Black Moon Draw(66)

This is love at first sight, not with a man, but with a beauty of a world I didn’t know existed. It makes me happy. Not even the thought of losing a man I’m not sure I like to another woman bothers me.

“Come, witch.” He starts towards a narrow dirt road winding through the emerald hills.

Okay. Maybe there is something about him that does bother me. That kiss was too amazing. The scenery manages to buffer the emotions building, and I drink in my surroundings instead of letting my mind drift to what it might be like to live here with him.

This is how Elizabeth Bennett felt when she saw Pemberley. I understand now the power of seeing Mr. Darcy’s estate. She was meant to be there and knew it the moment she set foot in the park. It takes me close to tears of frustration, because I’m starting to admit there’s a chance I really am destined to stay here.

Is that so bad? Do I want to, if it means I’ve got no chance with the man beside me?

“Why do you weep?” the Shadow Knight asks, glancing over his shoulder at me.

I’m trailing, grappling with emotions I can’t define and thoughts that leave me breathless one moment and devastated another.

He stops and waits for me to catch up.

“I’m not.” I wipe my cheeks angrily. I’m holding out for a relationship with a fictional character.

“I see the tears.”

“I’m not crying!” I snap at him.

He chuckles. “As you wish.”

I sigh. “That’s a quote from one of my favorite movies.”

“Madness.”

His name is Atreyu. It’s from The Neverending Story, one of my favorite movies, also about a reader who gets pulled into a book, where he meets Atreyu, the Hero. Atreyu is on a quest to find the source of evil in his kingdom, when he ran into the kid reading the book.

He also had a magic medallion, one that protected him.

I touch the Heart at my chest, astounded by the few similarities – and completely frustrated by the fact LF’s book contained so many pieces of other worlds, without following the script of any of them.

I sink into silence, pensive.

He’s not a bad companion, when we’re one on one, and my god – he’s an incredible kisser. With a body that makes my insides quake and a quiet confidence that melts me, he might be perfect, if not for his really bizarre sense of humor. Pushing me off a tower? Throwing me out of a tree?

It’s a good thing I can’t quite figure him out. If I did, I might be in too deep to walk away without a broken heart.

I’ve never been much of a risk taker, whereas there’s no challenge too crazy for him. He’s got the weight of a world on his shoulders and he’s not about to lose. I’m not like that though. There’s a reason I’m a librarian – because I prefer to read about adventures than have my own.

Unfortunately, I can’t help but admit that he’s as amazing as his kingdom. I’ve been struggling not to let myself feel anything for him: compassion, loyalty, admiration. Coupled with primal attraction, those emotions are creeping and burrowing in, demolishing my resistance to a man and world that shouldn’t exist.

Forcing my attention to my surroundings, I sigh. “I can’t get over how beautiful Black Moon Draw is.”

“I have heard without the fog, the hills are like gems that can be seen halfway across the Black Moon Sea,” he replies quietly.

“You must love your home so much. I can’t imagine being at war for how long? A year or two?”

“Twenty-five, since I picked up a sword when I was five.”

Seven years older than me. I’ve always loved a slightly older man. Banishing the errant thought, I register the rest of what he’s said. “Twenty five years? And all this is waiting for you?” I wave an arm at the hills nearest me.

“The Shadow Knights have a greater cause than pleasure, however much we love our pleasure,” he replies.

“I didn’t see any of your motivation in . . .” the first few chapters LF wrote. God! How do I explain to him who he is?

The battle queen said both worlds were real, that if I believe Black Moon Draw to exist, it does. I’m not yet able to wrap my head around the idea. I’m not creative enough to imagine the beauty around me or create a man like the Shadow Knight.

“You speak a great deal of nonsense.”

His grave tone makes me laugh. “Yeah, probably. You think me mad.”

“I did at first but now . . .” He shakes his head. “I think you different only. Beautiful despite the uniqueness of who you are.”

“Whatever. You’re engaged to the most beautiful woman in any world ever to exist. I know you’re not serious.” Then why does a bubble of joy burst inside me at his words?

“You assume much about me you should not, witch. You did not understand the purpose of my war, and you fail to see how serious I am now.” He’s offended. I didn’t think it possible.

“It’s not that I don’t think you’re serious,” I reply, not wanting him too upset since I don’t have a clue where we’re going. “I was betrothed, and Jason had another woman in his life beside me. He eventually left me for her and told me it was my fault. I don’t . . . I won’t hurt another woman like that. No matter what I feel for you.” Holy shit. Did I just say that? “Not that I feel anything for you at all, but if I did, and if this was real and you –”