Chapter Fourteen

Lisha POV

When Skyla and Xavier leave, I sit on the bed, holding my head in my hands. Tyler touches me on my shoulder and asks,

“Are you alright, Lisha?” 

My lips tremble as I try to smile,

“I need to go home.”

Tyler looked hurt at my words; his voice was soft when he asked,

“Why, Lisha, don't you want to stay here with me?” 

“It's not forever, Tyler, and I want you to come; I just need to say goodbye to my mother.”

He sits down and embraces me, whispering,

“Let’s go before anyone else decides they need to talk to us.”

I never grieved for my mother in the four years I was in the Seelie realm. It took all my time and energy to stay alive. My mother was one of the most beautiful women I have ever had the privilege to know. Her beauty was not only in her looks but also in her soul. She never had a bad word to say about anyone, never judged anyone, and welcomed anyone into our home.

I smile when we walk into the front yard of my childhood home, I can see my mother bending over her garden laughing and talking to me; I was only five years old. Tears fill my eyes; the memory is as clear as if it only happened yesterday. I open the front door entering the lounge room cautiously. Everything is exactly like I remembered it. I walk upstairs to my mother's bedroom and sit on her bed. I had not realized I was crying until Tyler handed me a tissue. He goes to cuddle me, and I shake my head; No, if he touches me now, I will fall to pieces.

Sobs wrack my body as I wrap my arms around myself. My breathing is erratic, tears are streaming down my face, and I don't care. Why her? Why my mother? She never did anything to hurt anyone. She was everything good and kind in our world. I don't know how long I sat there, letting my grief consume me. This time when Tyler pulls me into his arms, I let him, wrapping my arms around his waist as he says,

“I am so sorry, Lisha.”

I take a deep breath and whisper back.

“So am I, Tyler. So am I.”

We leave the house, and I lock the door and shut the gate. One day I will come home, but only when I do what I must to protect the people I love. I pull Tyler to a stop, 

“I am not ready to go back yet, Tyler.” 

He looks down at me and murmurs,

“Always remember the good times you had with Olivia; for some of us, that's all we have.”

I can see the sadness in Tyler's eyes; Tyler lost his mother when he was young, and he knows how much it hurts. If I dwell on the past and let my sorrow overtake me, it will make me bitter, and I will never heal. I lace my fingers through his and walk toward the stream we swam in on the last day I was here before the Vampire King and Seelie Queen took me.

I don't wait for Tyler as I undress, only leaving my underwear on. I jump in the water. As he undresses, I smile, unable to take my eyes off him; the need to touch Tyler is unbearable. I swim over to him and run my hands down his back; the feeling I get when I touch him is like soft sparks of electricity caressing my skin. He groans, pulling me closer, and kisses me; his tongue slides gently along my lips, and I lean into him. Tyler’s body stiffens; he groans and then whispers,

 “Fuck no,” 

“What’s wrong, Tyler?” 

“Xavier and Skyla have found us.”

“Ignore them; they might go away,”

“Nope, they were looking for us.” 

Xavier yells when he jumps into the water beside us,

“Make room; we are coming in,”

Tylers shakes his head and growls,

 “Fuck you, Xavier,”

 Xavier snorts,

 “No, you want to fuck my sister,’ 

Skyla chuckles, punching Xavier in the arm, hissing,

“Don't be crude, Xavier.”

I can't help laughing at their antics; who would have thought the quiet girl I spent time with as a servant would be brave enough to punch a vampire? We stay at the lake for an hour, enjoying each other's company before walking home. When we reach the village, Xavier and Skyla are still with us; Tyler and I look at each other, raising our eyebrows; the same question is running through our minds, Are we ever going to get time alone?

I sit down on the steps of Tyler's porch and wait for everyone else to take a seat; there's no use putting this discussion off any longer; I look at Tyler, Xavier, and Skyla and say.

“We can't attack the Seelie court; the Queen is too strong. We will not win.”

