Free The Eden Series: The Complete Collection by Janelle Stalder

pointing at his glasses.
    “I won’t be able to see,” he replied.
    “Hmmm …” Diana walked over to him, holding her chin while she seemed lost thought. “Let me see if I can fix this.” Slowly, she took off his glasses and told him to shut his eyes. Holding her fingers over each of his eyelids, she began to chant in the strange language he had heard her speak before. After thirty seconds, she told him to open his eyes again.
    Looking around at the area they stood in, he could see the trees and birds in front of him perfectly. His vision was even better than it had been with his glasses. He began to jump for joy, exclaiming his amazement at her powers.
    Diana laughed, telling him to calm down. “Your eyes will remain like this while you’re here in Eden, but my powers won’t extend into your world. I’m afraid you’ll still need those things you call glasses when you go back home.” That put a slight damper on things, but at least he had perfect eyes for the time being. “Shall we get to work?” she asked, walking over and picking up one of the swords.
    With his new vision, Aiden felt more confident and was ready for anything she threw at him.
    Or so he thought.

CHAPTER FOUR
    The moons sat full in the sky, lighting the Capital with their bluish glow. The night was only beginning, but already the streets were filled with the people of Capital City. He looked down at the laughing, carefree citizens, and couldn’t help but wonder how many more of these nights he would live to see. The threat from the north was always looming in his mind, making it hard to enjoy such festivities. Past spring festivals had been his favourite night of the year, finding it his only escape from the life and position he held. Tonight, he thought sadly, would probably pale in comparison to the others.
    “Are you coming?” Melaine asked from inside the room. He turned to look at her, appreciating the view. She was dressed in the ritual colour of red, her long dark hair pinned up in an extravagant twist, and her green eyes accentuated with paint. Even her high cheekbones were painted pink, making her look youthful and attractive.
    “I’m certainly not letting you go out looking like that, all by yourself,” he answered with a smile. “Let me just change first. I’ll meet you in the courtyard.”
    “Yes, your majesty.” She smiled, grabbing the mask that sat on the bed. It was common for the women of the Capital to wear masks that night, finding it more freeing to do as they pleased while in disguise. The men, however, did not. Jameson always owned it up to the fact that men didn’t care what others thought anyway. There was no need to hide who they were. As she left, he headed to the mirror to make sure his hair wasn’t too dishevelled.
    Staring at his reflection, Jameson wondered where the time had gone. He had once been one of the most handsome men in the Kingdom, but now he just looked old and tired. Admittedly, he wasn’t that old, but he felt it often. His sideburns were beginning to show grey, which Melaine constantly teased him about. She knew how insecure he was about his increasing age. There were lines around his eyes now, and his stomach wasn’t as flat as it used to be. He sighed, trying to mentally prepare himself for the night to come. It would be a long one—the spring festival usually was.
    “God, you’re vain,” he heard a voice remark from the doorway. He turned to see the Captain of his army, and incidentally his best friend, Turk, standing leisurely in the opening. “Why are you sitting there, staring at yourself?” He laughed.
    “I’m old, Turk.” He sighed, ignoring his friend’s jest. “I look old, I feel old, I am old. What has happened to our youth?”
    “We drank it away,” he replied, laughing. Jameson laughed in response, and nodded his head in agreement. “Why are you so glum? It is the festival tonight—you should be excited and ready for fun. God knows, it is our only night to