“I’ll race you to the pond,” he challenged.
“What pond?” All I could see was flowers.
“It’s two miles that way.” He pointed across the beautiful field.
“What’s at the pond?”
“One of your dreams,” he smiled.
“You’re on.”
Chapter 7
We ran through the field with wild abandon. The wind whipped through my hair and I felt free. All Demons were blessed with speed, but my speed was unusual. To the human eye, I completely disappeared. To the Demon eye, I looked like a blur.
I was amazed and delighted Hayden could keep up with me. Then I got pissed when I discovered he was beating me. Then he vanished.
He was sitting nonchalantly on the ground near the pond, legs crossed, hands behind his head with a big smile on his face. With both hands on my hips I slowly circled him. My eyes narrowed as he basked in his victory.
“How did you do that?” I continued to circle him.
“I’m fast.” He grinned.
“No,” I corrected him. “I’m fast.”
“But I’m faster.” He hopped up, grabbed me and swung me in a circle.
“Put me down, you cheater,” I shrieked, trying to stifle my laughter.
He put me down and I took in my surroundings. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen. The pond shimmered as if covered in a thin layer of diamonds. Huge weeping willow trees with giant crimson flowers adorning them blew in the breeze. Wildflowers dotted the bank, but it was the smell. I couldn’t find words to describe it. The closest words were wind, summer rain and promise, but even that didn’t do it justice.
“What is this place?” I whispered reverently.
“It’s my home,” he smiled and took my hand.
“You live here?”
“Well, not exactly here." He laughed. "I have a house about ten miles away, but this is part of my property.”
“Do you live with your parents?” I realized I knew nothing about his family.
“No, my dad gave up on me a long time ago and my mom is gone.”
His matter of fact tone didn’t hide his sadness.
“I’m so sorry,” I sputtered. “I didn’t know.”
He squeezed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “It’s okay, Dixie. It’s been a long time. I’m good.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I have a brother, but we’re not close. I haven’t seen him in years.” He paused. “This is getting too serious. I’m starting to sound pathetic to my own ears.” He grinned. His mood abruptly changed from pensive to silly. He picked me up and carried me to the edge of the pond.
“If you throw me in,” I threatened. “I will make your life a living Hell for all eternity.”
His eyes twinkled with mischief. “That hadn’t occurred to me, but now that you mention it...”
I wrapped my arms around him in a vise-like hold. If I was going in, he was coming along for the ride.
“Dixie?”
“Yes?” My face was buried in his neck. His scent was making my tummy tingle.
“First of all, I would never throw you in the pond, and second, you’re cutting off my circulation.”
“Whoops.” I grinned and eased up on my hold. “Where’s my dream,—or was that just a story you made up so you could kick my ass in the race?”
He laughed joyously and gently pushed my hair out of my face. “No Dixie, your dream is right here. I simply have to show you.”
“So show me.” I was getting a little nervous. I had no clue what he was going to do.
“Can you keep a secret?” he whispered against my hair.
Little fissions of magic whooshed through my body and I felt lightheaded. I wasn't sure if I caused it or if he did.
“I can keep a secret,” I assured him.
“You can’t tell anyone or question me about it.”
What in Hades was he about to show me? “I won’t,” I said, wondering if this was such a good idea. He was making me nervous.
“Promise?”
“Promise,” I whispered. If he killed me, at least I’d already kissed him.
Hayden put me down and took a few steps back. “Close your eyes, Dixie,” he instructed.
I did.
As soon as my lids shut, an absurd amount of magic filled the air. I’d grown up around magic and power and I knew the real deal when it happened. This was the real deal. I felt raw, alive and alarmed. What in Satan’s name was he doing to create such a strong enchantment?
“Open your eyes.” His voice was deeper and sexier. Like that was even possible.
I slowly opened my eyes and I gasped. This couldn’t be real. I closed my eyes and reopened them to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on me. They weren’t. My knees buckled and I sank to the ground. He was glorious—I’d never seen anything so magnificent in my life.