Page 33 of The Book Reader
Shaking my head, I reach for her.
“Gaelan, please just stay with me, here.” I lift my head and look deep into her eyes, and what I see there reaches into my chest. Wraps around my heart and melts it until there is only a space left.
She knows this is the end.
“Rose, no. Please, let me try to save you.” I’m begging her to give me something that she has no power over.
I’m asking her to live for me.
“Gaelan, kiss me,” she whispers, looking up at me with so much love in her eyes that it burns my soul and sends hot tears rolling down my cheeks. I’m losing her again, the one person in all the universes that was made just for me. She is my reason for living.
Lowering slowly, my lips touch her soft, cold ones gently. Afraid that I will break her even more. A sob bursts from me when she doesn’t kiss me back. Pain coats every inch of my body till I begin to shake. I press my lips against hers, wanting her to kiss me back, urging her to wake up for me, even if it’s just for a second, so that I can say goodbye.
Nothing.
My Rose is gone.
Tentatively, I remove my lips from hers and look down into her eyes. The light in them has gone out.
Even in death, she is so beautiful. She looks like she is at peace, with no pain contorting her face, no blood spilling from her lips.
I use my fingers to carefully close her eyes before I lower her to the ground.
Standing, I edge my way slowly to the head of the cave. The sun has set fully, and the moon is high in the sky, bathing the dark lands in its sliver of light.
The earth is at peace, and inside, I feel like hell.
Fisting my hands at my sides, all of the hurt and pain coil tight in my stomach, and the burning feeling of rage sets a target hard onher.
Macy touched what is mine, and now that bitch is going to die.
Throwing my head back, I roar up into the night.
They have taken her from me again.
This night will be their last.
My eyes snap open, and the sound of my cries of pain echoes in my office as that memory fades.
Macy didn’t meet her end then, though I tried.
Killing a princess of hell isn’t an easy task.
Chapter 15
ARIANNA
“Ihave a date.”
Mekhi gasps dramatically, then grins at me. “Girl! When?”
“Tonight.” I smile at him.
“What time and with whom?” He’s just painted his nails black and is blowing them dry while giving me a disapproving look—because I’m only just telling him.
“At six, tonight.”
He gasps again and jumps off the kitchen stool. “Hitch, it’s one o’clock! Why am I just hearing about this now? Get your fine ass in the shower, and I will get the stations ready. Go.Go!” he shouts. I laugh as he rushes out of the room but pauses at the door. “Who is it with? Please tell me it’s not that guy from the club. He makes my cock shrivel up every time I see him.” He shudders dramatically.
