Journey into the Realm: The Stolen Child (Journey into the Realm Series) Read Online Free Page B

over stones and around the bends. The sounds soothed me and took my mind off the journey for a short while. I knew that I couldn’t escape my destiny and what I had to do, nor did I want to. But for now, I just wanted to forget my worries and breathe in the fresh air.
    “I won’t let anyone hurt you,” Nathan said, his eyes admiring the beauty of this place, as I was. “I’ll protect you from whatever we have to face.”
    I placed my hand over his where it rested on the railing of the bridge. “I know.”
    “I really love you, Ramsey. Please don’t forget that.”
    I fought the urge to cry and took a few deep breaths. I didn’t deserve him or his love. I was a tattered soul with a dangerous future. He deserved someone steady and safe. Someone who valued his love above all things.
    I felt ashamed to admit that wasn’t me, not anymore. It could have been…before Stellan was killed, before Brielle lost her mother. But now what I valued most was success. If I succeeded in stopping the war, I would prevent further loss of life. I would finally achieve my life’s purpose. Less death. Less heartache. I knew it was twisted and faulty reasoning, but I couldn’t stop myself from thinking this way. Life had become more important than love.
    Nathan’s fingers grazed my chin, lifting me out of my haze of thoughts, and I turned my head to face him. The silver slashes in his eyes took my breath away. His eyes had a strange hold over me that I still didn’t understand.
    “Don’t forget,” he repeated, his voice a mere whisper.
    At that moment I let my guard slip just a little bit. “I won’t forget. No matter what. I love you.” And I did. That wasn’t a lie. But I wouldn’t sacrifice my destiny for love. I wouldn’t let my feelings for him slow me down in any way. That was the promise I had to make to myself when I decided to bring him along on the journey. Duty came first.
    He smiled and put his arms around me, relieved that I wasn’t completely closed off tonight. But he had no knowledge of the promise I had made.
    Nathan held me close as we watched the night’s beauty around us. “And don’t worry about being the leader. I’m a better one anyway. You don’t have the social skills.” He stifled a laugh.
    I smacked Nathan’s back. Like always, he was trying to make everything a joke. Sometimes I liked to make him think this particular trait bothered me, but secretly I adored his frequent sarcasm. His humor was one of the first characteristics that had drawn me to him.
    “You’re going to regret saying that,” I said, pulling away from him.
    “Why?” he asked.
    I smiled and hopped over the bridge. I landed on the ground next to one of the streams. “Follow me and you’ll see.”
    Unable to resist a challenge, Nathan climbed over and landed beside me. Not wasting any time, I cupped my hands in the ice-cold water from the stream and threw it up into his face, immediately laughing at his shocked expression. Nathan shook his head, sending drops of water onto me, joining in the fun. He bent by the stream, and before I could get away, threw water at me as well. I returned his attack with more. By the time we were done, we were laughing hysterically and soaking wet.
    “We had better get back inside or we’ll freeze to death. It’s barely February, you know,” Nathan said, taking my hand and leading me back to the bridge.
    “Yeah, but it’s never that cold in Tarlore, and hardly ever cold in the entire Elf Realm, for that matter,” I reminded him. “We have a very mild climate.”
    “That doesn’t matter. It’s still cold at night,” he retorted.
    “Stop acting like a mom,” I scolded.
    He winked. “Someone has to take care of you.”
    I rolled my eyes and followed him back into the palace. We dried off, changed into clean clothes, and spent the remainder of the evening sipping tea before the fire in the library. Nathan had one arm slung around my shoulders, and he wasn’t being shy with his