"Chris, what are you doing?" Dax's forehead creases and the corners of his eyes wrinkle.
"Agreeing with her is probably not the smartest." That's an understatement. "But she's being a good leader. I can't fault her for that. She’s defending her world just like I'm trying to save myself and our home." I glance at Charlie, and he raises an eyebrow.
"You know what?" Ria purses her lips and rubs her chin. "Why don't you all stay here for a while?"
Now, she wants to make us feel welcome? “Why would we stay?”
"I mean, obviously you can't find the artifact, or you would have gone straight to it." Ria holds out a hand toward me and smirks. "And no one here will tell you where to find it. So why don't you stay here and live out your remaining days. At least you'll find a little peace inside these walls."
“No, that’s not acceptable.” Charlie’s nostrils flare, and his hands clench.
Dax steps to the other side of me. “Are you expecting us to sit here and watch her implode?”
“Just think about it.” She looks right at me, ignoring the other two. “With that much power, I can only imagine all the people who are trying to manipulate you and control you. By staying here and living out the rest of your days, you can live on your own terms.”
Wow, that’s one thing I had never even considered before. The thought has appeal to it. I mean, why would I want to return to Earth? She’s right; between Damien, the witch, and council, everyone wants to sink their teeth into me.
And really, who do I have to return to? I mean, yes, my parents and I have been working on a better relationship, but they will be fine without me. Hell, they are so busy reestablishing their own relationship with each other that they haven’t even focused on me all that much. So, even though we are rebuilding, I’m not all that close to them.
“You know what?” Ria takes a few steps to the door and grabs a few bottles off of a nearby table. “I’m going to head back to the market and leave you three here to discuss things. I’ll be back in a little while.” She walks out, leaving the three of us alone.
“Okay, now is our chance.” Dax takes a few steps to the door and stops. He turns and looks at me. “Why aren’t you coming?”
“Chris, what’s going on?” Charlie’s hazel eyes are filled with concern. “You can’t possibly be considering her proposal.”
It’s easy for them to be like this. “Well, why shouldn’t I consider it? I mean, let’s be real. The person I’m closest to is right here with me.” Staying here and living my life in peace wouldn’t be so bad. “I wouldn’t have to worry about the council or everyone else. I could live for me.”
“Good to know I’m chopped liver.” Dax grumbles and leans against the wall.
“I care about you too, just not the same way.” I swear he’s a pain sometimes. “And you could stay or come and go since you jump realms. You just couldn’t tell Luke.”
He crosses his arms for a moment and bites his bottom lip. "Of course, I'd keep your secret, but I wouldn't be able to go back. He'd know something was up and try to find some way to leverage the truth out of me."
"That's interesting. He keeps saying he's on the good side, but that comment right there sure doesn't sound like it." Reasons why I'm beginning to trust my gut in all ways.
"Don't confuse noble intent and ethics." He pushes off the wall and shakes his head. "They are not the same thing. The end justifies the means with Luke whereas ethics mean you always do the right thing."
He's right. Maybe I'm not so ethical anymore myself. Hell, the angels taught me not to be so ethical. Isn't that kind of an oxymoron? "Well, what about all three of us staying right here? I'm not saying we don't still get the Water Artifact. I mean I want to live."
"Thank God." Charlie wraps his arm around me and tugs me against his side. "I was getting worried there for a minute." He taps me on the nose and grins. "Now that I can get on board with. As long as we still find the Water Artifact and you stay with me, I don't care which realm I'm on as long as I'm with you."
Now there is the man I love. I stand on my tip toes and kiss his lips. Butterflies take flight in my belly.
Dax clears his throat and walks across the room. "This is a bad idea, guys. Earth is home. Can we really leave everyone back there to the fate the mirrors display? That demon is stealing souls. I mean, let's see how it goes after we get the artifact, but we need to play the part like we are considering staying without stealing it."
I don’t know if I believe the mirrors. At this point, I almost think it’s another way the council is manipulating us, but the last part is a good point. "Yeah, but I'm not going to be able to leave this place without getting overwhelmed, so I'm not sure how we're going to be able to find it."
"We'll figure it out." Charlie places his hands on my shoulders and rubs. "We always do."
For the first time since we got here, I take in our surroundings. There are a handful of stairs from the door up to what I’m assuming is the living space and a large square room where we are. There are cushions in various colors arranged on the ground for sitting. Other than that, there is a solid wooden bookshelf across
