Kaiden’s response was as quick as it was serious. “With my life, sir.”
Eyeing him as only a father could, Jack smiled and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You know, I believe you mean that.” Glancing at Alex, Jack declared, “This one’s a keeper, sweetheart.”
Overcome with mortification, Alex now wished for not just a bolt of lightning, but an entire electrical storm to smite her where she stood.
Kaiden looked down at his boots while once again shaking with mirth, so Alex was able to spear a what-the-hell? glare at her parents, but the conniving matchmakers showed no signs of remorse.
A strangled noise came from the back of Alex’s throat as she turned from them, grabbed Kaiden’s arm and stomped to the exit of the chamber. Only when she reached the limestone corridor did she halt and, with a sigh of frustration, turn to look back at her parents.
With all the danger circling around her, she wasn’t willing to risk storming out on a bad note—just in case—so she called, “I don’t like you both much right now, but I still love you. I’ll come back when I can. Until then, make sure everything that’s dead down here stays dead. Okay?”
Laughing like she was being funny—when she was not—her parents agreed and called out their farewells.
Kaiden returned their ‘nice to meet you’s and, to Alex’s horror, promised to visit again soon. Before he could commit to anything else—like, say, a wedding—Alex dragged him away and opened a doorway straight back to the underground cavern. Only then did she have the courage to glance at him, and he promptly burst out laughing at what he read on her face.
“Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled. “That was hilarious.”
Still laughing, he pulled her forward and, before she could react, pressed his lips to her temple in an impossibly soft kiss.
Her breath arrested at his seemingly natural show of affection.
“I think your parents like me, Alex.”
The air rushed out of her in a whoosh and she came to her senses enough to glare at him. “Next time, I’m leaving you down here.”
He grinned knowingly. “Liar.”
He was probably right, so she didn’t respond, but she did continue glaring at him.
“We should go—it’s nearly curfew,” he said.
And just like that, it was as if nothing had happened. Nothing awkward, nothing embarrassing, nothing abnormal. In an instant, he’d somehow made her feel comfortable around him once again. Alex had no idea how he’d done it. But she was grateful. Because like he’d guessed a few days earlier, she couldn’t handle more complications in her life right now. So the fact that he was giving her exactly what she needed by not pressing her for… more… meant the world to her.
Because of that, she smiled at him, the only indication of gratitude she was capable of offering. But something in his face changed as he looked at her in the dark of the cavern, and when she summoned a doorway for them to return to the foyer, he reached out to keep her from stepping through.
“Wait,” he said. “Ignore what I just said. There’s somewhere I want to take you first.”
Brow crinkling, Alex said, “But… curfew…”
One side of his mouth hitched up. “What’s life without a little risk, Alex?”
Snorting at the overused quote—in any world—Alex asked, “What do you have in mind?”
“I’ve met your parents. It only feels right that I introduce you to mine.”
Caught off guard, Alex squeaked out, “Now?” The single word was shrill enough to echo around the cavern, causing her to wince.
“Now seems like the perfect time,” Kaiden replied, a strange emotion flashing across his features.
It was that emotion—the uncertainty he so rarely exhibited—that brought Alex up short. But she still said, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” For a multitude of reasons, she thought to herself. Her parents had been bad enough—but meeting his, too? She was certain it would lead to embarrassment the likes from which she’d never recover.
As if reading her mind, his lips twitched and he said, “I can guarantee they won’t say anything that makes you feel uncomfortable.”
Alex knew there was no way he could promise such a thing. But despite her misgivings, she was curious to meet the people who had raised Kaiden and Jeera.
Seeing her wavering, Kaiden looked both triumphant—and nervous. It was the latter that sealed Alex’s decision, her curiosity winning out over her trepidation. Kaiden had always come across as confident from the very first moment she’d laid eyes on him. Not arrogant, never that. But self-assured, knowing exactly who he was along with what strength and skills were at his disposal. The nervousness, however, was something new. And it was enough to intrigue Alex into banishing the doorway she’d summoned, tentatively nodding her agreement.
“Not that it would work in here, but I don’t have an authorised Bubbler vial with me, so…” Kaiden raised his voice and said, “Library, just this once, would you mind—”
Before he could finish his request, another door appeared in front of them.
“Never be afraid to ask, Kaiden James,” came the Library’s rumbling voice.
Unable to help herself, Alex smirked and said, “Now who’s the Chosen One?”
Kaiden laughed, his nervousness dissolving. “Don’t worry—you’ll have your title back by the time we return.”
And with that, he reached for her hand and led her through the doorway.
Twenty-Six
Unlike the night-time they’d left behind at Akarnae, it was barely sunset at their new location, so Alex had no trouble taking in the scenery before her. But she still struggled to understand what she was seeing. Or rather, how.
“I’ve been here before,” she said, before amending, “… sort of.”
“In the Rec Room, right?” Kaiden asked. “Virtual reality?”
Alex could only nod as she stared at the abandoned castle in front of them. In the time since she’d first ‘visited’, the forest had swallowed even more of the crumbling stone ruins, with vines and moss now dominating the once strong foundation. Ice crackled under her feet, but otherwise their location seemed to be enduring a mild winter with little snow.
“How…?” she trailed off as she looked around, not even sure what to ask.
“The VR programs often use real locations as backdrops, adding in their own special effects,” Kaiden explained, leading Alex closer to the castle. “And characters.”
“So we don’t have to keep an eye out for horse-sized wolves?” Alex checked. “Or screaming, bloodied brides?”
Kaiden’s features showed his curiosity, but all he said was, “It’s just us here.”
She wanted to know how he could be so sure, but something about the way he said it made her believe him. “What is this place? And why did you bring me here?”
She glanced around, half wondering if his parents were about to pop out and yell ‘SURPRISE!’
“About fifteen years ago, this used to be a hospital,” Kaiden said.
Alex looked at the crippled architecture and simply said, “No, it didn’t.”