“And what if I told you that’s not what happens? What if I told you I saw it for myself? A future where your kiss doesn’t kill her but instead it awakens her.”
“This is just one of your tricks. You wouldn’t tell me this without a price.”
“This is true. And a price will be paid. But I’m not yet ready to collect.”
My mind is spinning but I can’t stop myself from believing that what I’m told is true.
“What if you’re lying? What if I cross that line and she never comes back? What if the curse is a loophole to her immortality? You and I both know magic loves a balance. Could someone truly be immortal?”
“My dear boy, you just answered your own question. True immortality would not allow one to die and yet she does. The curse is not the loophole to her immortality. The loophole is the death she must endure each time she is to be reborn.”
“Even so, how can I risk it?”
“Perhaps, if I show you.”
Just then, an image of Reign and I appear on the Oracle’s drifting cloak. We’re in her room at the house in Zentria. She’s wearing a gold dress that splits down both of her legs. The space between us grows smaller and smaller until every part of our bodies touch. And that’s when it happens. Our lips collide and every bitof caution ceases to exist.
I watch the moment as if it were my own memory. When we finally pull away from one another, she’s fine. She’s more than fine, actually. She’s perfect. There’s no death dragging her under. No curse threatening to take away the one good thing in my life. It’s just us, standing there, lost within one another.
Somehow, every bone in my body knows that it’s not some illusion or trick.
It’s real.
Once I got back from seeing the Oracle, I spent most of the night replaying every word. It all makes sense. I know it does. But her life is too precious to gamble.
Am I really ready to risk everything? That’s the question I keep asking myself, but I can’t seem to come up with an answer. My heart seems to want one thing while my head wants another. The back and forth of it all is too much, which is exactly why Ion’s invitation to spend time with the military units this morning is just what I need. A break from the madness swarming my mind.
Working with the Infinite Sea units is refreshing. I’ve grown used to the training back in the Shadow Lands, but theirs is different, yet equally impressive. I’ve already taken a mental note of which drills I’d like to start implementing when we get back.
The morning hours pass by too quickly and before I know it, it’s already time to get ready for the Armada Social. When I get back to my room, there’s a gold suit waiting for me. I quickly shower and when I start to get dressed, I realize how perfectly made it is. Every part of the suit fits to me just the wayI like it. Gold, metal plated feathers run a few inches down my arm, almost resembling armor. The collar of the outer jacket falls just under my chin and small, gold chains drape down the lower half of the tailored vest. White swirls break up the gold and add beautiful detailing to the outer coat and pants. If I had to take a guess, I would assume Anthony is the one behind this brilliant design.
I’m one of the last to arrive downstairs. Everyone looks incredible and although we each have different attire, we still look uniform.
“Where’s Reign?” I ask Amaya when I don’t see her.
“She’ll be right down. You know her and heels,” she says with a chuckle.
A second later, Damien’s eyes light up and I turn around to follow his gaze. My heart nearly falls out of me when I see her. Not because she’s jaw-droppingly beautiful, which she is, but because she’s wearing the dress. The one with two giant slits that leave her legs bare except for the gold chain that connects to the fabric on each side. The corset bodice with swirling gold, metal plates hug her top half perfectly. The heart-shape neckline only makes it harder to keep my eyes up. Everything about this dress is a dangerous temptation.
I didn’t pay any attention to what I was wearing in the vision, but I made sure to memorize every detail of her. If what the Oracle showed me is true, then this is definitely the dress she’s wearing when I cross that line that can’t be undone.
The weight of that thought makes it hard to breathe and Reign must notice.
“Are you okay?”
I nod, trying to collect myself. “You look radiant.”
“Thank you,” she says, blushing slightly. “You look nice yourself.” The smirk she’s fighting tells me she’s struggling justas much as I am. I wish I could just kiss her and take her hand in mine, but even if I could, she wouldn’t allow it. Not in front of Damien.
“You guys ready?” Danielle motions for us all to gather in a circle. “The brothers are already there so we don’t need to wait for them.”
She releases the vial of blue mist and a moment later we reappear in the middle of one of their ships. All around are guests dressed from head to toe in gold. Some have extravagant jewelry while others have opted for stunning headpieces.
“There you are!” Ion turns around and calls for Zaro who comes waltzing up hand in hand with whom I can only assume is the husband-to-be. He’s tall and lean with a rich complexion that compliments the gold cape draped around him.
“So glad you guys are here! Everyone this is Anthony, Anthony, this is everyone.” We take turns individually introducing ourselves and he seems to have a decent idea of who we all are.
“Let’s get you all something to eat and drink.” Ion escorts us to the highest deck in the back while Zaro and Anthony are whisked away in the opposite direction.
