He drew me into an embrace, holding me tightly to his chest. We lay curled up in each other’s arms, just listening and feeling all the new things our mating brought about. I was more content and peaceful than I’d ever been in my life. This was the way we were meant to be. If I’d had doubts before this night, they were all wiped away with our joining. There really was such a thing as soul mates, and I was beyond blessed to have finally found mine. We drifted off to sleep with inconceivable love in our hearts and contented smiles on our faces.
I WOKE a few hours later with the sunrise. I’d never been one to sleep long, and was content just watching Raif sleep for a while. He was an amazing man and I wanted to remember this moment. I crept out of bed to grab my camera. It was still in my bag, but not in the place I’d left it, which struck me as strange. Raif must’ve moved it when he was looking for something.
I made my way back to the bed and took a few pictures of him sleeping. I wanted to see him at least in my photos if I couldn’t see him in person. I was going to have to wake him soon so we could say goodbye, but I really didn’t want to. I moved to sit back against my pillows to review the pictures I’d just taken and noticed that the battery was low.
I hadn’t used it that much, so I ran through all the photos on the memory card to find out why. It appeared that Michael had confiscated my camera and taken pictures of the handfasting yesterday. The entire day was immortalized on film. If I’d had tears, my eyes would be welling up. This was the greatest gift anyone could’ve given me. I saved a few of the pictures from the memory card to the camera’s limited hard drive, and then removed the memory card. I put the camera back into the bag that Raif would be taking home with him. I wanted Raif to be able to see me whenever he wanted.
I put the same red dress back on and slipped the memory card between the fabric and my breasts for safekeeping. I made sure the card was hidden, where no one could see it and went back over to the bed. I crawled in beside Raif, curling against his body. Gently I stroked the black hair from his face; admiring him. His lips curved up in a smile as he slept.
“Raif, amada, love, wake up. I have to go.” I didn’t want to leave. I really, really didn’t want to part from him. My heart clenched at the thought and he frowned. He gathered me in his arms and finally opened his sleepy, teal eyes.
“What is wrong, my heart? You are so sad.” He yawned before realizing I was fully dressed. Clearly the night of pleasure had wiped the morning of imminent pain from his mind. I saw the moment that he remembered and could feel his anguish.
“You are ready, then?” he whispered.
“Never. I’ll never be ready or willing to leave you. I know it’s what we must do, and if I wait any longer, I won’t be able to go through with it. I have to go now. I just wanted to say goodbye. Do you want to walk me to the portal, or just stay here?” I wasn’t entirely sure if I wanted him there. I couldn’t be sure that I wouldn’t back out at the last minute if he were standing there, staring at me with his sad eyes. Of course, if he didn’t come to see me off I would have been heartbroken. Stupid female emotions.
“I feel your torment,” he said with a hint of a smile on his face. He sobered quickly, though. “I will go with you and watch you leave to make sure you are safe. I will not ask you to stay with me, and I will not make it harder for you to go. But I do not want you to think for one minute that I want you to go. What we are doing is bigger than us, more important than our desires, and we shall be rewarded for our sacrifice. I love you with every fiber of my being, please never forget that.”
He held me close. I could feel the tears slide down his cheeks, the pain in his heart, and the truth of his words. I loved him equally. We cuddled for another few minutes, both reluctant to let go of each other. Finally, though, we did part, knowing if we didn’t now, we wouldn’t be able to muster the courage to do so later. He dressed quickly and together we walked to Cleito’s garden.
She was waiting for us in the same spot as yesterday. Atreyu was sitting with her, holding her hand. I could tell there was a story between them. I wouldn’t be the one to pry it from them, yet I felt pity for Atreyu. He would be the one to suffer once Poseidon returned to his mate. They turned as one to look at us, quickly releasing the hold they had on each other’s hand.
“Are you both certain you want to do this? You must be completely willing for the spell to work. It has never been done before, and it must be followed exactly. I will not fail my people again.” Cleito was fierce in her conviction, a mother defending her young.
“We’re sure. Let’s get this over with. What do I have to do?” My heart thundered in my chest. Raif squeezed my hand in support.
“Simply step into the fountain and walk out the other
