CHAPTER 31

To the Faithful commenters: LOL. Well, I am very glad everyone liked this chapter so much. Aiden started writing himself when Ricald spouted off about cursing his family. That certainly wasn’t in the plan! I’m very please you all enjoyed the emotion and could actually SEE Aiden’s fight inside and outside of himself. Many of you have hit the nail on the head in regards to the POV switching. I certainly AM Aiden much more so than I am Kristalyn. I understand him better and react as him better, so it is not surprising to me that his is the POV that provokes the most reaction from all of you. Still, Kristalyn has come a very long way in her own story telling and hopefully in these next few chapters you will be able to see more into her. But you shall have to let me know!

But have the fun of posting on the web is having to wait for the next chapter, David and Ashley! No? Oh well, I tried! I’m pleased it brings out enough of a response in you to keep wanting to read! And now, your wish is my command!

(I should mention, however, that I am going to be away for most of the month, so the next chapter may take some time to get up. I will be spending quite a bit of time writing hopefully, so at least I will keep ahead of you in posts, meaning later you will have less wait time. Or at least, that’s the plan!

Sorry too, abotu the blank at the end. I haven't gotten a response to that yet!)

Aiden’s POV: What have I done? What does she think? It’s finally time. We have to go our separate ways. Does she get that yet? She’s beginning too. WHO? Where is he?? I have to go. NOW.

CHAPTER 31 ~ MOVING ON… OR NOT

KRISTALYN

I watched into the evening for Aiden and Magnar to return. Travon checked in with me every so often and others would report on what the Wild Men’s camp was doing, mostly cleaning, burying dead, and packing. It should have made me happy, but I was too concerned about Aiden to care.

It had all happened so incredibly fast. One minute Aiden was behind me and we were walking away from the man who had killed my father and the next…. The next moment I heard Ricald’s voice, firm and filled with malicious intent, calling down a curse on Aiden’s family, really on anyone Aiden cared about. Aiden’s reaction had been so swift, so sure. The sword was in his hand and cutting through Ricald’s neck, before I could even take a breath. And just that quickly the man who had killed my father was killed himself.

It was hard to believe he was really dead and could no longer threaten my own family. I had wanted to kill him as much as Aiden, but it was Deus’ hand on me that held me back. He and He alone had told me to prove that I really had given up on vengeance and instead given it to Him. It was one of the hardest calls I had ever had to make, but I followed. In the end, Deus had taken his vengeance by Aiden’s sword. I wasn’t so sure that was how it was suppose to work, but it was over now. It was finally over.

Still, the cleansing breath that I wanted to take would not come. I could still feel the weight on my shoulders, but now it bore a different name, that of Aiden.

I had always known what he was capable of, it shouldn’t have surprised me and in all honesty I wasn’t positive that it did. He was a warrior and he was capable of cold blooded kills. That was what shook me. He had been in a complete rage when he had struck Ricald. I couldn’t even be sure he had really seen the man he killed. He’d simply reacted, fast and sure.

He had been so different lately. I had hoped the pure killer was gone. That was what hurt, I realized. I wanted that pure killer to be gone. I thought he was. I should have known better. Deus was the only one who could change a man so completely and Aiden had yet to fully acknowledge him.

“Kristalyn?” Travon’s voice came to me again.

I smiled at the youth. “What is it?”

“Aiden and Magnar?”

“Not yet. I’m sure they’ll be back soon. Magnar will watch out for him.”

“How did you know it was Aiden I was worried about?” Travon asked curiously.

I smiled. “Just a guess.”

He nodded. “What happens next?”

“We’ll make sure the Wild Men turn around and then we’ll follow them for a ways. We can’t take a chance that they return to wreak more havoc.”

“How long will that take?”

I shrugged. “A few days, I guess. Why? Do you have plans or someone to get back too?”

Travon shook his head. “My family was all murdered by Ricald’s order. Aerilya is my home, but I don’t have anyone there.”

Gently, I laid a hand on his shoulder. “Well, you’re always welcome to come back with me.”

“And Aiden?” Travon’s voice was low.

Yes, what about Aiden? “I don’t know what he’ll do. Move on I guess.” Was I ready for that? Was he?

***

A loud cheer rose up through the whole camp. The Wild Men had turned directions. They were headed north once more. Ricald’s men, now without a leader, were also heading off. Some were going to old homes almost forgotten, but most traveled in the direction of Ruma, our scouts reported. It was good news for us all. Aerilya could now win the battle if it was still going on, but regardless Elangsia would receive no reinforcements. This was a victory for us and a large one. Quickly, it was decided to split into two groups. One group would go back to the Hunter and provide any help possible, while the other would follow the Wild Men for a distance and see that they did not get any foolish ideas into their heads.

