Image (Insight #3)(60)

“Ladies,” Landen said, looking at them, then down to me. “We both feel privileged to have you in our lives.” He looked back to them and said, “Willow understands your concerns, and so do I, and we assure you that we know without a doubt that we belong together - no matter what adversities are put in front of us.”

They all stared, unable to respond. I felt their confidence in me and Landen build; our love for each other had them awestruck once again.

Landen squeezed his arms tighter around me and said, “Clarissa, do me favour: burn the canvas; its purpose has been served,“ he looked at me, “right?” I nodded and smiled.

“Let’s go down; we need to leave soon,” he said, putting his shield of energy around me and moving us over the balcony to fall gently to the ground below.

Chapter Fifteen
As we fell carefully to the ground, I saw Brady lying on the ground, gripping the ball. Marc and Chrispin were on top of him. My father, who was watching from the side, smiled up at us; he loved and trusted me and Landen so much.

“I don’t think I’m fond of this new gift,” Brady said as Marc helped him up. “Could you at least make sure I’m not in harm’s way before you disappear?” he finished.

“Harm yes, a tackle - maybe not...sorry, man; I felt pulled somewhere else,” Landen said, amused by his words.

Landen sat us down in front of our house. My mother and Rose were sitting on the steps, and Beth and Aubrey were standing beside them. As Beth stepped closer to me, Landen released me and I hugged her.

“Are you glad you came home?” I said, hugging her tightly.

“I am, but it’s time for me to go,” she answered, extending her arms to look at me.

“You still have a few hours before the sun sets,” I argued.

“Marc is going to take me and Preston to Drake’s estate. We’ll meet you at the palace at sunset.”

“You’re taking Preston back to Esterious?” I said as fear overcame me.

“He just wants to see Drake; his home is here with all of you,” Beth said, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

I nodded in agreement with her; Preston needed to be here so he’d be guided and protected. It still made me sad that he’d be away from Beth, that she was pulled between her children.

“Chrispin is going, too,” Landen added. “He’ll bring Preston back to Chara. Marc wants to be with us at the Palace.”

Beth’s eyes moved to Chrispin and Marc, who were in mid-play in the side field. Her eyes smiled, and joy overcame her. “To have them all in one room at one time...Livingston said this day would come,” she said, looking to Aubrey, who was at her side.

“I’m going to talk to Marc and Chrispin. I want to make sure they don’t put Drake in a bad mood before we talk to him about Delen,” Landen thought, tilting his head in their direction. I nodded.

In the distance, I could see Nyla and August approaching with Libby and Preston. Beth smiled and made her way to them. I sat down on the steps between Rose and my mother and watched as everyone began to prepare for us to leave again.

My mother let her hand run across my back. “Beth told me that she’d never met someone as strong and brave as you and that we should all be proud of how well you handle yourself when you’re faced with a crisis,” she said.

I smiled and leaned into her.

“You just keep being who you are, my Willow,” she whispered to me.

Rose leaned forward to catch my gaze. “I want to go with you tonight, but I’ve been reassured that my role is here with the children,” she said, smiling.

“I’m sure we’ll be fine. No one seems to have any answers anyway; it would only frustrate you to watch them debate,” I said bleakly.

Rose nodded and smiled. “I understand that you saw a different side of Perodine, that her image of an immortal was replaced with one of a woman who’s simply lived a long time,” she said to me.

I nodded and looked at my mother; I knew if I were her, I’d be jealous of another woman claiming that I was her child in another life. But my mother, Grace Haywood, lived up to her name and was graceful with the thought of Perodine, as well as the thought of Libby belonging to me and Landen in another life. She cherished the role of being our mother in this life, to be our support.

“I’d suggest that you and Landen walk the streets of Delen before you go into the Palace so they’ll see that you’re still there for them. Tomorrow, we’ll all go and help them continue to build a new life,” Rose said.

“That’s a good idea. I can imagine they’re a little nervous,” I said.

Olivia and Stella opened the front door. I turned to look at them and couldn’t help smiling at their awestruck expression.

“We didn’t mean to scare all of you; he just thought I was getting overwhelmed,” I said to them.

Olivia nodded. “Honestly, I’m surprised it took him that long to stop us,” she said, looking past me to the field.

I turned and smiled at Landen. August and Nyla had met him, Chrispin, and Marc in the field.

“We’re going to say goodbye,” Stella said as she stepped carefully around Rose.

“We’ll be back tonight,” I promised her. She nodded but didn’t turn. Olivia followed her.

“Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat before you leave?” my mother asked as she stood.