Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112056 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 374(@300wpm)
“I asked Selix to buy two of the best they had. It’s your choice which you prefer—”
“Wait.” My fingers latched around the case’s neck. “Two?”
She nodded, pointing at a shadow tucked by one of the lifeboats. “Yes. I didn’t know how or what to look for.” Her voice dropped, threading a little with panic. “I know I can never replace your old one. And it’s not my intention to overshadow it in any way. I just…I know how you feel about music, and I hate that it was stolen from you the same night as I was.”
She looked up, her eyes blazing with love. “You found me and fought for me. The least I could do was give you back your music. I hated it for so long. I cursed every note and song every minute of my life with him, but with you…you healed that part of me, and I actually miss hearing you play.”
I couldn’t speak as I rested the box against the wall and cupped her cheek. My hand shook with awe that she’d overcome one of her worst fears just for me and then somehow found a way to give me something I would never have been able to buy for myself.
“Thank you, Tasmin.”
She gasped as I bent to kiss her.
I kissed her with gratefulness and worship and every other little emotion falling in love with her had made me suffer.
She pulled away, resting her hand on my forearm. “Will you open them? I want to see what they look like.”
I laughed softly. “You haven’t looked?”
“No. It didn’t feel right. They’re yours. You should be the first to see.”
“How the hell did you become this creature?” Clutching her close again, I tucked breeze-teased strands behind her ear. “You’re the best person I’ve ever met, and I can’t believe you’re mine.”
This time, I kissed her with passion and frustration and a thread of anger that she’d bought me two very expensive gifts when all I’d ever done was give her origami figurines or make her steal a dictionary and hotel spoon.
Pulling away, I kissed the tip of her nose. “I don’t deserve you. I’ll never fucking deserve you.”
I wanted to ask where she’d got the money from. I needed to know how she’d done this, but at the same time, I didn’t want to be rude and delve into secrets she hadn’t told me. I’d tried stripping her of her secrets at the start and look how that’d turned out. I’d hurt her instead of healed her.
I promised I wouldn’t do that again.
“Please.” She pushed me toward the awaiting cellos. “Open them.”
It physically hurt to look away from her, but I did as she asked and ran my hands along the case reclining against the wall. Holding my breath, I cracked open the latches and lifted the lid.
Inside was a stunning black-lacquered cello with bronze scroll, pegs, bridge, and tail spike. The strings had never been played; the bronze bow nestled in cream velvet begged me to be the first.
Pim stood beside me as I gawked at such a gorgeous instrument.
I’d never think anything but fondly for the beaten up second-hand cello my father had bought me, but the craftsmanship of this machine promised whatever I played would be almost magical.
Pim drifted away, ducking to the other case and manhandling it upright. Spot tried to help, licking her hands and sniffing everything.
Striding toward her, I helped her put it upright. Once in position, I opened the lid.
I stopped breathing.
The polar opposite of the black one I’d just fallen in love with winked beneath the stars. White lacquer gleamed with silver scroll and accents, its bow sleek as a sword and just as lethal.
Night and day. Land and sea.
Both were stunning. Both would’ve cost a fortune.
“Why did you spend so much on me?” I turned to face her, my heart pounding like a drum.
She pressed herself against me, her body heat intoxicating and adding more flames to the fire inside. “Because you never understood what sort of gift you gave me with every origami you folded, every kiss you gave, every safety you wrapped me in. I can only buy you something tangible, but you gave me so many things that can’t be seen or touched. You gave me my freedom, Elder Prest, and that is worth so much more than what money can buy.”
I turned weak. My knees shook for everything she was. “But don’t you see? You’ve repaid me ten times, no, a thousand times over. I’m already well in your debt, little mouse.”
Slotting herself into me, she kissed my chest. “I’ll never be able to repay you, and there are no debts between us. Please, just accept the cellos, accept me, accept my gratitude. Let me say thank you…for everything.”
EPILOGUE
Epilogue
______________________________
Elder
* * FOUR MONTHS LATER * *