The urge to be one entity, one complete mass, is overwhelming. Fierce heat fans the flames of desire, and my body pulses and throbs with powerful need. When we’re together like this, I can’t think, I can’t speak. There is only all-encompassing sensation, and I cling to him like there’s no ‘me’ anymore.
As if nothing else exists or matters outside of “us.”
Skillfully, Logan walks to the bed and guides me down. His lips never leave mine. Hands explore and legs entwine. His lips trail a fiery path across my face and lower, lingering on the fervent throbbing pulse that beats only for him. An insistent rap on the door attempts to distract us. We both ignore it. My hands fist in his hair, and my back arches off the bed as his lips move lower.
The knocking intensifies, and we continue to ignore it. Logan grabs my leg and pulls it up around his waist. His hips rock into mine, and a fireworks display explodes in my head.
Haydn crashes into the room startling us. Logan’s expression says there’ll be hell to pay for that later. “I’m sorry for the intrusion, Crown Prince,” Haydn says, avoiding looking directly at us. “But we, ah, really need to get a move on.”
Logan removes my leg from around his back and stands up with his hands twined behind his head. His eyes sparkle with unspent desire. Haydn bows and leaves the room. It’s so strange to observe him bowing and addressing Logan as ‘“Crown Prince.”
I struggle to calibrate my breathing. “I … what just happened?”
“You’re too damned irresistible,” Logan says, kneading his neck with both hands. “And I’m too damned weak.”
“Talking in riddles again.”
“It’s the Eterno connection,” Logan says, moving over beside me. “It’s strengthening. The more we’re around each other, and the closer we get, the tighter the connection. Can you feel it?”
Recalling the formidable sensation of being at one, I nod.
His fingers thread in mine. “Nothing I’ve read about it comes even close to describing the depth of emotion I feel for you or the intense need pulsing between us.”
His eyes penetrate mine and I can’t look away. We move closer, like magnets on a singular trajectory. He cups my face in his strong hands and we trade warm breaths.
He fills every part of me and it feels like home.
How could I ever have doubted him? Or felt like I can’t trust him?
“I’ve never experienced anything like this. I don’t think I can bear to be apart,” I admit, wrapping my arms around him.
“If I could find some way of gluing you to me, trust me, I’d do it.” His hand weaves through my hair and I moan. Haydn raps once on the door with a surly “Prince!”
“He’s very annoying,” I mutter, burrowing my face in Logan’s shirt.
He chuckles. “Completely, but he has a point. We need to leave. I only dropped by to see if you were feeling any better.”
I nearly choke on my laughter. “Trust me, I’m feeling better.”
“Glad to be of assistance.” He fixes the lightest, most delicate kiss on my lips. I sink back into that bewitched space. “All joking aside, are you okay? I’m worried about you.” He brushes his lips briefly against mine again. He can’t seem to stop kissing me, and I revel in the realization.
“Just keep kissing me and I’ll be fine.” I think I swoon, though I hope not. Because that would be plain embarrassing.
His adoring gaze slams into me, stealing my breath and claiming my soul. “I’d happily sign up for that. Kissing you is like owning a piece of heaven.”
I sit up straighter, keeping my arms firmly in place. “You say the most romantic things.” A hot flush blooms over my cheeks.
That brings a radiant smile to his face. “I have to spend the day with my father again,” he admits. “But I’ll take you to dinner tonight and I’ll fill in the blanks.” He tries to remove my hands but I hold on tighter. He looks at me with so much love that I wish I could hit the pause button, to freeze-frame this special moment in time. His fingers trip over my lips and a small moan escapes my mouth. “I love you, Sadie. So much it hurts.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue. I want to tell him I love him too, but something is holding me back. He dips his head and kisses me. “Stay safe, Angel. Until tonight.”
***
The school day drags by uneventfully. I make my way to the auditorium after the final class of the day and attend one of the last rehearsal sessions before the big opening night. Our production of Romeo and Juliet opens to the masses five nights from now. I should be excited but my enthusiasm has waned in the aftermath of the alien drama being performed behind the scenes.
