Illumine Her (34 page)

“You’re leaving,” she mused softly.

He nodded slowly in affirmation, and her heart thudded against her ribs. As he pressed closer and sighed, she could see a storm stir in his eyes, the hesitation in them creasing his brows.

“Alana, there’s something important I need to tell you, something about me, before we leave,” he said thickly.

“We?” she asked.

A feminine voice from behind her answered her question. “Chase, it’s time to go.”

Alana tensed and didn’t turn around immediately. She could already tell by the sultry tone of her voice and the hint of a French accent that she was beautiful. Her words came out irritated and impatient and Chase tensed in agitation.

“I’ll be right there, Eeva. Give me another minute,” he shot back.

Alana closed her eyes and opened them again. “Go, Chase,” she ordered softly, feeling uncomfortable in this woman’s presence.

He gazed down at her before placing a tender kiss on her forehead. “Oh God, Alana…your aura…I’m so sorry to leave you like this.” He lingered there for a few seconds and she closed her eyes again in agony.

“I’m going to miss you,” she whispered. He squeezed her and reluctantly let her go before striding away. She turned around to watch him. “Where are you going?” she called.

He halted and turned his head only. “To the North Pacific.”

And that’s when she saw her. The most beautiful Polynesian woman she had ever laid eyes on. It was difficult to fathom how someone could be that exquisite, that perfect. Straight black hair that fell to her waist, she was all curves and legs, and even in the dim light from the lampposts above, Alana could see that her skin was flawless, a radiant brown. It became blatantly obvious to her that she was a healer, like him. Physically, they matched and she thought they made a dynamic pair. Dressed head to toe in a tight black outfit and six-inch boots, she reminded her of Cat Woman. Her kohl-lined eyes pierced Alana with a look of interest; she narrowed them and looked her up and down in judgment before spinning away gracefully and disappearing in the dark. Alana inhaled sharply as she caught a glimpse of her bare back, the top she wore dipping low, exposing perfect lines and curves.

Chase followed Eeva without a final glance in her direction. This act alone wounded her more than anything as she was left standing in the dark parking lot with only her thoughts for company. She blinked and attempted to allow what had just occurred to sink in. Chase was gone. Déjà vu. It reminded her of a moment months ago when she was demanding answers to questions in the same car park. She was whole then. This time, however, her heart was no longer with her. It had departed with him.

Chapter 22

A
lana retrieved the keys out of her bag, a key chain with a chipped dangling pineapple, and turned it in the truck’s door. Opening the door with a scratchy creak, she climbed into the seat, settled herself, and let a sigh go. It was a sound of loss, heartache, and emptiness. Gripping onto the key chain, its familiarity grounded her. It seemed almost comical that a cheery little pineapple provided some comfort in the face of her inner turmoil. It was a cyclone turned hurricane on an emotional scale, and she was in the rough of it—not in the eye where it was calm and peaceful. Placing her hands on either side of the wheel, she lowered her head and rested it there.
Chase is gone. Chase is gone. With her
. She couldn’t help it. The idea that he had left with a woman beyond goddess beauty bothered her. But more than anything she couldn’t help the feeling that she had lost him forever to a cause that was so much bigger than the both of them, bigger than she could comprehend. The knowledge that their worlds were galaxies apart set in her mind like a cold slap of reality. She knew this. Of course she did. But while her mind was ready to accept it, her heart was clearly not prepared for the emotional laceration. The fact that her thoughts had now translated into reality with his departure made it all too real and final. What did she expect? Marriage, children, and the white picket fence? Or in Samoa’s case, the scavenger dogs and noisy chickens in the front yard? Of course not. She turned on the ignition, flicked on the headlights, and exited the car park. The darkness loomed around her, and the feeling of utter loneliness wrapped around her torso. It was a thick, heavy feeling of despair, and she believed she had never felt this alone in her life before. There was no one on the road. No cars, no lights, no people. Nothing to distract her from her emotions. Everyone was comfortably asleep in their homes, dreaming, completely oblivious to what had just occurred. Oblivious to people like Chase and Eeva, to the existence of healers. Would she ever see him again? She didn’t think so. He went where his work dictated him to go. As a nurse, she understood his logic in leaving, and she only respected and admired him even more for his selflessness and dedication.

Something blowing against the windshield suddenly grabbed her attention. It was so out of place that she couldn’t help but be drawn to it. Its odd shadow against the glass was distracting and unfamiliar and immediately tweaked her curiosity. Pulling over on the side of the road, she stepped out to inspect the object, leaving the truck’s engine to run. Walking around the open car door she took a closer look and stopped. The breath she was holding left her lungs in a rush and tears immediately moistened her eyes. Recognition gripped her, and she knew it was from him. Stepping closer, she extended a shaky hand and untangled the single gardenia bloom from the windshield wiper. The simple gesture melted her heart as the significance of this perfect gift came to her. Realization dawned and the meaning was not lost on her. Recalling his words from the wedding to mind, it was the last two that held her over:
Secret love
.

Alana did the only thing she could think of to feel close to him again. She returned to the truck and shut the door. Rummaging through her bag, she pulled out her phone and pressed speed dial.

Ring, ring, ring

Her sister picked up on the seventh ring. “Lana?” Her groggy voice was hoarse from sleep. Shoot. She forgot it was after four in the morning. “Lana? Is that you?”

