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My brother’s hands shook, and even from that distance I saw his throat bob as he swallowed. But when Elanil encased one of his fists in her palms, he calmed slightly, enough to let out an uneven exhale.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he walked forward, closer to us, his eyes icy and harsh like frozen water.
Elanil and Ayen stayed rooted to their spot. When Eon saw that Faelyn was walking close to my side—nearingmewith those cold eyes, he took a step to the side and rotated us untilhewas facing my brother, watching his every move and ensuring I was safe behind him.
Faelyn stopped, his eyes looking ahead as he stood in front of my mate.
So much smaller. So much weaker.
And yet he seemed like the biggest threat right now.
“You,” he said, and I became painfully aware that he wasn’t speaking tome. “She’s no longer one of us, but she’s still the only blood I have left.”
My bottom lip quivered, eyes falling shut as I rested my forehead against my mate’s back. Warm tears ran down my face.
My brother took a deep breath. “Keep her alive.”
And as if he had never known me, he continued walking, a quick call to his mate and friend the last I heard from him before he disappeared.
Eon’s muscles stiffened when I sniffled. I wanted to go home—to my home with the safety of my mate’s arms around me and the comfort of his warmth as he held me.
His grasp on my palm tightened, and then he walked, gently pulling me along with him. I stayed close and kept my head down, using my long hair to shield my face.
A few more steps and Eon stopped again. I reluctantly opened my eyes, coming face to face with the saddened gazes of people I once called friends.
Elanil’s eyes were wet, lips trembling just like mine. Her hand extended towards me but stilled. Then, as if she couldn’t stomach the sight of me, she snapped her head to the side and ran away from me.
It was another stab to my chest.
Rejection, no matter how prepared I was for it, was something I wasn’t strong enough to handle.
Ayen was the only one left, and I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t. I couldn’t lift my head again and feel that sharp sting.
When I saw his feet move, I hurriedly closed my eyes, telling myself that his disappearance from my life was as expected as my brother abandoning me. But then something warm touched my head, patting once, twice, slowly and kindly as if to sayI’ll be with you no matter where you go.But that warmth did leave, and those footsteps sounded far away, and when I opened my eyes and spun around, he was no longer there.
Happiness wasn’t cheap. It came at a price, and my happiness had cost me everything and everyone I had once known.
Eon carried me with his free arm, holding me close and walking unhurriedly as he allowed me to bury my face in his neck and cry until I could only sniffle and gasp for breath.
When I opened my eyes again, I was sitting on his lap inside our peaceful home.
He looked pained, an expression I couldn’t remember seeing on his beautiful face. Eon dipped low and rested his forehead against mine, lightly brushing my nose with his. His scent suddenly engulfed me, and I closed my eyes, breathing it in quickly and deeply, gulping when I could just abouttasteit on my tongue.
His hands were on my face, thumbs softly stroking the skin under my eyes to wipe my tears away.
My arms went around his neck, spine straightening as I sat up higher, lips quivering as I released my sorrow.
And then his warm lips were caressing mine, kissing me so tenderly.A muffled sound of an emotion I couldn’t describe echoed at the back of my throat. It was a cross between anguish and peace, something so bittersweet it made my chest ache.
Eon held me with patient care, lips moving slowly, full of devotion as if to sayyou have mebecause he was with me, and he was comforting me, doing his best to erase my pain with his sweet kisses and calming touches.
This was the reason I left my family.
And I held that reason with all my might, keeping him close, silently telling himyou’re the only thing that mattersbecause as long as he was there, with me, with his arms around me and his lips smiling even as he kissed me, I had nothing to cry about.
My chest filled with a mixture of emotions: sadness because rejection hurt; happiness because home was sweet; desire because life was beautiful.
Eon didn’t mind that I was on top, didn’t mind that I directed one of his hands to my skirt, keeping the other pressed to my left cheek. He obeyed without complaint, removing our clothes until we were both nothing but bare, raw need.