After rehearsal, I decide on the spur of the moment to drop into the mall and check up on Jenna. Hopefully I’ll actually get to speak to her this time.
Jenna is slouched over the counter, her head resting on her arms. She is ghostly pale and reed-thin. “Hey.” I rely on my newly acquired acting skills to appear light and breezy. Inside, I’m all cut up.
“Sadie!” Her entire face lights up. “It’s great to see you. I’m sorry about yesterday. Dante was a jerk.”
Dante’s always a jerk. I don’t verbalize the opinion. “You don’t look well enough to be in work. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,” she protests feebly. “I’m just tired a lot of the time. This environment doesn’t suit me at all.”
My face pales. “What time do you finish?”
“You can clock out now, Jenna,” a lady with a kind face and a manager’s badge says, approaching the counter. “You look exhausted.”
“Are you sure it’s okay to leave early?” Jenna’s head plops down on her arms. Our brief conversation appears to have drained her.
“Head away, dear. That’s an order.” The kind lady smiles as she pats Jenna’s arm. She levels a concerned look at me.
Jenna collects her bag from the staffroom and we walk out together. We’ve only gone a handful of steps when she falters, her legs appearing to crumble beneath her. I catch her before she hits the solid ground. Even emaciated, Jenna is heavy and I struggle to help her up.
“I’ve got this,” Logan says in my mind.
Then he’s in front of me, gently supporting Jenna in his arms. Her head lolls and she closes her eyes. “So sleepy,” she mumbles.
We keep walking. “How did you know where I was?”
“I came by the auditorium but you’d already left. Then I tuned into the Eterno connection and it led me to you.”
My eyes ping wide. “It’s some type of internal tracking device?” I don’t like the sound of that, but I’m sure stalkers the world over would kill for an Eterno connection.
Logan cracks a smile. “Not quite. It’s a deep and powerful connection, which binds us to each other in a whole host of ways. Let’s get Jenna settled and then we’ll talk.”
***
Dante answers the door right away. Muscles flex and roll under his shirt as his mouth pulls in a displeased look. “Twice in twenty-four hours?” He eyeballs me. “You missed me that much, huh?”
Outwardly, Logan doesn’t miss a beat. “You want to explain that?”
Not especially. “Later.”
Dante gently lifts Jenna into his arms. She winces and pain flares across her eyes. Abruptly, she twists in Dante’s embrace and pukes down his front. Droplets of vomit and blood trickle out of her mouth, and I cry out as hot, angry tears spill from my eyes. Logan slings an arm around my waist.
“I messed your shirt. I’m sorry,” she slurs, head flopping about.
“Shh,” he says, cupping her face, “It’s okay.
I glance at Logan. He shares my curious expression. Shucking out of his grip, I stand in front of Dante. It takes ironclad self-control to ignore the homicidal thoughts assaulting my mind. “I’ll help her clean up. Please bring her to the bathroom.”
Remarkably, he complies. Most likely because he doesn’t want the job himself. He puts her down on the toilet seat and then leaves us alone.
/> I fill the tub and help Jenna in. Shrunken skin clings possessively to her bones and her ribcage protrudes in a skeletal fashion. I’m having a hard time staving off tears, but I try to maintain a brave face. I help her bathe and then put her into some fresh pajamas.
The room outside is eerily quiet and I’m on edge. “Are you okay, Logan?”
“I’m fine, Sadie. But please hurry up. Dante’s patience is stretched thin.”
Tucking Jenna in under the comforter, I sweep her hair back from her face. I want to say something, anything, to help soothe her, but no words come.
“Can you fetch her a glass of water please, Logan.”
“Of course.”
Jenna’s hand edges out from under the covers and she clasps my wrist. Her hold is weak. “I think I’m dying.” A single, solitary tear rolls down her face.
My lower lip trembles and I’m dangerously close to losing it when Logan enters the room. As he places the glass on the bedside nightstand, his other hand lands tenderly on my shoulder. He squeezes and I reach up and clasp his fingers, desperately seeking his comfort.
