Page 72 of Black Hearted
Still straddling his lap, I suddenly felt awkward and slid off, settling onto the cold, hard stone beside him. But I wasn’t ready to break our connection completely, so I leaned my head against his shoulder, trying to offer him what little comfort I could.
He placed a warm hand over my thigh, and we sat there like that for hours until the sun rose. Silent, contemplative, devastated.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Zane
Lorelei was everything I thought my mate would be and so much more. I could fill pages with what delighted and intrigued me about her, but even so, I hadn’t been prepared for the intensity and depth of our kiss.
Having my mouth pressed against the soft pillow of her lips and seeing the midnight sparkles appear afterward—the undeniable evidence of our mate bond—had been nothing short of the most defining moment of my life. I’d never felt anything so strong, pure, and right before. And yet, my heart broke for what I now knew would never be.
Because I had learned the truth she’d been hiding from me.
After she’d been dragged across the forest floor and we sat by the fire together, I’d seen her pull the note from the Wise Ones out of her pack. As her gaze swept over the words, something shifted in her expression—a deep melancholy that hadn’t been there a moment before.
I must have caught her rereading that note at least a half-dozentimes since we set out for the Tree of Transformation. Each time, that same sadness overtook her. She wouldn’t let me see the contents, and I wanted to respect her wishes, but earlier tonight, as she read it by the fire, I knew something wasn’t right.
So when she finally fell asleep, I stole the rolled scroll and read it for myself.
Sitting awake by the fire as Lorelei slept beside me, I spent half the night cursing those Wise Ones. I even contemplated throwing the vial into the flames, but if this was the only way to stop the curse, destroying it would doom two worlds and all the souls in them. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
My brothers, their wives, Dawn’s unborn babies—they were all counting on us. So I did the only thing I could think of to make this outcome bearable: I stole the vial and resolved to drink it myself.
There was no world in which I could watch Lorelei die. If she died, I would die with her. If not in body, then certainly in spirit.
It was clear now why she’d been so hot and cold, why sadness lingered in her eyes after we shared that incredible kiss.
And why, now, as we walked toward the Tree of Transformation, she was once again quiet and withdrawn.
She was preparing to die.
And I wasn’t going to let that happen.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Dawn
Iawoke to find it was already midday. I had slept for sixteen hours straight. My body felt weak and exhausted, as though all the life had been drained from me. Rolling over, I spotted Eowyn tending to the little bubbles surrounding the babies. She waved her hands in the air over them, smiling and nodding as if she was pleased with her work.
“Are they okay?” I croaked, my throat dry and desperate for water. A bath would have been heaven.
The healer turned to me and nodded, her eyes misty with emotion. “You are very strong, my lady.”
I gave her a sheepish smile. “And we owe you our lives. Thank you.” I reached for her hand and she took mine and gave it a light squeeze.
Eowyn helped me sit up and handed me a cup of water. As I sipped, I looked around the room, relieved to see we were alone. I wanted to clean up before seeing Zander again. I felt disgusting.
“Will I always sleep this much? And feel so weak?” I asked.
Her expression softened with understanding and sympathy as she nodded. “You’ll feel extra tired and fatigued until the bubbles pop, which will happen naturally when the babies are healthy enough to live outside the womb. You’ll regain some strength in a few days, though. You’re just extra weary now because you birthed four babies in one day.”
“Well, you saved four lives yesterday. You’re incredible,” I said, meaning every word.
Eowyn ducked her head, clearly embarrassed by the praise, but I caught the pride in her gaze and the small smile on her face. I hoped something inside her had healed. Perhaps, whatever fear she’d carried about delivering babies after the ones she’d lost years ago had been erased by this triumph.
“I’m happy to help, my lady. Would you like me to call your maid so you can have a bath?”
I nodded eagerly. “I would love that. Can they …” I gestured toward the babies in their bubbles. “Can they move with me?”
