Beth help Mary Lynette carry her bags to the van. "Mare are you sure you wanna leave things like this between you and Ash?"
"He says he can't walk away from this fight even for me." She said, throwing a suitcase in the back.
"Would you think of him any better if he did turn his back on his world for you?"
Mary Lynette paused, considering the question. "I don't know." Put that way, she looked like a heel, damning him for doing exactly what she wanted.
"Mare, " Beth said softly, "for the first time in his life, he's doing something right."
"I know"
"Am I missing something here?" The pained look on Mary Lynette's face confused Beth. "Never mind." She took her by the hand and led her inside. "I want you to see something."
Mary Lynette followed Beth upstairs to a balcony over looking the garden area. A crystal clear pool sparkled just below. Quinn and Rashel were enjoying a late night swim. Movement by one of the giant columns caught Mary Lynette's attention.
"Ash is down there." Beth said innocently.
She didn't have to tell Mary Lynette, she could almost sense him. His loneliness seemed to swallow him. It showed in every stiff move he made. He sat down, his back against the column and rested his good arm over his knees watching the couple frolicking in the pool.
"He didn't come back for your own good. When you accept that you two will be happy again."
"He broke his promise."
"Mare, you know way down in here that he couldn't come back." Beth poked Mary Lynette in the chest. "I really don't know what the problem is, the REAL problem but I think you'll find his arms the safest place in the world instead of hiding in that shell you're in."
"You and your psychology are beginning to spook me."
"Why don't you give him that bracelet you bought for him to break the ice?"
Mary Lynette glowered at Beth, "How did you know about that?"
"I'm psychic, anyway today is his birthday and he didn't even look at the card or open the gift Circle DayBreak got him."
"Oh." She watched Ash lean his head back against the column looking up. At the stars, she realized. He really did look at the stars, probably wished on them too. She had a feeling she knew exactly what he was wishing. The same wish he'd made the day he left Brair Creek.
"Mare, if not for yourself, then do it for him. He's so very different from what you think about him. Look at it this way. He's a typical macho teen-age guy who likes fast cars and pretty girls. So what if he's a vampire? He loves you even without the soulmate thing working between you two right now."
Mary Lynette thought for a few minutes. When had Beth become so insightful? Look who her soulmate was, if anyone deserved a cold shoulder from a soulmate, it was Hunter Redfern.
She dug around in her purse and pulled out the box holding the bracelet she had purchased a few weeks before he was supposed to return to Briar Creek. She studied the heavy silver trinket. His name was engraved on the top and on the underside her initials plus the word SOULMATES. Rowan's suggestion so that the NightWorld couldn't trace her by her name.
She dropped the bracelet into the box and looked at Ash again.
"Tell Mark that we're staying a little while longer."
Nervous butterflies felt like they riding an angry ocean wave in her stomach as Mary Lynette pushed the French doors open. She was calling a truce, right here, right now, and swallowing her pride. She rubbed her thumb over the velvet jeweler's box like a worry stone. She could do this, she really could. Quinn and Rashel brushed past her casting a knowing glance in her direction. Quinn actually winked at her. Mary Lynette took a deep breath and stepped around the column.
"Hi." Mary Lynette said, her voice was barely audible.
Ash didn't move.
"Ash?"
He didn't answer so Mary Lynette started to leave.
"Don't leave."
She halted. He hadn't moved. He wasn't even looking at her
"Are you all right?"
"I'll live unfortunately." He still didn't look up at her.
"Ash, it's difficult to talk to you if I can't see your face."
"I thought you were leaving tonight." He didn't look at her and Mary Lynette swallowed past the lump in her throat. He wasn't making this very easy for her.
"No, I had to do something first."
Ash looked at her. She really couldn't tell in the dimly lit garden but his face looked wet and his eyes were all red and puffy.
"You sure you're okay, are you in pain?"
"You could say that." He pressed his fingers into his eyes like he had a headache.
"I . . . .I brought you a birthday present. It isn't anything fancy but I thought you'd like it." She held the box out to him.
Ash looked at the box like it might bite him. He took it from her hand. Mary Lynette wondered if he had ever been given a present from a girl.
"A box?"
"Open it silly." She said, sitting beside him.
Ash opened the box and fingered the bracelet like it was the most precious thing he'd ever seen or touched.
"It's beautiful." He said holding it up and turning it over. The word Soulmates jumped out at him. "Thank you, Mare."
"Let me help you." Mary Lynette took the bracelet from him and fastened it around his wrist. The silver links glistened in the moonlight.
Ash caught her hand as she drew back. He kissed her wrist, the palm of her hand, each fingertip. Mary Lynette watched spellbound. Shivers of delight ran up her spine. He gently tugged on her hand drawing her close. The electricity started to tingle where their bare skin touched. It was back, or maybe it had never left, getting mired down in the hurt and anger instead. It didn't matter anymore as his lips touched hers in the barest of kisses. Tentative at first then increasing in demand until they were breathless. Pink mist swirled around them; silver thread weaving in and out of the clouds. They were together again.
When Ash pulled away Mary Lynette was surprised to find herself leaning against the column where he had been.
"If we had kissed like that at Briar Creek, I would have never left."
Mary Lynette put her fingers to his lips; "I don't want to talk about that."
Ash suddenly looked serious. "You didn't stay for my birthday. You didn't know about it."
Mary Lynette hung her head. "No, Beth told me after giving me a good lecture."
"I'll thank her later." He said, pulling her close again meaning to pick up where they left off.
"I'm sorry for acting like a bitch."
"I suppose I deserved a little of it. After all, I could have contacted Rowan to let you know about the change in plans."
Mary Lynette wound her fingers in Ash's shirt, "Come here."
Hunter stood behind Beth watching her while she watched Ash and Mary Lynette.
"I see you've been busy." His hands went to her shoulders, gently massaging them.
"Yeah." She leaned back resting her head on his shoulder with a self satisfied smile lighting her face.
"Have I told you I've really missed you over the past three hundred years?" He asked, molding her body to his, his hands slipping down slowly exploring and memorizing every curve.
Beth found it hard to breath, "No, I don't think you did." Her smile widened.
"Come inside and I'll show you." He turned her head just enough to whisper in her ear, "So Sarah and Beth will have the same memories." He dropped a soft kiss on her neck and goosebumps dotted her flesh.
The comment she'd made at the beach house came back to her and she chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing, but that's the most original come on I've ever heard."
"Oh, and just how many have you heard?" He rested his chin on the top of her head, enjoying the scent of her freshly washed hair while unbuttoning her shirt.
He sounded so jealous that Beth couldn't help herself.
"Lots," she started, when Hunter suddenly swept her up in his arms, "but none directed to me." She laughed when he growled playfully, then kicked the french doors that opened onto the balcony shut.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
