Becoming a Legend (33 page)

“
As you can hopefully see, I’ll answer anything. It might be easier if we just talk,” Devin suggested, interrupting her concentration.

“
Yes, I think so too,” Arianna said, jumping out of his mind and refocusing on Devin in front of her. He was still the same blond-haired, blue-eyed mystery from the year before. He had his secrets, but now, she saw they were never really being kept from her; just shuffled away because there was so much he remembered. The real reason he never was open was that he couldn’t afford to feel the feelings behind them.

“
What do you need to know?” Devin asked, staying in place by force of will alone.

“
Why didn’t you tell me about the clans and the right to contest?” Arianna asked the first question that was bothering her.

“It was too much to tell you at one time. I didn’t want you to be afraid to even leave the house. I wanted you to have a normal life as much as I could give you. If I told you, you would have become paranoid and looking for them around every turn. I just wanted you to be free of all of this, even if it was only temporary,” Devin shrugged. “I guess it didn’t work.”

“Well, then explain it a bit more to me,” Arianna asked.

“
Thomas was supposed to explain that to you.” Devin ran his hands through his too-long blond hair.

“
Well, I get the whole thirteen clans, and I’m the head of four of them. Yes, that makes me powerful and everyone wants that. But more specific, can you explain the right to contest.”

“It’s
a tournament of champions. Each night human clan can enter one person to fight for you except the clan you belong to. By not arranging a marriage before your seventeenth year, they forfeit the chance to marry you.” Arianna looked down at her hand, only an inch away from his; she hadn’t noticed her hand drift over to Devin and neither had he. He continued talking. “So twelve men then fight through a series of challenges where several are eliminated each time. At the end, it comes down to individual duels and challenges. The family who wasn’t represented, your family, will decide on all the challenges since they don’t have anyone at stake.”

“
Who is my family then? I’m both dearg-dul and baku?” Their fingers were intertwined. It was more familiar to sit touching him than not when they were alone. Something about his energy kept her grounded.

“If we need to decide, w
e will say that since you turned dearg-dul first that’s your clan, that way we can enter a certain baku if needed.” Devin looked down at their hands. It was nice to be able to touch her.

“
You have this planned out?” Arianna asked in disbelief. “Why didn’t you tell me that this would happen?”

“
I have lots of things planned out, and several plans for every scenario. There’s so much in this world you don’t know. So much I wanted to shield you from. Your life is hard enough without your parents or grandfather around to help you; you don’t need any more than the clans have been busy throwing at you. Therefore, yes, I have it all planned out.” Devin stroked his thumb across the fingers intertwined with his, making Arianna remember they were holding hands. Quickly she pulled her hand back.

“
And now that I went out to rescue that night human, we’ll have to deal with this?” Arianna was causing him more pain every time she turned around. It was his fault to for not telling her, but Arianna couldn’t help but feel responsible.

“No, we would’
ve had to eventually. There was no way that I was going to tell you that you needed to be married by your birthday this year. Now it won’t matter if you get married or not. The clans will all object and say that it’s not legitimate. The clans are a problem because I didn’t want to make you have a harder life than you already did. Just imagine how you would have felt if I said you had to choose a husband by your birthday; you wouldn’t have seen Andrew the way you do now.” Pity, not jealously, was shooting through him. Arianna felt his longing to go back and change the past.

“
And what is in the closed door?” Arianna asked. She moved over to him to lay her head on his shoulder so that he wouldn’t have to look into her face when he answered.

“
Go see for yourself. It’s closed, but not locked,” Devin explained. He couldn’t put into words the memories behind the door. He knew exactly what she was talking about, but she would have to go see it herself.

Arianna leaned back
into his mind and let his warmth encircle her. Devin had always made her feel safe and content. Even with all the emotion she felt for Andrew, Arianna still felt comfortable with Devin. Everything was back in its room but the doors were all open except for the last door. Arianna pushed her way through the few remaining memories, trying her best to not stop and look at them. Devin was a mystery to her, and here he was, finally completely open. Whatever she wanted to know, he would tell her now. Arianna approached the closed door. Devin was correct; it was unlocked. Arianna hesitantly reached and pushed it open. Memories began to tumble out by the hundreds. Arianna froze, unsure what to do as they just continued to keep coming.

‘
Look at them,’
Devin urged in his mind. It sounded like his words surrounded her.

Arianna looked around at all the bubbles. They easily filled the open room on their own
even though his other memories were contained in their own rooms. She watched as more passed by, tumbling out. Her face was everywhere. She could see an image of herself in each passing bubble, from her childhood up to now. Each bubble was a memory about her. As they finally slowed down, Arianna felt it all around her: love. Intense, overwhelming love surrounded her in all of these memories.

‘
This is the door I open when we’re alone,’
Devin explained as if he were standing beside her now.
‘I can’t let any of this cloud my judgment to keep you safe, but when we’re alone, this is what I feel.’

