Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 758(@200wpm)___ 607(@250wpm)___ 505(@300wpm)
“All but a few, and honestly, after so much time under these spells, I would be surprised if they weren’t willing to simply stay out of it,” she explained.
There came a time in every authoritarian regime when the populace had enough. He had fought his own and lost because they were not ready. It appeared these Fae were.
“I will go with you.” Ione wiped her eyes and smiled. “I know I am new here, but I can help spread the word. I would like to offer my room to my darling girl.” She tilted her head up to look at Sasha. “Ostara tells me you are the one in Meadow’s heart. The one she can’t forget and can’t quite remember. Take care. She needs you.”
Bibi and Ione left, going to do their spy work, and he was alone with the only woman who had ever had his heart.
And the goddess she shared a body with. Alone in a too-cramped room where his head nearly touched the ceiling and he worried he would break the furniture.
Ostara stared at him. He knew it was her by the fully emerald eyes. A bit like Rhys’s since he ascended. Vibrant green, without a hint of white. She faintly glowed, and he realized that glow wasn’t merely hers. It was Meadow’s. He’d mistaken it for the glow of the goddess.
“You’re…she’s a companion,” he said, his fangs growing long.
“Companion?” Ostara asked.
“In my home, a companion is part angel. She glows to my kind. As supernatural creatures we are…how do you say…compatible on every level. Companion blood makes a vampire stronger, faster. Vampire blood heals and keeps the companion young and vital.”
Ostara nodded as though she understood. “Ah, a consort. That is what we call such men and women.”
So there were differences. “It’s almost always women where I come from.”
“A strange place then,” she said and seemed to come to some decision. “She is afraid. It’s why she wants me in charge of our body. She didn’t know how important this moment would be. She doesn’t remember her past lives except through what I have told her I see.”
“Is she afraid of me?”
Ostara’s lips tilted up, an amused expression. “She has not had a man. You are large and intimidating.”
He smiled at the memory. “She said that to me the first time I asked her out. She told me I might be what we call a bad bet if I turned out to be the violent type.” He sobered. “I am the violent type, Ostara. I tried to use my mind to help my people, but when I could not remember her, I fell into violence. It is my nature.”
“But when you did remember her?” Ostara prompted.
“I tried to be the best husband, friend, human I could be. It’s why it fell apart. She brought out the best in me, and I had to stand up for what was right. And Tash…oh, our daughter made me want to be everything. To be beyond what any man could be.”
Tears pierced those green eyes. “Natasha is what was left undone. Her baby. She tried to protect her.”
He took her hands in his and looked into those eyes as if he could stare down into her soul and see his wife nestled there. “Natasha is beautiful. She is strong. She survived because of her mother’s love, and now she thrives with the family I found for her. They love her, Marta. She has sisters and brothers and cousins. She lives in America with a family who gives her everything she could possibly need. When I became a vampire and remembered my life, that man who saved you in the dungeon, he and his family and friends helped me find her. I got to see her one last time. I was weak because I had so recently turned, but I had a friend see into her soul and plant a truth there. She knows we loved her. Deep in her soul, we are still with her. Still giving her strength. Put that fear and guilt aside. If you can never love me, I will be satisfied knowing I gave you this comfort. Our daughter lives and loves and is happy, and somewhere in her soul, she remembers us. We live on in her.”
If he could only give her this, he would find a way to be content.
Ostara’s eyes changed, the jewel tones pulling back to still glorious green eyes, but they were normal. Meadow’s eyes. Marta’s eyes. Her name could change. Hell, the eyes themselves could change, but the spirit behind them was always the same. Loving. Strong. Resilient.
“Tasha?” The name came from her mouth like a prayer.
“Natasha. In our lives she was Natasha Federova. She is now Natasha Taggart. She is happy. She is loved. You did so good, baby.” Tears fell from his eyes now. He was here. How many times had he wished he could be here, telling her all the things he needed to say? All the things he hadn’t because they had been so abruptly pulled out of their lives. “You did everything right. I was so…I am so sorry to leave you.”