Page 44 of Eternal Surrender

“Sunaria’s here?”

“I’ve never seen her so lost.”

I studied the door suddenly aware of why Marcus had led me here.

He reached for the handle. “She’s very fragile right now.”

Hands trembling, realizing the very reason for every action I’d taken, the catalyst for centuries of yearning was on the other side. . .

. . . And yet something within me resisted.

Then, with an unbound ache for her, I entered the vast bedroom.

Sunaria was laying upon the king bed surrounded by numerous newspapers and magazines spread over the covers. Her bewitching presence soaked through my flesh like the darkest dream, inducing a painful rush of memories.

Although she seemed hesitant, I sensed she was pleased to see me, as though our exchange back in Cornwall was merely a lover’s quarrel.

I stepped toward her. “I’m sorry about. . . back at the Mount.”

She peered at my scarlet stained shirt and then her steely turquoise gaze settled on me. “You’ve even got blood in your hair.”

“Had a run in with some thugs.” I gave a shrug. “They had knives.”

“It’s your blood?”

“As soon as I knew you were here, I came in.”

Her expression reflected disgust. “Apparently they have modern appliances now. Like showers.”

Filled with panic that our first real reunion was already going awry, I broke her glare, stung by her tortuous silence, my chest tightening with tension.

Self-conscious, I undid my shirt, ripping the last few buttons off and then removing it, throwing it into the corner.

I glanced over at the TV. “Quite something isn’t it?”

“Planes in the sky too,” she said.

“Man has walked on the moon.” I sighed. “Quite something from our day.”

“I recognize nothing.” She swung her legs over. “Not even you.”

“You’ve been asleep awhile.” I took a step closer.

“Orpheus?” she whispered.

The name sounded like a lie.

She looked fierce. “Jadeon, when this is over, I will kill you for this.”

“We were fighting over Stonehenge,” I began. “The sun arose and⁠—”

“I know how it happened. I just don’t understand why?”

“I was taking revenge for your death,” I said.

She seemed suddenly overwhelmed.

I struggled to find the strength to deal with her pain, still reeling with mine. “Jacob. . . saved you.” I tried to grasp what those words really meant. “He bribed the Stone Lords for your ashes.”