Chapter 4

I made small talk with Mason and some other guests who had crowded around us, as I tried to calm my quaking heart. My hands were shaking just a bit as I clutched my water. I saw Vanessa and Beckham again out of the corner of my eye. She was gesturing to him furiously, her face illustrating her displeasure with whatever he had done. He looked like he felt slightly guilty, but he didn't seem to be saying anything back to her. Tommy appeared out of nowhere on my other side.

"Seems you have quite your hands full, my beauty," he whispered with a wink.

I decided to play dumb even though I could feel my face flushing with embarrassment.

"What are you talking about Tommy?" I tried to joke. He looked at me intently and it felt like he could see right through me in that moment.

"Have you met Damon yet?" he asked randomly.

I frowned, not knowing exactly where he was going with this. "I have..." I responded. "I met him at school."

"Hmmm…and how do you feel about him?" Tommy asked. "It's obvious how you feel about Beckham and Mason."

If I thought I was red before, I now must resemble a cherry. "I...like Damon," I said hesitantly. Tommy smirked at me.

"Is like the word you would really use to describe it?" he asked.

I felt a little overwhelmed in the moment. If it was obvious to Tommy that I was crushing on all three of them, then I'm sure that Mason, Damon, and Beckham were all going to catch on to my feelings as well. For someone who had barely been kissed, this situation was quickly spiraling out of my control. I needed air. Now was a good time to go feel the ocean for the first time.

The sounds of the party followed me as I walked outside, desperate for some air and a chance to have a little bit of peace from the people clamoring for attention…and Tommy's questions. Mason was held up with some record executives who wanted to talk about the tour and when the next album was going to come out so he said sent me ahead, telling me he would join me in a few minutes.

Tommy's mansion was literally right on the ocean. It was a full moon tonight, or at least close to it, and the light reflected off the water, lighting my path to the shore. I had left my shoes on the porch and I found myself getting close enough to the water that I could feel the waves rolling over my feet. Since I hadn't experienced the ocean before, I basked in the saltwater smell and the spray hitting my face.

I was much more comfortable away from the prying eyes and the curious questions that everyone had for me about my role in Mason's life. A voice shocked me out of my reverie.

"What are you doing all alone out here?" Beckham's voice floated from behind me.

I stayed gazing at the waves and didn't turn to look at him. "That was a little bit overwhelming for me," I answered softly. "I'm not used to crowds."

"You would think I would be used to it by now," he replied, almost absentmindedly. "But I still get nervous when I know I'm going to be around a lot of people like tonight."

I looked back at him but he was peering out over the water, seemingly lost in thought. We stood there in silence for a moment.

"You're standing in a fairy ring," he remarked quietly.

I looked up at him confused. He gestured to the sand at my feet. To my surprise there was an almost perfect circle of shells around me. "Oh my! That is so strange. What did you call it? A fairy ring?"

"Yes," he answered. "Fairy rings are said to be good luck and bless the beings who step in them."

I smiled at him and rolled my eyes.

"You don't believe in legends?" he asked, amused.

"I don't believe in fairy tales," I corrected him. Beckham made a noise in the back of his throat in disagreement. He took a step closer to me and placed a hand on my waist. I could feel the heat from his body enveloping me.

I was standing in mother's rose garden, reaching out to pick one of her famous hybrid ones, when I felt someone approach me from behind. I relaxed when the smell of pine and fresh musk enveloped me.

"Hello my love," Beckham said softly, brushing his lips against my neck.

I smiled and turned around, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close. "You came," I exhaled. He kissed me like he hadn't seen me in years. His tongue sliding into my mouth, licking and tasting me like I was his favorite treat. I pressed against his lips, devouring his lips in return. He was my favorite flavor and every kiss was better than the last. He pulled back from me, his gorgeous grin darkening briefly.

"Father kept me longer at my studies," he answered apologetically. "He had some sort of meeting with your father in the king's private chambers this morning, and was late to my lessons. I thought about you all day though."

I sighed at his sweet words.

