Page 69 of Awakened Light

“Any chance you could try to run a locator spell on Leeya and that shit brother Leith before you go?” Annella asked. “I still haven’t gotten my payback yet.”

“Unless you got a possession of theirs while we were gone, unfortunately, I still can’t help you out there.”

“Worth a try.” Annella clucked her cheek. “But don’t worry. I’ll find them anyway.”

The intensity in those fiery blue eyes of hers erased any doubt that she would find them... and I pitied anyone on the receiving end of her wrath.

“We’ll miss you, Catrain,” Aiden said before pulling me in for a hug. As he pressed me against him, he whispered in my ear, “I know Thorne, and I know he loves you. And he always will. He’ll never stop waiting for you if you ever change your mind, you will always have a place with us.”

Tears burned behind my eyes as I nodded into his shoulder. “Thank you.”

When he released me, each one of Thorne’s family gave me one last hug, and I fought the tears that would go on for eternity if I let them free.

“Goodbye.” I waved as I joined Thorne at the door. “Take care of yourselves. I’ll send word in a few months.”

They stood together in the door, each waving as they bid me goodbye.

Thorne closed the door, shutting them behind it. We walked in silence back to the garage.

He pulled out the dirt bike and smiled. “Want to drive?”

Even though I wanted to feel the excitement of driving the dirt bike one last time, the tears in my eyes blurred my vision too much to navigate the dark countryside.

“I’ll just ride behind you,” I answered softly.

As if he understood, he pressed his lips into a thin smile and jumped on the bike. “Hop on.”

I climbed up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my face against his muscular back. Each time I touched him, my body buzzed with feelings I hoped I’d always remember. Feelings I knew I’d never feel again after we said goodbye.

Thorne started up the bike, and I held on tight as we tore out across the countryside. It looked so similar to the first time I’d been on this bike with him, but this time we were going in the opposite direction. I tried to soak in the sights of my surroundings, and the feel of Thorne in my arms, as much as I could until I saw the familiar tree on the outskirts of the lake that would be my home for the rest of my days.

When Thorne slowed the dirt bike to a stop, I bit my quivering lip and swallowed back down the tears.

“We’re here,” he said as he hopped off. When he turned around and offered me his hand, I saw the pain in his eyes.

“Thank you.” As I clasped his fingers, the familiar sparks traveled between us, and I tried to burn that feeling into my body, hoping I could relive it over and over for the rest of my years.

“So. This is it.” He blew out a puff of air. “I can’t believe it’s over.”

“Neither can I.” I squeezed his hand, then felt the tears break loose.

“Hey, hey,” he said quietly as he pulled me into his arms. They enveloped my body as he pulled me against him. “You’re going to be fine. Me? Not so much. But you? You’ll be okay.”

“I’m so sorry I can’t stay. You know I want to.”

With a heavy sigh, he squeezed me tighter. “You sure your mom won’t let me move to the island and stay with you? I mean it. I’ll live on that island for eternity and never leave if she’ll let me be with you. I swear to God I’ll be the best damn protector she’s ever seen. I’ll put those stanky ass werewolves to shame.”

I laughed through the tears and shook my head. “She’ll never allow it. If I thought for a second she would, I would drag you across the lake in that boat.”

“I know you would.” He kissed the top of my head, and I squeezed my eyes shut tight. “And if you ever change your mind, I will always be waiting for you. Always. I love you, Catrain.”

The power of his words seeped into my soul and tore at my heart.

“I love you, too. Always.”

He sighed again. “Then I guess this is it.”

“This is it.”