Enduring Light (The Afterglow Trilogy #3)(21)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

As soon as the words left my mouth, his lips claimed mine. His kiss was demanding, passionate, and needy. I needed to break the contact, but I couldn’t. It was almost like our first kiss—supernatural—but twisted up in it was desire that neither of us could control. The kiss got more intense, and even though my brain yelled at me, the power was too strong.

“Um, I am going to look for berries,” Henry said.

I snapped back to reality. What the heck was I doing? I’d just lost my virginity to Calvin the night before, and I was making out with Liam, half naked. I felt disgusting. I pushed Liam away. “We can’t do this.” I swam to the bank and slipped into my wet clothes.

As Liam got out of the water, I caught a glance of his naked chest. I turned away again. “We can’t be near each other. It’s wrong. Horribly wrong.”

“How is it wrong? We’ve known each other for years—loved each other for years.”

At the word “love,” I swung back around to face him. “Loved each other? That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is. And if it weren’t for Calvin, we’d be together now. We both know it.”

“But there is Calvin. He’s my Gerard. I’m with him.” I looked down.

“Why? Are you with him because you want to be, or because you think you have to be?” Liam stepped toward me. “I know what happened. His sword glowed or something. Maybe if I was there with you, mine would have glowed.”

I shook my head.

He took my hand. “Just listen. Why do you think I’m on your Guard? We never talk about it, but it’s because of that kiss. The Source wanted me here for you—the Source wanted us together.”

“You can’t believe that. And I love Calvin.” I pulled my hand from his.

“Maybe, but you also love me.”

“I can’t do this. I can’t.”

“Please, Charlotte. Just consider it’s a possibility. I need you to at least consider it.”

I shook my head. “I’m with Calvin. He’s my Gerard, and he’ll always be.”

Liam buried his face in his hands. “I can’t watch this. I can’t sit back and watch you in his arms.”

“You don’t have to.”

He looked up. “What do you mean?”

“We need to split up, Liam. You should have gone with Kevin.”

“Don’t say that. I need to be with you. I’m supposed to protect you.”

“Right now I need protection from you.” My words were bitter and mean, but it was a message he needed to hear. What happened in the river could never happen again.

“No. No, you don’t. You felt that, Char.” He pointed at the river. “I know you did.”

Even looking at the flowing water made me feel guilty. “It wasn’t us. It was something else.”

“If it was anything else, it was the Source. If that’s true, it’s for a reason.”

I shook my head again. I could feel Calvin’s presence; he was close. “Calvin will be back in a minute. You should get dressed.” I forced myself to turn away. Hurting Liam made me sick to my stomach, but the guilt over what had happened between us was worse.

“Charlotte, you can’t mean what you said. You don’t want me to leave.”

“You and Henry should go back and help the Resistance. I can stay with just Calvin.”

Henry strode over to us. “Absolutely not. You need your Guardians.”

Liam pulled on his damp shirt. “I’ll keep my hands to myself. I promise.”

I backed away from him. “It would be better if we weren’t near each other.”

“Stop being stupid, Charlotte!” Henry had never talked to me that way. I stepped back in shock.

Liam stepped toward him. “Watch it, Henry.”

Henry scowled. “No. She is being selfish. Put your stupid hormones aside and focus on what is important. We have to find the scroll and figure out how to defeat Blake. It is our only chance of saving Energo—and James.”

The mention of James hit me hard. “You’re right. I need to focus on what’s important.”

“Good. I suggest you keep whatever happened with you guys to yourself. Setting Calvin off is not going to help us.”

I nodded. I didn’t want to hide anything from Calvin, but how could I possibly explain kissing Liam to him? Either I was out-of-control interested in Liam, or the Source wanted us to kiss again. Neither was something Calvin would want to hear.

Chapter Thirteen

Kevin

We pushed open the glass door and stepped into the brutal storm. I anchored Samantha to my side as we made our way up the stairs. Thankfully, our room was only a few doors down. We stumbled inside, closing the door behind us.

I flicked on the lights and took a quick look around the room and the bathroom before locking us in for the night. “So it’s no Ritz Carlton, but it’s better than being out in that storm.”

“Ritz what?”

“Oh, I just mean it’s not fancy.”

“It is fine.” She paused for a second, and I could tell she was deciding whether to say something else. I waited. I’d learned it was better not to push her. “Thank you for staying with me.”

“Yeah, not really something you have to thank me for. Did you think I’d prefer bunking with Talen?”

She smiled. “Are you ready to sleep, or do you want to clean up first?”

“We should shower. It’s probably going to be a while before we get another chance.” After the words left my mouth, I realized she might think I was implying we do it together. “I mean separately.”

“Of course.” The hint of a smile crossed her lips. “I think I will. Is it a shower like in Alak?”

“Yes. But not as nice. Like I said, this place isn’t fancy.”

“I think I will try it.” She opened her backpack and pulled out a pile of clothes as well as a few bottles that I assumed were shampoo and stuff.

“Have a good shower.” Once the bathroom door closed, I opened the blinds and peered outside. The snow seemed to have picked up more. I stood there for a few minutes watching the swirling snow, then the light flickered. Damn, we were probably going to lose power. No lights and no heat. No lights—Samantha was in the shower.

The water shut off. “Kevin?”

“Yeah, I’m right here,” I answered through the door.

“Are the lights going to go out?”