Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 138274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
“Shortly after everything went down,” he continued, “I saw her with Lassiter, and eventually, I just asshole’d out. I behaved like a total shit, and the immortality thing became a toy I tried to break. I tested a lot of lines in the beginning because I was angry. Attempting to kill myself became like a fuck-you to her, which was stupid. But the thing was, the more times I came back? The more it dawned on me that I was trapped in time. All I had was time, and nightmares about the lab, and nothing to live for. That was when the numbness set in and I got dangerous. But like I said… now you’ve come around.” He brushed her face gently. “And I might have been immortal for a while… but I’ve only just started living. Thanks to you.”
“I feel the same way,” she whispered. “About you.”
“I didn’t want to talk to you about Rahvyn because for one, I know she volunteers at Luchas House and I didn’t want things to be weird for you. But two, none of the way I’ve behaved toward her is any kind of good story about me, you know?” He played with a strand of Nalla’s multi-colored hair. “And to answer your question about the sweatshirt I burned? It was one I used to give me an excuse to see her at that house. Not that there was anything real between us. Ever. I was just out of my transition and rootless and scrambling. It was what it was—and I’m over that now. I do owe her an apology, though, and I am going to make it to her.”
He thought of the quest the female had sent him on. Kind of ironic, how it all turned out. Yes, he was going to go to her, and to Shuli, and to his parents, and the Brotherhood, to make the peace. But not as a goodbye.
Because he was going to stay around.
“Thank you for telling me,” she murmured.
“I’m not hiding anything from you. Ever.”
As he thought about what he’d demanded of Rahvyn and the exit strategy he’d set in motion, he wanted to throw up. Thank God he hadn’t started on all that a week ago…
Nate closed his eyes and shivered just under his skin. “Timing is everything, isn’t it. And I mean it. I’m always going to be totally honest with you. Anything that you want to know, I’ll tell you. I may not be good at words, but I’m holding nothing back.”
“Oh, Nate…” She leaned into him. “I love you.”
For a moment, his heart stopped. Then it started to pound.
“Now, those are words,” he whispered against her mouth, “that I want to hear for an eternity. I love you, too… my beloved.”
As her eyes grew luminous with tears, they turned into spring sunlight, something that he had only ever seen on TV—
Nate frowned. “Wait, why are you crying? Those aren’t happy tears.”
When she couldn’t seem to speak, he suddenly knew what she was thinking about, and he pulled her into him, cradling her to his chest. “Maybe your father will come around.”
After a long silence, Nalla eased back, and as she looked him in the eyes, he’d never seen her so grave.
“It doesn’t matter whether he does or he doesn’t. You’re my future—and if he chooses to only be a part of my past, then he’ll lose me forever. I can’t control that, though. Those are his decisions. But if he can’t accept you, then I’m letting him go.”
Picturing the Black Dagger Brother Zsadist, with that scar and those eyes that could flash black, Nate knew that this was a lose/lose for her. But what could he do? Other than start living right and being right, that was—and hoping like hell it caught up to him in the same way the consequences of his being a fucking dickhead had bitten him on the ass.
And, hey, Uncle had given him an opportunity to prove his allegiance, right?
That human wanted a body for his family to bury—no fucking problem. Nate was happy to do the job on the man himself—to save his father-in-law’s life.
“Your sire’s not wrong about who I’ve been,” Nate said. “But I’m going to be different, now and in the future.”
She nodded “My mahmen said that broken can mean ruined. But you’re not ruined, Nate, and I’m going to be with you to help you. Now and forever.”
“And it’s a two-way street.” He stroked her hair. “I’m here for you as well. It’s us, together.”
“Us, together.”
As their lips met, he recognized the bittersweet feelings that were in her heart. He had them, too. Why couldn’t life be simpler—
A subtle beeping sounded out next to the bed, and he instantly went on the alert. Instincts firing, he grabbed for the gun he kept tucked between the mattress and the box spring. Picking up his burner phone from the side table, he accessed his trail cameras.