Emerge: The Captive: (Book 3)
Melissa A. Craven
DEDICATION
For my sister, Angela. My biggest fan (well, except for mom, she’s kind of stalkery).
Thank you so much for your unwavering support and for being my most awesome sounding-board
when my characters are misbehaving.
“We have drunk Soma and become immortal; we have attained the light, the Gods discovered. Now what may foeman’s malice do to harm us? What, O Immortal, mortal man’s deception?”
—Rigveda 8.48.3
CHAPTER
ONE
Sasha: The Springtime Ball
Cleveland, Ohio
“You think Allie’s face will freeze like that?” Sasha cheered with the crowd for their reluctant queen of the Springtime Ball.
“Is she pissed or excited? I can’t tell which,” Quinn said as he wrapped his arms around Sasha’s waist.
“I’m going with sixty-percent pissed and forty-percent confused.” Sasha leaned back against him, enjoying his closeness. For however long it lasts this time. They could never seem to get on the same page in their rocky relationship, but she couldn’t imagine spending this night with anyone else. Even nearly a year after they ended their relationship … again.
“Our Allie is really not the prom queen sort, is she?” Quinn laughed.
“There’s something about those two together, though,” Sasha said as her brother and her best friend stepped onto the dance floor.
“You think they’ll ever figure it out?”
“They’ll get there.” Sasha smiled.
“Will we?” Quinn’s breath was warm against her ear and his clean, masculine scent of birch and tea tree sent her pulse racing the way it always did when he was close.
“Of course we will.” Sasha turned in his arms, the rush of all her old feelings coming back. Not that they’d ever really left. There was a time when she was convinced she would spend her life with her first love. Sometimes she still believed Quinn was her Complement and that the source of all their trouble was that they were just too young. Maybe they would be ready for it one day. She could wait.
“Dance with me?” Quinn asked, taking her hand in his.
They moved to the dance floor to join the crowd circling Allie and Aidan.
“Sometimes I wonder why we’re so good together when we’re not together,” Quinn said, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“And so terrible for each other when we are together?” She added.
“We’re ridiculous.” Quinn twirled her around and dipped her until the tips of her hair brushed the floor. His smile was brighter than she’d seen it in a long time.
“We should see a shrink.” She laughed, determined to enjoy the evening and not let their past drama spoil anything. “What made you ask me to the dance?” It was a risk. They’d both known going into this night that it would stir up a past probably best left buried.
“I made you a promise.”
“That was ages ago, Quinn. I was just thirteen.” She stared into his dark blue eyes, unable to believe he actually remembered a silly old promise from when they were kids.
“And seven feet tall with giant clown feet.” His laughter rumbled in his chest as he held her a little too closely. “So worried no one would ever ask you to the junior ball because you were head and shoulders above the rest of us.”
“Quinn Loukas, you take that back. I do not have big feet!”
“You grew into your height, Sasha. But you still have clown feet.”
“You know I’m armed, right?” She scowled at him.
“Ah, you know you’re gorgeous. Always have been.”
“I’m glad you kept your promise … and glad you finally got as tall as me.”
“Walk with me?” He pulled her toward the gardens, away from the glittering dance floor. “I could do with a little quiet and some fresh air.”
Sasha followed him through the double doors and into the chilly spring evening, wondering if her heart could handle it if they tried to go down that road again and failed.
“What are we doing, Sash?” Quinn sighed as they strolled along the winding pathway, avoiding the other couples seeking a quiet moment away from the revelry inside.
“Enjoying the ball. Let’s not make it more complicated than that.” Her heart wanted to gallop right over the cliff with him the way they always did, but her head cautioned her to take it slow. They’d hurt each other too many times to make the same mistakes again.
“The last thing I ever want is to hurt you. We suck at relationships, but ‘just friends’ … it’s not enough. I miss you, Sasha.”
“I miss you too. But I … won’t go through that again—not until we’re both ready to do it right. Let’s enjoy tonight and not make any promises we can’t keep.”
They were always so drawn to each other like moths to a flame, but at the same time, they clashed like opposites. The constant battle of their relationship was exhausting. They were better as friends, but he was right, it wasn’t enough.
“If tonight is all we have, then let’s make it worth it.” Quinn pulled her into the shadows, and the warmth of his cloaking gift enveloped them. In an instant they were wrapped up in their own little world, oblivious of anyone or anything going on around them.