“We aren’t defined by our positions in life,” she whispered, her voice beginning to waver. “But by the choices we make within those positions.”
She bit her bottom lip, using her free hand to push the hair out of her face and for a moment Evren was disappointed he hadn’t done that himself.
“I was born an Enchantress. Given a gift, whether or not I wanted it. But I used that gift to bring joy. Happiness.” She looked around her greenhouse.
Evren’s eyes never left her face.
“You have a choice too, Evren.” She looked at him again. “And I think you’re realizing that. How long has it been since you’ve had a drink?”
The way she said his name made his breath catch in his lungs. In fact, everything about her made his breath catch. Her beauty. Her kindness. But more than anything, her words. Her words had found their way into his heart. His soul. They’d shown him that what he had done wasn’twhohe was. And he could change that. He could changeeverything.
“The day you hurt your shoulder,” he said, “I had a drink right before I found you.”
He could admit that his mind felt lighter, but it was his body that still felt he’d betrayed it. Still ached and craved and screamed for the cursed liquid.
“I wish I could say I didn’t miss it,” he admitted.
She nodded slowly.
“It’s not much but?—”
“It is, Evren.” She gripped his hand. “It’s extraordinary. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for, Evren.”
He smiled, his hand blooming with heat where their skin still connected. There she went again, saying things to him he didn’t deserve to hear. He was anything but an extraordinary man, but for her, he’d try. “I’ve made a lot of poor choices in my life, Enchantress,” he whispered, keeping his grip on her hand like steel. “I think it’s about time I finally made a good one.”
Fourteen
Tallulah didn’t move.She didn’t want to risk Evren letting her hand go. So she remained still, savoring the heat of his touch and the balm of his words. She waited for her mind to scream at her to run. That he was her enemy. That he hurt people just like her for a living. But the voice in her head never came. And all she could think about was how many outcomes a life had.
One choice and your life would be altered forever. Leaving you grasping at a future you didn’t even want just because it was something to hold.
She wanted to be angry with Evren. To curse him for all the hurt he’d done. But what good would it do? Wouldn’t showing him kindness and empathy in a life led with cruelty and hate be much more effective? Would he see then just how powerful a choice was?
Evren leaned closer, using his free hand to push the last piece of hair from her face.
Tallulah gasped but didn’t move.
“Sorry,” he whispered, his face so close they shared the same breaths.
He pulled away, leaving her stomach somersaulting. Disappointment warred with confusion as he slipped his hand out of hers.
They hadn’t known each other long. And in that time, they’d tried to kill each other more than once, yet here they were. His words weren’t a confession by any means, but they were something. Weren’t they?
To tell her he was ready to make a change. A choice.
“Will you be warm enough?” He rubbed his hands together, interrupting her wandering thoughts.
She nodded, still unsure of where her voice had gone. Of what she should say.
He smiled, accepting her nod, and moved away from the sofa.
Glancing at the ceiling, snow piled high onto the glass and by sunrise, she was sure it’d be frozen.
“But maybe it would be better if you stayed closer.” She grabbed his arm as her heart threatened to jump out of her chest. “For warmth.”
He looked to where her hand met his arm before meeting her gaze.
“If that’s what you wish.” He slinked back to the sofa.
