I had little experience in all things related to boys, and even less when it came to men. Everything I learned had been from growing up alongside Aidan.
Knowing all of the other children in town made it difficult to develop any lasting crushes. Especially when we all knew from a young age that most of our mates would be out in the world, living lives of their own.
It was his face I memorized during my pre-teen years, over analyzing the small gestures he made that showed his true feelings. Holding open a door, bringing me small gifts to school; it was those things Aidan did that let me know our friendship was turning into something else.
Aidan was straight forward, telling me his feelings mere moments after he discovered them himself.
We were just starting high school, on our daily walk home when he finally gave in and told me what was bothering him. He had been quiet all day, still walking me to and from class, but with a thoughtful expression on his
I will be updating Iridian again tomorrow, and I'll be working on my other books Sunday :)
My heart was a stuttering mess as I jogged to keep up after the Game Master. I made no move to have him slow down, in just as much a hurry to see what it was he did not want to show me. The look on his face, the worry and irritation--I wondered what the source had been, and my curiosity only grew with each twist and turn we made through the castle. I almost stumbled into him when he stopped abruptly, turning towards a set of wooden doors. They were ordinary compared to some others I had seen, but what was inside, that was what picked at the corners of my brain. The Game Master placed his hand on the curved metal handle and paused, looking back at me with guarded eyes. "You must understand why I didn't tell you--" He began, but I heard a voice call out from the other side of the door. "Rachel?!" Aidan's voice, raspy from shouting and full of desperation, sounded from behind the door. I knew without a doubt that it was Aidan I was hearin
I turned towards the Game Master, a question burning in my eyes, one that would have singlehandedly changed the way I felt about him...if I hadn't been carrying a secret of my own.His eyes met mine, making my stomach both drop and flutter. They were unapologetic and strong, framed by dark lashes and arched eyebrows.He didn't need to use words to confirm what Aidan was saying, not when his eyes held a whirlpool of stars in their depths that shifted and changed whenever he didn't bother concealing his emotions.Embarrassment washed through me, searing hot to the touch as my face and neck flushed a crude shade of red. I clenched my fists at my side, hating the way he just stood there, all but agreeing to his motives from the start.What I hated more was how I couldn't say the words. Even though pain rippled across my skin and embarrassment stung my insides, I couldn't make myself reject him."I can't stay here, Rachel. She can use me to hurt you." A
I scurried into the walk-in closet, feeling his eyes on my back. Opting for something that covered just a bit more skin, I found an emerald-colored blouse that wrapped around my waist and exposed an inch of midriff. The jeans I snatched carelessly, slid over my hips with ease and formed to my pert bottom and thick thighs. I tried not to glance in the mirror, smothering that piece of me that cared what the Game Master thought. Where I normally would have swept the frizzy curls from my face, I was able to let my hair fall freely down my back. When I emerged from the closet, I had the strong urge to avert my eyes. If there was a reaction within the depths of his eyes, I wasn’t sure I wanted to see it. Thankfully, when I looked up there was nothing to be found. The curtains were closed tightly, shielding any emotion from slipping through those bedroom eyes of his. As I strolled five feet behind the Game Master, I took the time to look freely. It was becoming a ha
Marble pedestals sat clustered around the room, hidden in an alcove where only slim rays of sunlight reached. They hit the smooth wall, sending beams of shimmering colors reflecting onto the floor. The near-silent scuffle of my feet followed by the rustle of paper as a breeze drifted through, was all that could be heard. On top were an arrangement of objects, some mundane and others practically oozing what I assumed was magic. It made my hands tingle, spreading up my arms before fading. Some were vibrant and beautiful, and others seemed more cursed than magical. ‘We’re not here to touch anything, right?’ Rayna eyed some of the strange items warily. ‘Of course not.’ I scoffed, wounded she would suggest such a thing. ‘The magic in some of these feels so strong. I wonder what their purpose is.’ A rather plain looking ceramic bowl and spoon sat atop one of the pedestals, looking so out of place that I wanted to laugh. I would have, if it weren’t for the m
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” I questioned, surprised to hear the words coming from my own mouth. “The only times I’ve been table to tap into my magic were in life-or-death situations.”It was strange calling it my magic, but that was where it had come from. The red-haired couple on the scroll flashed in my mind, along with the three others.Apollo answered with a reassuring grin, but the light that danced in his eyes reminded me of the Game Master’s madness. Like they thrived on the danger, letting it fuel the deepest and darkest parts of themselves.“Of course, Rachel. You’re perfectly safe here, I assure you.”We stood on the circular platform that overlooked the cliff and churning sea. We were far too high to feel the spray, but I could still smell the salt in the air. Etched deep into the stone were patterns, large circles that all surrounded the very center.Apollo stood with his bac
As the week progressed, I became more excited about going out with Adley.The City of Iliria was nagging at the back of my mind, conjuring all sorts of magic-laden images. Winged beasts that Zack would never stop chattering about, withered crone’s selling old curses—the stories Adley told me were endless. Even Ally seemed excited to go to Obsidian, who rarely showed an emotion other than melancholy.An entire city where magic existed within the walls and streets, and even in the very people who lived there.I had visited Adley every day this week, venturing through my closet doors after training had left me weak and sporting a throbbing headache.The morning after my first day of training, I awoke to a crisp note placed on my pillow. I tried not to think too hard about how the Game Master had placed it here, as I read the steady script with foggy eyes.Darling, Rachel.I regret to inform you that I’ll be preoccupied this we
Like the first time, Ally was propped on the chaise lounge. This time around, she wore tight dress the color of ripe cherries and fresh blood and held no open book in her hands. Her black hair was pulled into a high pony, and her cerulean eyes were piercing with the dark eye makeup.“Adley, your friend is here.” She shouted, all without breaking her stare from my face. There was something heavy about Ally’s gaze. Maybe it was because of all the horror she’s seen, but I had the insane urge to shy away as her eyes flitted down the dress I wore. I braced myself for what she had to say next, “You don’t look like a Queen. Not yet anyway.”“Oh good, you’re here!” Adley grinned, charging down the stairs with her dress unzipped and stilettos in her hand. Her golden hair was curled in large ringlets and looked bouncy and vibrant. She came to a halt in front of me, spinning around to reveal the open back of her blush-co
“Well don’t go looking around for him!” Adley hissed, nudging me so that I returned my eyes to her face. “You won’t find him that way. He was born in the shadows, Rachel. If you want to find him, you’re going to have to lure him out.”It was hard to focus on her words when the pale eyeshadow she wore changed colors as the flashing lights hit the tops of her high cheekbones. It made the various blues in her eyes dance and churn like an actual ocean. The thought brought a lopsided grin to my face.Her eyes narrowed at the Citrine in my hands, which I gingerly lifted to my lips as though it contained all of life’s hidden mysteries.“Where did you get that? I didn’t order us thirds.” She frowned, swatting my hand away as I tried to smooth the scowl from her face.The muscular figure of one of the bartenders flashed in my peripherals, dark hair with a crimson streak. His boyish grin seemed white