“H-how—” I blush and look down at my feet. Mine are so much smaller than Eldaren’s. “How long does the Kenelky last?”
“As long as both of us are alive,” Eldaren says. “The connection will remain.”
“Unless I choose another?”
Eldaren frowns. “You know, talking like that is cruel, Stella. You torment me.”
He sounds poetic, but I know he’s being serious.
I turn away and head for the trail we walked on yesterday. “You can’t possibly love me for that long,” I say. “And anyway, is the Kenelky even love? It’s not like you had a choice.”
“I don’t understand what you mean,” he says, keeping pace with me. “Of course, I love you. How could I not?”
“But is it actually love,” I ask, “or you know . . . something else?”
“Lust?” Eldaren raises his eyebrows.
My face heats further, and I don’t answer.
“I find you, ah, extremely appealing, it is true,” he says after a pause, “but I do care for you as a person.”
Another pause. “Sort of.”
I gasp and look up at him to see he’s grinning widely.
“I just told a human joke, didn’t I?” He looks absurdly pleased. “Yes!”
I’m not sure how to respond and nudge his shoulder. “It sounds serious when you say it, though.”
“Same when you joke,” he retorts.
Sophia meets us on the trail. Her hair is down today and hangs about her shoulders in wild, beautiful curls. “Morning!” she says brightly. “I’m ready to train.”
“Excellent,” Eldaren says. “We shall do our best to communicate with Eema today.”
“‘We?’” I say, peering at him.
“I’ve been trying to talk with Earth ever since my arrival to this planet,” Eldaren says. “I haven’t been successful, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be, eventually.”
I nod. I can’t help but admire that sort of perseverance.
“You just can’t take a hint, can you?” Bren’s voice cuts through the air like a knife. “And Stella.” His voice drips with disappointment. “You couldn’t do the single job I gave you.”
He’s leaning against a tree, just off the trail, arms folded as he eyes us.
“Get behind me,” Eldaren says, and I know he’s talking to both Sophia and me.
“It’s Bren,” Sophia says, unmoving. “He’s my friend.”
She starts to step off the path toward Bren.
“Remain where you are.” Eldaren’s voice cracks like a whip, and Sophia freezes.
Bren’s face contorts in rage. “She’s not your subject to command!” he shouts, leaping onto the trail. “Leave her alone.”
“She’s not yours, either.” Eldaren’s voice is calm, but I read his body language.
Bren is about to go down.
The young man sighs in disdainful exasperation. “I’ve already given you plenty of warnings, prince. Very well. You would not leave of your own free will. So I will make you leave.”
He stands with his hands on narrow hips, eyeing Eldaren defiantly.
“You can try,” Eldaren replies. “But you shall have to throw the first punch, as humans say. I will not attack without being provoked.”
“Your girlfriend’s a stupid wench,” Bren spits. His gaze cuts to mine, his look almost apologetic.
Eldaren’s face goes white with rage, and he leaps forward faster than sight, his sword coming out of its sheath.
Bren flips backwards, silver magic weaving into existence to become a spear. He blocks Eldaren’s sword, staggering under the strength of the blow. He kicks a leg out, and magic explodes between the two of them, driving them apart.
“Stars, what are we going to do?” I grip fistfuls of my hair and look over at Sophia with wide eyes. “Do you have any ideas?”
“I kinda wish I had some snacks,” she says, staring open-mouthed at the men. “Two hot dudes fighting over me? It’s like one of my books.”
I roll my eyes in exasperation. She’s not going to be any help.
I look back in time to see Bren snap his fingers. And suddenly there’s ten of him, surrounding Eldaren.
The prince swipes his sword, cutting away illusions. “Petty tricks are the best you got?” Eldaren’s voice drips with scorn. “It’ll take more than that to drive me away.”
Bren snarls and the hands of one of his images glows brightly.
Eldaren moves to meet him, face hard with anger.
That’s when I sense it. Something dangerous. Evil. Full of malice. Lust. Need.
I look around, trying to pinpoint the feeling.
“Something’s out there,” I whisper.
Sophia eyes me, her nose crinkling. “Huh?”
I turn in a circle, Eldaren and Bren’s fighting fading to a small corner of my mind.
My senses expand, and the air stirs around me, going cold.
An unseen presence locks in on me and then shifts, settling its focus on Sophia.
The gaia is in danger.
29
Sophia
An elven prince and protector of the forest, fighting. Over me.
I’ve read stories where characters pinch themselves to see if they’re dreaming. But this is real. I’m literally awake and experiencing this.
It’s better than daydreams of making out with some fictional book dude—not that I do that, of course . . . And anyway, this is real.
Excitement mixes with dread as I see Bren’s expression, though. I think he’s actually serious about making Eldaren leave. But surely the prince is all right. He hasn’t done anything to make me doubt him.
I don’t fear for Bren’s life. I saw him defeat the reaper.
Who will win? Should I intervene? Maybe I should talk to Eema. She probably knows the best way to handle two cranky guys.
“Something’s out there,” Stella whispers.
“Huh?” I eye her. “What are you talking about?” What a bore. I wonder if there’s a non-violent way to get Stella out of the picture. She’s putting a cramp in my style.
The woman’s gray-blue eyes are wide, and she’s looking about the woods with a nervous air, seemingly oblivious to the two beautiful angels warring with each other. How can she be so distracted?
“It wants to hurt you,” she breathes. Her eyes meet mine again, and my stomach clenches at the stark fear I read in their depths.
Is Stella afraid for me?
I don’t have time to think of more than that before Eldaren’s head snaps up, and he swivels to lock
