Page 343 of Flirting with Darkness

9

RAE

Gently pressing his mouth to mine, Kharon lifts my chin as he softly covers my lips with his. There is a sweetness in his kiss that is different than before. Not lapping me like a starved man as he did earlier, his pace is soothing, lulling my body back to a place of surrender I’ve only ever felt in his embrace.

And I love it.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Rae. Because I’m not going anywhere,” Kharon whispers against my mouth.

“But what about my family?” I ask, looking up at the tender and doting gaze in his eyes. “How will we ever make them understand you were never trying to hurt Melchior?” As much as I want what Kharon and I have to be accepted by all, I know my family will disapprove.

Just as Kharon parts his mouth to reply, a light from the onyx stone shines brightly, turning our attention back to Moirai. “Well I don’t think you’ll have as much trouble as you think in helping them understand. Melchior knows firsthand Kharon never meant to deceive you.”

“What? How is that possible? I thought Melchior was a prisoner.”

“Yes, Rae, but Melchior was nevermyprisoner,” Kharon begins, brushing his hands through my hair.

“Is that what you were trying to say before? At the cotillion?”

Nodding, Kharon smiles and kisses my forehead before pulling me back to his side and turning back toward Moirai’s stone. “That is exactly what I was trying to say at the cotillion. But after everyone believed I imprisoned Melchior, no one heard anything I had to say.”

“Except for me,” I breathe back, looking up at Kharon and noticing the more youthful features framing his face. Gone are the hardened lines around his eyes and mouth. Even the gray etching of his hairline has faded into his fuller, wavy, golden blonde tresses.

Smiling back at me, he tugs me tighter at the waist. “More than anyone, Rae, you’ve always seen me. I know that now. You didn’t see the decrepit being I’d become; you’ve only seen the better part of me.”

“Yes, brother,” Moirai begins. “So that between Melchior and Rae, the Elysian’s will yet understand your actions were engineered by the Changelings alone. Melchior will speak up for you. Just give him time. If need be, remind him of me. While he was kept in the dark prism, I did what I could to make his stay more—um, palatable.”

Raising his brow and slightly stiffening his posture, Kharon steps forward. “Sister? What do you mean?”

Laughing, the light in Moirai’s stone brightens once more. “Melchior will understand,” she cuts him off. “Just as I understand I must now leave you two to rekindle the flame I yet saw lit only moments ago.”

Both Kharon and I share shy smiles and I quickly dart my eyes to my feet, slightly embarrassed.

“But sister?” Kharon counters once more.

“No, brother, I have spent too much time here. Since they no longer have power over you, they will come for me. I must go!”

“Moirai wait!” Kharon pleads, breaking from my side and moving closer to the stone. “This isn’t over! You promised me if I followed the Changelings order to come to this world, I’d also set you free. I will not rest until you are!”

“Yes, brother, and as a Fate I hold my word as true. I indeed told you to follow their leading. In doing so, you finally have your true love—the one to set you free and now so is Melchior free.”

Kharon’s posture shifts and a grim gaze lingers at his brow. “But you told me to pursue Winter not Rae,” he grits in a whisper through his teeth, almost hating himself for uttering the words.

Although hearing this should make me uncomfortable, I am not. Deep down I’ve always known Kharon never wanted Win, despite Uncle El’s persistence. I suppose that’s why he never formally proposed.

Sighing, Moirai’s shadow shifts around a bit as her light flickers dimly. “And had it not been for your pursuit of Winter, her true love, the hybrid, Luxor Decanter, would not have been driven to free Melchior as he had. By stealing your obol, he effectively broke the Changeling’s hold over you. From there, Rae had all the provocation necessary to pursue her heart. For only Rae’s love was capable freeing you from death.”

Kharon’s eyes glance merrily at me for a moment before continuing. “But sister, what about you?”

“Dear brother, put your mind at ease and stay the course. You know as well as I, as a Fate, I can only point you in the direction. But be assured in this, my freedom still rests in your hands. As you and Rae conquer all that comes next, my freedom shall indeed be won. For now, Kharon, take pleasure in the one thing your heart has too long been deprived: love. And don’t do so for yourself alone, but for me. As nothing brings me more joy than seeing your happiness fulfilled. You, Kharon, of all the Sons of Erebus, deserve it most. So with this I bid you farewell for now. Know this, I too, love you my brother and while it will only be but a breath for me, not long from now, I shall once more behold your face.”

With her parting words, the light of the onyx stone fades to black. Pounding his hand against the wall, Kharon growls. Seeing him like this I know his heart breaks for his sister. Even more, I now understand just how much she means to him. Everything he did, he did so for her. Being a twin, I understand the depth of a sibling’s love more than most.

Slowly trailing my hands up Kharon’s arm and running my fingers along the brawn muscle curvature of his back, I hope my touch soothes the ache I see brewing in his eyes. It’s the same ache I saw in his eyes at the cotillion earlier. It wasn’t seeing Win with Lux vexing him as much as everyone believed. The source of his pain was thinking without Win he and his sister would remain both accursed and hostage.

I don’t know how I’ll do it, but in my heart, I now know my sole purpose in this moment is to relieve the vexing of his heart. Although the flame I see behind his eyes should scare me, for him I know I am willing to burn.

10

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