Cursed Heart (After Dark Book 4)

by Sarah Bailey

He squeezed her hand.

  “So should I, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll talk about this later, okay?”

  She nodded, turning her attention back to Eli. There was a smile on his lips.

  “You two are going to be okay,” he whispered. “You’re good for him, Izzy.”

  “Thank you, Eli. I didn’t want to be a shifter but thank you anyway. Without you, I wouldn’t have your brother. No matter what you’ve done, nothing can change that. You brought us together.”

  She smiled at Rex, her heart in her mouth.

  “It’s the only good thing I ever did.”

  Eli took a shuddering breath. His head lolled in her lap. She knew he was gone. She stroked his hair again. A loud howl of pain ripped through the silence. Izzy glanced up. Felise had fallen to her knees in the distance, abject pain on her face. She beat the ground. Her sobs echoed through the silent park. Another fae knelt beside her, putting a hand on her shoulder. They spoke softly to her, but they were too far away for Izzy to make out the words.

  “Goodbye, Eli,” she whispered.

  Rex let go of his brother’s hand, setting it on the ground. He took Eli’s head, lifting it off Izzy’s lap. She shuffled back. He placed Eli back on the ground, staring down at his brother with tears running down his face. Izzy crawled over to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close. Rex buried his face in her shoulder, a small sob rasping from his throat. He’d had to watch his brother die again. This time, it was final. There were no words. They clutched each other.

  His family was gone. All of them.

  But Rex had a new family now.

  With her.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  The werewolves helped build a funeral pyre. It was gone midnight by the time they placed Eli on top of it. The fae had left with Felise. They’d thanked Izzy for peacefully resolving the situation. The queen gave her promise that they would not allow Felise to cause any further trouble. Alistair opted to stay with Grace to help them see Eli off. Izzy stood with the two of them near the pyre.

  “It’s sad that it came to this,” Alistair said.

  “Yes. It is.”

  “It might be a little inappropriate, but congratulations on your news.”

  “Oh, thanks. It was a little unexpected. I wish the circumstances were different, but I guess there’s never a perfect time.”

  “Do you think your kid will be a shifter?” Grace asked.

  “I guess so, I mean, I know I’m bitten, but we’re both panthers. We won’t find out until they hit puberty.”

  “I suppose you haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet,” Alistair said.

  “No. I wanted to tell him when it was just the two of us.”

  She watched Rex. He was talking to Dalia in low tones. Gareth and Evan approached her. Evan ruffled her hair whilst Gareth grinned.

  “So, I know you’re going to be a mummy, but you know… you still have a job if you need it,” Gareth said.

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “Even though you didn’t want to hire me in the first place?”

  “What can I say? You grew on me.”

  She leant against Evan, who wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She liked the two werewolves. They might be forever ribbing her, but they’d become like family.

  “You know he’s going to be an overprotective daddy, right?” Evan whispered.

  “I’m sure.”

  Rex looked over at them, frowning when he saw the two of them so close together. Evan immediately dropped his arm.

  “Whoops. Don’t want him getting the wrong idea.”

  Izzy shoved him before she gave Rex a sad smile. She knew he was in pain, but he was trying to put a brave face on.

  “He isn’t getting the wrong idea, dipstick. Who’d want to date you or Gareth? You two drive women crazy and not in a good way.”

  Evan gave her a wounded look.

  “Oh, Izzy, that’s just mean.”

  She grinned. She tugged on Gareth’s sleeve before enclosing the two of them in a bear hug. They both protested but didn’t try to stop her.

  “Thank you for helping me,” she said, her words muffled.

  “It’s okay, but please, let us go,” Gareth said. “A three-way hug with Evan is unpleasant.”

  She laughed, releasing them and stepping away. She punched Gareth in the arm.

  “You love it really.”

  He rubbed his arm, scowling.

  “You know, you’re actually quite strong for a girl.”

  “Of course I am. I’m a fucking badass panther.”

  She strolled away leaving Gareth, Evan and the witches staring after her. She caught up to Rex who was alone, staring down at the pyre. She put a hand on his back, rubbing it soothingly.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “Hey back.”

  “He wanted this, you know. I think he was tired. Tired of all the death. He wanted to be free and he wanted you to be happy.”

  He wrapped an arm around her waist.

  “You make me happy.”

  “Is it time?”

  He nodded. He took out a lighter from his jacket. He released her before kneeling down and setting the kindling alight. He moved around the pyre, setting more areas alight before he came back and stood next to her. It would take a while for it to catch properly, but they stared at the flames slowly licking up the wood.

  “It’s strange. I spend so long thinking he was dead, but deep down, I still felt him,” Rex said. “I think I knew he wasn’t dead. Not really.”

  “He’s your twin. I think you’d know if he was gone.”

  “I guess so. We were closer when we were kids.”

  “Why did he call you his little brother?”

  “He was born twenty minutes before me.”

