Page 46 of Secrets of Avalon
She nods and I’m grateful she believes me.
“How did I end up with a piece of your soul inside me? How do I give it back to you?” Her voice wavers, and I can see the turmoil in her eyes, the weight of Nimue's revelation pressing down on her. Nimue should have let me tell her when I was ready. She shouldn’t have put this pressure on her.
I take a deep breath, my chest tightening. “I don’t know how you got it. But it’s beautiful and it tells me you’re mine.”
Her eyes widen, a mix of awe and uncertainty. “You can see it?”
I nod, my voice soft but firm. “Yes, I can. And it tells me that we are meant to be bound together in a way that transcends understanding. You’re my soul mate, Melinda. I am incomplete without you.”
“How? How do I give it back to you? How do I keep the darkness away?” Her questions are laced with desperation, and I can feel her fear, her need for answers.
I move closer, my hand trembling. I gently touch the part of her chest where I can sense my soul shard glowing, right above her heart. I feel it again. The surge of energy. The draw to the chaotic magick alive inside her. “You don’t need to give it back, Melinda. Together, the darkness is held at bay.”
The feral nature within me claws at the surface, the urge to claim her, to mark her as mine, nearly overwhelming. But I hold back, forcing myself to stay in control. I’m not ready to tell her everything. Not yet. “We’ll figure this out together. You’re not alone in this. I’ll protect you, always.”
She whimpers softly, and my desire for her intensifies, but I keep my focus on her eyes, grounding myself in the connection we share. Her scent, sweet and feminine, fills my senses, making it harder to resist the pull, but I stay steady, my resolve unyielding.
“Why now?” Her voice is calm, almost too calm, and it catches me off guard. The question hangs in the air, heavy with uncertainty.
“I don’t know why now,” I reply, my voice thick with emotion. “Except that if it had not happened yesterday, I would’ve been gone. I wouldn’t have been in the castle again for several years.” The thought of not being here, of missing her entirely, sends a chill down my spine. I can’t bear the idea of a life where our paths never crossed.
I watch her closely, searching her face for any sign of panic or distress. But she remains eerily calm, her expression unreadable. The stillness unsettles me, makes my heart race with worry.
“I’m so grateful you’re here,” I continue, my voice softening. “I know you went through hell to get to me, and for that, I am so sorry.” The words fall short, unable to fully convey the depth of my gratitude and the understanding of the pain I know she endured.
Suddenly, her calm facade cracks. Tears well up in her eyes, and she starts to cry, the sound breaking through the silence like a wave crashing against the shore. The sight of her tears twists something deep inside me, a mix of anguish and fierce protectiveness surging through my veins.
I move my hand from her chest up to gently cup her face. “Melinda,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I can’t imagine the strength it took for you to find me. The thought of you suffering, of you being alone… it tears me apart.”
Her sobs grow louder, and I pull her off the bed into my arms, holding her as tightly as I dare. The feral part of me wants to rage against the world for the pain she’s endured, but I force myself to remain calm. She doesn’t need that darkness right now.
As I hold her, a sense of completeness washes over me. The piece of my soul that resides within her resonates, sending a comforting warmth through my chest. It’s like a puzzle piece clicking into place. The bond between is begging for more. The connection is overwhelming, and my heart swells with a mix of love and protectiveness.
“I’m here now,” I murmur into her hair and tuck the blanket tighter around her trembling body. “Shhhh. Melinda.” I stroke her head, gently moving her hair from her reddened face. The touch is tender, meant to soothe, and she starts to relax in my arms. I rearrange and sit fully on the ground, leaning against the bedpost, and pull her into my lap, wrapping the blanket around her more securely.
As she continues to cry, I tighten my hold, pressing her closer to my chest. “I’ve got you,” I whisper, my voice gentle yet firm. “I won’t let anything hurt you. You’re safe with me.”
Her sobs gradually subside, and I continue to hold her, soothed by the steady rhythm of her breathing as it syncs with mine. In this moment, nothing else matters. Not the council, not the threats that loom over us. Just her, in my arms, and the connection that’s binding us tighter and tighter together with every passing second.
The bedroom door opens and Kellan’s head appears.
Damned dragon.
His face darkens for a moment, wordlessly threatening bodily harm if I behave inappropriately. I instinctively recognize the fatherly warning and nod, assuring him I’ll be respectful.
As possible. I squeeze Melinda tighter to my chest and breath in her sweet citrusy scent. The calming fragrance washes over me, soothing the chaos in my mind. This is where I belong. This is where she belongs.
Kellan retreats, closing the door again, leaving us alone.
I go back to gently petting her hair. The softness of her hair against my fingers, the warmth of her body pressed close to mine, all of it grounds me.
She snuggles her face against my shirt and breathes deeply. “It’s such a mess.”
“What is, Melinda? What’s a mess?”`
“Everything.” She sniffles and hiccups through another few sobs. “I can’t save you like Nimue says. I’m cursed. You can’t be with me. You should be with that other woman.”
My lip curls and my fangs descend slightly, vehemently opposed to even thinking that Vencia is a possibility. “Never. I don’t want her. I want you. You’re mine, Melinda. That’s what I’ve been saying. Haven’t you heard me?”