“Egan,” I called to the dragon, who was preening himself on a low branch. I waited until the little want-to-be-prince regaled me with his full attention. “We need you to go to Tray. Tell him the Wild Men have given up the fight and are returning north. Most of the men are returning behind you, five have stayed with me. I’ll follow the Wild Men for at least two days to insure they do return north. Have you got all that?”

Egan snorted. Perfectly.

“Good. Now, come here.” I held up my arm for him to land on.

The blue dragon cocked his narrow head at my, and after one more lick to his scales, opened his wings to float more than fly to my arm. I pulled him close to whisper in his ear. “And this time if you mention Aiden you will never see flight again. Got it?”

The dragon stiffened, his color changing to a midnight black. He puffed himself out, but then nodded once.

“That’s my friend. Now, hurry. Its way past time Tray heard from me. Tell him I love him.”

The still miffed dragon said nothing, but took off.

“Thank you, Egan!” I called out cheerfully and laughed when he let out a loud snort, before disappearing into the sky.

“Milady,” Warrick came up to me. “Who do you wish to stay with you?”

I turned to him. “You pick, Warrick. But if you intend to stay then send Jerome back. One of you should be with both groups. But move quickly, we need to stay with the Wild Men and Tray may need the others.”

Warrick nodded and disappeared to organize everyone. I turned and looked for Aiden. I had seen him return the night before, but hadn’t had the chance to talk to him. Now, I needed to be sure he was okay. I wasn’t even positive he was planning on coming with us and that wasn’t a thought I enjoyed.

I finally found him sitting with Travon, Magnar, and Kurioden. Aiden lay back against the griffin with his eyes closed, while Kurioden curled up at Travon’s feet. They looked as if they had known each other all their lives and all was right in the world. It was a scene I never thought I would see.

“Hi guys,” I said as I walked up to them.

Travon grinned at me as Kurioden rose to stretch and pad over to me. I petted the black panther’s head.

“Hi, Kristalyn. How’s it going at camp?” Travon asked. Aiden had yet to open his eyes.

“They are packing up so we can follow the Wild Men. Only five will go on with us.”

Travon cast a glance behind me. “Geoffrey and Richard?”

“Oh, I bet they’ll come given the choice. I don’t think you have to worry about saying goodbye just yet. If you need to at all.”

Travon nodded and Aiden opened his eyes at the last line, but he didn’t say anything. I wondered what he would think of Travon staying in Aerilya. What where his plans anyway?

“So, what are you all discussing?” I asked, sitting down on the ground.

“Leaving,” Aiden said shortly.

The words struck me in the stomach. I swallowed. “Oh? Leaving to go with us or something else?”

“Both,” Aiden replied.

I was not happy with the one syllable answers. “Are you coming with us, Aiden?”

“I’ll make sure the Wild Men don’t turn back. No point in having the hard work ruined now.”

At least it wasn’t a short answer. “And after that?”

Aiden let out a slow shrug. “Not sure.”

The short answers were back and I wanted to strangle him. “You don’t have any idea what you are going to do? I don’t believe that.”

“It doesn’t really matter what you believe does it, Kristalyn? I don’t exactly meet your expectations,” Aiden answered, as he lay back against Magnar again, eyes closed.

I stared at him. What was that suppose to mean? Didn’t meet my expectations? Was he talking about Ricald? And since when did Aiden care what anybody thought about him and what he did? Was Deus maybe working on him?

“Aiden, you do have some plan right?” Travon cut in.

“I’ll head back over the mountains, I guess. Nothing to stay here for,” Aiden answered slowly.

Head back… nothing to stay…. My thoughts couldn’t move any further. Aiden was leaving? As in going away? But if he did….If he did, I would never see him again. In a few days, I was going to lose him.

“Kristalyn kinda offered for me to stay at her place in Aerilya. You know, since my family’s gone and all,” Traovn said hesitantly.

Aiden glanced at me then looked at Travon. “If that’s what you want. It’s probably the best offer you’re going to get.” His voice and face were totally blank.

I watched Travon’s face as he looked at his friend and mentor. Aiden was his mentor whether the warrior wanted to acknowledge it or not. This attitude was hurting the kid, didn’t Aiden see that? He had too. Aiden could read people. He knew exactly what he was doing. I was the one who wasn’t sure. Was he trying to push us away and cut off all ties? Did he think that would make it easier on us?

