“
You don’t need to be sorry,” he said gently. “I know you’re struggling. You have so many choices ahead of you. I’m not going to judge you. I told you I wouldn’t make you choose. I love you, and that’s all you need to know right now.”
I felt like such a fool. I didn’t deserve him; he was too understanding. It was as if I could do nothing wrong in his eyes. I rested my head into his shoulder, pulling my arms tightly around his neck. He held me securely, and I took in his graciousness.
A tickling sensation touched my neck, I quickly realized both his arms were around me—I stiffened.
“
What’s wrong?” he said quickly.
“
There’s something on my shoulder!” I said in a panic. “Get it off now, please!”
He leaned back and released his hold as he dropped me to the ground and instantaneously swept my shoulder clean, laughing lightly.
“
It was just a bat,” he chuckled.
“
I told you I don’t like creepy, crawling creatures,” I said with trembling lips. “Especially those that can fly. Can we go now?” He drew me close again, bent and picked something up before taking my hand. I followed in the same way I had when we came in—as close as possible. One hand in his as the other locked onto his shirt. We walked slowly. He was careful to make sure I didn’t stumble or fall. The walk out seemed to take less time. As we neared the entrance I could begin to see daylight. I squinted as we came into the sunshine. It took a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. We stopped briefly, and Colt pried my fingers loose from his shirt.
“
You can let go now,” he said softly.
“
Sorry,” I replied sheepishly.
He tilted my chin in his large fingers. “Are you okay?”
I nodded in agreement. I saw his other hand held the two rocks from the cave. He grasped my hand again as we continued through the crevasse to where Sam was waiting. Colt left me by the rock wall as he dropped the two rocks into Sam’s pouch and returned with a sandwich. He motioned at a boulder to sit, and handed me the food with a bottle of water.
“
Sorry, sweetheart. I know it’s a little late for lunch, but the time got away from us.”
I smiled, taking the sandwich and water. “I don’t mind. Thank you for sharing that with me. You show me so much more than beautiful places—you show me pieces of your heart.” He returned the smile and watched me eat. As I finished, he stretched out his hand, and I followed. He lifted me at the waist and helped me into the saddle. A micro-second later, he was directly behind. Extending his arm, he took hold of the reins. Sam proceeded slowly, lingering in the moment with us, winding our way through the dense trees until we came to the opening revealing the valley once more.
Another hour passed before the cabin came into view. It had been a wonderful day; I was beaming from the inside out. Tilting my head up, I saw Colt’s satisfied grin also. I lifted my hand to his neck and drew his lips closer. I sighed as they briefly met mine. He placed the reins in one hand, as his arm drew me closer. I didn’t want this day to end. I was totally and completely happy—I didn’t want that to change.
Chapter 26
As we arrived at the gate, Colt hoisted me down with one swift movement while he dismounted. I watched as he and Sam entered the corral, and Colt removed the saddle and bridle. Colt pulled down food for Sam also. He latched the corral closed, and his eyes locked on mine as he leaned down and kissed me. He took my hand as we headed for the porch. Voices filled the air, drifting out towards us. A heated discussion was taking place, and Lilly was irritated.
“
You can’t keep her in the dark, Callon,” Lilly said in frustration. “She has to know. It will only cause her heartache later if you wait.”
“
I know. Please, Lilly, let me do this in time,” Callon replied firmly. “There are many factors involved here.”
Colt froze, his body rigid, and his grip tightened around my fingers.
“
I know many factors are involved,” she said in exasperation. “You should have put a stop to it long ago. You cannot treat her like this. If you won’t tell her, I will.”
“
Lilly,” he said with authority. “Let me handle it.” His voice trailed off, and the room suddenly became silent. Colt must have telepathically told them we were here.
Colt didn’t move, and I glanced up to see desperation in his icy blue eyes. My pulse suddenly quickened. Something was up, and it had to do with me—and from their discussion, it didn’t sound good. Was I right earlier? I was going away from Colt? Was this the reason for his behavior? I stepped forward only to be stopped; looking back, I narrowed my eyes at Colt in a question. He didn’t want me to move, but reluctantly he released me.
