Page 108 of Forever Touched

“There’s my girl,” I whispered, touching her cheek.

As her gaze met mine, I finally allowed my tears to fall.

35

ADALYN

Something was different.

As Everett touched me, my skin practically hummed with energy. It felt like a live wire was just beneath the surface, and every time he made contact, it sparked to life.

It feltamazing.

While his thumb continued to stroke my cheek, I became aware of other things. Smells. Sounds. All of them glaringly familiar. We were in the basement at Faircroft Manor. On my bed. The space smelledextramoldy, though, and I couldn’t help but wrinkle my nose.

Everett softly laughed. The sound danced across my senses, making me even more aware of my body. Like the fact that I felt like a million bucks. Not just where he touched me, buteverywhere. I couldn’t remembereverfeeling this good, not even when I’d been high on venom.

Something was different, all right.

I didn’t have to adjust my eyes to the basement’s gloomy interior. I could see clearly, almost as if sunlight had been allowed to penetrate the boarded-up window above my bed. Everett’s eyes shone in a way I’d never seen them before. I could pick out each facet of green in his jewel-toned irises.

As I stared in wonder, a tear fell from one of them. Without even thinking, I reached up and caught it.

Caughtit.

Which shouldn’t have been possible.

The lone tear was somehow perfectly poised on the tip of my finger, and all I could do was gawk at it.

Something was definitely different.

Something waswrong.

“Everett.”

His name rasped from my lips, the single word filled with alarm.

“It’s okay,” he gently said, reaching up to fold my hand into his. “Just take your time. You’re doing great.”

When he rested our joined hands over my heart, I heard how fast the organ was beating. Not just fast.Loud.

It thundered like a drum, painfully bashing against my eardrums. I reached up and covered my ears, suddenly drowning in sensation. My senses were everywhere, dragging me in a million different directions. I didn’t know which one to focus on. Didn’t know what washappening.

As panic flooded me, Everett cupped my face and soothingly said,Focus on me, Adalyn. Only on me. That’s it. That’s my good girl. Now breathe. In and out. Listen to my voice. Forget everything else. You’re okay. You’re going to be okay.

At the comforting sound of his voice in my head, I immediately felt better.

I did as he instructed, blocking out everything else to focus solely on him. When I did, my senses calmed. Settled. But my mind didn’t. My mind was suddenly wide awake, demanding that I listen. That Iremember. The night’s events crashed into me all at once, drowning me in their intensity.

I gasped, tears immediately filling my eyes as I remembered what had happened. “Everett, I died. Idied.”

Sorrow lined his face. “I’m so sorry, Adalyn. I couldn’t stop itfrom happening.”

As the truth of his words sank deeply into my bones, another realization hit me. The only one that made sense. With another gasp, I sat up straight. Everett’s hands fell away, and I took stock of my body. Nothing felt broken. Nothinghurt. I was whole again. Whole and . . .

“A vampire. I’m avampire.”

“Yes,” he quietly replied. “I couldn’t let you go. I’m sorry, Adalyn.”

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