Forever Fae (Forever Fae #1)(37)
“I agree, but I don’t think I can sit around and watch you and him be together. I can’t do it, Calista.”
“What are you saying, Merrick?” I ask nervously.
Ryder clears his throat to get our attention.
“You know, the whole mind to mind mumbo shit is getting annoying. It would be nice to know what you both are saying.” He sounds very jealous and spiteful. Merrick and I both turn to scowl at him.
Merrick then speaks aloud.
“What I’m saying, Calista, is that you have to choose. Prophecy or not, I can’t help the way I feel about you and I can’t sit around and watch you two have a happily ever after. I want you to choose which one of us you want in your life.”
Ryder turns his head sharply to Merrick and yells, “How can you make her decide that? Do you not realize how selfish that makes you?” He turns his head and shakes it. “You’re unbelievable. I can’t believe you would actually make her choose between her best friend and the man she loves. What kind of best friend are you?”
I am so sick of their bantering back and forth so I let out a disgruntled sigh and loudly yell, “Enough! I’m done dealing with you two asshats. Do me a favor and leave me alone…both of you.” I look at both of them and say, “I’ll release the vines in a little bit. Maybe that way you two can wallow in your own stupidity for a while.”
I huff and turn to walk away when they both yell for me to stop. I turn back around and raise my eyebrows, prompting them to continue speaking. Nothing they say is going to make me release them.
Merrick pleads, “You need to let me come with you. I am your guardian and I have sworn to protect you with my life. I have to be with you.”
I laugh.
“Oh Merrick, I will be perfectly fine on my own. I can take care of myself and you should know that. Once you both get your heads out of your ass I might consider talking to you.” I look at them and the looks on both of their faces are a mixture of embarrassment, anger and love. They both mean so much to me and I hate I have to do this.
I look at Merrick one last time, “Goodbye, Merrick.” Then I turn to the man I have fallen in love with and I can feel a hot tear grazing down my cheek.
My voice breaks as I say, “Goodbye, Ryder. I hope you enjoy your journey home to the Winter Court.”
I turn my back on them and run down the path back to the house. All I hear as I continue on my way is the echoing of Ryder yelling my name and the breaking of my heart.
I can’t believe Merrick would ask me to choose between them. I refuse to do that so I’ll just let them decide who stays and who goes. If they both love me like they say they do, they won’t make me choose. They need to act like grown men and act rationally. The solution is simple. If I am going to be with Ryder, Merrick has to learn to live with it, and Ryder needs to learn to live with the fact that Merrick is my guardian and will always be with me. My solution would also be to tell them both to get the hell over it.
I can’t hear them yelling anymore so I take my time heading back to the house. Spending time alone is definitely a treat because I don’t usually have much time to myself these days. I see the lake just ahead and the wonderful willow tree where my life had started to change. I felt so alive yesterday and now all I feel is loss and heartache. I walk toward the tree and hear a rustling sound off to the side. I look around and don’t see anything moving.
“Styx, is that you?” I call out. “Come here, boy, it’s just me.”
I look around, but he’s not there. I wonder what was making the noise. Merrick and Ryder couldn’t have gotten out of the vines yet because I haven’t released them. I shrug my shoulders and chide myself for being paranoid. It must have been the wind. As soon as that thought crosses my mind I double over in pain. I can feel the blood oozing down the back of my neck and the world is spinning, making me nauseated. The blood is hot and sticky as I reach to touch the back of my skull. The pain is tremendous, so whoever or whatever hit me wanted to incapacitate me. I’m beginning to think it’s going to work. I can feel my mind slipping from consciousness. I look around and there is no one out here that could have hit me. I sink to my knees while my vision fades. The last thing I hear before darkness takes over is the sound of a man laughing. This can’t be good. I recognize the evil laugh and he is definitely not a friend of mine. The world fades into blackness and then…Silence.
Chapter 17
Ryder
“Calista!”
I yell her name over and over, but she still runs away and doesn’t look back. I behaved like a jack ass and now she wants nothing to do with me. Seeing her cry tore at my heart. I would have loved to comfort her if I didn’t feel so betrayed.
“If you love, Calista, so much. Why were you being such a dick to her?” Merrick asks, breaking my thoughts.
“As if you didn’t know, I heard about your little make out session this morning and it didn’t look like she was in a hurry to get up from you being all over her.” I hiss angrily.
He looks at me confused.
“I wish that was the case, but you have no idea what you’re talking about. Nothing happened between us this morning at all, and when we were on the ground she told me to get off of her, but I stayed there while we were talking.” He taps his head and raises his eyebrows to let me know it was a silent conversation.