Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“Alaric! I knew you’d be coming to see me today.” Her voice was thready and weak, sending a pang of heavy emotion to weigh down his heart. “Jude brought me a pretty new ribbon for my hair today—what do you think?”
He smiled at the bright purple ribbon holding back her long snow-white hair. “I’ll have to thank him before I go.”
“I did enough for both of us. Always did love a nice, silky ribbon. Reminds me of a woman I dated in the seventies. Remember Josie? She was a bit too uptight for the long term, but she sure knew what to do with a yard of silk the few times she really loosened up.” Her eyes went misty with memories.
“I remember Josie,” he said softly as he settled into the chair next to her adjustable bed. “You look well today. It’s good to see you.”
“Today is a good day.” She winked. “They gave me the good stuff this morning. Almost felt like I could dance again.”
He chuckled, though he hated that she pretty much lived on pain meds now. He’d do what he could to take away as much of her pain as possible while he was here.
Sammy clapped her hands. “Tell me about your last adventure.”
He did just that, not skimping on any of the details of his fight with the wizards the night before. She knew Finn, who sometimes came along on his visits, but he made sure to paint a vivid picture of the rest of the surroundings.
Worry creased her face. “Is Finn okay? Did you heal him? Those thighs of his are a national treasure and should be preserved for posterity.”
“Since when do you care about men’s thighs?” Alaric smirked at her.
“I have eyes. Besides, I’m used to judging men’s deliciousness on your behalf.” She shifted slightly, winced in pain, then schooled her face quickly. “So did you heal him?”
“Of course I did. He’s a good friend.”
“A best kind of one.”
He gave her a smile. “You’re my best friend.”
“People can have more than one, and I like that you have him. But Alaric…” She paused and smoothed her hands down the blanket over her lap. “You still don’t let him in. Not the way you have me. I worry so much.”
He frowned. “What are you worrying about?”
She stared at him for a few moments. “You keep yourself too alone. I’m not going to be here much longer, and I need to know that you won’t stay alone. Who are you going to have when I’m gone? I know you have a big, wonderful family, but having that one person just for you is just as important. It’s something I never had, and I regret that.” She paused and took a shaky breath. “I’m talking about love. Real love.”
Her words were a punch to his gut, because they both knew they were true—and that she was only still holding on to this realm for him. They’d been best friends for sixty-five years. Never lovers, but closer than family. And now, here they were at the end of her life when in his world, he was still considered young at one hundred and thirty years. His parents had warned him about his close bond to a human, and he often told himself he should have heeded their warning.
But then he wouldn’t have had her in his life, and he’d rather have those sixty-five years of incredible friendship over a lifetime of loneliness. Something he now faced.
Because this time, he knew better than to let himself get this close to another human.
His heart would be protected against love from now on. But he wouldn’t be telling Sammy that. It would break her own.
He did what he could for her pain, then sat with her for hours, relishing every moment they had left. He stayed until her eyes drooped closed. Tucking her in, he studied her wrinkled face before glancing around at all the images of them over the years. There were even pictures of his family members peppering the walls because despite their warning, they’d taken her in and couldn’t help loving her, too. He needed to text their family chat and let them all know they needed to come see her soon. He could sense her life-force, and it was nearly gone.
It was still bright. Still beautiful. But now only a thin, shimmering thread, as delicate as spider silk, connected her to this world. And soon…it would break.
Chapter Three
Ezra
Ezra Forsberg pushed open the door to exit the club and nearly stumbled through it when he caught his bad foot on the threshold.
“Thanks, Father,” he mumbled, using the term his parent had preferred over the more familiar Dad.
Always so fucking formal.
One must never show lack of control.
Something Ezra was so not doing that night. He’d enjoyed maybe a little too much wine.