Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109329 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 437(@250wpm)___ 364(@300wpm)
Hopefully, she’d soon have some leads. With the conclave winding down and deemed a success by everyone with a vested interest, their attention would quickly turn that way.
He felt her immediately, her luscious energy pulling at his focus. It called to him in a way nothing else, real or imagined, ever had. Lovely Natasha.
His heart quickened as he glanced at the door of his room, wondering if she was passing by on her way down to the kitchen—a midnight snack, perhaps.
But no, the suction of her presence pulled at him from a different location. His…closet?
Understanding dawned. The door into the secret passages. His breath hitched. Was she finally coming around, unable to resist his pull?
Even if she were just here to spy—usually something only Jessie could do, but Ivy House would probably make it happen for Nessa—it was a good sign. It meant she was thinking about him, up late in the dark and quiet house.
A click reverberated in the stillness of the room, followed by the soft swish of a door announcing a visitor. A presence entered, shrouded in glowing orbs of brilliant light, an ethereal being plucked right from his sweetest dreams.
Natasha stepped forward hesitantly, longing in her expression and worry in her eyes.
“Ivy House let me in,” she said quietly, barely disturbing the silence. “I…” She paused for a moment. “I wanted to speak with you.”
Drinking in her beauty, savoring this magnificent sight in case she was about to utter the devastating news of her rejection, he stood silently. He picked up the one chair in the room and placed it to face the window seat. He stood to the side, allowing her to choose her location.
Her energy danced all around her, so vibrant and bright. It had been since she’d helped the Elder. She’d somehow gained a little power, although she hadn’t mentioned it. She probably didn’t realize it herself.
She hesitantly stepped around the chair and sank down onto the window seat. He took the chair and waited patiently, not trusting himself to speak. Not knowing what might come out if he opened his mouth.
She folded her hands into her lap primly.
“I wanted to tell you something,” she said. She swallowed, gathering her nerve. “I worry it might make you think differently of me.”
He didn’t move. His eyes roamed her gorgeous face. There was nothing on this earth or beyond that would ever make him think differently of her.
“When I was young…” She took a deep breath and then launched into the story of her youth—the same events she’d told him in the bar in Evan’s cairn. About being locked in the closet and spending her babysitting money to get Jala, Sebastian’s sister, to the hospital after their uncle had beat Jala within an inch of her life. About the abuse at home from drug-addled parents, something she hadn’t mentioned in the bar, and finally about killing Sebastian and Jala’s uncle.
When she was done, she fell silent, letting the tears roll down her face. She watched him warily, as though waiting for a judge to decide a verdict.
He thought about not telling her that he knew most of this, but he didn’t want to lie to her, even by omission. He never wanted to lie to her. She was someone he wanted to trust with his secrets—with his life.
“I know,” he said into the heavy silence. “You told me that in Evan’s cairn.”
“What?” she said, aghast.
“You remember what I said about embracing your shadows and about making the hard decisions and choosing to be a hero?”
Her body started to tremble. More tears made tracks down her cheeks. She didn’t respond.
“It was because of that story, Natasha. You were a child when all that happened, and you exhibited more bravery than most adults. You chose to be a hero that day—to protect your family. You choose to be a hero each and every day you roll up your sleeves and keep going. I’m proud of you, little deathwatch angel. I’d tell you to put on a cape, like a hero should, but half the territory would assume you were making fun of them.”
Her knuckles turned white as she squeezed her hands together. “Why didn’t you tell me? Or did you assume I remembered?”
“You were embarrassed about your behavior. I didn’t want to possibly embarrass you further if you’d rather not have told me. But there is something I told you that you didn’t remember, either. Something I didn’t have the guts to tell you again.” It was his turn to take a deep breath. “I—”
“No.” She held out her hand to stop him. “No, Tristan. I don’t want to do a secret for a secret. You never need to tell me about your past if it might get you in trouble one day. I trust you now.”
His chest filled with warmth. He had no idea how much he’d longed to hear that. How important it was.