The Crystal Trials

33 Nik

I stood by the food and watched Garren bring my cousin a peace offering of meat in the alcove by our table. Faolan noticed too as he munched on his steak. He shrugged at me. We were anxious to see things finally work out for them. Taury had been waring with her feelings for him for years. She had never told me, but I knew. Garren had drenched them in darkness for privacy. Damn. That was hot. I was about to grab another cookie when Dath stalked up to me.

"Will you dance with me?" He put his hand out and offered a small bow. I giggled at his formality. I shook my head at his silliness and placed my hand in his. Alden's gaze drilled into my back, but I ignored him as Dath led us to the frozen dance floor. He spun me around like he had with Taury, but not as playfully as he had her. He placed his hand on my waist and grabbed my hand beginning our dance.

"Do you know how beautiful you look tonight?" He said quietly.

"Yes," I teased.

"Modest too apparently." He dipped me gently and pulled me up with his strong arms.

I met his eyes, unsure of his affections. His square jaw tightened as his ground down with his back teeth. He was nervous but pulled me closer anyways. I dared not look to see Alden's reaction. Ameer stood by Jakota at the dais, talking about something in animated gestures. Distractedly, I wondered how they knew each other. Dath spun me again as was customary with the song.

"Nik. You know my feelings are true, don't you?"

So, he was going to be brave tonight. I couldn't place it, but there was something different about him. He was bolder, braver, sturdier. I watched him wrestle with his thoughts. His gaze transformed from the shy boy I knew to heated and full of promise. Gods. I sucked down air.

"Give me one kiss Nik. Just one. We owe it ourselves to see." He looked down at his hand on me the begged, "Please."

I gave one short nod, heart in my throat. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't the tiny careful kiss he placed on my lips. He gave a small suck to my lip and released the kiss. I closed my eyes, hiding my awkwardness. He spun me again, the last one of the song.

"Well?"

I began to shake my head.

"Dath. You're my oldest friend. I love you. You know that right? But us, together. I'm just not sure."

He cupped my face as the song ended.

"Just think about it ok?"

"Ok," I whispered.

I turned to head back to my table and bumped into someone. I looked up, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't-"

Alden grabbed me and brought me into his arms for the next song. I relaxed, despite my anger at him. He rubbed his thumb on my waist and I shivered. He grabbed my hand sweetly. The pace of the song was slower than the previous one. He looked to me, asking permission with his eye, as he always did. I nodded and he drew me closer his body brushing against mine. My mind exploded with the memory of him over me and stone under my back. I flushed and he grinned, reading my thoughts.

"Did you really think you'd get rid of me that easily?"

"I don't know. No. More like tried to scare you off. I don't know what to believe anymore."

"It's not a lie Nik. I wish it was. Dad punishes all of us, and I don't care who knows anymore."

I almost tripped at his words. All three of them? It was one thing to lie about himself, but to lie about his brothers too. He dipped me slowly and fixed my winged headband from falling. His eye never left mine.

"Why?" I asked. Finally, daring to believe his words.

"Because we must be flawless. We represent him as the children of the High Master of Salvare University. For most of our lives we believed in his love for us. He hurt us to make us better. But since meeting you, and Evander meeting Faolan, we have started to question everything. I won't ever force you to be with me Nik. But I can't hide my feelings from you either." He yanked me to him after a gentle spin and whispered, "But please don't keep me waiting long. Either put me out of my misery or take me. The choice, is always yours."

He kissed my cheek, just under my mask. And walked away, the song ending. Tears fell down my face at his gentleness. Emotions warred in my mind. I needed some air. I grabbed my small formal bag and walked to the foyer. I wasn't ready to go back to the university, so I made an immediate left and walked into what I hoped was the drawing room. The room was gigantic, and the walls were covered floor to ceiling in paintings. I relaxed a little as I observed the masterpieces. Then, I heard someone grunting in pain. But there were no doors around. Hearing it again, I followed the sound and stopped in front of a painting of the ball room I had just exited. A cool draft hit my feet. A hidden door! I pushed it and it clicked then swung open. I stepped inside a dimly lit room. I threw a ball of light in the air determined to find the person in pain. When the light illuminated the area, a strongly built man in a golden suit spun to look at who intruded his space.

The mask he wore was a golden lion framed by equally golden curls. His eyes were a piercing shade emerald. I searched his body and found the source of his pain. His wrists were covered in red sores, as if he had burned them. I didn't know the man, but no one deserved to suffer. I stepped forward and he didn't speak or move at a strange standing in front of him. I pulled up his sleeves tenderly, careful that they did not touch his wounds. When I searched for the vein of light, my new golden rainbow one pulsed for attention. I giggled at its fussiness and ran a hand along it lovingly. The man whose hand I held stiffened and sucked in a quick breath. I must have hurt him by accident. I grabbed the light magic and drowned his pain in healing and comfort. Under my fingers, his skin came together at my command, and he relaxed.

"Water. Please," he said in a dry croak.

I produced an orb of water and brough it to his mouth. He sucked it down in one gulp, so I gave him another, and another. It was oddly intimate, a stranger drinking the water out of my hand. But I wasn't disturbed, happy to help someone in need. I didn't know his story, I just acted.

"What is your name angel?"

"Niktda, but everyone calls me Nik."

"It would seem I owe you a debt Niktda," his gravely voice sent a shiver to my toes. What the Hells was wrong with me?

"Can I offer you a dance in return? We can hear the orchestra in here."

Not knowing what ese to say, I agreed to dance with the beautiful man. He was slow and deliberate in his movements. It seemed as though he was taking his time basking in every second of the moment. I had never met someone that treasure something so small the way he was in that instant. He polite and held himself with great confidence. He rose my hand above my head and spun me with the last beat of the song.

"Thank you, angel. May I ask of you one more request? A promise if you will?"

"What is it?" I asked, breathless.

He grabbed my hand. "Promise me I will see you again." I wasn't sure what came over me as my heart pounded for this complete stranger.

"Yes, I promise."

At my words, magic flared around the arm he held, and a shining golden tattoo marred my right wrist under my gauntlet. It was a gorgeous lion with wings that moved on my skin as if alive.

"He will stay with you until we meet again."

In a flourish, he disappeared behind another hidden door. I went to try to follow. I hadn't even caught his name. But the secret door was sealed tight, not even a breeze at my feet. I looked to the strange golden tattoo and the lion roared silently.