Page 60 of The Veil of Blood and Magic

I should be honest with him.

Guilt weaves its way into my heart and tightens like a knotted rope. If I tell him the truth, he'll do everything in his power to stop me. He has been nothing if not patient and kind and loyal to our Matched bond, despite my insistence that we can never be together. If I told him myactualplans, or even just a piece of the truth…I worry that he’d do everything in his power to find me.

And somehow, I know he could if he wanted to.

Just like I could find him if I really tried. This Matched bond between us may not be complete, but it’s strong enough that if I decided to use an ounce of my power to follow that connection to where he is, I could do so with half a thought.

Who's to say he couldn't too?

The only reason he hasn't has been out of respect for me and my wishes. The male has more patience than any I’ve ever met, but what happens when it runs out? What happens when our bond and the need to complete it grows too strong and too powerful to deny?

I'm not trying, he finally writes back.I simply found a rare moment of quiet and knew that blissful sensation wasn't coming from me.

Shit. So he's sensing my emotions through our bond without even trying to tap into them. But wait...

What's wrong? I ask.

Why would anything be wrong?

There’s a dark foreboding pulsing just at the edges of my soul. It feels cold and heavy and riddled with anxiety. It isn’t coming from me.

What are you worried about, Six?

Ah, so this connection development is happening on both sides. Interesting.

You didn't answer my question.

And you didn't answer mine, my Matched.

I can't help but smile at the golden script, shaking my head as I feel a little bit of his amusement shake away his worry.

I'm bathing in a hot spring after a chilly day on the road and the sun is setting, making the sky look like a painting come to life.

These simple pleasures bring you such happiness?

Despite my prickly demeanor, I don't ask for much when it comes to happiness.

What I wouldn't give to be in that spring with you, helping you bathe.

I close my eyes and allow the fantasy to play out. My phantom Six, gliding up behind me, powerful hands embracing me from behind and holding me to his chest, planting a loving kiss to my neck, then my jaw, then my lips...

Are you thinking about it?he asks, forcing me to open my eyes and continue reading.Are you thinking about me touching you?

Yes, I write back.

I can feel you, he says.Fuck, it's exquisite. Being able to sense you like this. It’s also torture. Tell me where you are. Let me come to you.

I want to say yes. Every single instinct in my body isroaringat me to say yes.

But I can't.

I can't draw him into the chaos of my life more than I already have just to lose me in the end. It isn’t fair.

Nothing about any of this is fair.

I wish I could, I write back, giving him something honest.

You can, he says.I know that you have your secrets and your reasoning for not wanting to meet, but I can feel you now. I know that you long for me like I long for you.

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