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“I love you,” I finally manage. “I love you so much, and I never expected to find you. Once I found you and knew about your… situation, I never could have imagined I’d have you sitting in front of me in the flesh.”
She nods, and I’m sure this is hard to follow. “Hex, sit down,” she says weakly. “You’re making my head spin.”
I chuckle humorlessly and look up at the sky. “I can’t sit down. Because if I sit down, I’ll want to hold you and never let go. If I do that, I won’t be able to say what I need to say.”
“Hex.” She sighs. “Please.”
I plant my feet, stand in front of her and take a deep breath. “You deserve to make this choice. I can’t assume you want to go back to your body.”
“Is this about what I said to Anderson?” she asks, rubbing her head. “I only said that so he wouldn’t hurt you.”
I shake my head and sit down next to her. I can only endure so much temptation. I take her hand in mine and squeeze tightly. It feels strange to hold her hand, yet it fits so perfectly in mine.
“Your parents were taken from you,” I say in a strangled voice. “You had no choice in that. And then that maniac pulled you from the crash and stole your soul. You didn’t have a say in that, either. You finally get a choice, and I can’t take that away from you.”
Tears pool in her eyes, and she leans forward, throwing her arms around my neck. I move my hands to her waist and I pull her against me, savoring the feeling. This might be the last time I ever do.
“I’ll understand,” I whisper, though I can’t stop the tears from falling. “If you choose to let go and be with your parents, I’ll understand. If that’s your decision, I’ll respect it and I’ll let you go.”
She holds me tighter, and I feel her body shaking. She cries against me for several minutes before finally pulling away and grabbing my hands. She looks down at our intertwined fingers and inhales a deep breath.
“I should have died six months ago,” she says in an even voice. “But if I had, I wouldn’t have met you. I didn’t believe in ghosts or spirits or anything before, but somehow, I fell for a man who can see them. And you saw me. It felt like the first time in my life anyone saw me and understood me, and I will never forget that.”
She sighs heavily and leans her head against my chest. This is it, I know it. She’s going to tell me she’s ready to move on. My heart crumbles and I try to control my ragged breathing.
“I love you so much, Hex,” she whispers. “I’m not giving that up when I’ve finally found you. I’ve been given a second chance to live, and I won’t waste it.”
I look down to see her smiling sweetly. No hint of indecision shines in her eyes. She wants to stay with me.
“You can’t change your mind,” I tell her, causing her to laugh through her tears. “This is an all-or-nothing deal.”
“We’re all going to die one day,” she says nonchalantly. “But I’m not dying today. I’m choosing to live.”
She leans into me and wraps her hand in my hair. Then she pulls my head down to hers and captures my lips. She is warm and real next to me, and this is so much better than I could have imagined. Kissing her feels like sliding the final puzzle piece into place. It’s like I’ve been waiting for this my whole life without realizing it.
My tongue traces her bottom lip, and she parts her lips for me, letting me in. Her mouth is warm and inviting, and she puts up no resistance. She lets me explore and taste, memorizing her. I’m immediately addicted to her warmth and the pressure of her lips against mine. She’s soft to the touch with a hardness and strength in her.
She demonstrates this when she lightly nibbles at my lip. She likes to be in control, and she wants to drive me wild. I press myself more firmly against her and moan into her mouth. Her hands slide from my hair down to my chest, and she wraps her arms around me, scratching at my back as I move against her.
“Shit, I’m so, so sorry,” Tory stutters from behind us, and I groan.
We pull away reluctantly, but Juliana grabs my hand and intertwines her fingers in mine. I love the pressure of her hand, the way she grips me like she’s afraid I’ll let go. I never, ever will.
“Pocus is getting antsy,” Tory says apologetically. “If you’re ready.”
Juliana nods and stands, pulling me with her. We walk back to the crowd, hand in hand, and I don’t miss the way the men stare at me in wide-eyed amazement. Yeah, this fucking stunner of a woman is mine. And she’s not going anywhere.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Juliana sits on the ground, flanked by Mama and Tory. They aren’t taking any chances on this warlock double-crossing them. They guide her into a lying position and lean over her, their hands held above her chest. The warlock stands over her head, his spell book in hand. Pocus looms over him, pistol affixed to his skill.
“No funny business,” Mama warns. “I have powerful friends on the other side. If you cross Pocus, he’ll just kill you. You cross me, I’ll be sure your soul never knows peace.”
“I have no reason to cross any of you,” the man tells her darkly. “Anderson blackmailed me into helping him. With his soul gone, all his leverage against me is too. You’re doing me a favor.”
Mama harrumphs, and Tory eyes the man skeptically.
“You’re telling the truth, or at the very least you believe your lies,” she declares. “That doesn’t mean we trust you.”
