Page 39 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
THE BEFORE LIFE
“It’s not what you say, it’s what you do that’s important.”
–Flora,SleepingBeauty
CHAPTER19
AURORA
Dreams are like stars.Theyshine brighter at night.Andnight wasAurora’sfavorite time because that was when she could dream of him.Dreamof the way his kisses tasted and the way her name sounded when he spoke it.Butdreams, like stars, didn’t have a weight to them.Theydidn’t have a warmth to them like the warmth she felt now.
“You shouldn’t be here.”Auroraopened her eyes and whispered to the god that lay next to her.
“Then you should stop wishing for me.”Hemoved closer, pressing a kiss to her star-dusted lips.
“My wish is how you got here.”Aurorahad wished for the god who was a dark spot on the golden hue of her bedding.
“Then you will have to wish me away.”Hemoved closer, his hand sliding up her hip, taking with it the sheer robe she had on.Histouch was featherlight on her bare skin.Sometimesshe wished he’d leave a mark upon her like she did on him.Asilver trace of his love.
“Thane,”Auroramoaned in his mouth.Theyhad been apart for too long.Shehad cried a sky’s worth of tears over him.Itwasn’t reallyThane’sfault.Hewas cursed.Yes, it is his fault.Hegave his love to another,she reminded herself.Andnow she had to suffer the consequences of that curse.
They both did.Andthey were both powerless to how the curse would affect them.Thelast time he broke her heart, she swore she would never go back to him.Butas the days and nights wore on, she couldn’t take being without him.
Thane pulled away, searching her face in the low light. “I’vemissed you, dove.”
“Have you?”Itwould be easier to forget him if he weren’t so beautiful.Adelicate beauty that only came from his father,Death.Sharppoints she willingly cut herself on.
“Yes.”Thanelowered his mouth, kissing her again.
“If you are caught…”Auroracupped his cheek.Everyonewould see her prints on him.They’dsee the stardust smeared across his lips and cheeks.Thatwas the cost of knowing the secrets of the stars; their dust was on everything she touched.
“I won’t be.”
Aurora pulled him closer, wanting to feel the weight of him press down on her.Thaneshould not be here in the heavens.Hewas a god from the underworld and not allowed in the heavens.Butshe had wished for him, and the stars always granted her wishes.Hismouth trailed down her neck.Hishands slid up her ribs to cup her breasts.Thesun would soon set in the mortal land andThanewould have to return to his duties, but until then she would hold on to darkness. “Wehaven’t much time, my love.”Auroratugged at the smooth silk ofThane’sshirt, wanting to feel the warmth of his skin on hers.
“ShallIstop time for you?”Thanewhispered as he moved down her body.
Aurora tangled her fingers in his soft, dark hair.Hismouth was warm on the inside of her thigh. “IthinkIwould like that.”
“Would you?” he asked, looking up at her.Hissilver eyes were bright with desire.Hisfull mouth shimmered with stardust.Sheloved the way his desire tasted.
Aurora smiled at the thought of time stopping long enough for them to be together.Ofhow dawn and darkness would inhabit the heavens at the same time.Timecould not be wished away.ButThanecould stop it.Hecould order the god to turn his hourglass on, its side stopping life for everyone but them.
“My lady.”Awhisper cut through the darkness of the room.
“Go away.”Auroraordered the golden woman from her room.
“Your father is soon to return, and your mother wishes to speak to you.”
Aurora cursed the heavens and all the gods in it. “That’snot a wishIwill grant.Tellmy mother to go away.”
“She said to tell you he can wait.”Thegolden woman looked to her feet.
“Who is she to order me?”Aurorasnapped, knowing that the golden woman could not answer that and that her mother would not wait.Thegod would bust in here and demandAurora’sattention no matter what position she andThanewere in.
Thane moved to lie next to her in the bed.Hetraced the fullness of her bottom lip with his finger. “Thereis still time to stop it.”
It was reckless to do so, for time not only stopped for them but for the mortals they watched over.Andmortals didn’t do so well with the loss of time.Theirlives were already too short to enjoy the fullness of their world.Andtime couldn’t eraseFate’scurse onThane.
