Page 132 of Fated In Forever
“Could they believe in each other enough to break the endless cycle and just…be content?”
A sudden wind whipped up, smelling of salt and waves, whipping our hair around our faces, and that fast, Sabine letme go and patted my hand. “I'll leave you two to enjoy the evening. But remember, Malachi—the magic decides the timeline.”
After she left, Malachi and I remained at the railing, our hands still linked, the cool night air and the sweet scent of roses washing over us.
“What did she mean about the souls?” I asked quietly.
“I don’t know. But that story…” He stared thoughtfully at the oncoming storm, the way the clouds lit up from the insides as they rolled closer. “I knew my whole life I’d been waiting for something, Evangeline. And the first time I saw you in the flesh, that moment didn’t feel like the first time.”
He exhaled, a warm whoosh of air that brought goosebumps to my skin. “I felt like I was seeing you again, after a long, long time.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I wanted to stab you at first sight, so…” But that wasn’t exactly true. I’d felt the same pull, even if I hadn’t recognized it as love, even if I didn’t want to fully admit my feelings now. Because the thought that we’d already done this before…
No, I couldn’t wrap my head around that.
Malachi kissed my shoulder, wrapping an arm around my waist. “Perfectly understandable. I was an arrogant bastard.”
“Well,” I sighed, relaxing into him, “you still are, but you’ve managed to grow on me. But what Sabine said about the souls,” I paused, going back over every word. “That was a warning, if I’ve ever heard one.”
Then, in the distance, I heard Angel's soft laughter mixed with Eldric's deeper chuckle, and I smiled. We were all finding our way back to each other, a royal court that trusted each other, that fought for each other, and that was worth everything.
63
EVANGELINE
Imulled over Sabine’s parting words for far too long, even after I got upstairs to my bedroom and undressed. Whether she was a witch or something more powerful, Sabine had given us a warning, and we’d do well to heed her words.
And I would…if I had any idea what she meant.
Malachi disappeared shortly after Sabine, then I’d spent an hour catching up with Bex, Angel and Eldric, while Blake and Riordan spent the entire evening with Finn, Nash and Nikolai, sorting out the fallout from Angel’s kidnapping and the hordes of thralls captured at the compound.
I turned out the lights and crawled into bed, adrift in a sea of blankets and pillows. I was still awake when Crimson House went quiet and Malachi slipped into the room hours later, silent as a wraith, only the rustle of fabric pinpointing where he was in the darkness.
“I don’t know how you manage to do that,” I whispered, and he froze, halfway into bed. “Like you become the shadows. Or they become you.”
“A skill I dragged back from the Underworld, I’m afraid.” He didn’t sound pleased, but his arms slipped around me, the ends of his braids tickling my nose until I pushed them over his shoulder. For a moment we stayed like that,breathing in sync, things between us feeling more settled than ever before, and yet, not settled at all.
“A skill that could come in useful,” I pointed out. “Given what’s coming.”
“I don’t want to talk about what’s coming.” His lips met mine and I yielded instantly, my body softening as he rolled on top of me, all hard, honed edges and smooth warm skin. Every inch of this new version of him was sharply cut muscle, not an ounce of fat, and I ran my hands greedily down his back, exploring every powerful inch.
You are safe and you are home, Evangeline. This is where you belong. A place where you can be happy, where no one will ever make you leave.
I see you’ve been talking to Riordan, I curved my fingers around the back of his neck, savoring his rich, spicy taste, the leashed strength in his powerful body as he pressed me deeper into the mattress.I never want this to end.
It doesn’t have to.He settled into the cradle of my thighs.
We only want you to have everything you’ve ever desired,and we want you to be happy. If I could give you an eternity, Vicious, I would tear down the veil between the realms and force fate to give us forever.
I know you would.A heartbeat passed. But the veil is there for a reason, Malachi. And tomorrow…
Malachi pressed his lips tighter against mine, his heart pounding.No, not tonight. I’m not wasting any more time worrying about the future. Not when you’re right here. Not when we still have time.
I held him tighter, kissed him deeper, made every second count. These were the moments I wanted to remember until my dying day, these brief flashes of light and life, of love and hushed whispers, of sweet caresses and lingering kisses.
I love you.His tongue glided against mine, hand tightening on my hip as he deepened the kiss, his palm cupping my jaw when he pulled my bottom lip between his fangs andsucked. My thighs clenched, his length hard and ready along the inside of my thigh.
The bed dipped behind me and then Riordan was there, lips on my shoulder, warm fingers skimming down my spine, tracing the curve of my ass with a slow, deliberate thoroughness that left me shivering.
