January Dreams Carrigan Richards (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

I should thank Casper for the gesture. But I need to put him out of my mind for good. That little adventure wore me out, so it doesn’t take long for me to find sleep again.

“Are you sure they weren’t trying to kill Casper?” Florence questions. We’re still sitting at our spot by the cliff that overlooks the treacherous waters. “What did he look like?”

“I don’t know. It was dark. My mind is blurry. Could it be one of the Elves?”

“Megan, why would any of them want to kill you?”

“Because I’m their enemy. I don’t know. Maybe they weren’t keen on us being together.”

Florence shakes her head. “You were not an enemy. You brought them hope.”

“How is that?”

“If you and Casper married, it could help end the wars. Bring the two sides together.”

“If Casper is an Elf, there would be no way I could fall in love with him.” But as I say it, I somehow know it isn’t true.

“That’s not true, Megan. You have to remember.”

“There’s nothing I can do if Casper is dead.” When I say that, I feel my heart shrink, like it never wants to see the light of day because of Casper’s death.

“We can stop the war. We can look for the Jewel and give it back to the Elves.” Her eyes are serious.

“I don’t even know where to begin looking, let alone know where the Elves are.”

“I think I can get someone to help us.”

“Who?”

She seems to struggle with her words. “One of Edmond’s friends. I know where they are.”

“Where?”

“I promised I wouldn’t say.”

“Don’t they know what happened to Edmond? And why didn’t you go with him?”

“I’m not as brave as you. I can’t run away from everything I have ever known. But now, I want to.”

“I can tell you’ve changed.”

“I have had time to learn a lot of truths. But when Vincent sent out people looking for you, I got scared that they’d find me. I was about to leave because they never found you, Vincent announced you returned. So, I knew I couldn’t leave. And now that Casper is dead, I can’t handle it if I learn that Edmond died.” Her eyes watered.

“Oh, Florence. I had no idea.”

“You did at one time.” She smiles wistfully. “I’m going to meet my friend and he will help us after we get the Jewel, bring it to the Elves. In the meantime, I need you to hunt for this Jewel.”

I search her green eyes. Is she telling the truth?  I have no reason to distrust Florence. The more we talk, the more I become wary of Vincent. How can he do this to me? How have I never known the truth about the Jewel? Vincent has always been my love. Why would he ever harm me? Perhaps because I had fallen in love with an Elf. I almost can’t forgive myself. But I also don’t want their entire race to die because of us. “Okay,” I agree.

“Great. Come on, we should get back before the sun disappears.”

A beep from my phone wakes me. It’s Vincent telling me he’s outside. I quietly make my way outside and meet him behind the bushes. He takes my hand, and briefly, I’m cautious because of my dream, I guess, but I shake it away. He smiles and my heart melts.

“I really hope you don’t get worse by doing this,” he says.

“I feel fine.” But I shiver uncontrollably. Even though it's now late March, it’s still cold outside.

“My car has heat, come on.”

“I can’t wait until I’m done being sick.”

“I can imagine.”

Like the other night, we cuddle in the front seat with the heat on. I feel safe again. But there’s something deep inside of me, like a caution light. I don’t know what it is. Ignoring it, I nuzzle against his chest, and he strokes my hair.

“What did you mean earlier about losing me?” I ask. “You say it a lot.”

“Nothing.”

“Please tell me.”

“I don’t want to think about it now. I want to enjoy being with you right now.”

I reach up and touch his cheek pulling him to look at me. “Please. Let me in. You act like you’re going to lose me any minute. I don’t understand why. Did you have bad luck in prior relationships?”

“Something like that.” He sighs. “She left me for someone else. No warning. No time for explanation. I hated every minute she wasn’t there. Now that we’re together, I’m scared the same thing will happen.”

I raise my head. “Vincent, you have to trust me. I’m not gonna leave you.” I search his eyes, and there is the same doubt as before.

“I wish I knew what I did.”

“Maybe you didn’t do anything. Maybe she was fickle. I don’t know. But don’t think I’m like her. She’s not here. I am.”

He studies me. A mix of pain and desire flash in his eyes. “You are different,” he says.

I lean in, intertwining my fingers around his neck and kiss him. He kisses back with an urgent fervor. His warm fingers brush against my stomach sending a hot ache throughout my body. I want him closer and I hitch a leg over his. But I tire and have to catch my breath.

He kisses my forehead and presses my head against his chest. “We should hold off on that. I want you to get better.” He lets out a long sigh.

“What?”

“I can’t believe you’re here. I’ve been looking for you for so long.”

Why does he say such things? We are so young, and I don’t understand his intensity. “Why are you so intense?”

I feel him shrug. “Does it bother you?”

“No. I don’t understand it.”

“I know that I love you and I can’t stop thinking about you. I don’t