I found myself, again, in Kai's arms. Letting go, I tried to push him away.
However, he held me tighter and said, “I'm sorry, Mara, for deceiving you, but you were able to control your emotions and follow your instincts. Do you think you are ready to do the same when it is time to face your mother?”
Submitting to his embrace, I just breathed in his scent and thought about his
question. Will I be able to stay calm and collected when I face her? I wasn’t sure I would be able to keep my anger under control.
“Kai, I don't know if I'm ready to face her yet,” I whispered sadly.
“Knowing that you might not be ready tells me that you are,” Kai said,
releasing his hold on me.
Taking my face between his hands, he tenderly kissed me. This time, I didn't
want to push him away.
Grasping my hand, Kai said, “It's time to go back to your family, Mara.”
Looking around, I realized the scenery had changed. We were back in the
Starten Forest, standing where I had first woken.
“Lay down and sleep,” he said, pointing to the green, mossy earth, “You will
soon be back to Cole and your family.”
“Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?” I boldly asked him as I obeyed
his instructions.
Though he didn’t answer me directly, he lay down beside me.
I rested my head on his chest and drifted off to sleep. As I slept, I dreamt of
dancing with Kai and the other elementals. A warm breeze blew my hair as Kai
twirled me, around and around.
When he stopped spinning me, the handsome elemental took my hands, knelt
before me, and fervently said, “Mara, stay. I want you here, with me, always.”
Behind Kai, Cole stood, looking at me intently with pain in his eyes. “Come
home to me, Mara,” he pleaded.
Looking from one young man to the other, I didn't know my answer. Kai
stood up and walked over to stand beside Cole. How could I choose? I wanted
them both.
“You have to choose,” Kai said firmly. “You must decide which of us you
want to be with. You cannot have us both. Decide.”
“Wake up, Mara,” Cole said softly as he began to walk away.
“Wait! Come back,” I called after him. Watching him leave me, I knew my
decision. There was no one I wanted to be with, except him. “Cole, it is you who
I’ve always wanted to be with!”
Kai bowed graciously and disappeared, but Cole kept going further and
further from me. Realizing I was losing the love of my life, I ran after him.
“Cole, stop. Don't leave. I choose you.”
I was too late. I didn't catch up with him, and he was gone. Cole had left me.
Sinking to the ground, I understood it was because of my hesitation that he
was gone, and I was alone. “Cole, I'm sorry,” I said as I began to cry.
Chapter
