Page 122 of The Songs of Fate (War of Fate)

Delving past the moist leaves, I sank my hands deep into the earth and tore my way to standing. Pivoting, I turned to face a mud-covered Logan.

The left side of his body was coated in dirt from the side tackle. He grinned, turning his lips into a full challenge as he blocked the trail.

“Move, Logan.”

“No.”

“Why are you doing this?” I asked.

“Tell me what’s going on.”

I charged him, no real plan fully evolved, except to run away after he was down.

I tackled him to the ground with less skill than he had shown. I rammed his chest with my shoulder at full sprint. He grunted. His back hit the earth, and I landed on him, shoving my knee into his stomach.

Logan pulled me onto his chest. “You’re hiding from me. You want me, but you are forcing me from you. Do you hate me for the compound? Is that why you keep pushing me away?”

I couldn’t let him think that. It would be cruel if he thought I hated him.

“No, I forgave you for that when we escaped.”

“Then what aren’t you telling me? The way you kiss me and look at me, I know you want this.” He smoothed his palms down my face.

“I can’t,” I pleaded.

I was breaking apart from the inside. He was everything Charlie wanted, but couldn’t reach for.

“I love you, Charlie. Tell me you don’t feel the same way?”

My breath hitched. He loved me.

“That’s the problem. You love Charlie.”

“Charlie?” He traced his thumb over the bottom of my lip. “Honey, tell me the problem. You don’t feel the same?”

I liked the way he said the word honey and teased my lip with his finger. His voice had a smooth little hilt to it—almost a small southern drawl. He hadn’t fully eradicated his upbringing like he said.

“You love the mortal, Charlie. But she isn’t what will win the war. It’s the Valkyrie. And the Valkyrieloves Ales.”

“You love Ales?”

“It’s more complicated than that. There are two parts of me, and She does. And She is strong, and perilous, but mostly She craves him.”

Logan paused. “I won’t bow to the will of the Valkyrie. I love you, Charlie.”

“No, Logan. You’re not understanding what I’m telling you. I’m living two lives right now, and it’s killing me.”

I will not cry. Logan can’t see how much I need him. He can’t see how badly I wish I could change it.

“We will figure it out. I can help you. You are still Charlie with just a little more fight in you.”

I laughed. “Not for long. When the Raiders sense theValkyrie, they will come for Her. I promised She could have control, to defeatthem… and I would give myself to Ales.”

Logan’s eyes were the dark shade of green. Not the sexy kind. The very pissed off Logan kind.

“Then what happens to Charlie? She just gets a backseat at life?”

“No… I think I die. I mean, I cease to exist. I’m not sure about the after part, really.”

---