“Out, both of you.” Dante stalks into the room like a wrecking ball. That snaps the thin thread on my control. I scour the room quickly. Hopping up, I grab the desk lamp. Focusing all my energy and emotion into one tight ball of frustration and rage and loathing, I swing the lamp at Dante’s head. It impacts with a satisfying bone-crunching sound. The lamp shatters, sending shards of glass and metallic splinters raining down on him. Blood leaks from a laceration on his cheek as his face contorts with murderous intent.
Bring. It. On.
Logan reaches out but I twist away. Dante charges at me. Dropping to the floor at the last second, I slide through his legs. Coming up the other side of him, I kick both my legs up in tandem and push against him with as much strength as I can muster. Caught off guard, he stumbles and lands headfirst into the side of the desk.
Logan pulls me up off the ground as Dante spins around, clutching his forehead. A dense gash oozes blood and I bark out a manic laugh. “Sadie, stop!”
“When I get my hands on you, you will rue the day you were born. I will crush each bone in your pathetic human body, one at a time,” Dante threatens. “When that’s done, I’ll rip your organs from beneath your skin with slow painful precision and gleefully watch you bleed to death. While that’s happening, I’ll have my fun with what’s left of your body. You will beg me for mercy and I’ll show you none.”
“You won’t harm her,” Logan says through gritted teeth. “The king gave the order.”
“Screw that,” Dante says, spitting a bloody, loose tooth from his mouth.
Neve and Haydn race into the room and stare in startled amazement at the scene. “Did either of you hear my brother threaten my Eterno intended?” Logan asks.
“I caught the tail end of it, Crown Prince,” Haydn replies.
“Excellent.” Logan takes my hand and slowly edges forward. “Then we are done here.”
Fury drains out of me in a shudder as soon as Jenna starts crying. I’m instantly remorseful. Crouching down beside her, I press my mouth to her ear. “I’m sorry, Jen, but I can’t stand by and watch him hurt you like this. I’m going to try and fix this. You hang on in there, okay?”
Dante’s fists start to flex and he’s seconds from erupting. “We need to move her back to our apartment,” I tell the others, purposely ignoring Dante.
Dante steps toward me but Logan blocks him. “She. Is. Mine. And she’s going nowhere.” His tone chills me to the core.
“Logan, please do something!”
Logan stiffens. “Haydn will guard Jenna tonight.”
“The hell he will!” Dante explodes. “Get out, the lot of you. This doesn’t concern you.”
“Are you ignoring another direct order from your crown prince? Do I have to call the king this instant?” Neve pipes up.
“Go ahead. I’d like an opportunity to tell him how the crown prince’s Eterno”—he spits out the words as if they’re poisonous—“assaulted me tonight. I’m sure he’ll also be interested in the extent of her ability to deflect our will.”
Neve glances between us. “Look at her?” she demands. “You expect anyone to believe that?” I try not to feel insulted. I understand what she’s attempting to do.
Dante jerks his head at me, his inner Hulk straining to be unleashed. Panic writhes in my chest. His intimidating look is loaded with vengeful promise. “He won’t always be there to protect you. And that’s when I’ll come for you. You can bet on it.”
An invasive shiver rocks my entire body.
Consider me suitably warned and sufficiently terrified.
Logan steps up to his brother, putting his face right in his. “I will kill you before you touch a hair on her head.”
“I look forward to it, brother.” Dante enunciates the word with dripping condescension.
Logan faces Dante as he speaks. “Haydn, watch over Jenna. If Dante interferes, please inform me.”
“As you wish,” Haydn agrees. Dante storms out of the room and we collectively sigh in relief.
I place my hand in Logan’s. “Thank you.”
When I turn around, Jenna is sleeping. Quietly, I kiss her on her cheek and then we leave.
***
The atmosphere is tense on the way to the cave. Logan makes a pit stop at a nearby restaurant to organize some take-out, but with the exception of placing our order, he doesn’t speak.
