I stare at the bundle of sticks before me, imagining them lighting up, bursting into flame.
At first nothing happens, no matter how much I concentrate. I have no overwhelming sense of emotions to fuel me, yet I still focus every ounce of my being into creating that power, knowing I can’t rely on fear or anger to create the fire again.
Suddenly, the sticks catch on fire, a blaze alighting magnificently up into the air, hints of smoke trailing out in its wake. Relaxing the tension from my body, I step back, releasing a sigh. Glancing toward Noah, he is smiling at me, that glimmer of surprise and admiration hard to miss. We have been trying to perfect it since arriving in our home realm a few days ago.
“I’m very impressed,” he admits, dark hair tinted red from the bright fire which eats away at the sticks we provided.
“I feel like I can do better with more practice,” I admit, wishing the fire away into nothing, leaving charred sticks behind in the sand. No one else is on the beach with us as we enjoy the sunset, playing around with my powers. In this realm, having powers is rare and celebrated, but I’m still nervous about flaunting them.
“I’ll find someone here who will be able to help you perfect them,” Noah murmurs.
I reach out for his hand, smiling as his fingers wrap around mine. “I’ve decided that although we have been here for only a few weeks, I truly love this place.”
“We can live here forever, you know. Make our life here,” he comments carefully as we pick our way through the sand. Just above us on the cliff is the home Stace has given us in return for living here. It’s beautiful, the perfect place to live.
“I’m ready for that, I think.”
“I have to admit, you look beautiful when you’re using your powers,” Noah comments smoothly, grinning down at me. “I’m glad you will be able to protect yourself here.”
“I’m sure I will manage just fine,” I breathe, looking out at the ocean. The falling suns tangerine and pink colours drift along the surface of the shifting waves which lap at our feet as we walk. I’ve never felt so truly content, even if there is the slightest tug at the back of my mind, reminding me that I can never truly be happy.
“Of course you will.”
“What do you think Stace is going to do with your Pack?” I ask him uneasily. I’m unsure if it’s a touchy subject to talk about yet. It’s a big decision for him to have made, and part of me feels as though he only did it for me, and that he wouldn’t have otherwise. But he loves me, and would sacrifice everything for me. That I know of.
Noah sighs, shoving his hands into his pockets as he looks out at the wide expanse of barren beach, the sound of the waves the only sound to be heard. “I’m not sure, but something tells me he isn’t done with Cian.”
I shiver. It seems Stace has many reasons to stay in the mortal realm instead of coming here. Namely, his mate, and Cian.
“I’m worried about Cian. I still haven’t heard from him,” I admit. “Who knows what he is doing.”
It’s only been a few weeks yet I’m still concerned. I doubt he will contact me for a very long time, but perhaps that is a good thing. I need to focus on my life here with Noah now, not on what could have been if I had chosen Cian...
“It seems likely that Stace will continue to have his way with Cian. There are a few more of us there, like Cian and the rest of the Sin’s are a threat to,” Noah reminds me. Of course, I forget Cian hates our kind, and if I were not his mate, he would have killed me. Perhaps Stace did me a favour sending me here. As soon as I rejected Cian, he could have killed me.
“Is it a crime to want him to be happy?” I ask, kicking at a scattering of brightly coloured shells having washed up on the beach.
Noah smiles down at me, squeezing my hand. “No, of course not. I’m sure he wants the same for you.”
“I doubt that. I’m sure he has a lot of resentment toward me right now,” I sigh, recalling the way he looked at me when the mate bond between us was finally diminished. He was hurt, but there was something else in there, like true, pure anger, like if he ever saw me again, he would make sure I knew it.
“He could never hate you,” Noah tells me solemnly. I can tell that bothers him, that Cian will forever be a figure in our lives. “And even if he did, he will find happiness again, with another mate.”
“I truly hope so.” I mean that. I want him to be happy, because after everything I put him through, he deserves that. I just hope his mate is closer than a few centuries away. “I’m sorry, this is probably the last thing you want to hear about.”
“I’m happy to hear you talk about anything.”
I let go of Noah’s hand, stumbling away a few steps toward the sea. I’ve decided that I don’t want to talk about this anymore, but instead I want to enjoy my time here with my mate. Worrying about Cian isn’t going to do either of us any good.
“Swim with me,” I offer, grinning warmly at him.
He nods, reaching up to pull his shirt over his head. “Absolutely.”
I allow myself more than one glance at his glorious torso, shedding off my clothing as well so I’m only standing in my bra and underwear. No one is around, as Noah chases me playfully into the waves, the cold water splashing up my legs before I dive in.
When I emerge, the tips of my toes are only just touching the sand below, the waves pushing me up before pulling me back down. Noah emerges beside me, shaking his hair in a way that sends droplets spraying across me.
“This is so perfect,” I admit, admiring the way the sinking sun casts pretty colours across Noah’s stunning features. I know, in this peaceful moment, that I made the right decision in choosing him.
“Just a little deeper,” he coaxes, pulling away to wade out toward the darker depths.
I frown. “Deeper? I was hoping we could wade in the shallows.”
“You don’t want to put your head under the water?” he asks playfully, splashing me once, making me giggle. Instead of protesting, I follow him deeper, ignoring the bite of the salty water on my sensitive skin. Despite it, I could swim here all day with him.
“Come here,” he murmurs, tone deeper, daring me. I pull myself into his arms, melting into the warmth of skin. He wraps his hands around my waist, the grip sinfully tight.
I nudge him.“I’m not going to drown Noah, it’s okay.”
As I stare into his eyes, the warmth in those emerald irises almost seems to melt away, as he stares at me blankly. I flinch, nudging him again as if I could chase away the sudden coldness that has shifted over him, changing his entire demeanor from what it had been earlier.
He cocks his head. “Well, I wouldn’t say that.”
Before I have a chance to react, he grabs my shoulders, pulling me down below the surface of the water. Panic sets in, as I realise this isn’t Noah, my mate being playful or silly. He is holding me under the water, no matter how much I push at his body.
Getting enough leverage, I pull back out of the water, gasping in enough air to yell at him.
“Noah, what are you doing?” I protest.
“I’m sorry Abella,” he says gruffly. “Neither Cian nor I ever deserved you.”
With that, he pushes me below the surface of the water again, this time with enough force for me to realise painfully that I’m not coming back up. No matter how much I claw at his skin, how much I push at his grip, I can’t get back up for more air. As I scream, salty water surges down my throat, burning painfully at my lungs. It leaves me unable to comprehend the reality of what is happening.
He’s killing me.
Before everything could sink into darkness, only one thought echoed thoroughly through my mind.
Why?