Page 163 of Every Shade of Shadow

Just my name on his dying lips.

“I love you, too.”

I have to save him, even if it destroys me.

Joy and anguish war inside me.

Nope.

Fuck this.

Summoning every ounce of power within me, I place my hands on either side of his face.

I have all the power I need. I can do this.

"This is going to hurt," I warn him before letting the forbidden magic surge through my veins. His body arches, and a hoarse cry tears from his throat as I pour my life force into him.

Agony lances through me, but I grit my teeth and push on. My insides are electrified with energy, arms and legs jerking as power, pure and unfiltered, course through them. I grit my teeth. I will not lose him. Not today, not ever. The darkness threatens to consume me, but at last I feel his wounds knitting themselves together, his heart growing steady and strong.

The magical tide recedes, leaving me limp and gasping. But when I open my eyes, his gaze is clear and alert, a smile playing about his lips.

"I told you there was power in you yet to be unleashed," he says softly.

I laugh and swipe at the tears on my cheeks. "And I told you you'd be the death of me."

He pulls me down into his embrace, one hand tangling in my hair. "Never," he murmurs against my skin. "You're mine, Annabelle, now and forever."

I lift my head to meet his gaze.

"Prove it."

He claims my lips, a kiss that is gentle, yet demanding and perfect in all ways.

I break away from it, breathless. His arms tighten around me as I try to pull away, unwilling to let me go just yet.

I see Ava falling to her knees past us to the right. She doesn’t look good.

"I have to check on the others," I say.

He sighs, reluctantly releasing me. I stand on shaky legs, swaying slightly from the drain of healing his injuries and the rush of desire flooding my veins.

"Will you come back?" His voice is raw, but he seems stable for now.

I hesitate, torn between my duty to the others and my longing to lose myself in his embrace.

"Annabelle." My name is a command, one that resonates deep within me. I turn to find his eyes burning into my own, silently demanding my surrender.

I clench my hands into fists, nails biting into my palms. Still, I keep my tone light as I retort, "Careful, Professor. Keep talking to me like that and I just might decide not to come back at all."

The corner of his mouth quirks up. "You enjoy tempting fate, don't you, my pet?"

"Perhaps." I shrug, feigning nonchalance despite the flush creeping up my neck. "Or perhaps I simply enjoy tempting you."

With that parting shot, I spin on my heel and stride towards Ava.

I slide up beside her.

She puts her hand up, speaking between breaths. “I’m okay…just…winded.”

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