The men had fallen behind as Archer and Alana led the way. It was surreal that they were finally together, especially after the night before.
“I didn’t believe you would come,” Archer admitted. He was having a hard time allowing himself to look at her. She was too beautiful, blinding almost, and it made him uncomfortable to think that he might stare too much at her and give away his true feelings. Although he couldn’t believe she was there, knowing that he hadn’t been imagining the deep emotional relationship he had developed in his dreams made him feel a lot better about it. Sometimes he had seriously wondered if he was insane. He had never been able to even consider another woman, and assumed he would die alone with nobody but the woman of his dreams to keep him company.
And now she was walking beside him. He could smell the sweetness of her skin and gaze upon the elegant beauty that she bore with an ease he had never seen in a woman. She was perfect.
“I wasn’t sure you would be here for me to find,” she replied. The men following had learned to give the two of them some space, but Archer could feel their eyes boring upon his back. He was sure that Alana probably felt the same way.
“Are you satisfied with what you found?” Archer asked with a grin.
“You’re everything I expected and more,” Alana replied, turning her intoxicating eyes upon him, her full lips curled into a tantalizing smile. Archer had half a mind to take her into the brush right then. Even with the men shortly on their trail. But she demanded more than that from him. The first time they were truly together, it should be special. She deserved much more than an uncomfortable romp on the cold ground, with all manner of sticks and bugs interrupting her pleasure.
“Where did you come from?” Archer asked, although he knew the answer. She was very clearly of Loni descent, but the strength and pride with which she carried herself made him second-guess what he thought to be true. Perhaps she was another being altogether. Something profoundly elegant that the people of Earth were not ready for. In fact, he felt a surge of rage that such impure people as the humans and Guardians were going to lay eyes upon the perfection beside him. They would never see her as she truly was. Any attention she attracted beyond his reverence was base and unworthy.
“I was born on Kaldernon,” Alana said, glancing up at the sky. She seemed disappointed when she realized that it wasn’t there. Archer knew that the beauty of the world above was shocking to those who had never seen the view before. He hoped that Alana had been able to have a profound experience looking upon her home. “I came because of the dreams. I have a terrible feeling about the beast.”
“Nothing is out there that we can’t handle,” Archer said loudly, acknowledging the group behind them. They agreed raucously. “We’re the best of the best left behind.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Alana said doubtfully. “And it isn’t you that I’m worried about. I had a premonition of danger. I was lucky to be able to beg Lopu to allow me to come to you. She still wouldn’t until she realized you’re the son of Clayton–“
“You know who my father is?” Archer asked, stopping mid-stride. He turned his eyes upon her, and she smiled kindly at him. “Is he all right?”
“Yes, he’s great. He nearly leapt into the portal with me. And your mother sends her love and hopes that once this issue is resolved, you will return to Kaldernon with me.”
Returning back to Kaldernon was something that Archer had never considered before. There was no opportunity to do so. He wanted nothing to do with the world above until the world he was born into was rid of the evil of the Guardians and their toxic influence. Only then would he feel free to come back to his parents.
But he was shocked by the profound and acute grief he felt as an indirect result of wanting to stay beside Alana every second for the rest of his life. Being away from her was no longer an option. Not now that they were together after what seemed like an impossible union, he didn’t want her to be out of his sight ever again. The thought that she would return to Kaldernon without him was devastating.
“You don’t want to come back with me?” she asked. Most other women would sound hurt, or offended, that the man of her dreams was reluctant to return back home with her, but she only seemed after the truth on his heart. Alana wasn’t like other women. She would accept him and his desires. Maybe she would even compromise and choose to stay with him on Earth. But he would never ask that of her. it was too dangerous here. If anything happened to her, such as the Guardians getting their hands on her, he would never forgive himself. And all because Alana wanted to stay with him. Archer wouldn’t let it happen. He would rather go back to Kaldernon with her than have her stay on Earth with him. Or, unfortunately, live without her if that was how it had to be.
“I have unfinished business here,” Archer said with a heavy sigh. “The Guardians…”
“Yes, I have heard of them. They are nothing but trouble and seem to cause as much grief as possible. I cannot stand the thought of them. I’ve seen the effects of their torture on those poor souls who were rescued. It has taken several years of immense emotional healing from the strongest, most compassionate Lonis in Kaldernon before they were able to begin to move forward after such torture.”
“I don’t think that you should come with us where we’re going,” Archer said suddenly, changing the subject. The idea of Alana getting hurt to help him rescue Tanna was too much. She seemed to be so vulnerable. Even though he had seen her in her Dragon form and it was impressive enough, she was still clearly soft and sensitive like a Loni. And even if she was the most capable warrior in the world, he would have wanted to protect her. He didn’t want to put her in harm’s way.
“You don’t get a say in the matter,” Alana said, fixing her bluish-purple eyes upon him. She could level him with just a look, and Archer wasn’t sure that he would ever get his way. But that wouldn’t keep him from trying.
“I’m serious. There are tricks the Guardians have. My men and I are prepared to risk our lives to take out the Guardians once and for all and try to bring Tanna back home and prevent him from any further torture. But are you? Why risk your life for a cause you have nothing to do with? This is my world, not yours. You can go back where it’s safe.”
“I don’t want to be where it’s safe,” Alana insisted. Her voice raised an octave and it was clear she was beginning to get impatient. “I want to be with you.”
“I never asked for you to come with us!” Archer shouted. He was beginning to lose his own patience, too. The idea of putting this perfect woman in a position where she might be injured was just too much. He would do whatever it took to prevent her from following him to the farm house. “I never asked you to come here to be with me!”
Alana stopped walking suddenly, and the forest suddenly fell quiet. A collective breath seemed to be held by all of the men walking idly behind Archer and Alana. They had followed what was going on the best that they could. Archer had explained briefly about communicating with Kaldernon through his dreams. He had intentionally left out the romantic implications of their dreams and how long and how often he had been having them.
Without a word, Archer watched in despair as Alana turned her back on him and walked backward into the forest, back the way that she had come.