Page 27 of Their Fated Magic

Garrick takes my face in his hand, staring directly at me with his incredible hazel eyes. “You are beautiful and special. You absolutely take my breath away. I have never been more attracted to any woman in my entire life.”

I shake my head. There’s no way I’m believing that. He’s seen, and probably been with, hundreds of women – if not more. I can’t be at the top of that list. There’s absolutely no way that’s possible. He’s just saying that because I’m right here in front of him.

Garrick’s face softens. Is it pity? Ugh, I don’t need that. I stare at him, study him… and realize it’s sadness. But why?

“What have your experiences with men been like?” he asks, and there’s a note to his voice that I don’t understand.

I guffaw. What experience? I helped the blacksmith as much as I could, but he was like a second father to me. Men don't notice me. They don't look my way. They don't like me. They don't want me. Maybe because of the way my mom isolated me, or maybe because they didn’t want to be noticed by mom… or maybe just because I wasn’t worth the trouble. I don’t know.

Deciding to be honest, I admit the truth, “I don't have any experience with any men.”

I don't know that I've been missing out either. Having four husbands now just feels complicated and overwhelming. Especially when I’m never enough for them. There was never even a moment when the wolves saw me as anything but a means to an end, no matter how tenderly they touched me sometimes.

“Has anyone ever kissed you or held your hand?” he asks softly. “I mean, back at home?”

I shake my head, feeling embarrassed. “No. Not until I met the wolves. And we both know how that’s gone.”

With them, I’m a means to an end. I don’t know why they’ve touched me. Or kissed me. Or been kind to me. Maybe it was all just part of the act. I don’t have an answer to that either.

“They’re fools.”

I crack a smile. “Maybe.” But I still care about them.

A small smile twists his lips. “And I don’t exactly mind your lack of experience with other men. It just means I don’t have to make a list of men to kill.”

I laugh, my cheeks feeling hot. “I guess it’s a good thing no man has found me attractive until now. Not for my self-esteem, but for us.”

His muscles tense. “Just so you know,” he begins softly, “I don’t believe for one minute that no man found you attractive. It’s impossible. There must have been another reason they stayed away. It doesn’t matter what that reason is, but you should know that.”

Is he right? Truly, I don’t know.

We stand in silence for a few moments until he takes my hand and leads me through the field of flowers. The vibrant colors are a nice distraction from everything I just revealed to Garrick. He’s not judging me though, and he’s not pushing me away, so I haven’t scared him off with how pathetic I am.

My heart feels happy as we walk. I don’t know why. Maybe because some part of me believes Garrick. His words heal something inside me I didn’t know was broken.

We both stop. My instincts sharpen. Something feels… wrong. We hear a rumble. The ground shakes and cracks beneath our feet. Before my mind can wrap around what’s happening, the earth swallows us up, and we’re falling. Falling into darkness.

FOURTEEN

Tara

Nothing hurts. At least not more than a dull ache. I peek out from between Garrick’s arms, feeling his warm body beneath me, and look up at the gaping hole directly above us in complete disbelief that I didn’t break anything. It takes my stunned mind a minute to realize what happened. Garrick curled himself around me. Somehow, while falling, he thought enough about me to protect me. Instinctually.

He’s why I’m not hurt. My heart stops, thinking he’s been injured, but he begins coughing from all the dust and dirt, his arms tightening around me in a comforting way. A way that says he’s alive and able to move.

“Are you all right?” I ask, pushing myself up to get a better look at him.

He’s covered in dirt and plants. Like, completely caked in them. We both are, but, otherwise, he looks okay. I can’t believe the earth just crumbled beneath us and we’re not hurt.

“I’m fine,” he reassures me, his concerned gaze running over me like he didn’t protect me from this fall with his own body. “Just a little sore. Are you hurt?” He offers me his hand to help me up, and I get to my feet, before he stands beside me.

“Surprisingly, I’m fine,” I say with a nervous laugh. “Maybe because you kept me safe.”

His brilliant hazel eyes lock onto mine. “I meant it when I said I’d make sure you were always safe and loved. The things I say to you aren’t just words.”

He protected me. Instinctually. Without a thought. “You really do mean what you’re saying, don’t you?”

Closing the space between us, he rubs dirt from my lips. “I do. I really do.”

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