  She smiled. Rex was the younger twin. It fit. Eli looked out for him. The wood crackled, starting to burn. The flames growing higher. The heat from it burnt at her face. She didn’t want to move back if Rex wanted to stay here. She needed to be there for him.

  “I feel as though I understand you now. Why you don’t like violence. Why you’re guarded. Why it was hard for us to communicate our feelings to each other.”

  “Letting someone else in was terrifying after I’d lost everyone I ever loved. It was stupid. You aren’t just some random girl.” He turned to her, placing his hand on her stomach. “You are the love of my life, Izzy.”

  “Rex…”

  “I can’t live without you by my side. I meant what I said before. I want you and our baby. It’s sudden and unexpected, but it feels right. You and I feel right.”

  He looked down at her stomach.

  “And this is going to be okay because we’ll make sure it’s okay.”

  “You do know we’re completely unprepared to become parents, right?”

  “Completely.”

  “Good because I thought it was just me. I’m terrified.”

  He grinned, rubbing her stomach.

  “Me too.”

  She turned, appraising the others.

  “We’ve got them though. They’re our new family.”

  He looked back at the wolves and two witches.

  “That collection of misfits? I guess it’s better than nothing.”

  She looked up at him. She wasn’t sure whether she should bring up the other thing he’d said. Did he mean it? Does he want to marry me? The heat from the pyre spiked. She took Rex’s hand, pulling him back away from it a little.

  “Too hot?”

  “A little,” she replied.

  She looked down at her hands. She didn’t want any more secrets between them nor did she want to hide how she felt.

  “Rex… did you mean that bit about wanting to get married to me?”

  “Do you think I would’ve said it if I didn’t?”

  He tucked a finger under her chin, turning her face up towards him. There was utter adoration in his eyes.

  “You’ll have to call me Adam when we say our vows, but yes
, I want to marry you, Isadora Georgiana Peters.”

  “You know I still don’t know your full name.”

  “Adam Henry Theodore Rowe.”

  She grinned.

  “You know… that sort of suits you.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “You’re not allowed to start calling me any of those things.”

  She closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his back. She breathed him in. Whisky, pine and panther. It was the only scent she needed.

  “I won’t. I promise.”

  She turned her head, watching the pyre as the flames licked around Rex’s brother and burnt higher.

  “You still haven’t given me an answer,” he said.

  “You haven’t asked me properly. But not now, Rex. Not whilst we’re saying goodbye to Eli.”

  He hugged her closer.

  “No, you’re right. Now isn’t the time.”

  When the fire had finally burnt down, they made sure to put it out completely before the rest of them left. Rex took her hand and they walked away from the park together.

  “Goodbye, Eli,” Izzy whispered for the last time.

  §

  She sat on a bench in Green Park. This was where everything had begun. It felt strange to be back here after all these months. She rested her hand on her stomach where she was showing. In three months’ time, she’d give birth to a baby girl. Rex had cried when he’d found out they were having a daughter. She smiled. He was going to make a wonderful father.

  She was waiting for him now. He’d asked her to meet him here after he got off work. It was late afternoon. The sun dappled across the path, half shaded by the canopy above. Rubbing her stomach, she felt the baby move. They hadn’t decided on a name yet.

  “How are my two favourite girls?”

  She turned, finding him leaning on the bench behind her.

  “This seems familiar.”

  “Are you remembering when I snuck up on you before our first kiss?”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “I still haven’t forgiven you for scaring me.”

  He came around the bench and sat beside her, placing his hand over hers on her stomach.

  “I’m still sorry.”

  She leant her head on his shoulder. The man beside her meant everything to her.

  “I suppose I can let you off.”

  He kissed the top of her head.

  “Is she giving you a hard time today?”

  “No. She’s been a little angel apart from the solid kick she gave to my ribs earlier.”

  It was strange that the two of them were going to become parents soon. They’d been busy trying to prepare for her arrival. Their flat was a mess of baby paraphernalia. Rex spent his days off baby proofing and shopping with her. Evan and Gareth were forever winding him up.

  “Good.”

  He leant down and kissed her stomach through her t-shirt.

  “My little princess is going to be perfect. Just stay cooking inside of mummy for a while longer.”

  “I swear you’re going to spoil our kid and turn her into a little brat.”

  “Me?”

  He looked up at her, green, gold eyes glinting with mischief.

  “Yes, you.”

  “Never.”

  She shoved him, causing him to fall off balance. He slipped from the bench onto the ground. He chuckled.

  “Well, as I’m down here already… I might as well tell you why I asked you here.”

  “Yes. I was wondering about that.”

  “Well, my beautiful girlfriend, there’s something we need to talk about.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. She didn’t feel particularly beautiful with her enlarged stomach, but she let it slide.

  “Go on.”

  He got onto his knees, taking one of her hands.

  “Izzy, my sweet, precious Izzy. I love you. I will always love you. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me and now, you’re going to give me a child. I’ve never felt happiness such as this. I hope we will be able to continue to face everything the world throws at us together, just as we have done since we met.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. She had no idea where this was coming from, but her heart swelled.

