Page 354 of Flirting with Darkness

“Tell me what’s going on.” Gritting my words through my teeth is neither sexy nor alluring, but right now I don’t care. Seducing the man I love is the last thing on my mind right now.

Taking my shoulder in his hand, Kharon forces a smile while using his opposite hand to brush away a few loose strands from my face. “While I don’t want you to worry, you should know it’s not safe for anyone while my obol is displaced. The last time I was separated from it, your cousin found it. That’s how the Changelings were able to conjure their prism to keep him hostage.”

“Oh, okay,” I begin, my eyes continue searching Kharon’s face and I’m troubled to still see caution in his eyes. “And?” I question, demanding he tells me the whole story. “Spit it out, Kharon. I can take it. We’re in this together, remember?”

“Together,” he breathes, blowing his wispy blonde tendrils away from his forehead. “It’s Moirai, Rae. I also need to recover the obol to save my sister. I can no longer leave her to any further torment.”

I gulp. “And by saving her you mean returning to the Netherworld?”

“Yes.” Kharon’s answer is like a punch to my gut.

The Netherworld is the last place I want him to go. It’s the one place that imprisoned my cousin for over a decade. It’s the one place holding Moirai hostage now. And it’s the one place he must return.

This is the ski lift all over again. No sooner than we even have a chance to begin our lives together, must we be forced apart so soon. Swallowing the tight air nearly choking my next words, I force my selfish thoughts aside. “What do you need me to do?” I ask, lifting my chin, defying my own heart’s cry to beg him to stay.

Kharon’s chest swells with pride, admiration sweeping a smile across his face as he regards me. “How a monster like me is permitted such a grace from your beautiful heart, I’ll never understand. But I will work a thousand lifetimes to make myself worthy of such a rare and perfect gift. With all that I am, I love you, Rae Vereen.”

Once more, Kharon lifts my chin, kissing me as though he were brushing soft feathers across my lips. My salty tears mesh between us, but Kharon firms his hold at the nape of my neck, locking our mouths as though he were shutting out the world around us and all that comes next.

And for this moment, it’s all I need.

Deepening our kiss, I wrap my arms around the small of his back. Taking this moment to enjoy the rippling steel muscles of his physique, it’s all I can do to force away the looming heartache I know inevitability awaits me.

For now, being in the arms of the monster that loves me is all I could ever want.

20

KHARON

Holding Rae in my arms is a sacred duty I’ll cherish forever. Yet unlike sweeping her away from beasts in the cold of night, I nestle this beautiful breaker of curses in my arms, clinging to her for dear life.

And it is my very life I owe her.

None other than Rae Vereen has revived the walking corpse I once was, and none other than Rae Vereen can end it with just denial of my heart’s cry. How I’ve been afforded such love, I’ll never understand, but holding her like this reminds me everything I’ve ever wanted is right here.

In my arms.

Gliding effortlessly through the snow-capped pine forest, we make our way to the edge of Elysian Manor. If it weren’t Christmas morning and if I didn’t know her family would be expecting her, I would have taken my time, showcasing my Nether-magic and skill. Instead, Rae only got to see the power of me sprinkling onyx sand and my ability of flight. Although she got an impromptu display of my ability to fly last night, I always imagined giving her a more eloquent first look, befitting the one woman I love.

Thankfully, and being all things Rae Vereen, she seems just as amazed. Her eyes are full of wonder as she nestles in my hold. Taking in the sights of a family of deer traipsing through the snow, and the small flock of birds flying at our side, Rae marvels at the simple grandeur of it all.

Arriving just outside the warming post near the stables, I gently land us at the gates. A few horses stir a bit, startled by our arrival, but I speak the sacred words ofpeacein Nether tongue to ease their angst.

“They can understand you?” Rae asks, surprised.

“Yes,” I smile, peering out from under my trench coat.

“How is that possible?” She continues with a child-like curiosity.

“Well animals were here when our worlds were one in the same. Even those that remain still understand words before the language of mortals ever came to be.”

“Even Mr. Puddles?” Rae giggles. “I’m sure that’ll ruffle Win’s feathers. She thinks she’s the only person who understands her prized French Canadian.”

My eyes continue searching around the stables, ensuring we’re alone. “Who do you think your uncle asked to tame Mr. Puddles?” That’s not all I’ve done for her uncle over the years, but I’ll save that for another time.

“I should’ve known,” she says, adding a kiss to my chin as I look around.

“Okay, beautiful, this is where we part ways. When I release you from my hold, you’ll be visible again. So you’ll have to continue on without me.”

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