Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84072 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
I shook my head before he even got the last sentence out. “All I know is that I felt drawn to you; I thought maybe it was the fact that you seemed lonely like I was. Either way, I felt compelled to protect you. Look, I know this sounds crazy, but is it really? When you search the cobwebbed, unused attic of your brain…”
He rolled his eyes.
I suppressed a sigh. “And search every empty drawer where you store useless information—you know it’s right. You know you’ve always felt different, which is why you’re pissed now. You’ve been waiting your entire life to be told you were something because you’ve always had a hunger inside that never leaves. That hunger is what drives the Fae. It’s what makes them the best warriors, lovers, talkers…”
Aengus raised his hand as if all three applied to him.
Pointedly ignoring my brother, I went on. “The sooner you accept who you are, the sooner you can start living a life of purpose beyond this small town.”
Malcom averted his eyes. “What about Sarah?”
I knew he was worried about the girl more than he wanted to admit. “Sarah doesn’t need to know anything until you’re ready, and even then, we do try to keep a low profile.”
Aengus cleared his throat.
I let out a helpless sigh. “Most of us, that is, don’t go stomping around town with our green hair and hypnotic eyes.”
“Why’s my hair black?” He frowned. “I like the green color.”
“Aw…” Aengus winked. “Just got my braids done, thanks man.”
Luna merely shook her head like she was too exhausted to deal with him, and I had to agree. Aengus was fucking exhausting at times, some might say all times.
I put a hand on Malcom’s shoulder, testing the pressure to make sure he didn’t jerk away from me and hurt himself. “I’m from the Spring Court, just like Aengus—”
“Brothers.” Aengus pointed at himself and then at me.
“I think he gets it.” Luna groaned.
“Your mother—” It was almost hard to say the word because then it made it true, and then it made it possible to lose even more. “She’s from the Winter Court, dark hair, light eyes just like you—they control water.”
“Wh-what do you control?” Malcom half whispered.
Sadness radiated off me. I couldn’t help it but knew Luna felt it because her eyes locked onto mine with such intensity that I chose to look away; I couldn’t bear her pity, not now.
“Life,” Aengus said softly. “Your dad controls life, AKA he makes things grow and can more often than not bring people back from the dead, though currently his powers are suppressed, all part of the curse.”
“WE’RE CURSED NOW?” Malcom jerked away with a shout.
“Just them.” Aengus nodded. “And the way I see it, you’ve probably got half your mom’s powers and half your dad’s.”
A small smile played on Malcom’s lips. I expected him to say something badass. Instead, he seemed to be thinking. Maybe he was more introspective than I originally thought?
He quickly pulled out his cell phone. “Shit, I’m supposed to help Sarah set up for the book booth at the festival. I’m gonna be late!”
“I’ll take you.” Aengus shrugged. “Just don’t puke. I don’t like pukers, and I won’t tolerate it.”
“Why would I p—”
Aengus was at Malcom’s side in a second, and then they were gone.
I let out a small laugh at Luna’s shocked expression. “Did he just—?
“Disappear? Yes, he does that, appears when you want him gone, and disappears mid-conversation.”
“Hmmm.”
It was tense.
Silent.
“I didn’t know,” I confessed.
Her footsteps clicked on the marble as she walked across the floor and stood in front of me, expression sad. “At least now we do.”
“Yes.” I swayed on my feet a bit at the love I felt from her soul slamming into me without a conversation even needed, her eyes dilated, lips parted.
I mimicked her reaction and reached out to touch that perfect mouth with my fingertips. I thumbed her bottom lip, and before I could stop myself, I leaned down and kissed her.
She wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her mouth against my pulse.
And I hated that one day soon, I wouldn’t remember this precious moment or the love of my life in my arms, only the blood covering my own hands.
Luna
“Take me to bed,” I whispered against his neck.
He said nothing, just carried me through the library, then up the stairs and down the hall. I didn’t want to let go. I was afraid that I would start to keep track of all the times I had to let go and guess how many times I would have until it was the last.
“I love you,” he whispered into the night air as he laid me down on the bed hovering over me with a look of complete awe on his face. His eyes seemed to glow as I hooked my foot behind him and pulled him forward. “I will always find you, Luna. Always.”