can’t steal it and use it again. And...” Collin started to say something, but I cut him off, “I know you don’t want it. No one in their right mind would want to use the stone after meeting people who have.” I laughed nervously. “And they were angels, Collin. Angels. Lorren and Eric’s lives got ripped to pieces. They’re suspended in constant agony for using the Stone. And here I am acting like I can do it and pay the price.” I shook my head. At best it was suicide. And at worst... Oh, God, I didn’t want to think about what the worst could be. I doubted Lorren or Eric could have ever dreamed up their curse. And here I was, getting in line to use the Stone for a third time. I didn’t want to. I looked up at Collin, “What choice do I have?”
Collin’s gaze rested on my face for a moment, before he reached for me and cradled me in his arms. “You always have a choice,” he smiled against the top of my head, “you’re the only person who doesn’t see it.”
I pulled away from him, shocked, “You think joining Kreturus is a choice? Are you insane? You were forced to be his slave for eternity. How can you say that?”
He reached for my face, brushing his thumb along my cheek. He leaned closer and looked down into my eyes. “Many people don’t have the heart it takes to do what’s right. Most people wouldn’t knowingly sacrifice themselves to save someone else. And yet, here you stand, not even considering another option.” He glanced away, breaking our gaze. When he finally spoke again, he asked, “So, your powers revealed something about him—something that I couldn’t see?” I nodded. “Hmm. And I’m supposed to let him beat you and not do anything?” I nodded again. He laughed and shook his head. With a heavy sigh, he finally answered, “That’s why you don’t, fight back. That’s why you let him treat you that way, isn’t it?” I nodded once. It was a fact. A fact that I would change if I could. But at this stage in life, accepting it was all I could do. Collin was silent for a long time. His heart beat rhythmically in his chest.
With a deep breath, he finally said, “I don’t understand, but I trust you. I trust this is important for a reason I can’t comprehend. I can’t say I won’t do anything if he hurts you...” I started to protest, but Collin put a finger on my lip to silence me, “But I promise that I’ll do the best I can. That’s all I can offer.”
A moment passed. And then two. Collin’s gaze fixated on my mouth. My lips parted slightly, as a breath slipped out of my body. His hands moved around my waist, sliding to the small of my back as he pulled me to him. The hollow place inside my chest felt like it was going to explode. I should feel something. Some lust. Some anger. Some need to feel his hands on me—but there was nothing. Just a hollow ache telling me that part of me was dead, forever missing.
Before I could stop him, Collin pressed his lips to mine. Lorren said I wouldn’t be able to kiss him again without taking my soul back, but nothing happened. That part of me seemed dormant, dead like every other desire within me. So, I allowed it and let the kiss linger wishing I could feel something. My fingers moved over toned muscles and up the curve of his arm to Collin’s neck.
I pressed my lips against his, opening my mouth for him to taste me. And he did. I should have swooned. I should have melted. But I didn’t. My fingers tangled in his silky hair as he kissed me. My eyes were closed tight, wishing I could feel something—anything. It was so lonely, all the time. Being denied touch, the emotions and sensations that went with it, was cruel. And yet, I’d chosen this. I’d chosen to not feel his hands on my body or taste his lips when they touched mine. I’d killed the bond between us, deafening it until it was so weak and muted that it no longer existed. Collin was my soul mate, but I felt nothing at all.
When I couldn’t
Collin’s gaze rested on my face for a moment, before he reached for me and cradled me in his arms. “You always have a choice,” he smiled against the top of my head, “you’re the only person who doesn’t see it.”
I pulled away from him, shocked, “You think joining Kreturus is a choice? Are you insane? You were forced to be his slave for eternity. How can you say that?”
He reached for my face, brushing his thumb along my cheek. He leaned closer and looked down into my eyes. “Many people don’t have the heart it takes to do what’s right. Most people wouldn’t knowingly sacrifice themselves to save someone else. And yet, here you stand, not even considering another option.” He glanced away, breaking our gaze. When he finally spoke again, he asked, “So, your powers revealed something about him—something that I couldn’t see?” I nodded. “Hmm. And I’m supposed to let him beat you and not do anything?” I nodded again. He laughed and shook his head. With a heavy sigh, he finally answered, “That’s why you don’t, fight back. That’s why you let him treat you that way, isn’t it?” I nodded once. It was a fact. A fact that I would change if I could. But at this stage in life, accepting it was all I could do. Collin was silent for a long time. His heart beat rhythmically in his chest.
With a deep breath, he finally said, “I don’t understand, but I trust you. I trust this is important for a reason I can’t comprehend. I can’t say I won’t do anything if he hurts you...” I started to protest, but Collin put a finger on my lip to silence me, “But I promise that I’ll do the best I can. That’s all I can offer.”
A moment passed. And then two. Collin’s gaze fixated on my mouth. My lips parted slightly, as a breath slipped out of my body. His hands moved around my waist, sliding to the small of my back as he pulled me to him. The hollow place inside my chest felt like it was going to explode. I should feel something. Some lust. Some anger. Some need to feel his hands on me—but there was nothing. Just a hollow ache telling me that part of me was dead, forever missing.
Before I could stop him, Collin pressed his lips to mine. Lorren said I wouldn’t be able to kiss him again without taking my soul back, but nothing happened. That part of me seemed dormant, dead like every other desire within me. So, I allowed it and let the kiss linger wishing I could feel something. My fingers moved over toned muscles and up the curve of his arm to Collin’s neck.
I pressed my lips against his, opening my mouth for him to taste me. And he did. I should have swooned. I should have melted. But I didn’t. My fingers tangled in his silky hair as he kissed me. My eyes were closed tight, wishing I could feel something—anything. It was so lonely, all the time. Being denied touch, the emotions and sensations that went with it, was cruel. And yet, I’d chosen this. I’d chosen to not feel his hands on my body or taste his lips when they touched mine. I’d killed the bond between us, deafening it until it was so weak and muted that it no longer existed. Collin was my soul mate, but I felt nothing at all.
When I couldn’t
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