Page 42 of Awakened Light

I heard her footsteps coming down the stairs, so I blew out a big breath and tried to force the look of despair from my face. If this was the last night she would see me, to hell if I was going to leave her with the memory of a love-sick wounded man.

“You ready?” I plastered a fake smile on my face.

Catrain looked around the room and nodded.

“Everyone,” I called loudly, knowing they would hear me no matter where they were in the castle. “Catrain is leaving if you want to say goodbye.”

Within seconds they all appeared, and one by one, they hugged her and said their goodbyes. Annella gave her the biggest hug, thanking her for saving her life.

“You’re welcome. I was happy to help. You have a wonderful family who loves you.”

“Don’t I know it,” Annella said as she released Catrain from their hug. “And we’re a lot of fun. I wish you would stay and spend some more time with us.”

“I wish I could too.” Catrain pressed her lips into a tight smile.

They waved goodbye from the entryway as I led Catrain out to the garage. We walked quietly to the doorway, and I punched in the code.

“Are we taking the fast car again?” she asked.

Laughing, I shook my head. “We’re going cross-country, and the Bugatti isn’t made for off-roading. Plus, I’ve still got to return the dirt bike. I don’t want you to kill me for stealing,” I joked. “We’ll just ride it back, and I’ll drop it off on my way home. Sound okay?”

Her eyes lit up. “I love the dirt bike.”

“Then dirt bike it is.”

We walked over to the little blue bike, and I kicked the footstand up and rolled it out of the garage. After I climbed on, I gestured for Catrain to do the same. When she slid on behind me and her body pressed against mine, I had to choke down my outward groan. It’d been torture having her wrapped around me the first time we’d ridden this bike, but at least that ride had been filled with excitement and anticipation. This ride would be filled with nothing but dread and despair.

Her arms tightened around my waist, and I closed my eyes for a beat as I exhaled a long stilling breath. I twisted the handle and sent the dirt bike surging forward. We skidded out along the driveway, and I steered it into the fields surrounding our estate, picking up speed as we hit an open stretch and headed toward her island. When we reached the turn I’d usually make to take her home, I glanced to my left and slowed the bike down to a stop.

“I’m taking a little detour,” I called back over my shoulder.

“What’s a detour?”

“It means we’re making a stop before I take you home.”

“A stop where?”

I smiled. “You’ll see.”

Before she could answer, I shot the bike forward and turned west. We bumped along the countryside as I guided the bike over the rolling hills separating us from our destination. Catrain held on tight around me, and for a moment, I questioned my decision to extend our journey... and my torment. But there was something I wanted her to see before she resigned her life to the island and her people.

I gave the bike a little extra gas to get up the long sloping hill I’d galloped my horse up hundreds of times centuries ago. When we reached the top, I slid to a stop and killed the engine.

“We’re here.” I swung my leg over the front of the bike and hopped off. Our eyes connected for the first time since we’d left the estate, and my heart squeezed in my chest that this would be one of the last times I’d look into them. Ignoring the pain searing through my soul, I held out my hand and braced for the agony of her touch. “Come on.”

CHAPTER TEN

Catrain

I TOOK HIS HAND, AND it was all I could do not to fall back into his arms and annihilate him with a kiss like the one he’d given me last night.

The one I’d spent all day thinking about. Over and over and over again.

Instead, I shoved my urges aside and let him guide me off the bike. We walked side by side until we reached the edge. When I looked out, my mouth slackened as I stared out over the endless moonlit water.

“This is the ocean.” He stepped to my side. “I wanted you to see it once.”

“It’s... it’s incredible,” I breathed. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. I’d thought my lake was beautiful, but this ocean took my breath away. I peeked over the edge and watched the giant waves crashing against the wall below.