I opened the screen door, and all attention turned on me. Lilly and Callon were facing each other, and Dex’s hand was resting on Lilly’s shoulder. Daniel was nearby; sympathy filled his dark blue gaze. Colt’s hand touched my shoulder, and we stopped just behind the couch.
Warily, I spoke, “What’s going on here? What are you keeping from me now?”
Dex stepped forward, the worn journal in his hands. “Cheyenne,” he said calmly. “Why don’t you have a seat? We need to talk.”
I was silent as I stared at him. I didn’t want to sit; I wanted to know what was going on. “No, thank you. I’m fine standing.” Colt’s arms moved and rested across my shoulder and collarbone. I lifted my hand and latched onto his arm for support. If I was leaving, I didn’t want to go without him. I stood immobile—waiting for the impact of what was to come.
“
We need to talk about the symbols at the front of your journal.” Dex hesitated, his hazel eyes searching mine. “They mean more than you know. These are the symbols on the rings each clan carries. Each grouping represents a clan. If you look closely at your ring, you can see the symbols in the drawings are the same.” He opened the journal and revealed the marked page. I lifted my right hand and studied the two—they were identical. At least that made sense now.
He continued. “Each symbol represents something of importance to the clans. Your ring has two symbols. One resembles a three-leaf clover in shape. If you look closely,” he pointed to it on the page, “your ring begins and ends with this symbol. It represents unity, being bound together.”
He was hesitating. “Is there more?” I questioned.
“
Yes, there are five pages in the journal, but there are six clans that carry these rings. Each ring contains at least one of the same symbols as yours; unity, being bound together.” He leaned forward. “Cheyenne, you bind all these clans together. You are the key to our survival.”
I swallowed…the key to their survival? I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Why were you afraid to tell me that?”
He didn’t reply immediately.
He glanced at Callon before continuing. “Of the six rings, two are of more importance than the others. These rings each have two of the clover-like symbols—just like yours. Both have the symbols for eternity and love. You are bound to these two equally.”
I averted my gaze to my ring, studying the symbols. It began and ended with the same symbol—the clover. I furrowed my brow as I looked up. “I don’t understand, Dex. How am I bound to them?”
“
You are betrothed to them,” he said as his jaw tightened.
“
I’m promised in marriage to them?” I said in disbelief.
“
Yes.”
Colt’s arm tightened around me slightly.
“
I don’t understand,” I said. “How? Who promised me, and who am I promised to?”
“
You are betrothed to the Sarac clan.”
“
How? Who made this decision?” I said, slightly irritated that something so important could be decided for me without my input. Who in their right mind does something like that? No matter how old these Timeless were, we weren’t living in ancient times.
“
Your grandfather, Jorelle, promised your mother to the Sarac clan. She didn’t follow through on her marriage so the obligation was passed down to you.”
I snorted through my nose. “Well, that’s not going to work real well, now, is it? Why were you afraid to tell me? It really doesn’t have any relevance if it’s never going to happen.”
“
Cheyenne,” he said firmly. “You have to realize that once Marcus figures out who you are, he will do either one of two things—kill you or bring you into his clan. Once you are in his grasp, we will be powerless to help you.”
“
Okay, so I stay in hiding until I’m Timeless and strong enough to resist.” No one replied all attention remained transfixed on me. There was still a tension in the air—and then it clicked. “You said two…who’s the other clan?”
Lilly’s eyes filled with anxiety as she shot glances around the room. Colt drew me closer, his embrace tightening as his breathing grew heavier. For the first time, I felt his heart beat faster in apprehension.
“
It’s the Consilador clan,” he said faintly.
