Read Online Enduring Light by Alyssa Rose Ivy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Alyssa Rose Ivy
Ads: Link
bad it hurt sometimes.
Henry dug his foot into the gravel road. “Maybe it is healthy that you are finally admitting it. James would pay to hear this.”
“For once, I wish he were around. He’d support me on this.”
“He would support you on what? Keeping the Essence away from her Gerard? Not a chance. It is like defying destiny. They belong together whether you like it or not.”
“So I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life—my ridiculously long life—watching the girl I love be with someone else?”
“Love? Wow, Liam. That is a big word.”
“It’s true. I’ve been in love with her since we were kids.” I found a new rock to kick. Once I started being honest, I couldn’t stop.
“Does she know? Did you ever tell her?”
“What does it matter? Wouldn’t it defy fate?”
“It would. I just wondered. I think she is in love with you, too, but it is not enough. You are not her Gerard. It is a feat in itself that you are on her Guard at all.”
“A feat?”
“A non-Energo man a Guardian? Unbelievable.”
I gave up on the rock. “She kissed me. Before she left for Alaska, she kissed me. I’m almost positive that’s what started it all.”
“I take it you have thought of that kiss often?”
“Way too much.” I’d stared at her stupidly afterward. By the time I could come up with the courage to talk to her about it, she’d already left.
“You sound like one of those men from Rachel’s books.”
“I didn’t realize you read romance books, Henry.”
He punched my arm. “I do not read them. She just talks about them. At least I am not losing my head over a girl.”
“No, you’re just missing one.”
“True. Very true.” He patted my back again. “Get some sleep, Liam.”
“I can’t.”
“You have to. You need your strength. Your job is to protect Charlotte, and you cannot do that job if you do not rest.”
His logic made some sense. If I couldn’t be with her, I was still going to protect her. I wasn’t sure what part of me, the Guardian or the personal, realized that. “All right, thanks.”
“Anytime. See you in the morning.”
I nodded and headed back inside the house. There was no way I was going to actually sleep, but standing outside wasn’t helping either. I was so busy moping that I ran right into Charlotte on the stairs. “Char? What are you doing up?” She was walking around alone at night? Wasn’t Calvin supposed to be watching her?
“I… uh… need the bathroom, and there isn’t one.”
“Oh. Do you want me to walk with you somewhere?”
She made a disgusted face. “Umm, no.”
“I’m not going to watch you, but you can’t walk around alone.”
She rested a hand on the worn wooden railing. “I don’t get why they live like this. They have the technology for modern plumbing here.”
I forced myself to smile as I turned around to head back downstairs. “Maybe that can be your first act as ruler when we get rid of Blake. Modern plumbing in all residences.”
She laughed that light, carefree laugh she hardly ever used anymore. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard in ages.”
Really? Better than Calvin’s idea to spend the night together? I kept my mouth shut. I held open the door for her, and we walked back outside.
“Charlotte? What are you doing out here?” Henry asked.
“She needs to use the bathroom.” I wasn’t going to make her say it again.
“Why did you not just use a chamber pot? There has to be one in your room.”
“Not a chance. I’d rather go in the woods.”
Henry picked up his lantern and walked over to us. “Does Calvin know you left your room?”
I glared at Henry. “She doesn’t have to alert Calvin of her every move.”
“She cannot be unprotected. Put your personal feelings aside.” Henry handed her the lantern.
“Does she look
Henry dug his foot into the gravel road. “Maybe it is healthy that you are finally admitting it. James would pay to hear this.”
“For once, I wish he were around. He’d support me on this.”
“He would support you on what? Keeping the Essence away from her Gerard? Not a chance. It is like defying destiny. They belong together whether you like it or not.”
“So I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life—my ridiculously long life—watching the girl I love be with someone else?”
“Love? Wow, Liam. That is a big word.”
“It’s true. I’ve been in love with her since we were kids.” I found a new rock to kick. Once I started being honest, I couldn’t stop.
“Does she know? Did you ever tell her?”
“What does it matter? Wouldn’t it defy fate?”
“It would. I just wondered. I think she is in love with you, too, but it is not enough. You are not her Gerard. It is a feat in itself that you are on her Guard at all.”
“A feat?”
“A non-Energo man a Guardian? Unbelievable.”
I gave up on the rock. “She kissed me. Before she left for Alaska, she kissed me. I’m almost positive that’s what started it all.”
“I take it you have thought of that kiss often?”
“Way too much.” I’d stared at her stupidly afterward. By the time I could come up with the courage to talk to her about it, she’d already left.
“You sound like one of those men from Rachel’s books.”
“I didn’t realize you read romance books, Henry.”
He punched my arm. “I do not read them. She just talks about them. At least I am not losing my head over a girl.”
“No, you’re just missing one.”
“True. Very true.” He patted my back again. “Get some sleep, Liam.”
“I can’t.”
“You have to. You need your strength. Your job is to protect Charlotte, and you cannot do that job if you do not rest.”
His logic made some sense. If I couldn’t be with her, I was still going to protect her. I wasn’t sure what part of me, the Guardian or the personal, realized that. “All right, thanks.”
“Anytime. See you in the morning.”
I nodded and headed back inside the house. There was no way I was going to actually sleep, but standing outside wasn’t helping either. I was so busy moping that I ran right into Charlotte on the stairs. “Char? What are you doing up?” She was walking around alone at night? Wasn’t Calvin supposed to be watching her?
“I… uh… need the bathroom, and there isn’t one.”
“Oh. Do you want me to walk with you somewhere?”
She made a disgusted face. “Umm, no.”
“I’m not going to watch you, but you can’t walk around alone.”
She rested a hand on the worn wooden railing. “I don’t get why they live like this. They have the technology for modern plumbing here.”
I forced myself to smile as I turned around to head back downstairs. “Maybe that can be your first act as ruler when we get rid of Blake. Modern plumbing in all residences.”
She laughed that light, carefree laugh she hardly ever used anymore. “That’s the best idea I’ve heard in ages.”
Really? Better than Calvin’s idea to spend the night together? I kept my mouth shut. I held open the door for her, and we walked back outside.
“Charlotte? What are you doing out here?” Henry asked.
“She needs to use the bathroom.” I wasn’t going to make her say it again.
“Why did you not just use a chamber pot? There has to be one in your room.”
“Not a chance. I’d rather go in the woods.”
Henry picked up his lantern and walked over to us. “Does Calvin know you left your room?”
I glared at Henry. “She doesn’t have to alert Calvin of her every move.”
“She cannot be unprotected. Put your personal feelings aside.” Henry handed her the lantern.
“Does she look
Similar Books
