Page 17 of Entwined

I have to go see the mystic now.

Maybe she could give him some special advice. He’d have to make up his mind rather quickly on whether he should go back to Darby right away or wait and give him a few days to think things over. To maybe miss him enough that he’d be more likely to come back with him through the veil.

Bram rose to his feet then hunted around for some lilies or honeysuckle so he could get enough energy to fly across the glen to the mystic. His thoughts and worries wouldn’t leave him alone and soon he was tearing up.

I won’t cry. I won’t!

Darby wouldn’t let him leave and not follow. How could he? The kisses and caresses Darby had given him the night before, the way their bodies had spoken for them as they’d coupled—the connection was much too strong to be denied.

Once Bram had found enough flowers and sucked the sweetness from the stamens, he was ready to fly to the mystic. He knew his ma and da would want to know how things had gone, but now that his maturity had arrived, it was time to start taking responsibility for himself, to make his own decisions.

Bram sprouted his wings then lifted into the air, buzzing his way over the tops of the trees and across the glen that seemed to grow larger with each waxing and waning of the moon. When he reached the circle of weeping willows that surrounded the stone cottage of the mystic, Bram hovered in place before gradually slowing his wings until his feet touched the ground.

As he tip-toed up the path that led through the drape of leafy branches that hung from the majestic willows, Bram sent a prayer up to the Golden Light, hoping that Darby’s seed had taken hold. If Darby turned away from him, at least their baby would carry on for them.

“Tara?” Bram tapped softly on the door made of thick, rough bark. “Are you at home?”

A flurry of rainbow dragonflies descended from the trees and whirred around him, their multicolored wings glowing in a delightful display. They continued to circle his head until he realized that they were encouraging him away from the cottage and toward a path that extended beyond it. Bram allowed them to guide the way and lead him down the narrow walkway until he arrived at a well.

In almost an instant, the dragonflies dissipated, returning to wherever it was they’d come from. Bram gazed around the open area, the river rock well centered in what could’ve have been considered a meadow, had it not been so small. He could walk ten steps in any direction from the well and reach the edge of the forest.

Why did they bring me here?

“Hello? Tara?”

A pulsing, bright green light caught his eye and he turned in its direction. To his surprise, it seemed to be emanating from inside the well. He was rarely frightened in the glen or surrounding forests. He traveled through and slept alone in them all the time. In truth, even the sun fairies weren’t as big a threat as he sometimes indicated to Glynnis. The wars between the sun, moon, sea and earth fairies were ancient and near forgotten.

Yet, he couldn’t help but feel hesitant to approach the mysterious light.

The mystic wouldn’t want to hurt me, and those dragonflies seemed friendly enough.

Bram moved slowly toward the source of the light, not even sure what he should do once he reached it. If only the mystic was there with him, she could explain what was going on and what was expected of him.

Once he was at the edge of the stone structure, he peered over the side. The green glow didn’t hurt his eyes but lulled him instead. Soon his lids became heavy and he found himself swaying, his knees weakening until he could no longer remain upright. Bram fell forward and before he could grab the rim of the well, he was hurtling down the opening, ever closer to the source of the strange light.

The walls of the well expanded until it seemed as if he were in outer space, floating in the universe that existed beyond the stars. Never had he been filled with such calm, such a sense of peace. He floated in the pillow of air until a pink point of light demanded his attention.

Bram squinted in an effort to determine what it was. He used his arms and legs to propel his body toward the light as if he were swimming. His wings refused to sprout, so he was at the mercy of the green light. If it didn’t deliver him back out of the well, he’d never be able to escape its confines.

Once he got close enough to the light, he realized it was in the shape of a heart. As he stared at it in wonder, a golden cord extended from his belly button then lengthened, traveling toward the pink heart. Right as the tip of the cord reached the heart, it burst to life, enveloping the pink light with a golden essence.

Tingles ran up and down Bram’s body like an electrical charge from a lightning storm. The air was sucked from his lungs and he couldn’t cry out for help as his body shook violently from whatever was happening to him.

With one, final explosion of searing light that made Bram screw his eyes tightly shut, everything stopped. He could breathe again, and the soft glow of green had returned. Bram gasped.

Does this mean what I think it does?

The pink heart was now beating with a strong, steady rhythm. The golden cord connecting it to his body had become etheric and without warning, he found himself rising higher and higher. In a panic, he tried to stop the green glow from taking him away from his unborn child’s heart.

Oh, the agony of separation. He needed to know if Darby was going to become entwined with him, if they would raise the babe who would soon be born. Or would he turn them away and leave Bram to wither and deny their child the love of his or her fathers?

Bram seemed to float in nothingness, the green turning to black, and he feared that perhaps it was too late already, perhaps he was already withering away.

Will I not even get to see my baby’s face before I go to the Golden Light?

His eyes fluttered open and he was lying in a field of ferns. He placed both hands protectively over his abdomen and knew without a doubt that he carried his and Darby’s child and that he wasn’t withering, that there was still hope.

“Yes, Bram. There is.”

He sucked in a sharp breath then sat up. “Tara?”

“It is I.” The mystic fluttered around him, her pixie nose and curly purple hair floating around her head in a seeming dance. “The Well of Life has given you the answers you sought. You are carrying your human alpha’s child. Now, only one chance remains to seal your bond.”

“Oh, mystic. Please tell me. Will he come back through the veil with me?”

She shook her head, the long curls shaking right along with her. “That is for fate to decide. All you can do is go back to him, show him your love. But I must remind you. Don’t tell him about the babe, or the danger to you if he doesn’t forsake the earthly plane. He must come here of his own will, otherwise, your bond will be broken anyway.”

Bram’s chest tightened and he thought he might dissolve into sobs. However, he had to stay strong, had to believe that he would get the forever after he’d been waiting for his entire life.

Our love will keep us safe.

All that remained was for him to test that belief.