Page 19 of Chosen, Eternally
“Let’s go home?” I ask James as we watch The Society Guards take Cybil away, where she’ll be locked up in the dungeons while she awaits trial.
His answering sad smile is disorienting.
“What?”
“You said ‘home.’ I haven’t had that in a long time. Kinda sad I won’t anymore.”
“What do you mean?
“You know… You’re going to have to—“ He runs his fingers across his throat, mock-slitting it.
“Well, I’d probably be driving a stake through your heart, to be honest. Or setting you on fire. Cutting your head offisan option, but it’s super messy.” I try for a smile, but it comes out mangled.
James reaches out to take my hand in his. “Can we just enjoy the last of what little time we have left?”
“Please.”
With a quick goodbye, Tilly promises to keep me updated on anything she finds out about what the Senior Council have been hiding.
“I know as the Protector I should stay, but…” I grimace.
“Go. We’ve got this handled,” she promises. “And I’ll text you when I find out more about the whole soul thing,” she adds in a whisper so low I hope James’s supernatural hearing can’t pick it up. By the look on his face, however, it’s clear he heard every word. “But honestly, with every second that goes by, I’m thinking it was all a hoax. Two corrupt groups working together to terrorize a town.”
We sneak out back, avoiding the curious glances of the Council, the guards, and other members of the witch community who have shown up to help detangle the mess that has become our organization.
Once we’re in my loft, it doesn’t take long before James gently pushes me on the bed. Before he crawls over my body and presses the most perfect kiss to my lips—a combination of hunger and sweetness all wrapped in one—and wraps his arms around me.
“If we could have forever, would you take it?” he asks suddenly after a long moment of peaceful and comfortable silence.
“What do you mean?” I sit up to look him straight in the eye.
James sighs. “You know what I mean. If you could turn—ifIcould turn you... Would you want to?”
“I…” I think of an eternity of James. Ofthis. Ofus.
‘Joy’ and ‘elation’ aren’t strong enough words to describe the feeling that shoots through my veins—like glitter coursing through my blood, shining and humming in anticipation of a never-ending life beside my love.
“I want to say yes. In fact, I want to beg for you to do it.”
“But?” His blue eyes stare deep into my soul, hesitant and patient.
“But I spent my whole life thinking vampires were evil, and the last year fighting them to the death. I gave up every part of myself so I could be as dedicated as possible to this cause. Whichhas led me into kinda the middle of an existential crisis now. If vampires don’t lose their soul, then what does that mean for me as Protector? If I become a vampire, do I lose my witch powers? And if I don’t, what does that make me?”
“I think we’ve proved that vampires can choose to be bad or good, because I’m still here. I’m still yours.”
“Yes, you are,” I breathe.Thank the gods.
“And that also means that there will always be bad vampires. Which means you’ll still have business as a Protector.”
“But what if we’re mistaken? What if you’re the exception, and I really do end up losing my soul?”
“Not possible,” he says, shaking his head. “I won’t let you. Just as you own mine, I own yours.”
My answering smile is rueful.
“Listen, I’m not going to pressure you. But if it turns out that you don’t have to kill me… I just want to be with you. Always. We’ve lost so much time, and—” He sighs and runs both his hands through his hair, eyes squeezed shut. When he finally seems to calm down, he continues: “I just want forever. I know it’s selfish and fucked up, and I didn’t even know the possibility existed until less than twenty-four hours ago, but I don’t care. I want it. With you.”
Eyes wet, I gently pull James’s face into a kiss. With everything I have, I pour all my love into it, hoping somehow he can feel how much I care about him. How much I want an eternity with him, as well.