I could feel the band tighten in my chest as it squeezed out all the feelings for Aiden I tried to keep buried even from myself. He was pushing us away and he was doing it on purpose. Should I let him? The thought caused small tears to form in my eyes. If I let Aiden go, I wasn’t even sure I could, but if I did, would I ever forgive myself?

But he was a warrior, and a cold blooded one at that, I couldn’t stay attached to him. He had to let the Deus he denied work in his life. Tray would murder me himself if he knew I was even thinking… thinking what? I wasn’t sure. I just wasn’t sure.

“Yeah, my family’s all gone. It might be nice to have a home…” Travon’s voice, held steady only by will power, commented.

“It might,” Aiden said non-commitedly.

Magnar snorted and rose then, shaking himself he spread his wings and stretched them out as far as they would go. After a moment, he glanced at Aiden.

Moving all over people are.

Aiden nodded and stood. ‘Time to get going then.” He looked at me. “I’m going to take Magnar to the sky and keep watch.”

I nodded silently, still caught up in the previous conversation. He mounted and the two took to the sky. I turned and looked at the others. Travon was watching the two flying partners with a look of longing, that I’m sure he didn’t know was playing over his face. Kurioden’s eyes were on me though and I could see the concern in the great yellow and green depths.

“Let’s go, Kurio, Travon. The men will be waiting for us.” I spoke quickly and pushed myself up to walk back to the men. Behind me I could hear Kurioden nudging Travon along. I hoped for his sake Geoffrey and Richard had remained behind. At least one of us would have a distraction.

***

It didn’t matter what happened around me, my thoughts would not stray from the conversation with Aiden days before. I had been so anxious for the war to end and peace to come back to my homeland. Now, that end was finally in site. I could go home and see my mother and brother. I could finally get see for myself that they were both safe and we could perhaps even go back to the home we were forced to leave. Bryndor would be home again. It had probably fallen into a sight no one would want to see, but after some hard work, it would be livable and while it wouldn’t be perfect, that could never happen again, it would mean peace and safety.

But it wouldn’t be perfect. Nothing could be perfect, not anymore. Too much had changed around me and inside me, my father and the war, but not just them. Aiden had changed everything. And for the first time I had no idea what to do. Was Deus done with him? No, I didn’t believe that. But perhaps, Deus no longer wanted my help in the matter. Could I really let Aiden go? Despite what I had seen him do, regardless that the cold blooded killer remained inside him, I wanted to know what happened to him. I gritted my teeth as the truth warred in my soul.

I wanted to care.

“Milady?” Geoffrey’s voice was an extremely welcome interruption. I didn’t know how much longer I could follow my thoughts down that certain path of destruction.

“What is it, Geoffrey?”

“Um, Travon said you offered to let him come home with you?”

“Yes, what about it?” I asked.

“Nothing, milady. I guess I just wondered if it was true.”

“Does it bother you that I offered?”

Geoffrey shook his head violently. “Nah, I think it would be great! I’m trying to convince him to do it.”

I smiled at the eager boy. “Well, don’t try to hard. It has to be his decision after all.”

“I know!” Geoffrey said as he headed back to his friends.

The three of them were something else. It would be good if they could stay together. Unfortunately, that put my thoughts right back on Aiden leaving us both. Quickly, I turned and sought out Warrick. Our small group had spread out some to better keep track of the Wild Men. We each had a horse that had been taken from either Ricald or Jaquin’s camp and it made staying on their trail much easier. It also made spotting a member of our own group a little harder. Only Aiden didn’t ride a horse, preferring to stay with Magnar. His horse was led by Travon most of the time.

I rode faster and caught up with Warrick a few lengths ahead of me.

“Anything of interest?” I asked.

“Nothing, Lady Kristalyn. They just keep moving,” Warrick reported.

That didn’t help me much.

“They are keeping their prince in the middle of the pack, trying to protect him. Probably from that.” Warrick pointed to the sky where Magnar was flying in circles and screeching obnoxiously. Aiden rode on his back.

I laughed. “Perhaps after we turn back, we should enlist Magnar to follow for a bit longer. That will insure they keep moving.”

Warrick nodded. “About that, Lady Kristalyn, when do you think we might head home? With the war sure to be over, the men are anxious to return to freed love ones.”

“I know, Warrick. I want to see my mother and Tancred too.”

“Lady Shyla will be pleased to see you, as will your brother,” Warrick replied.

