Page 18 of The Darkness

“I won’t touch him,” Regan said. She turned to Gina. “Come now, we must go.” She clicked her fingers, and the hounds came to her, whining softly, nudging at her hands.

Darius forced himself to sit unmoving, not to call out to Gina. He was so used to taking what he wanted, but now he must let her go. He had to be strong for her. At the last moment, as they stood at the portal, Gina hesitated.

“Wait,” she said to her sister. “I need to say good-bye.”

Regan nodded once, then backed away to stand by the portal, the hounds at her side.

He watched as Gina walked toward him. Her beauty tore at his heart.

“What?” he asked. “Tell me what I can do for you.”

She swallowed, then reached out and touched his cheek. “Forget me,” she said.

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t even if I could.”

He took her hand, kissed her palm. It wasn’t enough, and he tugged her toward him. When she didn’t resist, he dragged her closer so she tumbled across his lap. He held her against him, feeling her heart beating against his. Then he lifted her chin, baring the long line of her throat.

He could see her pulse thundering beneath her skin. He kissed it softly. She stiffened in his arms and then relaxed, going boneless and languid. His fangs ached, and he knew she wouldn’t stop him, but instead, he kissed up her throat, along her jaw, his lips settling on hers, his tongue slipping inside to taste her. His body hardened against her as hers grew softer.

Finally, he forced himself to pull back and look into her strange eyes one last time. They were soft with longing.

“I will never forget,” he said, and released her.

She rose to her feet, swayed slightly. He reached out a hand to help, and then let it fall. She turned and walked away, glancing back over her shoulder once.

Mine.

The word echoed through his mind, and then she was gone.

Her sister stood staring at him, hatred stamped on her face. She turned to follow Gina, but Darius needed to make one thing clear. “She’s mine, not yours,” he said. Regan paused. She glanced back over her shoulder, and he continued. “When she comes back, we will be together. However long, I’ll wait.”

Regan’s eyes narrowed on him. He’d always believed her cold, entirely without feelings. Now she allowed him a glimpse of the pain that lay behind the coldness. “You don’t understand, do you?”

A wave of foreboding washed over him. “Understand what?”

“Gina is never coming back.”

“You can’t banish her forever.”

“Banish her? If she told you that was the payment due, then she lied.” Regan looked at him, and something close to pity crossed her features. “No, Gina’s life is forfeit. Her death is the price. She dies tomorrow night.”

Shock ripped through him. He stared, unable to speak.

“That is what you have brought her to, Darius Cole. This is your fault.” Regan turned back to the portal.

Darius stumbled to his feet. “Wait,” he said. “There must be some way. Take my life as payment.”

She ignored his words and took the final step.

“Come back,” he screamed. “Tell me what I can do.”

A single word echoed back as the portal closed.

“Pray.”

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