“Malia, I’m sorry to wake you…but I need to speak with Kane,” she said shakily.

She heard her sigh. “Lana, it’s four thirty in the morning. Can’t this wait until it’s a decent hour of the day?”

“This can’t wait, Lia. Please, I need to speak with him now.” She could hear her sister talking softly away from the phone before Kane’s voice came on.

“Hi, Lana. Is everything alright?” he asked seriously.

Alana wanted to cry. No, nothing was alright. Nothing would ever be alright.

“Chase… He’s gone.” She choked back on the sob that rose in her throat and proceeded to tell him everything.

Kane listened quietly as she spilled her emotions to him. When she was done, he asked calmly, “Chase told you he’s some kind of healer?”

“Yes. He healed me, and I saw him bring a patient back to life,” she replied.

“And he didn’t tell you anymore about himself?”

Alana paused and her eyebrows knitted together. “He said there was something important he needed to tell me tonight, but we got interrupted and he had to go.”

She heard him sigh. “If he was about to tell you then I won’t be the one to do it. It should come from him.”

“What is it?” she asked curiously. When he didn’t respond she pleaded, “Please, Kane. I need to know so I can understand.”

“Think about it, Alana,” he finally said. “If he was able to bring someone back to life, where would he have gone to retrieve that person from? What world exists out there for us? This is a very real and tangible place, one that is veiled and kept hidden to our eyes but not to someone like a healer.”

Alana sucked in a breath and held it. Glancing down at the flower in her hand, her brows furrowed as her fingers caressed a silky petal. Pondering Kane’s words in silence she let the air go as realization slammed into her. No. It couldn’t be. Chase couldn’t be that. It was impossible. But didn’t she think it was impossible when she found out he could heal? When she saw the glow emanating from his arms and hands? She couldn’t believe it before, but then she didn’t doubt him either. Everything he had hinted to her came hurdling towards her. The pieces fit. For all the ways that he was and everything he stood for made perfect sense. Alana raised a shaky hand to her forehead.

“Is he…” She trailed off in a voice that was just above a whisper.

“I can’t tell you, Alana. Whatever you’ve figured out, keep it to yourself until you see him again.”

How could she keep something like this to herself? It was monumental and she wanted to see Chase to talk about it. To confirm it.

Biting her lip she shook her head. “I don’t know when that will be, Kane.”

“Trust me, Lana, if he cares about you, which I know he does, he will always be there, even if you can’t see him.”

***

Chase followed Eeva to the cluster of trees shrouding the mountain that was the backdrop to the hospital. His footsteps were heavy against the stillness of the night, a physical manifestation of what was churning inside him. He felt sick for leaving her alone in that dim parking lot with her pain and confusion. It took every ounce in him to move forward and not go back to reassure her, claim her, and love her. He cursed himself for thinking he could just be a friend. It was never supposed to go as far as it did. At first, when he returned and saw how tortured her aura had become, he wanted to remedy it. He couldn’t help it. It was one of those innate senses in him as a healer. But Chase the man wanted more. The more he spent time with her, the more he wanted her. He couldn’t detach himself. It was a clear sign when the piercing scream from that woman occurred at that moment, ripping him away from her warm arms. It was what he needed to remind him of his place, his role. He shook his head at how tangled and enmeshed it had all become. He didn’t want to string her along, but that was exactly how it had become, and now he was doing exactly what he feared he would do. Hurt her.

Sweet Alana. The understanding in her eyes resonating in her aura was enough to break him. As much as it pained her, she comprehended his position. His situation.

“You were going to tell her,” Eeva said, her tone laced with judgment, snapping him back to the present.

Chase stopped walking. “Don’t,” he responded firmly, his voice dripping with finality.

“You’re falling,” she whispered, incredulity filling her voice. She approached him. “I saw her aura, Chase. I saw what you mean to her. Even if I can’t see yours, it’s not difficult to decipher the look you gave her. It’s the same one you gave me years ago.”

Chase closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, his nostrils flaring. “Eeva—”

She placed a hand on his chest where his beating heart laid. Extending her curved neck and reaching up on her toes, she kissed him tenderly on the cheek.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly near his ear. Chase recoiled back and regarded her intensely.

Sorry
. Pathetic little word. There had been too many of those said tonight. Was she sorry about what happened between them? Or sorry for the hurt he caused Alana?

“You did the right thing,” she continued. “Don’t risk your position with the Council because of her. You’re almost there. Her soul is on a different path, as is yours.”

Chase turned away with his back to her. He couldn’t bear to hear anymore. “Let’s go. They’re waiting,” he said over his shoulder.

Silence descended.

A blatant crunching and popping sound suddenly ripped through the tranquil night. Chase stilled, his head held high, fists poised in a hardened stance as the transformation took place. Slowly, very slowly, dark grey wings were powerfully released and extended from his muscular back, their serrated edges broadening majestically until they were at full flight. He immediately calmed and felt at home. He felt unrestrained and liberated—the only comfort felt since he left that parking lot. Turning his profile to her, he saw Eeva’s angelic ivory wings poised at full mast, her face serene. He nodded once, and without a word, they took off into the night sky, soaring at lightning speeds to their next mission.