“Yes. I don’t think it will be much longer. They are moving at a fast clip and show no signs of returning. A few days at most. Soon everyone can return home,” I said calmly, though my mind questioned my own statement. What about Aiden? Where would he go?

“That will be good.” Warrick nodded satisfied. We rode in silence for a moment before Warrick got up the nerve to ask me the question I was wondering myself. “What about the warrior, Lady? Will he be returning with us?”

I wish I knew. “It is his choice alone, Warrick. I do not know of his plans.” I paused for a moment. I’d have just as much explaining to do to Tray no matter what Aiden choice, thanks to Egan’s rather large mouth. I glanced at Warrick. “I need you to do me a favor when we return, Warrick.”

The warrior besides me nodded and waited for my request.

“Don’t mention Aiden to Tancred. I will need to explain him myself.”

“Is there much to explain, Little Lady?” Warrick asked, in a gentle tone for him.

The term of endearment was one I had not heard in a very long time. I shook off the feeling of warmth it created and focused on the question. “No, but you know my brother. And the less complicated I can make this the better.”

“Just be careful, Lady Kristalyn. He is not one to mess with.”

I knew he didn’t mean my brother. “Why do you say that?”

Warrick paused then answered honestly. “I have seen many hard men in my years. I know their look well. Aiden’s eyes speak of not only many men killed, but also that he has not yet finished his killing.”

I swallowed at the older man’s words. Was it true? Was Aiden not finished? I had no doubt of his past, but it was his future I was concerned with. “Then it is best you pray Deus be with him.”

“I will pray Deus be with you both,” was Warrick’s steady answer.

Yes, perhaps we both needed the prayer. But what I needed right now was to stop thinking about Aiden! I searched my mind for another subject, anything to take my mind off of the warrior I cared too much about. The only other thoughts that held any interest to me were thoughts of home. It would be so great to see my brother again and feel his strong arms give me a hug. I would even take his teasing if I could just spend time with him. We had kept each other in check for so long there was no telling what trouble he could get into if I wasn’t there! After all, I had spent the last couple months saving his life from an assassin! Memories of the time in Ruma with Aiden flashed quickly through my mind, including the mystery girl with my brother I had yet to figure out.

“Warrick, I heard there was a girl with Tray on his last trip. Who is she?” I asked curious to finally get some answers on the mystery girl.

Warrick laughed. “And how did you find out about that?”

I shrugged. “Does it matter? Who is she? Is she still with my brother?”

“Oh, no, Lady Kristalyn. If you want to keep your mystery boy from the Hunter I will not tell you about his mystery girl. You will have to ask him yourself.”

“Oh, come on, Warrick! You must give me something!” I exclaimed.

“You are wasting your time,” Warrick warned, with a laugh in his voice.

I heaved a sigh. “All right. I guess it’s only far. But I’ll find out about her eventually!”

Warrick smiled knowingly. “I’m sure you will.”

I would as soon as I figured out how. My thoughts turned back to my brother.

“Warrick, do you think he’s safe? Egan has yet to return with news. He should have been back by now.” I allowed the worry I felt to slip into my voice.

“As Deus guides you He guides the Hunter too. I will not believe harm has befallen him until I hear otherwise. And even then, I would be hard pressed to believe. Have faith, Kristalyn, just as Trancred must have faith that you too are well,” the wise man advised.

I nodded, knowing I really had no other choice. Deus, guide us all, keep us safe, and bring us back together. I allowed the prayer to float up to the heavens.

***

The whirring sound on the air was a relief to hear. Egan was the only one to make that sound. He had been gone days longer than I had expected. Had he had trouble tracking Tray down or had something happened to my brother? I shot up another prayer, even as I called to the little dragon.

“Egan! Here!”

The little dragon slipped down from the darkening sky and landed on the grass next to him. He clacked hello and immediately put his head against me to rub gently.

Affectionate? Egan?

“Egan, what happened? Where is Tray? Is he all right?” I felt my fist clench as I braced myself for the worst news in the world. My heart clenching so tightly it stopped beating.

The little dragon clacked gently and hissed softly on my cheek.

Tray, Ruma, fine.

My heart started beating and the world moving again. I breathed deeply and calmed myself. Finally, I understood everything Egan had said.

“Ruma? No wonder you took so long. Why is he there?”

War over. Slaves freed. Peace here.

“Peace,” I breathed the word, scarcely believing it. Peace. “We won then?”

Won. Tray finish. Go home.

“He’s helping stabilize Ruma and then heading home?”

