Page 158 of His Darkest Desire

If only Vex had waited, if only he had talked to her…

But she knew why he’d done it. He’d sacrificed his own happiness so Kinsley could have her life and family back. If only he had realized that he was the life she would’ve chosen above all else.

Releasing a shuddering breath, Kinsley opened her eyes and looked at the wisps. “I have something to tell Vex, and since I can’t speak to him myself, I need you three to be my messengers.”

“What would you have these ones say?” asked Echo.

“First, that he’s an asshole. And that I am very, very angry with him.”

A soft rustle of laughter came from Flare.

“But tell him that I love him anyway,” Kinsley continued. “And that I’m not leaving. I’m staying right here, waiting for him. So his plan to give me freedom was stupid and pointless.”

“Waiting for him?” Echo tilted their head. “This one understands not.”

“The curse remains,” Shade said. “The magus and these ones will not be freed.”

“Not yet. I have one more thing for you to tell him.” Kinsley smiled at them and placed a hand on her belly. “I’m pregnant.”

The wisps brightened and swelled.

Flare’s ghostfire danced. “You are with child?”

Kinsley nodded. “I think when Vex saved me, he healed my body completely. If…if there are no complications, our baby will be born in the summer, and you will all be free.”

They twirled around her in a rush. Kinsley could feel their joy; it settled warmly within her as they pressed themselves against her chest and she hugged them close.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Vex set a stack of books atop the table with a thump. Their shadow, softened by the glow of the wall-mounted crystals, stretched long over the table’s surface.

Something heavy twisted in his gut, coiling through him and sinking into place. It dragged him down, down, down…

Down to the ritual chamber. It insisted he go there. Insisted he belonged there.

Clenching his jaw, he lifted the first book off the stack. Bound in faded red leather, it had been etched with words that had nearly faded over the long years. But he knew it well. He’d read it over and over again, had committed the recipes for potions and tinctures it contained to memory.

He set the book atop another stack upon the table, one filled with tomes regarding brewing and alchemy.

A small, pale-skinned hand settled on the next book from the pile in front of Vex. Beautiful, delicate fingers, capable not only of gentleness but surprising strength and deftness, caressed the cover and brushed along the spine before plucking the book up.

Vex’s heart pounded, loud but hollow. He lifted his gaze to see Kinsley, his lovely, radiant mate, examining the tome in her hands.

“What about this one?” she asked, turning those brilliant blue-violet eyes toward him. Her voice was faint, haunting, coming to him from across a rift in time.

Vex opened his mouth. That insidious thing within him squeezed, constricting his chest and choking off whatever response he’d been about to offer.

His reply instead came from behind him. His own voice, echoing across the eternity that had passed since this exchange between himself and Kinsley had occurred.

“Beasts of the Blademarshes,” said the Vex of long ago. “A place in the realm of my birth.”

Kinsley smiled. “I think I’ll enjoy this one.”

Molten heat flooded Vex’s heart, but it was surrounded by such terrible, impenetrable cold—cold that only strengthened when Kinsley stepped away from the table and vanished like a candle’s flame snuffed out by a soft breath.

He felt the invisible tether binding him to his mate pull taut, demanding he follow her. That tether had not once slackened since yesterday morning.

And Vex could not follow her.

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