Page 338 of Flirting with Darkness

Raising my chin to meet the newly placed admiration I see in his eyes, I step forward, squeezing his hand in mine and closing the space between us. “No, Kharon. Tonight, I’m holding nothing back.”

Letting out an almost faint gasp, Kharon’s jaw tightens, and his gaze awakens something in me I’ve never felt before. Yet, I don’t have time to revel in the newfound passion budding within me when Kharon grabs his abdomen in apparent pain and tugs himself from my hold.

“Well, that’s good a thing. I don’t know how much time we have, so I’ll make it quick,” he states, while turning away from me and walking deeper into the cave.

I’m on his heel as he lights more candles and shuffles a few things around on a makeshift stone table next to another large pile of silk and satin fabrics. Curiosity flutters within me as I wonder what he’s doing with such an array, but I temper my interest for now.

“What do you mean we don’t have much time, Kharon?”

Huffing, Kharon turns quickly, his eyes wide in surprise to find me standing not an inch from him. He breathes hard once more, and I can’t help taking in a huge whiff of his intoxicating scent.

I wish he would just hold me like he did on the ski lift.

Stepping back to create a little distance, Kharon rubs the stubble on his jaw and smiles awkwardly.

“You do see what I’ve become, right? I mean ever since your cousin kissed Lux and the Young Lord Elysian freed, I’ve turned into an aged old man. Soon, I’ll be a walking corpse! You really don’t need to hang around for this. Please, go! I can’t bear for you to watch me die—I’m a dead man, Rae!” Kharon spits his words like fire but the fear I see in his eyes sends tremors through the entirety of me.

I never thought I’d see Kharon Nyx afraid.

Does he think the Guard will come back to kill him? Why does he keeping saying he’s old? He looks like the same man I’ve always loved. Golden blonde tresses, and eyes like a stormy sea. Just looking at Kharon Nyx makes me want for nothing than to ride the torrent of his waves and drown in the depths of his seas. Sure, he’s in his forties and there’s an obvious age-gap between us, but I’ve never thought of him as old. To me, he’s the untold lover of my dreams.

“Don’t talk like that, Kharon.” I force my abandoned thoughts aside.

Brushing his hands through his hair he blows out a heap of frustration, buckling at his knees. He looks like he’s about to faint.

“You don’t have to patronize me, Rae. Just go.” Kharon sighs, panting hard as if he’s trying to catch his breath. “Let me die in peace.”

Kharon has no idea how much his latter words haunt me. Those were the last words my mother said when she told my father to take her two wailing children from her deathbed as cancer coursed through her veins. While I’m sure it was harder for her than I can even imagine, being ripped from her side at only ten years old is a pain I never hoped to endure again. Sadly, I didn’t even get the chance to bid my father farewell when the drunk driver took him from us only a year after mother’s passing. To make matters worse, arriving here was no better. Melchior’s loss came immediately after we arrived.

Maybe it’s me. Maybe death follows me wherever I go.

Perhaps. I don’t know. But what I do know is I will not leave Kharon to uncertain fate. Whether it be the hand of Lord Marchand’s guards, or any other, I refuse to stand by idly, allowing death to have its way.

“No, Kharon, I’m not leaving you,” I start as I wrap my arms around his waist as he winces in pain.

“Please, Rae, you shouldn’t see whatever comes next. I’d rather just die please!” Kharon pleads once more, grief-stricken, his eyes are a river of tears. “After the pain I’ve caused you, it’s what I deserve.”

My eyes well with tears, but I cannot breakdown now.He needs me.Watching him writhe in agony both confounds me and raises a protectiveness I have yet to understand. Keeping my grip firm, I rub his back, hopeful I’m providing an ounce of comfort.

Laughing as though it hurts, Kharon looks up at me and cracks a dim smile. “So I guess you won’t let me die in peace, huh?”

“No, Kharon, I won’t. But if you let me, I’d rather be your peace.”

4

KHARON

Little does Rae know, just her presence here now is all the peace I could ever ask for. Why she remains insistent to be at my side after my trespasses, I can’t understand, but I’m done asking her to leave.

I want her by my side. I need her here.

Even if the next breath I take is to be my last, at least the care in her eyes will be the closest I get to paradise. And for as much as I wanted to have a life with her, a dying man can’t be choosy. I’ll take whatever she is willing to give.

“You give me more peace than you know, Rae,” I mumble, almost incoherently and I doubt she understands my garble as I grit my teeth through the aching pain.

Dropping to her knees, Rae helps me sit against the wall. “Kharon, please tell me what’s happening to you! Did the Guard do something to you? Why are you in so much pain?”

Grunting, I force out a small laugh. “Please,” I seethe, pushing myself upright. Looking up at Rae, my heart nearly melts as a sliver of the moon’s light pierces through the darkness of the cave, washing a halo-like light over the entirety of her. Suits her well. She is certainly a bright light in my darkness. “Those wretched wolves and vampires of the Guard can’t hurt what they can’t see.” I laugh once more.

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