The shock and anger on their faces are evident; after a few moments, Xavier asks me,

“You expect us not to retaliate after everything she has done to you and Skyla.?”

I answer him with my question,

“Don't you want to live in peace with Skyla and have a family of your own, Xavier.?”

“Of course I do, Lisha, but you know Cassandra won't stop until she destroys this place.”

“That's why we need to train Xavier to protect our home and the life we want.”

He snarls at me as Skyla says,

“So you expect me to forget what she did to me? Is that what you are saying, Lisha?.”

“No, I don't, Skyla, but you forget that Seelie thought you were weak and left you alone. I was the one they beat and whipped, and I was the one who had to fight off  Gabriel's advances every day I was there. If I can walk away, leaving it all behind me, why can't you?”

She purses her lips in anger glaring at me, and I close my eyes, trying to gather my strength. I need to make them see that it is madness to try and attack the queen.

“I will never forget what happened to us in the Seelie Court, Skyla, but if we attempt this, we will all die. Then who will protect the people here that we love.?”

It's evident that Tyler, Skyla, and Xavier don’t want to listen to me; there has to be a way to make them see sense. I chew my bottom lip for a minute, then smile and ask,

“Why don't we start training not only ourselves but with the wolves as well, then try and find a way to reinforce the wards? When Allana returns, we will speak to her and see what she has to say.” 

I’m slightly puzzled by their willingness to agree with me when I mention Allana’s name. Is this foolishness her idea.? The three of them exchange satisfied grins. Xavier looks at me, asking,

“Fae elemental magic controls air, fire, earth, and water, is that right?”

I nod, “Yes, Xavier.”

He smiles,

“OK, I have some ideas about how we can train with earth may be water, but not sure about air and fire.”

Tyler looks at me, saying,

 “I know Allana can mask her scent by controlling the air around her,” 

That explains how Allana moves from realm to realm without being noticed; my lips tug up in a small smile as another way to stop them from acting on their plans enters my mind.

“I need to learn how to defend myself without magic.” 

Tyler frowns,

“We will protect you, Lisha,” 

“What happens if Skyla, Xavier, you are hurt and can't protect me?”

Tyler shakes his head as he says,

“That won't happen, Lisha.”

“You can't say that, Tyler; none of you can.”

He goes to argue again when I put my hand up, stopping him.

“There is always a risk one, or all three of you could get hurt, and I am unwilling to take that risk.”   

Tyler growls before he stands up and walks away; I look at Xavier and Skyla and say, 

“I will not let myself be a burden on any of you.” 

 Xavier smiles at Skyla and me before following Tyler. Skyla takes my hand in hers and whispers.

“Tyler is scared of losing you again, Lisha.”

“I know, Skyla, and I don't want to lose him; that's why this is so important to me; I would not be able to live with myself if any of you were hurt because of me.” 

She smiles, hugging me,

“Ok, you and I will train together starting early tomorrow morning whether Tyler and Xavier agree with us or not”

When Tyler and Xavier return, Tyler smiles at me sadly before kissing me,  

“You are right, Lisha. I am sorry I reacted the way I did.”

“That's fine, Tyler; we can talk more later. Skyla and Xavier have plans, so they need to leave.”

Skyla raises her eyebrows at me, laughing as she drags Xavier away; it’s clear Xavier doesn't know what's happening. I look at Tyler and grin,

“We have the place to ourselves, Tyler; any ideas on how to pass the time?”

Tyler growls, pulling me inside the cabin, and shuts the door as he wraps his arms around me. I chuckle; my body feels like it's coming alive as he runs his hand down my back. I didn't think we would get time alone; I’ve been dreaming of Tyler for so long. Suddenly there’s a knock on the door; fuck no, please go away. Zane’s voice is loud and impatient as he knocks on the door again, saying.

“Tyler, Mathew needs to speak to you.”

Tyler inhales deeply, then exhales as he whispers,

“I have to go; I won't be long, I promise.”