The Clash of Yesterday (Chronicles of the Stone Veil 0.5)

Eliana comes out of the bathroom of our hotel suite in Paris. She’s dressed in a pair of jeans, a flannel shirt, and hiking boots. She couldn’t look anymore non-Brevalian if she tried, and I know this was intentional for her to show her family that she’s not part of them anymore.

Not the way they want her to be.

I’m also in jeans and a t-shirt, dressed for comfort and ready to hightail it out of there if necessary.

“You ready to go?” she asks, pulling her long hair up into a ponytail.

“No,” I reply honestly. “I want one last chance to talk you out of this craziness and let’s move on with our lives. I just don’t understand why it’s so important to you to be accepted.”

Sighing, she moves into me… arms going around my waist. It’s crazy how natural this feels, like she was made to be in my embrace.

Maybe she was. I’m thinking fate has had a hand in us coming together.

“I just want to try,” she says softly, head tipped back to look up to me. “I want to see if we can end this feud once and for all. And if we can’t, I won’t have any regrets for not having tried.”

Nothing new. Same argument she’s been feeding me the last few days.

“There’s something else, though,” she says hesitantly. “I’ve just started thinking about what Carrick Byrne told you, and, if it’s true there’s a prophecy that will doom earth, we may need Brevala.”

“To fight?” I ask with a frown.

“No. To ensure we have a place to live so we can survive.”

I had not thought of that.

Hadn’t thought much of Carrick and his cryptic words and innuendos. But she actually has a good point. Brevala would be a safe place for us if the Earth realm perishes.

Well, assuming Eliana can get them to end the feud.

“Let’s do this,” I say, taking her hand in mine. Bending, I brush my lips against hers. “And as we agreed, first sign of trouble, we flash right back here. Okay?”

“Okay,” she says with a smile.

“Don’t fight,” I say with a pointed look, then move my other hand to her belly. I get a warm whoosh through my body. “We have more important things in our life than defending our values to people who might not want to change.”

“Understood.” She nods her head once, then gives me a snappy salute.

“Smartass.” Another kiss, hopefully not our last if we’re flashing into an ambush. “I love you, Meadowlander.”

Eliana blinks in surprise, but her astonishment doesn’t last long. Instead, her smile curves and her eyes brighten with delight. “I love you, too, Bluff Dweller.”

* * *

We bend distance right to the outcropping of rocks that overlook Cernian Lake. The actual waterfall that feeds into it is on the Bluff Dweller’s side, but this plateau of flat slate surrounded by boulders is about as dead center on the border between the two lands as you can get.

It’s also big enough to hold the several members of each family who are attending, and when we step into the middle of the plateau, I immediately take in that both clans are there. The Meadowlanders dressed for battle in their armor and hugging the western side. The Bluff Dwellers more casual in tunics and pants, but able to conjure armor and weapons in a blink if they want. They are as far east as the boulders will let them go on the flat rock.

I grip Eliana’s hand so tightly that, had she been a human woman, I would have pulverized her bones. She squeezes me back as her gaze takes in her family. Arnus stands there, looking irritable as usual. Rishka is to his right, bitchy as usual with her hand resting threateningly on the hilt of her sword.

My family stands shoulder to shoulder, expressions more curious than anything else. Geseph gives me a nod and the tiniest of smiles.

Eliana clears her throat. “Thank you all for—”

“Traitor,” Rishka hisses, interrupting her sister. “Explain why your life shouldn’t end now for cavorting with a Bluff Dweller.”

Fuck, I want to strangle her.

I do believe Eliana expected this, and she’s prepared with a retort that shuts her sister up. Her hand going to her stomach to press a palm there, she says, “Because I love Ronan and I’m pregnant. I want this feud to end, and I want this baby to bring our families back together again.”

There are surprised gasps from the Bluff Dweller’s side, and I dare a quick look their way to see them whispering to each other with smiles.

When I look back to Eliana’s side of the family, her words have clearly infuriated Rishka and I’m not sure if it’s the part where she said she loved me, or where she said she was pregnant.

I tug on Eliana, bringing her closer to my side and ready to jet out of here.