Egan clacked an affirmative.

“Home. Peace. Egan, we can go home. It’s so hard to believe. I’m not sure I know how too.”

Egan’s mouth split into his teethy grin and nudged my check. True.

“Yes. It’s true.” Wonder of a kind I had never felt and could not describe swept over me. It tensed my body and I grabbed up Egan to give him a squeeze of joy. The dragon’s scales changed to a bright red of surprise. Before the tension released in relaxing way that I had not felt for years.

A clacking and hiss made me release Egan in a hurry and I stared down at the dragon eyes wide.

“You did what?”

The dragon clacked and hissed again, not looking at me.

“What in the entirety of Aerilya would possess you to tell Tray about Travon?”

Egan clacked quickly.

“I didn’t tell you not to mention him because I never figured you would! Egan!”

He scampered back a few steps and sniffed the air before clacking in a puffed up manner.

“It’s not my fault we are keeping secrets at the moment! I didn’t ask to put… Wait, what do you mean ‘we’? What is Tray keeping from me?” I asked suspiciously.

Egan rolled his head in a disgusted move and took off into the air.

“Egan! Get back here!”

But the little dragon just clacked about brothers and sisters being honest and leaving him alone. Now, I had to get answers from somewhere else.

***

Joyous noises rang through the air. No one could stop the happiness that seemed to penetrate the night sky as our small group celebrated Aerilya’s freedom. The fire was built up fire than usual and Terlin had brought his wood flute, which he played a lively tune on. Only Aiden did not join in the festivities, choosing instead to keep guard on the Wild Men so that they did not disturb our celebration. As the only one not from Aerilya he made the perfect choice, but I felt his absence acutely and judging by the way Travon kept glancing in the direction Aiden had headed, so did he.

Aiden had fought hard for Aerilya and he too deserved to enjoy the victory, but I knew he did not see it that way. This had never been his war or his fight. He had only joined because I had requested and for one other reason he refused to tell me. Still, in my mind he was just as much a hero in this war as the Hunter. After all, if Aiden had followed the commands given to him, the Hunter wouldn’t be around to celebrate. The thought caused me to shutter.

Tray was in Ruma now. How was he doing? Had he taken time yet to enjoy the victory? Knowing him, he had already found some other mission that required his attention and figured his work was not yet done. He would celebrate, but he would be among the last. That was why I too held myself back from the festivities. My war was not over either, not until my brother and I were reunited. Only then, could I celebrate a true victory in the safety of my family. Until then, it simply wasn’t as meaningful.

With those thoughts, all joy at the victory left and I got up to stretch. I smiled at the others, who looked to me, and motioned them to stay.

“I’ll be back. Continue to celebrate. I’m going to check on our guard.”

The men nodded and the fun started again. Only Travon and Warrick watched as I left the light of the camp fire, Kurioden at my side. The blackness of the night quickly surrounded me and as I walked farther from the camp, the noise lessoned to sound more like crickets in a good mood than a party. Aiden stood on a slight hill overlooking the Wild Men’s camp. There own guards were stationed around, a trick they must have picked up from Ricald, but they watched the sky more than anything else. Magnar was often spotted up there. They had attempted to divert him once by launching a spear, but when he had caught it and dropped the two broken pieces back onto their camp, they had decided to leave him alone and move a little quicker.

Aiden didn’t turn when I approached, but he spoke. “Kristalyn.”

“Hello,” I replied softly coming to stand next to him. Magnar was at his other side and Kurioden nodded his head at the griffin before settling in at my feet. “How is it going?”

“They are peaceful.”

“Now that we know for sure the war is over, I thought we would watch them leave tomorrow and then head back,” I admitted softly.

Aiden nodded his head once. “You’re anxious to see your brother.”

“Egan wasn’t very forthcoming on how he is and it has been a long time. I’d like to actually speak to him when I see him this time,” I said with a smile, although pain crept into my voice because it was taking so long to actually talk to him.

“It would be better,” Aiden’s voice was low and without emotion.

“Aiden, if we head back, will you come too?” It was the only real question that had been on my mind ever since the decision had been made. Both animals raised their heads as they too for Aiden’s answer.

Aiden said nothing for a long time and I figured he wasn’t going to bother with an answer when he spoke. “I doubt it. I came here because of Zoe. If she was a slave in this area, she is free now and safe. I’m not needed here anymore.”

“Zoe is your sister, right?”

A slow smile of a time forgotten graced his face. “She is my little Firebrand. The youngest of us, save her twin brother. Of all my siblings, it was she…” Aiden never finished.