When we arrive at the cave, Logan wordlessly hands me plates, and I dish up our meal. We eat in silence until I can no longer stomach it. “I’m sorry. I know I’ve made things worse, but I’ve been bottling everything up and it rushed to the surface, and I acted on it without thinking. He’s killing my friend! I couldn’t contain myself any longer. The urge to physically hurt him was too strong. Not sure what that says about me, or what this place is doing to me, or …” My babbling dies out.
His expression hasn’t changed, and my throat closes up. A few minutes pass in uncomfortable silence. “Say something. Anything,” I plead.
Logan rubs the taut curve of his jaw. “You’ve no idea what you’ve done. He won’t let this go!”
I lick my dry lips. “But he can’t hurt me. You said so yourself. I’m your Eterno intended.”
He looks pained. Trepidation prickles under the surface of my skin.
Logan sets my half-eaten plate on top of his and stands. He empties the remains of our food into the trash and returns with a large bottle of pink lemonade and two glasses. I hold the glasses while he pours. Still he says nothing. Other girls might be intimidated by that. But not me. I understand what it’s like to feel trapped in your head, trying to unscramble thoughts, and emotions, and words, before releasing them into the world.
Twisting around onto my belly, I lie against the beanbag. I take a tiny sip of the sweet lemonade and wait for him to speak. My eyes drift shut.
Logan’s fingers fiddle with my hair as he lies down beside me. Slowly, I open my eyes. His features obscure mine. He exudes tension and I hate that I’m the cause of that. I haven’t given any consideration to the pressure he must be under. I should be helping him with that, not adding to it. I reach out and cup his cheek. “I’m sorry for adding to your burden.”
“I’m the one who should be saying sorry.” His gaze dips to my lips for a fraction of a second. “I’ve brought all this on you. If I’d left you alone, then you’d be safe.”
A soul-stealing pang hits me in the chest. “If you’d left me alone, I would be utterly clueless and destined for a life that I’d hate. You’ve spared me that.”
“But at what cost?”
“I feel properly alive for the first time in my life. And for once, I have some degree of control over my future. You have no idea how much that means to me. Whatever the price is, it’s worth it.” I trail my finger over his lower lip, and a shudder works its way through his body.
“Even if it means your death?” He presses his knuckles aga
inst his forehead.
I swallow hard. “If it means I get to truly live—even for a short period of time—then yes. It’s worth it.” I sound far braver than I feel although I mean every word I’ve said.
Some unnamed emotion ghosts over his face as he leans in and kisses me gently. “What you did back in that apartment was the bravest and stupidest thing I’ve ever borne witness to.”
I suck in a sigh. As reprimands go, I’ve been on the receiving end of far worse. “I’d do it all over again if I could,” I reveal truthfully. “I’ll take whatever punishment is coming my way. It was so worth it.” I refuse to demonstrate any remorse. I feel none, so why should I lie?
He mutters incoherently. It sounds remarkably like “death wish” to me. Remembering why we came here, I sit up and gesture for him to do the same. “Enough about that. We can’t change what’s done. Tell me about this Eterno thingy.”
Amusement spreads over his handsome face. “I like that. It’s got a nice ring to it.” He winks and heat pools low in my stomach. Cripes. One wink and I’m an embarrassing pool of simmering lust.
“Stop trying to distract me. Spill.” I cross my legs in front of me and paste a serious look on my face.
He tweaks my nose before mirroring my position. “Do you believe in soul mates?”
“You asked me that before. I do,” I reiterate. “I believe that there’s truly only one other person for each of us in the entire world and that each person is a half of one whole.” I hesitate, conscious we are getting into the heavy stuff.
“Go, on,” Logan encourages.
“I also believe that only the precious few locate their true soul mate and get to experience that type of epic love. Love that nurtures and grows, changes and expands, that blends seamlessly to mold to the other person’s needs and desires, wants and dreams. A love where everything is possible and anything can be achieved.”
My eyes are glassy as I shyly refocus on Logan. I think of how far I’ve come. Once I started articulating the stuff in my head, it was as if I opened the floodgates, and now there’s no going back. It’s an exquisite release. The stronger I get, the more I feel like I’m finding myself.
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