“Temptation is different for every being, and you’re getting off topic. Stop berating yourself for something you could not control. And find your anchor.”
“Hah.” I motioned for more ale. “We aren’t talking about a real anchor, are we?”
“Love.” Sariel’s voice had a raw edge to it. “Love is your anchor.”
“Love isn’t real.”
“One day… very soon… you will be eating those words, my friend. I hope I’m alive to see it.”
I finally looked at him. “Why wouldn’t you be alive? You’re immortal.”
His eyes were grave as he whispered. “We all have our time.”
Alex
Present day
MY FRIENDS.
They were all my friends.
I wouldn’t hurt them.
But I wanted to.
I wanted them to hurt the way I hurt.
I wanted them to burn the way I’d been burning my entire life.
Memories slammed into me.
Past. Present. Future.
Combined into a swirl of uncontrollable rage and chaos. Power surged through my veins as Bannik spoke. And then his hand raised.
It happened too fast.
A trickle of blue blood ran down Hope’s chin.
She was in Mason’s arms.
Mine!
Mine!
Mine!
I jerked her away from Bannik. I just wanted to touch her, to feel her skin, to remember her taste.
One last time.
“I love you.” Hope cupped my face with her hand. And for the first time in my existence, when someone touched me, the thoughts were pure.
She wasn’t thinking about stripping me naked.
She wasn’t thinking about sex.
She was worried.