Read Online Whisper of Souls: A Prophecy of the Sisters Novella by Michelle Zink - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michelle Zink
Ads: Link
Adelaide’s heart hurt for all he had sacrificed on her behalf.
She smiled as he shut the door behind him.
“You’ve come,” he said, crossing the room.
“Of course. I said I would.”
He nodded, and she watched him undress, his body still fine and strong, lit by the flames flickering in the firebox. He laid his clothing carefully across the settee and made his way to the bed.
“Good evening, my beautiful wife,” he whispered, taking her in his arms.
She smiled against his chest, running her hands along his muscled back. “Good evening, my handsome husband.”
He pulled back, studying her face.
“What are you looking at?” she asked, embarrassed.
“You,” he whispered.
“Me? Whatever for?”
He ran his fingers through her hair, his hands traveling to her brow, down the rise of her cheek.
“Because you’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.” His voice was gruff.
She playfully pushed him. “Stop, now. You’re embarrassing me with this talk.”
He moved closer, his body pressed against hers beneath the coverlet, his face only inches away. Her pulse quickened, the heat traveling from his body to hers until she felt her face flush with it.
Then his lips were on hers.
At first, his kiss was gentle, but it was not long before his mouth became more urgent, his body tight with passion.
She gave herself over to him. His hands explored her body, hot fingers branding her skin, as if he was rediscovering every inch of her. She let the passion build between them, letting go of everything but the feel of him next to her, the perfect rightness of it, both a reunion and a goodbye.
Later, she lay with him while he slept. She stroked his hair, silky under her fingertips as if he were still a boy. She studied his face, memorizing the impossibly dark eyelashes, the curve of his jaw. She closed her eyes, believing just for a moment that his strong arms around her were enough.
Then she rose from the bed, careful not to wake him, and put on her nightdress. She did not allow herself to look back as she crossed the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
The girls were asleep when she entered their room. Lia’s arms rested neatly over the coverlet, while Alice’s were flung about, her hair a tangle of curls.
A sad smile touched Adelaide’s lips. How like them both. Lia, calm and reasoned, even in sleep. Alice, impetuous and passionate.
Adelaide moved across the room, sitting on the end of the bed. She studied her daughters. They were beautiful, and she wondered what life would bring them. Not simply the prophecy, but life itself. Would they find men as strong and loving as Thomas? Someone who would love them in spite of their place in the prophecy? Would they find their way to Altus, to the legacy that was theirs? Would they, too, watch their daughters in the dark of night, worrying about their futures? Or would one of them accomplish that which had eluded the Sisters for centuries and close the Gate once and for all?
There was no way to know, but Adelaide would watch from afar. She would watch and offer her assistance—to both her daughters—should it be required. She would send her love across space and time and hope they would feel it in their darkest hours.
Rising, she moved to the head of the bed. She wanted to touch her daughters, to feel their smooth, porcelain skin under her fingertips one last time, but she didn’t want to wake them. She fingered a lock of Lia’s hair before bending to kiss her forehead.
“Good night, my sweet,” she whispered.
She straightened and moved to the other side of the bed. Her heart hurt for Alice. Though she knew Lia would struggle in her role, it was Alice with whom she could most empathize, for while Lia seemed oblivious to the presence of the Souls, Adelaide could almost feel the bond they had forged with Alice. Perhaps they even whispered to her while she slept, as they had to Adelaide for as long as she could remember.
And yet now, as she slept
She smiled as he shut the door behind him.
“You’ve come,” he said, crossing the room.
“Of course. I said I would.”
He nodded, and she watched him undress, his body still fine and strong, lit by the flames flickering in the firebox. He laid his clothing carefully across the settee and made his way to the bed.
“Good evening, my beautiful wife,” he whispered, taking her in his arms.
She smiled against his chest, running her hands along his muscled back. “Good evening, my handsome husband.”
He pulled back, studying her face.
“What are you looking at?” she asked, embarrassed.
“You,” he whispered.
“Me? Whatever for?”
He ran his fingers through her hair, his hands traveling to her brow, down the rise of her cheek.
“Because you’re the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.” His voice was gruff.
She playfully pushed him. “Stop, now. You’re embarrassing me with this talk.”
He moved closer, his body pressed against hers beneath the coverlet, his face only inches away. Her pulse quickened, the heat traveling from his body to hers until she felt her face flush with it.
Then his lips were on hers.
At first, his kiss was gentle, but it was not long before his mouth became more urgent, his body tight with passion.
She gave herself over to him. His hands explored her body, hot fingers branding her skin, as if he was rediscovering every inch of her. She let the passion build between them, letting go of everything but the feel of him next to her, the perfect rightness of it, both a reunion and a goodbye.
Later, she lay with him while he slept. She stroked his hair, silky under her fingertips as if he were still a boy. She studied his face, memorizing the impossibly dark eyelashes, the curve of his jaw. She closed her eyes, believing just for a moment that his strong arms around her were enough.
Then she rose from the bed, careful not to wake him, and put on her nightdress. She did not allow herself to look back as she crossed the room and closed the door quietly behind her.
The girls were asleep when she entered their room. Lia’s arms rested neatly over the coverlet, while Alice’s were flung about, her hair a tangle of curls.
A sad smile touched Adelaide’s lips. How like them both. Lia, calm and reasoned, even in sleep. Alice, impetuous and passionate.
Adelaide moved across the room, sitting on the end of the bed. She studied her daughters. They were beautiful, and she wondered what life would bring them. Not simply the prophecy, but life itself. Would they find men as strong and loving as Thomas? Someone who would love them in spite of their place in the prophecy? Would they find their way to Altus, to the legacy that was theirs? Would they, too, watch their daughters in the dark of night, worrying about their futures? Or would one of them accomplish that which had eluded the Sisters for centuries and close the Gate once and for all?
There was no way to know, but Adelaide would watch from afar. She would watch and offer her assistance—to both her daughters—should it be required. She would send her love across space and time and hope they would feel it in their darkest hours.
Rising, she moved to the head of the bed. She wanted to touch her daughters, to feel their smooth, porcelain skin under her fingertips one last time, but she didn’t want to wake them. She fingered a lock of Lia’s hair before bending to kiss her forehead.
“Good night, my sweet,” she whispered.
She straightened and moved to the other side of the bed. Her heart hurt for Alice. Though she knew Lia would struggle in her role, it was Alice with whom she could most empathize, for while Lia seemed oblivious to the presence of the Souls, Adelaide could almost feel the bond they had forged with Alice. Perhaps they even whispered to her while she slept, as they had to Adelaide for as long as she could remember.
And yet now, as she slept
Similar Books
