Image (Insight #3)(75)

“I love the both of you,” I said, catching Dane’s stare. “We all do – and I refuse to choose between people I love. I think a break would be good. I promise when this is over, you’ll see that my intent led my path to peace.”

Dane reached for Clarissa’s hand and pulled her toward the stairs. It broke my heart to see them walk away, but the tension in all the energy around us was finally leaving, and I knew this was best for now.

Brady looked at Landen and said, “I promise next time I’ll make sure I’m closer to her when you’re gone. I had no idea they were planning that.”

“They hid it well,” Landen said in a harsh tone.

He pulled me closer to him, then we turned and went back into the study. Marc and Drake were standing side by side in the center of the room. I looked between them with growing confidence that Marc would most definitely pass for Drake, even at a slight distance. I gently let go of Landen’s hand and went to the table to retrieve a black pen. I then nodded my head for them to come to my side. Drake smiled slightly, then unbuttoned his cuff and rolled his sleeve up - revealing the dragon covered by the willow tree as he made his way to me. Marc looked curiously at me, and I reached for his arm; understanding then came to him.

Alamos looked up from the scroll to see what I was doing. When he saw me begin to outline the long dragon, he stepped closer to me. “You are a brilliant young woman,” he said, “They’ll have no doubt if they see this mark on him.”

Marc extended his right arm so I could reach him. “Did Dane go home?” he whispered.

“They left, but their intent wasn’t to go home; they were going somewhere to be alone,” I answered, not looking up.

I could see the tension leave Drake’s body, and Marc looked at him as he sensed it. Marc’s eyes then moved across the room and found Olivia; she was sitting calmly on the couch in Chrispin’s arms. I hated the crack that was appearing in our picture perfect family, but I knew it would heal itself in time. Dane just needed to cool off, and I knew once he was alone somewhere with Clarissa he’d see how brash his actions were and undoubtedly would ask for my forgiveness - even though I’d already forgiven him.

I began to add in the details of the willow tree on top of the dragon - which I’d seen in every nightmare since I was a child. While I was working, I seldomly glanced to Drake’s arm, only to make sure I was remembering it clearly. The head of the dragon started below the wrist, and the body stretched to the crease of the elbow. Its body twisted into an S-like shape, and small spikes lined its back. The willow tree was a vauge mask to the eerier image beneath it.

Alamos let his hand rest on Drake’s shoulder. “This act will weaken you; you must begin to recall the memories that will give you the strength you need to make it back to the estate,” he said to Drake.

Drake’s eyes moved to mine; I could see his determination.

Alamos looked at August. “They’ll be weak as well, so you must guide them home so they can regain their strength,” he said.

I looked away from Drake and began to fill in the last details of the willow tree. Perodine returned, and Nyla and Beth were with her; I felt their relief with our solution.

I checked my work once more before releasing Marc’s arm. “Let it dry for a moment, and be careful when you change,” I said to him.

“Willow, come with me for a moment,” Landen thought.

I turned to see that he was still standing near the doorway. I turned back, glanced between Marc and Dane once more, then went to Landen’s side.

“We’ll be right back,” Landen said to the room.

Landen put his arm around me and led me down the hall. We stopped in the first room, and he closed the door behind him. I felt his calm, but I also knew he thought what he was going to say would make me angry. As my eyes questioned him, he came to my side and gently wrapped his arms around my waist.

“I’m going to ask you to do something. If you refuse, I understand...I’m only asking because I’m concerned about Drake making it back safely – to protect Marc from being discovered as an impostor.” I didn’t say anything; I just waited for him to go on.

“One of the things Drake wanted to talk to me about was when he moved his energy inside of you,” Landen thought, raising his eyebrows.

I felt my stomach suddenly tie into knots. I hadn’t had a chance to feel guilty for that act – and now it was washing me away.

Landen let his lips rest on my forehead and held me as tight as he could; I felt a numbing calm come from him. “I’m not angry, and I’m not jealous – I’m relieved, “he thought.

I leaned back and looked at him as if he were insane.

“I’m relieved because Drake was wrong: we don’t find our strength from the same place; I find it in your soul, and he finds it in your energy.”

“I don’t understand.”

“When we’re one, we both feel empowered; when it’s over, our strength is renewed. Drake said he only moved in for a second, and it drained you - meaning he can’t restore you...only I can.”

“It’s because you and I are one and I love you,” I said, wiping away a stray tear.

“I love you,” he thought.

“I don’t understand...what are you asking me to do?”

“After we move that wall, I’ll be surprised if he’s able to stand. I’m asking you to give him what strength you can, then I’ll carry you home and we’ll restore ourselves.”