Page 81 of Whispers of Ruin
She didn’t know how it was possible when immortals didn’t give their hearts twice. In all her many years, she’d never heard of it happening.
There was always a first time for everything, especially with immortals who lived such lengthy lives, but it wasn’t something she ever saw happening toher.She’d loved Fabian so deeply; his death devastated and nearly destroyed her.
While she wouldn’t call what she felt for Brokk love, or at least not the kind of love she once shared with her fiancé, feelings were there. After contemplating it more, she was certain those feelings were why she’d withstood the pull of the mandarus’ allure.
Her feelings for him had helped her stand against those creatures. Her emotions were a barrier to the mandarus’ powers, just as they had been for Brokk and, most likely, Allegra.
That was why the guilt was tearing at her this time, not because she’d allowed herself to forget Fabian again, but because Brokk cared forhertoo. Considering what he was, she hadn’t believed such a thing was possible, but Brokk withstood those mandarus because ofher.
And she would most likely end up hurting him.
Brokk was a good man who deserved someone to love him with everything they were…. That could never be her. She cared for him; she enjoyed spending time with him,reallyenjoyed it, but it could never be the all-encompassing love she’d shared with Fabian, and Brokkdeservedto have that in his life.
She could never open her heart up again like that. She was too aware of how it all ended and the devastation that would follow if she did.
Never again would she allow someone to tear her heart from her chest, which meant she could never give Brokk everything he deserved. Whatever this was between them, it had to end. No matter how amazing it made her feel, she couldn’t allow it to continue.
A lump formed in her throat as sorrow pumped through her body. It was so new between them, and it should have been easy for her to end it before she broke his heart, but as she told herself this, her body craved more of him.
He continued to awaken and bring her back to lifeeverytime they were together. She’d never lost control of her power during sex like she did with him. He was an amazing rush.
She didn’t know if her reaction to him was because she’d shut herself down for centuries and was experiencing a sexual reawakening or if it was because ofhimand everything she felt for him. Kaylia suspected it was the latter. Something about Brokk was different for her.
She didn’t want it to be that way; it had somehow happened. But she couldn’t deny the truth… after Brokk, she could sleep with a hundred other men, andnoneof them would make her feel like he did.
With a sigh, she focused on her surroundings as misery weighed heavily on her shoulders. The jungle wasn’t as thick through here. Vines pulled and tugged at her, and she was sure some of them moved toward her as they tried to hinder her progress, but she pulled free or cut them away with her sword.
Kaylia wiped the sweat from her brow as Brokk came into view again. Since feeding on her multiple times last night, the color had returned to his face, he showed no signs of the sluggishness he exhibited upon first waking, and the wound on his neck had healed.
She’d looked for it many times today but didn’t see any lingering effects from what those creatures did to him. Still, she kept an eye on him in case he showed signs of weakening; he’d never admit it if he was.
Sensing her attention, he looked at her and tilted his head to the side. The sun glinting off his aqua eyes caused them to twinkle.
His smile created a physical reaction inside her as she stopped to drink him in. Did the man have to be so damn irresistible? It was going to besodifficult to let him go.
Somehow, she managed to offer a tremulous smile before his attention shifted to the jungle. She admired the flow of his muscles as he continued through the trees. She knew exactly what it was like to grip that back, dig her fingers in, and cling to him while he unraveled her.
When one of Ryker’s men nearly walked into her, Kaylia shook her head and continued. Separating herself from Brokk wouldn’t be easy if she kept letting her mind wander down paths almost as treacherous as the one they traversed.
Although, this path wasn’t dangerous. It had been a relatively quiet day in the jungle, which only made her nervous. Things wereneverquiet in Doomed Valley.
At this reminder, the hair on Kaylia’s neck rose as she glanced nervously around the jungle. It remained hushed, but that was probably because it hid something.
She lifted her sword and cut away the vines reaching for her while following Brokk down the path. Damp with sweat, her clothes cleaved to her, making movement in the green tunic and soft brown pants a little uncomfortable, but she’d grown used to the cloying sensation since arriving here.
She’d only made it another fifty feet when a shout from ahead stopped her again. “It’s the crudue vine!”
Kaylia’s heart leapt into her throat as her hand fell to her side.Crudue vine!
Theentirereason they were here. It was everything they’d fought, suffered, and lost others for, and theyfinallyalmost had the key to saving Lexi in their hands.
They could leave this place and never look back—okay, maybe not never, as they still had to help Ryker, but they could escape for a bit, save Lexi, and regroup to destroy the monsters ruling this hell.
CHAPTERSEVENTY-SIX
Brokk glanced backat Kaylia as they hurried through the jungle toward the shout that had alerted them to the presence of crudue vine. She wasfinallysmiling again. Throughout the morning, he’d sensed her distress but refused to let it dissuade him from his goal of having her.
He’d live with the ghost of her ex-fiancé, and if he could one day vanquish it, he would. He wouldnotlet it come between them or make her feel bad for choosing to embrace life again. She deserved happiness, and he would make sure she got it.
