Page 107 of Forever Touched

“Ready?” Noah asked, coming alongside me.

When I nodded again, he fashioned a bright portal into existence. Sudden fear gripped me. Fear that I’d mess up. That I’d destroy the last of her instead of saving her.

“Trust in your heart, Everett,” Loch said over the pounding rain and humming portal. “Trust in your love for her. Nowgo. Save your mate. We’ve got your back.”

I knew they did. Knew they could handle the mess the rogues had made of our home. Knew they would protect each other while I tended to the woman who held my heart, even in death.

With renewed purpose, I accepted Noah’s help and stepped into the swirling portal. The world immediately blurred around us, passing by even faster than a vampire at full speed. I cradled Adalyn close, trying to shield her from the screaming wind. But as quickly as the gale erupted around us, it ended. I blinked and the world righted once more, the Faircroft’s mansion only yards away.

Impressed by the warlock’s accuracy, I decided he wasn’t half bad after all. “Thanks,” I told him, then took off for the house.

“No problem, E-Man,” he called after me, and I wasn’t even annoyed at the nickname.

Nearing the front entrance, I spotted a mangy cat prowling by the door. At my approach, it whirled around and hissed. I bared my fangs and hissed right back, sending it scurrying into the night. Not bothering with the door handle, I kicked the door in and rushed inside with a bellow. “Pepper!”

I paused to listen. For an unbearable moment, the only thing I could hear was my pounding heart. And then I heard it. The tiniest of squeaks. I raced toward the kitchen and kicked down the basement door as well, my feet barely touching the stairs as I descended atvampire speed.

Swiftly taking in the damp, dingy space, I spotted the mouse trapped in a cage on the bedside table. The sight broke my heart. When she saw me, Pepper grew frantic. She clawed and screeched, throwing herself at the walls of her cage.

“I know, I know,” I told her, hurrying forward. “I’m coming.”

Treating Adalyn’s body like a porcelain doll, I gently placed her on the bed, then quickly released Pepper from her cage. The moment she was free, she leapt onto the mattress and scurried toward Adalyn. When she butted her little head against Adalyn’s neck as if to wake her, my heart broke even more.

“I’m so sorry, Pepper,” I croaked, lowering myself to sit on the bed beside them. “I failed to protect her. She was all alone, and I didn’t see it. But I’m going to bring her back. I don’t want to change a single thing about her, but if we bring her back together, she won’t have to give up everything. Not completely. She’ll still be the Adalyn we both know and love.”

Pepper looked up at me. At the tears glittering in her round black eyes, my own eyes started to burn.

“Yes, I’m in love with her,” I told the little mouse. “But our time together was so short, and I need more of it. I need Adalyn, Pepper. I need mysoulmate. I can’t see my way forward without her. She’s my direction. My light through the darkness. So, please. Please, help me bring her back.”

I held my hand out toward her, praying she understood my heartfelt plea. Praying she accepted this new fate for the witch under her care. She had every right to walk away, to reject my proposal. She was free now. Free to leave this dangerous world behind. Free to live the life she’d chosen when she’d joined the earthly plane.

Beneath her tiny exterior, she was a celestial being, immortal andpowerful. Who was I to make demands on her? To cheat death of its latest victim? In the grand scheme of things, I was no one. A vampire prince was nothing compared to the Universe.

Maybe fate didn’twantme to bring Adalyn back. Maybe this had been her destiny all along. To bring me back to myself. To fill me with purpose once more. To make me better.

Grief threatened to snatch my hope away, and I bowed my head in defeat. Just when I started to lose all hope, a tiny body settled onto my palm. Raising my head, I looked at Pepper perched in my hand, and hope burgeoned in my chest once more.

“Thank you, Pepper. We’re going to save her. We’ll save her together.”

I never thought I’d feel a connection with such a small, insignificant-looking creature, but I knew now that I’d been wrong. Not just about her, but about many things. My eyes were wide open, and I could see clearly now. This world was vast, and every living creature deserved a place in it. It didn’t matter who was stronger. Didn’t matter what their race or rank was.

We were equal.

A little mouse familiar and a powerful Venturi prince were the same, and I made sure she could see that realization in my eyes.

I knew in my heart that things were going to change after this. I might not be half the king my father was, but I was no longer cold and cruel. I cared, truly cared about what happened to my kingdom. Toeverycreature that fate chose to bring into my life. Things were going to change, and I knew deep down that Adalyn would be by my side the entire way.

Fate didn’t give her to me only to snatch her away again.

She and I were meant for more. Our story was only just beginning.

So when I began the transition process, feeding Adalyn bothPepper’s blood and mine, I knew without a shadow of doubt that she would come back to me.

Several minutes later, I felt the moment she started to return. It was a whisper. A gentle caress. A sigh of relief as our bond, our beautiful soulmate bond, slowly knitted back together.

I’m here, it seemed to breathe, soothing away the last of my pain.I’m here to stay.

I’d never felt such joy, suchelationwhen her heart began to beat again. When her chest slowly rose and fell, relearning how to breathe. And when her golden eyes fluttered open, I was made whole again.

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