Page 67 of Guarded By Death

"You're a monster," he spits as he continues to hold her shoulder. "You will forget we were here tonight. You will forget what Scarlett and I have said to each other."

When we hear heavy footsteps coming up the long flight of stairs, Pierce pulls me to his side. When he releases me, we’re standing in a small field. The grass is damp, I feel it against my skin as I fall to the ground.

My body void of any emotions, I pull strands of grass from the dirt. I peer up to meet Pierce’s gaze, and a dimpled grin plays on his face, is he smiling?

"We can finally relax,” he sighs, his voice is enthusiastic, and I can't understand why as I stare at him with confusion and anger. He quickly grabs both of my hands in his. "I killed Preta that night in the alley, Scar. No one has attacked you since that night. We thought he had a new edge with the poisoning... but it was her the whole time."

The realization hits me deep. "You're right," I say, wishing I could be happier in the moment but the feeling of betrayal stings heavy in my chest.

"We are safe now, love," he whispers into my neck. "I'm so sorry for what she did to you, I know it's going to be hard to trust anyone again. I'm sorry I didn't notice, I should have been around her more, I should have known the darkness consumed her." His eyes dart around my face. "But her medicine, it must have made her good when she was taking it and when she wasn't... the darkness hugged her."

"I'll be okay, we will be okay." I cry as I lean in to kiss him, rain begins to drizzle overhead but we stay put letting the cool drops cascade over our bodies.

I know it might make me weak, but I need to feel better. "Pierce, I know this sounds weird but... can you make me feel better? With the thing you do, don't make me forget but make my heart understand. I can't handle this," I sob.

"Not weird at all. You deserve a moment of peace." He places his hand on my shoulder, whispering sweet words into my ear. I melt into his arms, lying on him as I investigate the stars. My heart is shattered, even Pierce can't help that, but I will figure this out later, right now I just want to feel okay.

I could let what Liv did to me change me, but I refuse to let that happen. There is still good in the world, and she wasn't well.

Thirty-six

Mostly swimsuits

Acouple of uneventful weeks have passed. Uneventfulness is completely welcomed by open arms in my life. Pierce and I have grown so much closer and our relationship is stronger because of the hardships we’ve faced together.

I finally talked him into breaking the bond, and he agreed considering the looming threat of Preta is no more. I’m also more comfortable that Pierce can no longer sense how nervous he makes me through the bond, that was the only part that I loathed.

Mom is still in shock from the news of Liv, but thankfully she’s under the impression that I have been safe from her wrath this entire time.

I stretch my arms wide over my head as I see Pierce leaning against my doorframe, arms folded loosely against his chest. A wide smile plays his face and I can tell he's up to something. "What are you planning?" I ask.

He nods to my window. "Want to get out of here? Maybe go on vacation. We can have fun now that I won't be looking over my shoulder at every turn."

The heartbreak is fresh, the betrayal from Liv is haunting me in my dreams but I really want to give myself a break. After everything, I deserve an escape, especially knowing now that Pierce ended the demon that horrific night in the dark alley. An unfamiliar sense of calm has washed over me, through all the bullshit. It's finally over.

"Yes!" I squeal, jumping up to greet him. "I need to call mom though."

He snaps his fingers. "Already done."

I lean into his embrace. "You're everything to me, you know that right?" I ask, peering up into his emerald gaze.

The room transitions before my eyes, slivers of sun peek through the floor to ceiling windows, illuminating his sharp features. "You're more to me." His smooth voice hugs me as he plants a soft kiss on my forehead.

I jump from his arms and begin to examine our new room. “How long?” I squeal, walking around the large bed.

“A week,” he tells me.

I see my suitcase leaned against the wall. "I hope you packed appropriate clothes." I give him a knowing look.

He shrugs. "Mostly swimsuits, that's all you need." He winks at me and then gestures out behind him to the floor to ceiling windows. All I can see is water through the tall glass.

I slide open the heavy doors and hear him chuckling under his breath as I dash outside and onto the beautiful dock. We’re in a cabana over the open ocean. Warm saltwater air invades my nostrils. The sun beats down, warming my skin. There's a long stretch of what I'm assuming is a pier and we are neatly tucked at the very end. To my left are four other cabanas but with a huge distance in between, to my right there’s crystal clear waters.

Snorkeling, swimming, cuddling, kissing, more cuddling. Our vacation is just what I needed to heal.

On the sixth day of our getaway, I walk into the kitchen for breakfast. The walls are all glass and they give a beautiful view to the morning sun rising steadily above the shimmering waters. When I reach the counter, I find a note in Pierce’s handwriting.

Love,

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