Page 90 of Deceived By a Warrior

She shook her head against his dark shirt, which was growing increasingly wet from her tears. “I’m pretty sure the memories we have together arenotthe same.”

“I’m going to have to disagree. We have the same memories. Listen, Eva. Despite how badly I deceived you, you gave me a second chance. You saw how much I wanted that chance andgave. You were terrified of being bitten by a vampire, but yougaveme your blood when you realized how much I needed it.”

“It was stupid of me to have been scared of that.” Somehow, she managed to laugh, her laughter muffled by his shirt.

“Ah, there’s that laughter I love so much.” He pressed his fingers against her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “You didn’t know better.”

“I should have.”

He didn’t seem convinced. “How many vampires did you meet before me?”

She bit her lip, shaking her head. Zero. He was the first vampire she met.

“Ah,” he smiled, wiping a tear from her eye. “How would you haveeverknown?”

She rubbed an arm over her eyes. “I like it when you smile.”

“I know.” His smile grew. “And now I do smile, because of you.” He ran a steady finger down her cheek. “I’m sorry I haven’t been spending time with you. I’m not going to give up on finding a way to save you just yet, but I’m not going to neglect you either. You don’t strike me as a girl who asks for much, so how can I deny you when you finally do?” She managed to chuckle at his words, laughing along with him, their bodies vibrating in unison. “Let me plan something for us tonight. Give me an hour to put everything together.”

“I don’t need anything prepared. I only want to spend time with you. Like this. That’s all.” He was the single star in her dark life, illuminating the path she walked. She wanted more time with that star while she still had time. Simple, carefree time.

“Let me do this. For you. For us. Let me make tonight special.” He gave her a questioning look, as if waiting for her permission. “All you have to do is get ready.”

“Okay.” She straightened herself out, feeling much better. The breakdown she had was so unlike her. If she sobbed in front of anyone else, she might have been embarrassed. But to have broken down with Darius at her side? Oh, how lucky she was. “So, am I supposed to get ready with you?” Considering he had kept her within his sight for days, she didn’t expect him to give her any sort of privacy tonight.

“Well, I refuse to let you go off on your own. I’m sorry, I can’t do it.” Eva sighed. She was disappointed, but she expected him to say as much. “But I’ll be busy preparing something special for us. I’ll ask Kelly and my sister to help you put yourself together.”

Eva perked up. “Both of them?”

“Karina wouldn’t want to miss helping you get ready. But let’s be honest, Kelly ismuchmore powerful than her. If anything happens to you while we’re separated, I want Kelly to be at your side.”

Eva gave a quick, enthusiastic nod. Unaccustomed to having a reason to put herself together, she was drumming with excitement. “Totally get it.”

“Do you think one hour will be enough time? If I’m being honest, I don’t believe I can stand being apart from you a second longer than that.”

“If I’m being honest, neither can I.” His incessant watchful eye was irritating, but after a moment like this she couldn’t imagine separating from him. “One hour is plenty of time. Did you forget how quickly I packed my bag back in Miami?”

He laughed, tenderly pressing his lips against her forehead. “One hour. Just promise me you’ll come back to me alive.”

“I promise.” Life was cruel, but there was no way it was cruel enough to kill her off before giving her a chance to experience the magic she believed tonight held. She gripped his hand, earnestly looking at him. “Thank you.”

“Hmm?”

“For listening to me.”

He answered her with a smile, his eyes twinkling with life. In that moment she realized she was far beyond simply falling for this man.

She was already in love with him.

Chapter Fifty

Eva Maas

“Come out and let us see!” Karina enthusiastically trilled from the bedroom, which was located just outside the bathroom Eva stood in.

“Patience, girl!” Eva shouted back, her eyes focused on the mirror in front of her. Focused onherself.

Who is that girl?

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