Chapter 3
“Ree?” Her father’s voice was quiet as he stuck his head in her room. Her father looked at her, eyebrows raised. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?” She moved to sit down on her bed and pulled one of her tennis shoes off before throwing it on the floor.
“What are you doing in the dark?” He flicked the switch next to the door, flooding the room in bright light.
“I was getting ready to go to bed. Why?” Ree tugged her other shoe off and threw it across the room. It landed near Paden’s wet clothes and her heart stuttered. “Um, did you need something?” She pleaded with the gods to not let her father notice the wet clothes in the corner. C’mon, you guys owe me… she thought desperately.
“I just wanted to see if you might need a sleeping pill. I know you have school in the morning, and your mom mentioned she didn’t think you had been getting much rest.” Her father leaned his head against her doorframe and frowned. “You look a little peaked. You aren’t coming down with something from standing in the rain, are you?”
“No, Dad. I’m just tired.”
“Do you want the pill, then?”
“Nah.” She shook her head and stood up, moving toward the door. “I think I’m tired enough to sleep tonight.”
“If you change your mind, let me know. And if you start to feel ill, tell us and we’ll schedule an appointment with the doctor.”
“Sure, Dad.” She moved to the door and grabbed the handle, forcing him to step back into the hallway.
She sighed in relief the moment the door snapped shut and turned the lock on the handle. The soft sound of her closet door opening had her looking over her shoulder. Paden stood there barefoot, with his hair tousled, looking sheepish.
“Maybe this wasn’t—”
Ree cut him off before he could finish his sentence. “Don’t even say it, Pay. I really will be able to sleep better with you here.” She pulled the blanket back and looked at the pillows.
“Throw me your quilt, and I’ll sleep on the floor,” Paden suggested, obviously sensing her confusion.
“Are you sure? The hardwood floors aren’t very comfortable.” She wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince herself or him. The thought of having him in her bed was intoxicating and dangerous. She still wasn’t exactly sure where they stood, and he hadn’t offered any explanation. She found herself wondering what had prompted the change in him.
“I’ll be fine, but I’d appreciate one of those.” He pointed at the mound of fluffy pillows she had moved when pulling her blankets back.
“Yeah, of course.” She grabbed one and launched it at him. He snagged it out of the air and watched as she climbed onto her bed.
“Are you going to sleep in your jeans? I can turn around so you can change….” He looked confused at her clothes.
“Um, actually, I’ve been sleeping in my clothes, just in case, you know?” She motioned to her tennis shoes. “Hey, I took off the shoes though. I should be fine.”
He frowned at her and shook his head. “I’m here tonight, and Sophie is on patrol. You should be comfortable and try to sleep.” He walked over to the wall and flicked the light off. “I’ll lay down over here. At least take your jeans off so you can sleep.” He threw his pillow on the floor and spread the blanket before lying down and rolling over so his back was to her.
“I thought Roland was on duty tonight.” She wiggled out of her jeans as quickly as possible and hopped into her bed.
“Sophie said she would watch since I was here.” Paden’s voice was muffled but she could hear the irritation.
“Why would that matter?”
“C’mon, Ree. I’ve seen how he looks at you. Don’t pretend you haven’t noticed.” There was definitely irritation in his voice now, and Ree couldn’t help but smile.
“He thinks I’m someone else.” She meant the statement to reassure him, but instead felt dread and frustration fill the room. “Paden?” She didn’t understand his response. He turned over on the floor so he was facing her bed.
“So, he told you?”
“Told me what?” Ree sat up in bed and watched his shadow move uncomfortably.
“About Tria. He told you about Tria.”
“Well, a little bit. He said the gods had promised Tria would be reincarnated. He didn’t say it straight out, but I think he believes I might be her.” Now it was her turn to be uncomfortable. She played with the blanket, kneading it between her nervous fingers. “I don’t see how that could be possible.”
“Ree, I’m a godling. You have a power most humans only dream about, and we’re in a war to save the world. Can reincarnation really seem that impossible?” Paden sighed and flipped to his back. Ree had to admit he had a good point.
“Do you think I’m Tria?” For some reason, her voice wavered, and she felt nervous about his answer.
“Would it matter if you are?” Paden answered her question with one of his own. “Would it change how you think of him?” His tone sounded so disgusted, she didn’t know how to respond.
“I don’t see how it would change how I think,” she said. But she wondered what would happen if she remembered Roland from before. He had seemed so familiar from the get-go. Could she have been responding in some way to a memory of a past life?
Paden didn’t reply and after a while she stopped waiting for one. She checked her alarm clock and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.
“Good night, Pay.” She said it quietly so she wouldn’t wake him if he had already fallen asleep. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too. Goodnight, Ree.”
For the first time in days she fell asleep almost immediately.
Carrying the bucket of scraps, she hurried across the field and dropped the food in the pigpen. She put her hands at the small of her back and stretched in an effort to relieve the sore muscles that throbbed there. The sound of gravel being crushed made her jerk around in fear.
“What’s gotten into ye, woman?” Strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist, and she smiled up into the face of a handsome man.
“Ye shouldn’t startle me so!” She smacked his shoulder, making him laugh. She looked up into his green eyes and felt her smile grow.
“Aye, but I love seeing you all riled up.” He tilted her chin up with one strong hand. “You’re so beautiful with fire burnin’ in yer eyes.” He kissed her gently before pulling away to smile again.
“If yer gonna get me all riled up, then ye better kiss me better than that.” Ree grabbed his hair and pulled his face back to hers. He laughed deep in his chest and did as she requested.
“Ree.” She didn’t respond, so content in the arms of her beloved.
“Ree.” She pulled back and realized she was standing alone. The man was nowhere in sight.
“Ree!”
Ree sat up in bed in confusion. The alarm clock glowed dully, announcing it was only three in the morning.
“No! Ree!” Paden mumbled in his sleep. His legs thrashed out of the blanket and he flung one arm out to his side, hitting the wall. “Ree!”