"Do you know what they were meeting about? Father would not say," he asked.

I frowned with a little bit of frustration.

"Mother says we have an important guest arriving soon," I answered, shrugging. "She won't tell me who though. I'm sure it's just another emissary from one of the kingdoms, nothing to be bothered about," I smiled reassuringly.

"I won't stop being bothered by it until you are my wife, my love. I fear your father is going to marry you off one day to one of these ambassadors you worry so little about," he teased, tapping me on the nose.

"It will never happen," I responded fervently. "We're not only a love match, but we have been fated by the Gods. Not even my father can argue with that. We just need to wait a bit longer, my birthday will be here soon."

Beckham looked down at me intently, seeming to be memorizing my promise.

"Forgive me for worrying my angel. Shall we go for the walk I promised you?" Beckham asked sweetly.

I gave him a peck on the lips and took his hand. As we began to walk I looked behind me, feeling like I had forgotten something. When I looked back, I noticed that a small portion of the roses just past where I had been standing seemed to have withered, something I had never seen in our land. I made a note to tell mother about it.

I jerked forward, stepping away from Beckham's touch, blindsided by the image I had just seen. Now was not the time for me to be daydreaming, although it had seemed more than that. Like what I had experienced before the show when I had fainted, and what I had just experienced while I had been on the dance floor with Mason and Beckham, the images I had just seen seemed more like a memory than anything else. I was confident though that I had never been to wherever I was in my dream, and I certainly had never met Beckham before today. Curious.

"Everything all right, Eva?" asked Beckham, sounding concerned at the abrupt way I had pulled away from him.

"Yes, sorry, I thought I felt something on my leg," I said lamely.

I still did not want to look at him. I felt overwhelmed at what I had just seen, and the feelings it had brought to the surface. In whatever I had been seeing, Beckham had been mine, as familiar to me as one could ever be. I touched my lips, almost surprised that they weren't swollen from the kiss he had given me. My cheeks flushed involuntarily.

"Eva," Beckham said softly, stepping beside me so that he was in my line of sight. "Why do I feel like I have known you my whole existence? Tell me you feel this…this whatever it is between us. I feel like you've returned to me, although I don't know where you went. I…"

Whatever he had been about to say was stopped by a voice calling out my name. Mason was walking towards us from the mansion, strands of his long hair whipping in the breeze, his shirt sticking to his chest, outlining his perfect pecs and six pack. He had taken off his suit. I knew that he hated being dressed up, he had complained enough in the limo about the "monkey suit" he was wearing. He was looking delicious in a fitted white v-neck tee and black jeans.

I looked back at Beckham, so beautiful in his own right. More silver than gold under the light of the moon, he was still wearing the slim fitted grey suit he had worn to the show. Both would inspire any woman to immediate devotion. My heart fluttered in my chest. I really was falling for both of them. And then there was Damon…

"You two okay?" Mason asked, looking between Beckham and myself. "Vanessa is looking for you Beck, she seems in a mood so I would approach cautiously," he joked.

Beckham gave a small grin.

"Yes, I should be getting back to the party. You are going to stay at my place tonight right? I know you don't want to drive all the way back to your place tonight since it's already so late."

"I had rented a hotel room right near the show, but I guess I wasn't thinking about how far away the after-parties would be," Mason answered sheepishly. "I guess it makes sense to go to your place."

"Good," answered Beckham, pleased. "Let's leave soon, these people are exhausting," he said, walking backwards back towards the party, looking somewhat longingly at me before turning away.

Mason was quiet, staring out at the black waves, deep in thought.

"Beckham's been one of my best friends since almost before I can remember existing," he said quietly, still not looking at me. "I would give him almost anything. But if he wants you, I'm not going down without a fight."

He finally turned to look at me, a question in his eyes. I didn't say anything. Instead I took his hand and kissed it softly, laying his palm against my cheek and savoring its warmth. Mason dropped the subject and pulled me into his arms. We stood there quietly for several minutes, both staring out into the water, each lost in our thoughts.