Page 37 of Visions of Darkness

“Do you ever wish that we hadn’t been given this?” She whispered it out into the nothingness, letting the words ride on the soft breeze that forever blew through the meadow. “That we didn’t have this burden? That we were normal?”

“How could I, Aria? Not when it means I get to know you.”

He knew his love for her was greater than anything else. Greater than anything he would ever experience.

It was absolute.

Born of some twisted fate that would tie her to him forever.

Her eyes both dimmed and brightened, and he could feel the swell of her nerves crash through the air. “Pax ... I—”

Suddenly, a blinding blanket of intensity burst in front of him. A radiating light as electricity sparked in the air.

Then she was gone.

No doubt, she’d been awakened in the human realm.

On a roar of frustration, he jumped to his feet. He wanted to reach out and drag her back, all while knowing he had no power to do it.

They’d only been in Tearsith for maybe five hours, and it was far too soon for her to normally wake in the day.

He hated that she was in that place and he had no way to find out if she was okay.

A prisoner held.

He’d never forget how terrified she had been the first time she was institutionalized. How she’d wept each time she arrived in Tearsith, so misunderstood and undefined.

Butheunderstood her.

He swore he was the only one who really could.

“Fuck,” he spat, driving his fingers into his hair as he began to pace through the torment.

“Pax.”

Shocked, Pax whirled when he heard his name, sure he’d be alone for the rest of the night.

Ellis lingered in the distance. Concern was written in the lines of his face.

“What are you doing back?” he grated, unable to keep the harshness from his voice.

“I came to check on Aria.”

Pax scrubbed a palm over his face. “She was awakened.”

He started to pace again, agitation burning beneath his skin as his thoughts began to spiral.

Aria was locked in a facility.

She’d bound a Kruen while awake.

She was alone and vulnerable.

He yanked at fistfuls of his hair.

“I need to go to her.” It mumbled out in a desperation he’d never felt before.

Ellis was suddenly at his side, his hand on his arm. “What did you say?”

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