  “Isadora Georgiana Peters, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?”

  Her mouth dropped open. He’d mentioned marriage the night that Eli had died, but they’d not spoken of it since. She thought it was a conversation for later. Much later.

  “What?”

  “Marry me, Izzy.”

  “Rex…”

  She couldn’t speak. Of course, she wanted to marry him. He was the father of her baby. The baby who was insisting on kicking her in the stomach. She ignored it.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  He grinned, reaching into his jacket and pulling out a small box. He flipped it open. Nestled inside was a small gold ring with a single emerald in the middle. She put her hand to her mouth. She’d told him she loved the colour of his eyes and now, he’d gotten her a ring to match them.

  “Rex… You… You, oh.”

  He took her left hand, placing the ring on her wedding finger. She smiled.

  “Come here, you big idiot.”

  He moved, wrapping his arms around her, holding her close.

  “I love you,” she whispered in his ear.

  They held each other for a long while. She pulled away, placing a furious kiss on his lips.

  “Rex, take me home.”

  She wanted to celebrate their engagement in a more private setting. Just the two of them and their bed. The heat in her eyes had him scrambling to his feet, pulling her up with him. They walked along, hand in hand.

  “I love you, Izzy. Now and always.”

  “You better show me how much you love me when we get back.”

  He grinned, green, gold eyes twinkling.

  “Oh, I most definitely will.”

  I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, I would greatly appreciate a short review on Amazon or your favorite book website. Reviews are crucial for any author, and even just a line or two can make a huge difference.

  Leave a Review

  Playlist

  War of Hearts - Ruelle

  Broken - Isak Danielson

  Blue Jeans - Sofia Karlberg

  Love in the Dark - Leroy Sanchez

  When You’re Gone - VÉRITÉ

  Boogeyman (Acoustic) - Caleb Kunle

  Rescue Me - 30 Seconds to Mars

  In My Blood - Shawn Mendes

  Say - Cary Brothers

  Peak (Stripped) - Anne-Marie

  Stop This Fire - Louisa Wendorff

  Worst of You - Maisie Peters

  The Reason - Chelsea Cutler

  Battlefield - Svrcina

  Carry You - Jake Isaac

  Fear in Me - Louis Mattrs

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you for reading this book. As an indie author, reviews are very important to me. I hope you consider leaving one if you enjoyed it.

  Where do I start with Rex and Izzy’s story? These were two people who suffered at the hands of other people in their lives. I feel like that shaped who they are as people and learning how to let each other in proved to be a monumental task, especially for Rex. I always intended for the antagonist of the story to be Rex’s twin, but what I did not anticipate was Eli’s ability to tug at my heartstrings. I don’t like to write characters who are evil for the sake of it, so having an almost redemptive arc for Eli made sense. Not everything in the world is black and white, particularly for someone who’s been mistreated from a young age. Their mother’s death scarred the twins in different ways and I think that’s what really drew me to the characters. I never thought I’d end up writing twins, but Rex and Eli just jumped out at me and demanded I write them, so who am I to say no! Rex was very much the first character I came up with for this book and Izzy only came when I started writing.

 
; The biggest surprise of all for me when I wrote this was Izzy’s pregnancy, but in a lot of ways, it became an integral part of their story. Also, how cute will a little panther shifter be? Perhaps we’ll see their little baby in later books, who knows?

  Whilst I was writing this book, I also met another very special person in my life. The ever supportive and insanely talented, Sab. Our friendship started on Instagram and Facebook due to a mutual love of Korean TV dramas and has grown from there. We’ve ended up as real-life best friends and fellow writers. It’s amazing when you meet a person who completely gets you on so many levels. Not only can I talk to her about my work, she’s also absolutely in love with my writing. Knowing that I have a friend and a reader for life gives me the push to keep going. Also, she loves cats so in my book that makes you awesome. Not a day goes by that we aren’t in contact and I’m so eternally grateful to have her in my life.

  And last, but not least, thank you to my husband. His support gets me through each day. Even when he’s disturbing me in the middle of writing and I have to tell him to kindly leave me alone. He’s my best friend and confidant. Without him, I’d never be doing this. He really is the best person I know in the world.

  Coming Soon

  Death’s Angel

  Banished from Heaven. An angel, a girl and the Devil himself. The Darkness is coming for them all.

  Discovering your boyfriend is cheating is one way to ruin your evening. With nowhere to go after Alice storms out of her shared flat with Jason, she winds up on a park bench. The man next to her seems surprised she can see him. His beauty takes her breath away. When he informs her, he’s Azrael, the Archangel of Death, Alice’s night turns from bad to weird.

  After an attempted kidnapping by a demon, Alice realises she's in danger. Lucifer wants her dead. Azrael promises safety, but at what cost? He hates humans and his tendency to read her mind drives her insane. She’s sure he knows far more than he’s letting on about her ability to see angels. There’s something sad yet alluring about the angel who has spent hundreds of years on Earth alone. Alice can’t help but want to discover what lies beneath his hard shell.