Chapter 7

Nothing seemed out of place in the nightscape around them. There were a few trees and bushes, but nothing peered out from behind them, and the clearing on either side of the road seemed unthreatening as well.

“What was that?” Aislyn asked. Aaron could feel her heart beating so quickly it reverberated in his own chest.

“I’m not sure,” he managed. “Hopefully, whatever it was, it keeps its distance.”

“Do you think it was a…”

He cut her off, “Don’t say it, Aislyn,” he warned her, looking into her green eyes, which were narrowed in fright.

She nodded in understanding, fully aware that many believed speaking of them aloud would bring them in. “We should go.”

Aaron agreed, and as wonderful as the evening had been, he would feel much better once Aislyn was in her home where at least she would be indoors and probably safer. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and with another glance behind them, began to hasten their steps toward the little hut where her mother likely waited for her anxiously.

He realized he should have brought some sort of weapon. Though he had no idea if anything at all might be capable of stopping a Dark One once it had chosen its victim, at least a sword or knife would have made him feel more confident in his ability to protect Aislyn. His mother claimed that he was no longer safe either, that they were now choosing members of the Order as victims, which made Aaron ponder why they should continue to keep their agreement, but as he led the diminutive damsel to her home, his thoughts were only of protecting her, never of himself.

Within a few minutes, the shape of Aislyn’s home became apparent in front of them. The sheep were in the pen, bleating nearby, clearly a bit frightened by the sound they must have heard as well. Aislyn called out to calm them as she walked up the path that led to the front door.

Aaron noticed a horseshoe hung over the entryway, and he realized it must be there for luck and to ward off evil, since as far as he knew the O’Malley’s had never owned a horse. While he couldn’t fault them for trying, he suspected a horseshoe would do little against a Dark One.

“Thank you for walking me home,” Aislyn said, glancing over each shoulder as she turned to face him, “and for a lovely evening.”

“Aislyn,” Aaron began, his hands now pressed on her shoulders, “I’m not sure what that sound was, but it was… frightening at best.” He could hear the sense of urgency in his own voice and tried to calm his nerves. If he was going to say what he needed to say (though he certainly hadn’t planned to when he’d left home earlier that evening) he wanted her to understand that he was doing so out of love for her, not fear or anxiety. “I can’t bear the thought of knowing you might be at risk.”

A small smile spread the corners of her mouth, but he could tell it was forced. She was fearful for her own safety; he could see it in her eyes. “I’m fine, Aaron. I’ll be just fine.”

“Tonight, I believe so,” he assured her, taking a glimpse over her shoulder as he said so to make sure nothing out of the ordinary lingered there, “but things are beginning to grow out of hand, and I’m honestly not sure of anyone’s safety.”

“You’re a member of the Order,” she reminded him, her voice a whisper. “Your family will be safe.”

“Perhaps,” he nodded, “but things seem to be changing. I’m not certain, Aislyn. I’m not certain of much of anything, except that,” he took a deep breath, “ever since the day I first laid eyes on you, more years ago than I can count, I’ve known I love you. You and I are meant to be together; of that I am certain.”

He waited for her response, and while she said nothing, the fear in her face melted away and was replaced by a radiating sense of hope and contentment. Her eyes brightened, and the forced smile was replaced by a genuine one.

“I don’t know if my being a member of the Order will keep us safe, but I do know I will do everything within my power to protect you until the day I die. Of that, you can be certain, if you will become my wife.” Unplanned, unrehearsed, and undoubtedly the most important plea he’d ever made, he waited for her to respond.

He did not have to wait long. “Yes, of course I will,” Aislyn said, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She withdrew her hands from where they’d rested on his chest to cover her face.

“You will?” he asked, unable to believe his ears. “You’ll be mine, forever?”

“Forever and always,” Aislyn nodded, the tears flowing freely now.

Aaron couldn’t control his happiness any longer. He grasped her small waist and lifted her into the air, swinging her around in a large circle as he did so, both of their laughter ringing out through the night sky.

Setting her feet back on the ground, Aaron released her waist and cupped her face in his hands. This time he did not need to wait for permission as she stood up on tiptoe to press her lips to his. Her mouth was warm and welcoming, and the feel of her body pressed against him aroused feelings he’d never known before. She pulled her lips away to lean into his ear, whispering, “I love you, Aaron,” and in response he left a trail of kisses down her neck before she twisted her face back toward him and found his mouth with hers.

Realizing he needed to find a way to pull himself away from her before he was unable to, Aaron took a step back, pressing gently against her shoulders as he did so. “Aislyn,” he said softly, once he’d freed himself from those honey lips. “I love you, too. With all my heart. I must go now. I will call on you tomorrow to speak with your mother.”

By now, there was a foot or more of forced space between them. She nodded, her lips swollen and her face flushed. “Good night, my love,” she replied.

“Good night,” he smiled, and before he could be tempted to take her in his arms again, he began to walk back down the lane toward the road that led home. Once he was a safe distance from her, he turned to watch her slide safely inside the house, overjoyed that she flashed him one last sweet smile before she disappeared.