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Just as they had danced in these woods below ground as Sadie and River. “When we go outside, pretend we’re back there now,” she murmured, releasing his wrist. “Beneath those stars, in those woods. You and I and our dreams.”
“Anything you wish, my sweet nightmare,” he purred. But in his eyes, she could see his fear, fear that he would hurt her. But her fear was stronger, the fear that she knew she would hurt him.
Sadie opened the window so they could crawl out, just as she used to do in Salem when she would meet him during the night. Charlie was still in the kitchen, but she didn’t stop to rush into the room to call her back, to tell her to quit being reckless. Sadie could defend herself, and if she needed Charlie, she would scream for her because she wasn’t taking River far.
“So, this is where you planned to lure me?” he drawled. “Just outside the window?”
“Yes.” She grinned, glancing at the trees, their cracks, knowing they soon wouldn’t be able to hold. “Apparently, they will be listening to us.”
“Good,” he said. “I like an audience.” With quick motions, he lifted Sadie and pressed her back against the cabin.
A heat spread through her, and they both cast their gazes up at the stars. “Make a wish,” she said.
He followed her stare, peering at the clusters of white flecks. “Done.” He brought his head down, capturing her mouth with his.
“You didn’t give me time to do mine.” Sadie laughed against his mouth. But then she made her wish, wished that at some point she would reunite with River again, not be apart from him for all eternity. But maybe that was what they deserved… “Done.” She kissed him back, and in that single kiss, she knew there would never be another like him. No matter the life. No matter the time. No matter their wickedness or their goodness.
They didn’t bother to remove their clothing as he unbuttoned his pants and freed himself. River hiked up her skirt, sliding her panties to the side. He then glided along her center before burying himself inside her, making them both moan.
As he thrust, as she gripped his hair, as they kissed hard and deep, a whirlwind of emotions bloomed inside her, melancholic and beautiful. It was as if the silk curtains were being drawn closed to a story, a film. Their story.
“I love you,” he ground out as his pace picked up, the friction growing stronger, his hands digging into her just as much as hers were into him.
And then bliss tore through her, ripping a groan from her at the same time a growl escaped him. Their chests heaved together, and he remained buried inside her, kissing her forehead with his.
“I love you,” she said as he slowly slipped out of her and lowered her to the ground. “But I need to tell you something, River.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” He shrugged. “I see it in your eyes. I already know I’m becoming one of them. I feel it. That hollowness, the darkness marked on my aura spreading.”
Sadie threw her arms around him, murmuring into his chest, speaking to his heart. “Charlie uncovered how to break the spell. There’s a side of me that wants to be reckless, steal you away.” She could take him right now, keep on running through these woods, lock him in the shed, even when he changed into a malevolent spirit. A world without him wouldn’t be a world at all. But she couldn’t. Charlie’s wards wouldn’t hold him in, and he wouldn’t want this for himself or the child Charlie was carrying. “I don’t care if you were one of those vile spirits—I would love you just the same.”
He lifted her chin with steady fingers, not a twitch or tremble of nervousness there. “What do you have to do?”
Yet her entire body did tremble. “I have to kill you.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“When we die, will we shine as bright as the stars, or will we burn?”
“Do it,” River demanded. There was no hesitation in his words. He slid his hands to her face, cupping her cheeks, the pad of his thumb brushing away her tears. “Do it. If I could do it myself again, I would. I wish it would have saved you before.”
Sadie slowly nodded. She had tucked the dagger into her boot, but she refused to let the spirits have whatever remained when she took his life. “Not here. Let’s go back inside.”
“Wherever you wish.”
She inhaled the crisp air and climbed through the window with River behind her. Just as he closed the glass, Charlie appeared in the doorway, the notebook of spells in her hand. “You could’ve left through the front door.” She rolled her eyes.
Sadie took the notebook from her sister’s hands, her gaze poring over it. “Did you find anything?”
Charlie pursed her lips, and that was the only answer she needed. “I’m sorry, River.”
“I always did like you, Charlie.” The last word came out a groan, and he hunched over, his skin turning a light shade of silver.
Sadie jolted forward, grabbing him by the shoulder to bring him to the bed. He whirled around, knocking her to the floor. Charlie chanted, and River froze, his body jerking to a stop before he broke free from her spell, lunging for Sadie.
Charlie yanked him back by the shirt, and Sadie took hold of his left arm, forcing him to the mattress as he writhed.
“I suggest not untying him again and making a decision because he has no time left,” Charlie hissed through her teeth while tying his wrist.
