“You can’t make him stay here against his will.” Alexey shook his head. “He’s not a character from a fairy tale, Tasha. He’s not a prince in disguise.”
“He mentioned supernatural beings,” Tasha said quickly. “They will kill him if he leaves. I have to save him, Alexey.” She paused then blurted, “I love him!”
“I can see that, child,” Alexey murmured gently. He touched her check with his callused hand. “So much a young woman, yet still so much a girl. These things can’t be forced, Tasha. He must do what is right for him.”
“He’s too scarred by what he went through to know what’s right!” Tasha said, her anger rising. “Why won’t you help me save him?”
“I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.” Alexey pressed his lips into a firm line. “I’ve never met a supernatural being. I have never wanted to. Your best bet is to convince Theo to stay with logic, not with emotion.”
Furious, Tasha stalked out of the stable, and then ran up to the house. Dark clouds were coming across the mountains in the distance, lightning flashing.
Tasha hurried inside and went down the hallway to her room.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared before her, blocking out the light.
She let out a cry, cringing backward.
“Don’t be afraid. I mean you no harm...Tasha.”
The voice was raspy, like dry paper crackling. “How do you know my name?” she challenged. “Who are you?”
“A friend,” the figure said. A wrinkled hand held out a paper. “Call me when you are ready.”
Tasha didn’t take the proffered paper. “Ready for what?”
“To save your love, of course.” The figure disappeared as suddenly as it had come.
The paper lay on the floor, testament she hadn’t imagined the figure. Leaving it there, Tasha ran to her room, sure Theo would somehow be gone. But he was as she had left him, asleep in her bed, snoring slightly.
He was so handsome...
The phone rang shrilly. Tasha bolted to it, grabbing it up. “Hello?”
“My daughter,” her father’s voice said with a loving note in this voice. “You are up early.”
“I was hoping to go riding,” Tasha answered, her words tumbling out. “Alexey is saddling Sasha now.”
“Your ride can wait. I have some good news.” He paused. “I have arranged for you to be married this coming Christmas.”
All the blood drained from Tasha’s face. “What?”
“He is a doctor at a university of veterinary medicine. He will make a wonderful match for you, with your love for animals—”
“What about my college plans?” Tasha managed to speak around the lump in her throat.
“You will never need to work,” her father said, his words were clipped and sharp. “There is no need for you to attend college, Tasha. Don’t be afraid. Arkady is an older man, and he will put few demands on you, save for children—”
No. Not now. Especially not now! She was in love. If she was going to marry anyone, it was going to be Theo. “That sounds lovely, Father,” Tasha said quickly. “Alexey is calling me from outside. Let me call you back this evening. I want to hear all the details.”
“Tasha—”
She hung up on her father then raced to the piece of paper. On it was just a phone number. She crossed to the phone and dialed.
The voice that answered was the same. “You waste no time. That is good.”
“How much to help me?” Tasha said. “It must be tonight. There is little time.”
“I want nothing but Theo’s safety,” the voice said, followed by an amused chuckle. “He is safest staying with you, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes,” Tasha said. “But he won’t stay.” Say it. “He doesn’t love me as I love him.”
“He will,” the voice said with surety. “He already is affectionate with you. It is not hard to give that affection a push to make it blossom into love. I will give you something to help that happen.”
“What?”
“Heart’s Solace. It’s a spell to help those with broken hearts forget their troubled past and find love again. The powder can be readily mixed with alcohol—”
“I won’t hurt him,” Tasha said.
“This won’t hurt him. He will die if he leaves, that I promise you. Don’t you want to save him?”
And myself in the process. “Yes. Can you bring it by tonight?”
“It will be on the front doorstep by nightfall.”
There was a sudden sound of the dial tone. Tasha put down the phone.
This was the right thing. It was the only way.
But Theo wouldn’t be the only one to take Heart’s Solace. She would take it, also. If she was willing to trust the man she loved to a sorcerer’s spell, she had to trust herself, too.
* * * *
The powder was there at dusk, on the step in an envelope. Tasha poured the packet into the bottle of wine, then brought it into the bedroom where Theo waited, a duffel bag at his feet.
“I have to go,” he said, raking a hand through his blond hair. “Thank you again for all you’ve done for me. I wouldn’t have come back to life without you, Tasha.” He gave her a heart-melting smile.
It was now or never. They would either die together, or live happily ever after.
Tasha poured the wine into two glasses. “Will you toast to me before you go?”
“To what?” Theo said, taking the glass. “I’ve never known you to drink, Tasha.”
