said, eyes wide. “I think I’m about to fall in love.”
She didn’t hesitate, not for one iota of a second. Hauling back, she balled a heavy fist and punched Atlas square in the nose, practically breathing fire as she yanked the coats from his hands and spun, marching back with just as much conviction as she’d come with.
“Holy shit.” Young-Atlas hadn’t taken his eyes from the girl.
“Somebody catch me,” grown-Atlas said the same time as his younger self. “I’ve already fallen.”
“What’s your name?” he shouted through the fog.
“Go to hell,” she screamed back.
The men laughed as the memory faded away.
“Prepare yourself,” Past whispered into my ear.
I wasn’t ready. Not to watch him fall in love, be in love, or break. I didn’t want to do it anymore, and I didn’t know what was coming.
My heart ached for Atlas more than anything as a bridge appeared beneath us. Past was nowhere to be seen as two people raced down the road, laughing and holding hands as they neared.
Younger-Atlas captured Laramie in his arms and swung her around, the love between them so apparent, I didn’t have to use my power to know anything more about these two young, carefree souls. A shifter and a witch.
“I got you something,” the woman said, reaching into her pocket as they stepped onto the bridge. “For Solstice.”
His eyes were sparkling, drowning in adoration as he stared at her. A lovesick pup, if ever I’d seen one. “I got you something, too.”
She swatted his arm. “I told you not to. I know times are tough.”
“It’s nothing much.” He shrugged, reaching into his pocket. He plucked a small vial of water from within and held it out to her. “A year ago today, you punched me right in the nose and changed my life forever. I know I haven’t said it yet, but I’ve loved you from that very second to this one. Every minute. I’ve lost sleep thinking of you. I’ve forgotten meals, worried about you. And I know it’s difficult, us sneaking around so you don’t get caught with me. But I wouldn’t change it for the world, Laramie. You are everything I don’t deserve, and someday, witches be damned, I’m going to marry you.”
“I love you, too,” she said, gripping the vial as she tossed her hands around his neck, red hair swinging when he lifted her and spun once more.
I had to look anywhere but at the man that had kissed me only hours ago, even if his memory couldn’t see me, and the real version hadn’t so much as glanced my way. Whatever that tiny spark that might have been between us last night was, it wasn’t this. This was raw and pure and the closest thing to perfection I’d ever seen. I was only an intruder of their perfect memories.
“But what is it?” Laramie asked moments later, staring through the glass vial.
I began walking. I could not be a part of this anymore. But no matter how big of a step I took, no matter which way I tried to go, I never moved from my spot beside the lovers. Clamping my eyes shut, I rebelled against Past’s rules.
“You must watch, Marley.” Past appeared beside me, still in the form of the beautiful witch young-Atlas clung to.
His voice was so full of hope and happiness. “That day at the lake, I knew one day it would be you and I against the world. I knew I’d never stop until we were together, no matter the obstacles. So, I chipped a piece of ice from the lake and kept it.”
“This entire time?”
“I know it’s not much.”
