Page 79 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Aurora looked up at him. “Andyou asMr.Tenebris?Howlong will your father let this go on?”
“Not with me.Youstay and beElla, andIwill leave you.Ipromise.”
Aurora could feel them all getting closer.Lillian,Clara, andWilliam.Alltheir wishes pressed down on her. “Iremember you now,Thane.HowwouldIforget you again?”
“ThenI’llstay.Wecould move to the mountains or a small cottage in the woods.Wecould be anyone.”
Aurora smiled at the hope that leapt from him. “No, my beautiful darkness.Youcan be no one but darkness.”
“I can be anyone you want me to be.”Thanekissed her again.Thistime there were no sharp bits of memories cutting at her.Thanelifted his head. “Justsay the words.”
They were right there.Allshe had to say was “Iwish.”Thelast bracelet slipped down her wrist.Butshe could not wish away the curse. “Ican’t.”
Thane let out the breath he was holding, and the tension left his shoulders.Forthe first time in a mortal year,Aurorafelt right.Shehad missed the glimmer she saw inThane’seyes.Thetaste of his desire.Shepressed a kiss to his mouth quickly before she heard her name spill from another’s.
“Ella?”Williamcalled.
“You are stillEllato them,”Thanereminded her.
“Ella, what’s going on?I’vebeen looking for you.Haveyou been crying?”Williamgrabbed her hand.
Aurora struggled not to cringe at his touch. “No, it must be something in the air.Ijust need some time.”Hiswants pressed down on her.Itwas almost suffocating.Therewas something else.Afalseness to it.
“Time for what?Let’sgo.I’llbring you home?—”
“No,”Auroraalmost shouted. “Imean,William, go back to your friends.I, um… things have changed.I’vechanged.”Howwould she explain to him she wasn’tElla?
“Ella, what’s going on?Ican tell you’ve been crying.”Williamlooked up. “You.”Hepointed atThane. “Thisis your fault.Whathave you done to her?”
“I have done nothing she didn’t ask for.”Thanesmirked.
“Oh, you’ve done plenty.”Sheglared atThane.
“What did you do to her?Iwill beat that pretty face of yours if you hurt her.”Williamstalked towardsThane.
“William, stop.”Aurorapressed her hands to his chest. “Thishas nothing to do with him.It’sme.”
“No, he has done something to you.Ican see it in your eyes.They’redifferent.Whatdid you do to her?”Williamtried to push pastAurora.
“Nothing.”Thaneshrugged. “Iwould never hurt her.It’syou?—”
“Thane,Iswear to every god in the heavens thatIwill rip your tongue out of your mouth if you say another word.”Aurorawanted to slap the smirk off his face.Thiswould be hard enough to explain toWilliamwithoutThane’ssmugness.
“Ella?William?”
Aurora groaned when she heardLillian’svoice.Godsabove, for once couldn’t something go her way?
“We are ready to leave.Iseverything okay?Mr.Tenebris,Ithought you left.”Lilliancocked her head.
“I am.Ihad a few things to take care of.Ms.Moon,Iwish you the best.”Thanebowed slightly.
“Careful what you wish for,Mr.Tenebris,”Aurorawarned.
“Come on,Ella.”Williamtugged at her hand.
“Yes,Ella, let’s go.”Lillianfrowned atThane.
Aurora glared atThaneover her shoulder as she followedLillianandWilliamout of the fair.Asthey walked past the booth and tents, she saw him.Death.Helooked ridiculous dressed as an old woman.Hewas there to trade wants for souls.