“I’m getting married,” Tasha said, smiling unevenly. “To our new lives.” She clinked her glass to Theo’s, then drank it down.
“Congratulations.” Theo emptied his, too. He set it down, then staggered slightly, holding onto a chair to steady himself.
Tasha swayed then sat down heavily on the bed. Her head was spinning, and she felt slightly sick.
Theo came over then went to his knees before her. “Are you all right?”
“No,” Tasha said, wiping at tears. “You’re leaving and you’re asking me if I’m all right? Don’t you know I love you?”
Theo stared at her a split second, his lips parted. Then he embraced her, his strong arms surrounding her, his lips meeting hers in a rough, passionate kiss that took Tasha’s breath away. She kissed him back, and then they were embracing on her bed, her arms around him, running up his muscular back, his lips devouring her hot skin.
“Will you marry me?” Theo whispered.
Tasha froze, then looked up at him. Had he really said that, or had she imagined the words?
“I love you,” Theo said again, cupping her face in his hands. “I know you’re not eighteen. But I want to be with you—”
“You’re thinking of your America,” Tasha said with a laugh. “Here in Russia, the legal age of consent is sixteen, Theo. Having just turned seventeen, I’m certainly of legal age—”
“You didn’t answer my question,” Theo said lightly, kissing her neck.
“So long as you aren’t leaving,” Tasha teased.
“I’d be a fool to leave you,” Theo said, kissing her again.
Tasha kissed him back, her arms around him, blissful. Neither she nor Theo noticed the shadowy figure watching, or saw his smile as he faded away into nothingness.
About the Author
Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.
Other works by Tara Fox Hall with Melange Books, LLC
Return To Me
Surrender to Me
The Origin of Fear in Spellbound 2011 Anthology
Night Music in Midnight Thirsts II Anthology
Partners in Midnight Thirsts II Anthology
/> Kink in Wicked Christmas Wishes Anthology
The Oath in Wicked Christmas Wishes Anthology
Bedtime Shadows Anthology
Make Me Behave Anthology
Latham’s Landing, An Anthology
The Promise Me Series
Promise Me, Book 1
Broken Promise, Book 2
Taken in the Night, Book 3
Taken for his Own, Book 4
Turn the page for more books available
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Also Available
From Melange Books
Immortal Confessions
A 'Promise Me' Origins Tale
Tara Fox Hall
At the turn of the 19th century, former aristocrat turned lowly vampire Devlin Dalcon gets by on his supernatural charms until he meets bride-to-be Annabelle. Smitten by Anna's forthrightness, intellect, and bravery, Devlin risks his life to spirit her away to Fontainebleau, France. There Devlin begins his ascent to power in a desperate bid for wealth and social standing for himself and Anna.
Forging alliances with other supernatural leaders, he usurps the vampire Lord of Fontainebleau, amassing many enemies during his brief reign. Within a few years, he and Anna are again forced to flee for their lives to America. Living in hiding, Devlin is determined to amend his ways. But when tragedy strikes, Devlin's dark side, never fully extinguished, emerges rampant, securing him the bloody throne of America even as his malevolence and loneliness consumes him.
Also Available
From Melange Books
Lantham's Landing
Tara Fox Hall
All That Remains
Sandra has come to Latham's Landing seeking to discover what really happened to her relative who disappeared there years before, persuading her reluctant friend Tina that a little paranormal investigation will be fun.
The Origin of Fear
Four college friends mount an expedition to Latham's Landing—an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious deaths—to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the origin of fear.
The Fire Within
A bitter Caroline Stone embarks on a mission to destroy the evil isle estate that took her fiancé, joining with several others also out for retribution. Can the combined fire of their hate triumph over the relentless evil of Latham's Landing?
Also Available
From Melange Books
Darian's Surrender
A Shifter Novel (#9)
Jaden Sinclair
Dominic Vanderburg has grown up knowing about the family feud between his family, and the Laswells, but never knew what it was about. At age fifteen, he went with his grandfather to the Draeger home with intentions of fixing the gape, but instead he discovered his mate.
Darion Laswell is only nineteen when she is summoned to a Gathering. Her parents are reluctant to let her go, but unable to prevent it. She goes, but the last thing she ever suspected was to be marked, and claimed, by a man whose family is hated by her own.
Dominic comes from a world Darion knows nothing about and fears she will never understand, but he does everything he can to help her fit in. With his determination, he is set to show his young mate that together they can mend the wrong between their families.
Promise Me Anthology Page 25