Free Betrothed by Wanda Wiltshire Page A

say, ‘You could come too if you want—maybe bring Courtney?’
    ‘You joke, Marla—the last thing that girl needs is encouragement.’
    ‘You don’t think letting her slip her fingers through your hair is encouragement?’
    His answer was a quiet chuckle, after which he neatly changed the subject. ‘I’m glad Hilary and Kyle are going with you. Kyle’s a good guy. But don’t trust Jason, all right? Don’t think for a minute you can.’
    ‘You know, if you really don’t think I should go . . . ’
    ‘You’re a smart girl, just be careful.’
    ‘I’m glad we’re okay, Jackie—I don’t like it when you’re mad at me.’
    ‘Neither. Anyways, I better go, I’ve a mountain of homework.’
    ‘Same,’ I said with a sigh.
    Jason called a few minutes later to tell me that Kyle would be coming on Saturday night. I felt like Cupid. I finished off my history assignment, had dinner, then went and had a long soak in the bath. I wondered about the conversation I’d had with Jack. Could I risk our friendship to go there with him if he offered? I was attracted to him—there was no issue with that—but was it the right kind of attraction? I was sure it could be. It would be so easy with Jack, and honestly, I couldn’t imagine wanting to be with anyone more. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. But Leif wasn’t real.
    I went to bed early and, to my delight, could hear Leif calling as I drifted towards unconsciousness. No confusion with this guy. He was the one. But why wouldn’t he be? He was the man of my dreams.
    He came to me swiftly and wound his arms around my waist, drawing me against him. I sighed a long sigh and buried my face into his chest, inhaling the lovely scent of him as my fingertips drifted across his back. I pulled back a little, looking at his face as I recalled something I wanted to tell him. I grinned. ‘I know why you don’t wear a shirt.’
    ‘Tell me,’ he said, one corner of his mouth lifting enticingly.
    ‘For your wings!’
    His smile touched every part of his face.
    ‘I’m right! Can I see?’
    ‘Of course.’ And before I could contemplate the movement, brilliant white wings materialised from between his shoulder blades. They came with the sound of the wind and my hair was swept back with the force of their release. They spread out behind him like the most glorious glittering butterfly, reaching from below his waist to above his head.
    ‘So beautiful,’ I whispered. The sight dazzled my eyes but it was impossible to look away. It was as though sunlight was trapped inside, dancing beneath the filmy surface in an effort to escape. Just as suddenly as his wings had appeared, he swept me up into his arms and we were in the sky, the air rushing past us. Cradled in his arms I clung to him, squealing in delight, my arms clasped around his neck, my cheek pressed to his. It was exhilarating, frightening, overwhelming all at the same time, like being on a rollercoaster, though smoother, more fluid, as he rose and fell, dipped and turned through the forest. He took me over the forest’s canopy and then, plunging down, raced through the trees, dodging them easily while acrobats did cartwheels in my belly.
    On we flew until we came to a river, clear and deep and musical, the water twinkling with myriad points of sunlight. We slowed and flew just above the surface as the river twisted and curved through the dark forest. My eyes were drawn to the dazzling riverbed below.
    ‘What are all those sparkly stones? They’re gorgeous.’
    ‘Gemstones, Marla—topaz, peridot, sapphire.’ I was stunned and knew my face must have reflected it, because he looked at me and grinned. ‘They’re valuable on Earth, are they not?’
    I nodded, sobered once more with the impossibility of this being anything but a dream. Holding fast to Leif’s neck with one arm, I reached down with the other and let my hand trail in the water. I watched the waves my fingers created as we flew along. And then I