Arianna pulled out of his mind and quickly turned around.
Devin was seated, and she was eye-to-eye with him on her knees. His crystal blue eyes gazed at her. He didn’t move or say a thing. She could just feel it. It almost felt like it did with Andrew, but without her night human senses, it was hard to tell. He felt it too. Devin reached over and brushed her cheek, sending tickles down to her toes. He slowly leaned forward.

“
Wait,” Arianna said as he was just inches from her.

Arianna turned into her dearg-dul night human form. It had been awhile since she had been just a dearg-dul, but it was still familiar.
Arianna was a mutant night human, but if she chose, she could take on dearg-dul, baku, or her combined form. Devin waited where he had been, a mere inch from her face. Arianna watched as the edges of her dearg-dul form came into focus until she saw it. Her night human essence was doing the same thing to Devin that it did with Andrew. Arianna stared in shock. Devin used the paused moment to his advantage as he finally leaned forward and kissed her.

Arianna felt his lips before they even met hers.
Her mind wanted to protest, but her body knew everything after spending the past year, almost every waking moment, beside him. Devin reached forward and pulled her to him. His kiss was softer than Andrew’s, and his hands more callused, but there was no denying that it was the same feeling moving her heart. She loved Devin as much as she loved Andrew. Life just got more complicated than Arianna wanted to admit.

“What does that mean?”
Arianna complained, pulling back. Her night human form couldn’t have chosen two mates.

“
Your dearg-dul has always wanted me. Your grandfather told me that last year when we brought you home. That’s why you didn’t kill me when you turned,” Devin explained, gently stroking her face. “The only way a human can survive being a sacrifice for a newly-turned night human is if they are bound already.”

“T
hen with Andrew…” she started again, confused.

“
And your baku wants him,” Devin replied, still holding her close. Arianna felt the regret. It wasn’t jealously or anger now, just regret.

“
And Turner backed off because he could see this?” Arianna finally had her answer.

“
Mmm hmmm,” Devin replied, leaning in to kiss her again.

Loving two very different people was difficult and wrong.

“No buts,” Devin replied, pulling her back onto his lap. “I only have one last moment with you before we have to be downstairs. At least let me enjoy it.” Arianna wanted to ask
why
but gave in anyways. She was enjoying the moment too. The dearg-dul part of her was completely satisfied in his arms, even if her baku side was screaming
no
.

“I’ll love you forever Arianna, but you need to be with Andrew,” Devin said as he slowly pulled away. “I don’t want to be making a choice for you, but I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy. That includes handing you over to Andrew. I can see that this is pulling you apart. First with me and Turner, and now with me and Andrew. I won’t ask that of you because I can’t be what you need.” Arianna felt the pain hit her. He was ending his connection with her.

“This is the end?” she asked, trying to keep the tears at bay. She needed a straight answer.

“My love will never end, but we can’t be together any more. You need what Andrew can give you.” Devin pulled her close, hoping to avoid seeing her cry. It broke his heart to make her sad, but that’s all he could ever do.

Shocked, Arianna pulled back and stared at him. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She wasn’t as hurt when Turner ended things, but something was different with Devin. Sitting alone with him, everything felt right.

“That door that opens in my mind when we’re alone will always be closed. I can’t change that. You deserve someone like Andrew who can always give you the love you need. I can’t keep tearing you apart. Your choice is between one guy with issues that cannot love openly, and another that has as many issues but never lost the ability to love. It’s not a hard choice. Andrew is what you need. He will always make you happy. I’m sure of it. And I will always love you.”

TWENTY-NINE

Andrew was waiting with Turner
when Arianna returned downstairs. Nothing had really changed in their situation with their guests. Molina did what she did to protect Arianna, and Devin did what he did to protect her, too. But now everything would have to change. The challenge was inevitable. Devin held her hand as they walked downstairs, and he handed her over to Andrew once they reached the table. Andrew didn’t question or get jealous now. He already knew what Arianna just found out, and he could feel the sadness coming from her. Devin was back to his normal self, completely in control.

‘
And just like that, you don’t care?’
Arianna asked, intently watching Devin as he sat down at the table, getting back to business.

‘
I will always care, but, first and foremost, I’m assigned to protect you.’
Devin was true to his word upstairs. All emotions were closed off.

‘
And what if I don’t want protection, but just you, the way you were upstairs.’
Arianna felt her anger control her as she lashed out at him.

‘I’ll never deny you anything, but that’s not the man I am
. I can’t pretend to be something I’m not. All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy and to live a life of your own. Not the life others try to force on you. You’re free to make your own decisions now and always. I will support you in your choices. I love you, and that will never change.
’ Devin needed to emphasize that he was acting out of love, as her eyes told him all he needed to know. He had hurt her, and she was now angry at him.

“
What do we do now, boss?” Turner asked, sitting beside Devin. He felt the tension but ignored it. Turner’s greatest strength was the ability to stay happy no matter the situation.

“
Did Molina and Thomas talk to Mori?” Devin asked, looking into the adjoining room.

“
The older Katsulas brother is coming here right now. He can’t tolerate the midday sun, but he just left,” Molina explained, coming to the table. It was still too early for any of the dearg-dul to be outside.