Bittersweet (Book #1 Evening Wings Trilogy)

Chapter 15

15

I flew over the treetops feeling safer than ever.

The forest was laden in white snow and the only sound heard was the whistling of wind in between the branches and boughs. All of the animals had migrated or were hibernating and a sort of subconscious peace had fallen over the forest with the arrival of winter.

Naida hadn’t really bothered us since the accident with me. I think she was hiding. Francoise, Madeleine, Henri and Lorelei were all sweeping the forest, setting up wards to keep her out. They’d warded my house, but Xander wanted me over at his just in case.

I spotted his house in the distance and felt a happy smile creep across my face. I honestly couldn’t wait to see his familiar face.

I swooped down onto their driveway and stared up at the house.

It was eerily silent and lonely looking without Lorelei on the front step smoking her cigarette, Henri and Xander fighting over the loudness of his guitar and Madeleine and Francoise screaming for them to shut up.

I heard a lush tear as my wings folded themselves back into my spine and then I made my way up the front steps and opened the door.

“Hello?” I called into the house. “Xander?”

The usual flickering wall sconces bore no flame and the hall was dark. I had to feel around the baseboard to know exactly where I was going.

Suddenly, I heard a muffled thud and a tinkling little laugh coming from the music room. I followed the sound and saw a thin sliver of light from the barely cracked open door illuminate the cherubs and roses on Madeleine’s runner rug on the floor.

I crept closer, and was just about to pull open the door when I heard soft strums of a guitar and a soft tinkling giggle.

Xander was sitting in an armchair with his guitar, playing notes from a sheet of manuscript, while Naida sat on the piano, smiling wickedly at him.

“How’d you get through the wards?” he asked bitterly, and she flashed him another smile.

“Does it really matter, my love?” she asked him in a soft purr that made my ears burn.

“Don’t call me that.” Xander snapped, leaning the guitar against the chair. “Tell me why you’re here. For real this time.”

“I just thought I’d come and see you,” she grinned, her amber eyes flashing under the light from the chandelier above their heads.

“Oh?” Xander said, sounding surprised. “You’re a terrible liar Naida.”

She laughed. “When you’ve been with someone for almost an entire century, you still have feelings for them. I often wondered if you still felt the same way about me. Xander, I’m back because I want to be with you.”

“What a liar you are.” He snapped at her.

“I’m not lying.” She said, and this time it sounded absolutely sincere. “I have never been more in love with one person in all of my years Xander. I wanted to disband from the Courts when you were gone, but I was already in so deep…”

“I don’t have time for this…” Xander frowned, putting his manuscript in a drawer.

“Xander, I’m serious. I’ve still been in love with you all of these years.” She said softly. “But it seems this Elizabeth has captured your heart in ways I never could.”