He didn’t have too. He might want to believe he had buried his heart, but the proof of the opposite was in front of me. Zoe was his youngest sister and the closest to him. If I had to guess, it was her, even her memory, that kept Aiden human.

My heart went out to him immediately. All the feelings I had tried to keep down rose to the surface with his admission about his little sister. This was the man I knew existed. This was the man I cared so deeply about. And I did care, far too much.

I swallowed, trying to keep my strong emotions from my voice. Kurioden moved a little closer to me. “You came in this direction in case she still needed you.”

He nodded, finally speaking again, “I’m not sure she even made it this far. She might never have been here. But if she did, she is safe and I can move on.”

“To where?”

“Wherever I can learn.”

“Learn?”

Aiden sighed. “I’ve been in training, Kristalyn, for all this time.”

“Training? I don’t understand.”

He paused, as if trying to figure out how much to tell me. I sent up a quick prayer to tell me it all.

“When Duard split us up, I promised I would go back. I would fix my betrayal. Duard may have issued the order to split us up, but I let it happen. I was the one who betrayed my family. And I am the one who needs to fix it, to try and bring them back together.”

Realization dawned. “That’s why you fight, why you take on these missions and fight as you do. You are trying to prove you can beat your old guardian.”

“And when I can, I’ll go back and kill him. And then I’ll bring my family home.” His voice was tight with determination. The venom in his voice as he spoke of killing Duard disturbed Magnar, who shook his great eagle head, his feathers bristling. Aiden laid a calming hand on him.

This was what had been in his mind and heart for so long. It explained why he felt unworthy, and why after letting my brother live, he tried to kill himself. He saw himself as a failure, to his family and to himself. But why not let Deus help him with it all? The only reasoning that made sense was that above even himself, he blamed the God he claimed did not exist.

“Aiden? Kristalyn?” Travon’s voice came from behind us. Kurioden stood to greet him and then sat back at my feet. “You okay?”

I turned to the boy. “Yes, we were just discussing tomorrow when we leave.”

Travon nodded, his eyes fastened on Aiden. “You comin’ with us?”

“No,” Aiden replied shortly.

Travon’s face froze as he took the news in. Aiden turned to him and said with a little more heart, “Your home is here. Not mine, Travon.”

“But, why can’t you stay?” The youth asked desperately.

“I have things I need to fix and none of them are here.”

He swallowed. “And Magnar?”

The griffin had been watching the exchange with interest, but now he bowed his head. “Leave Aiden Magnar cannot. Yet in need of Magnar Travon is. Magnar uncertain.”

Aiden placed his hand back on the griffin’s head and rubbed gently, an almost unconscious gesture. It was so unlike the Aiden I had first met, who used his great griffin as a tool. Now, he saw him as a friend. Aiden had changed so much and yet he still had more to change.

“I don’t want you to leave,” the youth admitted in a low voice.

Aiden chose not to look at either of us when he answered. “It was certain we would say goodbye one day. It had to happen eventually.”

I dropped to one knee and hugged Kurioden close. Yes, I had known in the back of my mind one day I would be separated from Aiden. But not like this. I wasn’t supposed to feel this way. Aiden was a warrior with a killer past, an assassin I had stopped, a soldier who had fought for Aerilya, and yet he had somehow become so much more. Just what that was, I didn’t know, but I thought I knew how I felt. And the thought of him leaving for countries unknown was tearing me apart.

Was Deus telling me to let him go? The Almighty was not yet finished with him, but perhaps I was. The thought left a bitter taste in my mouth. Yet, had I not asked Deus to guard me from caring for this man too much? Was this not an answer? If he left, I wouldn’t see his face everyday, or hear his voice as he teased me, or feel his touch even if on rare occasions. This was not what I had meant when I asked Deus to guard my heart.

Perhaps this was for the best? No matter what my feelings, Aiden did not yet believe in Deus and if he kept to his stubborn ways, he never would. I had no future with a man who did not bow first to Deus’ will. No matter what my heart cried out for, I had learned the hard way, Deus came first…always. Still, my heart, even my mind and soul were shattered with the knowledge I would not be with Aiden any longer. And in the very depth of my being, I had to wonder if I stayed with him, would I be able to stop myself from falling in love?

“Who?” Aiden’s sharp voice cut like a knife through my torturous thoughts.

Travon looked startled. “You mentioned ______ country. That’s where the killer fled.”

“His name,” Aiden’s voice was tight.

“Arnan Romany.”