AfterLife by Zoe Dawson

Author:Zoe Dawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction and fantasy, fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy, romance, paranormal and urban, witches and wizards
ISBN: 978-0-9913515-5-8
Publisher: Zoe Dawson
Published: 2014-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“No!” he shouted, that one small word charged with so much anguish.

His voice yanked me back.

Take my hand. Hang onto me, Lily. Hang onto the sound of my voice. Don’t let go. Now close your eyes. Close them, ana’astar.

I didn’t want to. I wanted to gaze at him, trace the patterns of the forest floor, covering his body like delicate lacework as the pressure built into such exquisite and heartbreaking fulfillment.

But he sounded so distressed and so afraid I obeyed and closed my eyes, grasping his hand.

He laced his fingers with mine, but I couldn’t not look at him. I opened my eyes and watched him climb, watched as his need for me strengthened, felt his muscles gather and bunch as he drew ever closer. I tightened around him, needing to know I would be enough to save him. I had to be enough to save him. I found myself shuddering, too in intense satisfaction as he growled through a pulsing release.

The pressure which had been building in the room evaporated with his hard, aching cry. He shoved into me one last time while his magic cascaded over me like a warm spring rain.

He wrapped his arms tightly around me, turning onto his side. He squeezed me so tight it hurt. We breathed deep and heavy, and I curled my fingers into his abundant hair and hung onto the back of his neck like I was still falling and needed a handhold.

His voice was thick and filled with regret. “I dropped my glamour. I almost lost you. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do it…but you took me somewhere I didn’t expect. Caught me totally off-guard, you wicked, wicked witch.”

My voice was hushed in the dark room. “That’s what you really look like?”

“That’s what I look like to you, Lily. Through your beautiful eyes. You saw me as naked and unglamoured as I saw you. Because of the power of our joining and of your unselfish act.”

Tears squeezed out of my eyes. “I’m sure you’ve heard this a million and one times, but goddess, Talon, you are not what I expected at all…not at all. Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe you.”

He smiled, and for the first time there was no rogue, compulsion, or sarcasm in it. “I’ve heard it, but didn’t mean anything until now.”

But that wasn’t all. I had seen him. Who he was. And his essence was just as beautiful as he was physically. His integrity was as blue as a summer sky, his dedication to his job, a sunset orange, strong and true. His character spun like gold through all the colors which made him. “I saw your true colors.”

He was silent and distressed. “And I saw yours. You are very exquisite, Lily, even by fae standards. I saw it right away. Your sense of self is very strong. Your dedication to those you love, stunning. Your regard for me is confused and hesitant. It’s understandable. We are hunter and hunted. I’m not happy about this.

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