Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
“Eleazar’s going with you? Does Larissa know?”
“I’m sure he told her by now.” Mates typically communicated through a live mental link from what he understood.
Grace looked back at the house. “I should check on her.”
“Okay.”
She hesitated, her stare pulling between her sister’s house and him. “This is dangerous.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Her breathing quickened as she prepared to argue, but there was no chance he was sitting this one out.
“I love you, Gracie.”
“Dane, don’t. We’ve been through this.”
“I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to say this again, so let me just get this out. I love you. I’m not mad anymore. I just want you to be happy, so whatever it takes for that to happen, do it.”
Twin tears chased down her cheek as she nodded at the ground. “Do you have to go?”
“You and I both know I can’t stay.”
“If you ask the Bishop to forgive your transgressions—”
“That’s not why I can’t stay here, Grace.”
She sniffled and looked away. “Promise you won’t put yourself in danger.”
“I can’t.”
“Then promise me you’ll survive.”
Even that might be a tall order. “How about you make a promise to me.”
“What do you want?”
He closed the distance, unable to stand the sight of her tears. “Promise not to waste anymore tears on me.”
She turned her face away, unable to meet his stare. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” She wiped her eyes. “You’re only half-immortal.”
And just like that, she cut him down to size. He’d never be more than half a man to her. It was best she viewed him that way than realize what he really was, some mixed mortal draugr that hailed from an abusive psychopath.
“I know what I am. I also know I have to do this.” Leaving her was never easy, which was why he’d avoided the goodbye the first time. “No more tears, okay?” He wiped away the last of them, forced himself to turn away but her thoughts flooded his mind in a wave of soft images, each one tightened his chest like a vise around his heart.
“Dane, wait!”
He turned, and she threw her arms around him, her lips sealing to his. Heart thundering, he caught her waist, lifting her feet off the ground, and kissing her hard enough that the bonnet covering her hair fell to the grass.
“Grace…” The heady perfume of her desire sweetened the air like a soft rain.
“I don’t want you to go,” she said, her lips damp with tears as they pressed into his. “I know you have to, and this is for the best, but I hate it.” Her fist thumped over his heart, and a storm of emotion crashed over him.
“Shh-shh-shh.” He sank into the kiss, not strong enough to deny himself the final pleasure that would most certainly end in agony.
The heat of her palm on his skin sent his heart hammering. Knowing this would be the last time, his last chance to show her what she did to him, he held nothing back.
He pulled her closer, and she pushed into him as if trying to embed herself there. It didn’t matter that her kisses were untrained or inexperienced. Her desire ravaged him in ways that would haunt him for the rest of his life. No other female could ever compare.
She was perfect. In all of her charming imperfections, she was somehow flawless. Everything he wanted. Everything he needed. And the one thing he’d never truly have.
Breathless, he broke the kiss and stared into her eyes. Dark, damp lashes spiked around those stunning pools of crystal blue. His thumb brushed softly over her lower lip, and he smiled at the sight of her fangs.
For once, she didn’t hide her feelings from him. Her mind was open, but he read all he needed to know -- the truth in her stare. “You shouldn’t look at me like that, Grace. Not when there will inevitably be someone else.”
Her gaze turned away. “Eventually, yes, my mate will come. But you will always be my first love, Dane Foster.”
She was killing him. How was he supposed to let her go now, knowing some other man would eventually touch her like this?
With aching slowness, he lowered his mouth to hers one last time and whispered, “I may be your first love, Gracie Hartzler, but you will always be my greatest.”
The agony spread from his chest to his legs as he gently stepped away, caressing her cheek until his hand could no longer reach her. He bent to retrieve her bonnet and placed it over her hair. “Take care of yourself.”
She nodded, already breaking her promise about the tears. “Stay safe, Dane.”
His mouth formed an ingenuine smile. Guess they both planned to break their vows. “I will,” he lied then finally turned away.
CHAPTER 34
The cave perched high above the sea, far removed from the world. There was no life here, nor hope. And when Adriel prayed for a merciful end, there was no relief in death either. There was only desolate, hopeless suffering.