I stared blankly for a few moments and then turned my head down, staring at my ring. I was promised in marriage to two men, one was a crazy, power-hungry lunatic who would either kill me or marry me for my powers—which were practically nonexistent at this time. The other was from the Consilador clan, Colt’s clan. My breathing hitched as understanding set in. I flashed my gaze up at Callon and then quickly down to his ring. I was promised to Callon! It all fell into place. He hadn’t worn the ring until now. My fury was building as I pulled Colt’s arm away and stepped forward. Angry tears bubbled to the surface as I turned to face Callon.
“
Dex, how long?” I said in a low murmur. No one replied. “How long, Dex? How long has everyone known?” My lips were trembling.
“
A while,” he remorsefully replied.
“
What is your definition of a while? Is it just since I arrived, or when you read the journal? Or has it been from the beginning?”
He carefully phrased his answer. “It’s not an unknown fact. We had heard rumors, but until I read the journal, I didn’t know for sure. I wasn’t sure it could be passed down to you—that you would be required to fulfill your mother’s obligation.”
“
So you’re just referring to the marriage with the Sarac clan?” I wanted to make sure he was being completely clear.
“
Yes.”
“
What about the promise to the Consilador clan?”
“
We knew of the promise through the Kvech line, but we didn’t know of your existence, or the promise through the Servak ring.”
“
We
as in you and Lilly?”
“
Yes.”
I managed to hold it together as my eyes drifted to Callon. “How long, Callon? How long have the three of you known this?”
“
It’s not easy to answer, Cheyenne,” he replied apprehensively.
The irritation, the deep hurt, was rising quickly. “It’s not hard,” I said through my teeth. “Either you knew all along, or just since Dex told you what the journal said.”
Callon’s brows creased. “From the beginning I knew of the Kvech betrothal, but you have to understand that I…we didn’t even know you fulfilled the other part of the pact until I saw the Kvech and Servak rings. I didn’t know of the Servak betrothal until Dex told me.”
He knew. He could have stopped this—they could have told me, yet didn’t. He admitted he knew of the one promise, the Kvech promise. I’d had the ring for months now. Why hadn’t anyone said something?
I faced Colt, tears welling up waiting to burst forth. “This is why you’ve been acting so strangely, telling me I belonged to you like I was some sort of possession.” My hands trembled at my side. “You knew—all along you knew, and yet you led me to believe we could be together? I opened my heart to you—I gave it to you…
“
This is why I remain closed off—why Callon says I am fearful in relationships. If I have no feelings, there’s no pain—no hurt.” I searched Colt’s sorrow-filled eyes. “This was just a game all along. The two of you trying to see who would win the prize in the end.” I shook my head in disgust. “You knew I would find out soon. That’s why you took me out alone—trying to win me over.” I sucked in a shaky breath. “Trust me, you said. Trust me, and I did. Look what good it did me.”
I lowered my head and lifted my hands to my face. I was fighting to hold back the torrent of tears and anger I wanted to release. “The thing is,” I said through trembling lips. “You both had me from the start. I’ve been such a fool to truly believe you wanted me for who I was, not for what I am.” I took a shallow breath. “Fool me once, shame on you…fool me twice, shame on me,” I whispered.
Colt took a step closer, his hand touching my arm. “Chey—”
“
No!” I growled. “You had your chance. I don’t want to hear more lies. Just leave me alone.” I jerked my arm back as I glared. “I don’t want to suffer any more.” I looked at the hardwood floor, my shoulders slumped forward in agony. The weight of it all was so heavy. “I’ve never lied to any of you,” I whispered. “I’ve been an open book from the beginning. However, the three of you have deceived me from the start.” I stood completely still for a few moments and then realized I had to leave—I had to get away from them right now.
I bolted for the front door, slammed through the screen and leaped off the stairs into the field where I halted. Footsteps scrambled behind me and stopped just as suddenly as I did. I wanted to run away from this hurt and sorrow—but I knew it would do me no good. It wasn’t safe, and they would just bring me back. I collapsed to my knees, staring out into the distance. My tears were dried up; I was beyond them—beyond words.