Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 244(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 163(@300wpm)
“Z,” she sighs between my lips, and the once endearing nickname has me backing away from her just an inch to meet her gaze, my heart filling with hope at the need in her voice.
“Say the word and we’ll be back at the residence in seconds,” I say, my chest heaving, the blood thrumming through my veins with one distinct demand—bite, claim.
She blinks a few times, as if some fog has cleared from her mind. Her eyes snap to the display cases, and she gently pushes me away. “It's gone,” she says, motioning to where the statue had been moments ago. The case was now empty, and none of the patrons seemed to have noticed it was taken.
We both scan the area for any sign of Conrad, but there is none.
“Shit,” she snaps. “I should’ve grabbed him. I should’ve taken him, and damn the consequences. Who gives a shit if I caused a scene if we had him? If you hadn't distracted me—”
“Me?” I cut her off, unable to hold back my smile. “You're the one who kissed me. How can you be mad at me?”
“He would’ve recognized me and started up the damn cat and mouse game we’ve been playing for months,” she says, shaking her head. “Don't flatter yourself. That kiss was part of the mission. One I thought we still had a chance at completing up until two seconds ago.”
I step closer to her, sliding my hand along her lower back and damn near shuddering when she doesn't immediately pull away.
“It wasn't for me,” I say, already gathering my magic to wend us back to the residence, knowing that we’ve failed our operation, but have taken one step closer toward reconciliation whether she wants to admit it or not. “It wasn't part of the mission for me,” I reiterate. “Nothing with you will ever be just part of the mission. Because I'm still fully and wholly in love with you.”
CHAPTER 6
Talia
“Because I'm still fully and wholly in love with you.” Zachariah’s words echo in my mind as he wends us back to the king's residence, appearing just outside my current quarters.
My heart clenches, stinging like he’s just twisted the knife that’s been lodged there for centuries.
I stare up into his eyes for a moment, contemplating how he can say such a declaration and yet completely ignore the betrayal and hurt he delivered all those years ago.
The pain from that loss radiates throughout my body, giving me exactly enough strength to step out of his embrace, shoving him a little when his hands linger on my arms.
“Don't worry, it'll fade,” I say, packing as much disdain as I can into the statement even though it’s a complete and bold-faced lie.
It’s never faded for me.
It merely morphed into something painfully tangible, a visceral haunting that plagues me on a nightly basis.
“How can you be so cruel?” Zachariah asks, genuine remorse and shock shaping his features.
I swallow the lump in my throat, glancing around the hallway only to find it empty with no outlet for a distraction, no excuse I can use to get out of this conversation.
“You have some nerve calling me cruel, Zachariah,” I say, folding my arms over my chest like that might protect my heart. “It's been centuries for me,” I continue. “And been what, two years for you?” I ask, having gathered pieces of the past from my conversations with the girls.
Zachariah tilts his head, that look on his face he gets when he’s about to correct me. “More like two years plus five months. Ajax did his whole time-stop thing so we could catch up—”
“Same difference,” I cut him off, rolling my eyes. “The exact math doesn't matter. What does matter?” I take a step closer to him, letting every inch of fury be unmasked on my face as I look up at him. “You were blissfully unaware for centuries, in a likely heavy and dreamless sleep in stasis while I was left right exactly here.”
Tears threaten to fall from my eyes, but I do my best to hold them back. I've done so much crying over the male before me, and I honestly thought that was all behind me. But one look at him, one listen to his lyrical voice, one hint of his scent, and I'm right back where I started—a girl, hopelessly in love.
“You were asleep,” I continue, doing my best to not let my voice break. “And I was here. Living every second of every night with what you did to me. With what you chose without giving me a chance—”
“I left a letter,” Zachariah cuts over me, his eyes imploring. “Talia, I thought I was protecting—”
“Don't,” I stop him. “Don't you dare bring up that letter to me. You damn well know it wasn't enough. And it sure as hell wasn't fair.”