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Edward and I would have a talk - a long one - about randmother, and my father, too

We’d need to discuss our pasts and the future

"Whatever his reasons," Nic continued, "I agree with hier-Suchers are a lifestyle"

"If we ever need a recruiting poster, I’ll be sure to use that"

"Ha-ha" He tugged on the ends ofThis is just the beginning

There are a lot of olves to find, and someone has to hold them dohile you heal them If you don’t mind a rookie on your team"

"I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have next tothat hadn’t been said, and a lot that had, hung in the air between us

"Elise, I - "

I caughtone thing, hoping for another, not really certain ould be the best for us both

"I’ve been an ass," he blurted

"Which time?"

His eyes narrowed "Would you let me finish?"

"Sorry Far be it fro an ass"

"You’re funny" He took a deep breath "I was an ass when I said there was nothing between us but sex"

I no longer had any desire to make a joke

"There’s more than that?" I whispered

"I love you Always have"

"This wasn’t soht I should know?"

"You left ured there was so with me"

"Not quite"

"When I found out the truth - Well, it was a little hard to declare everlasting love while you were drooling"

"Noho’s funny?" IOnly if he was comfortable hat I ould he be able to do that The weight on my chest lifted just a little

"All this secret J-S stuff, conspiracies, witches, silver bullets - I was afraid you ht be killed I didn’t know if I could stand to lose you twice I didn’t handle the first time well at all"

"You didn’t?"

"When you disappeared, I lost it SpentSo I could find you that way But years went by, and you were just gone I got over you"

"You did?"

"No I told myself I had Believed it, too Until I walked into that office and saw you again I thought my heart had stopped"

"Mine did"

"You’ve been a part of me from the day I first dropped that book on your foot I don’t ever want to be separated froain"

"And I don’t want you to be Except - "

I took a deep breath There were quite a few things that we had to discuss I loved Nic, but I’d been given a job to do, and no one could stopit Not even hi into"

"A life with you It’s all I’ve ever wanted"

"Life with me h probability of a bloody death"

"And that differs froent is a far cry froer-Sucher"

"I know," he said "I can hardly wait to start"

I shook my head "There’ll be no children"

"I don’t recall saying I wanted some"

"You did When ere at Stanford"

"When I was a kid myself For me the world’s a different place than it was last week Bringing children into it I’hts kept co out of his mouth Eerie

"You’re all I need, Elise My dreahtmare"

"You’re the sa a wolf under the "

"Then you haven’t been paying attention"

"I see who you are inside"

" Woof, woof," I mocked

"That’s only a small part"

"Shohat you know"

"I know the truth, and I don’t give a damn You’re Elise Hanover You collect toy crows and Italian shoes You like rare cheeseburgers and white wine"

"Not together"

"You laugh at my jokes, when I used to ht even learn to laugh again e? Ever"

My gaze wandered over the sparkle of gray in his hair, the lines the sun, the wind, time had put next to his eyes and histo appear to be twenty-thich is going to get harder and harder to explain"

"Who do we have to explain it to? The people who matter know the truth"

I’d never looked at the situation quite like that before Still

"You’ll die," I"And I won’t"

"Everyone dies, Elise"

"Not e"

"You’d rather not be together at all than worry aboutahead of you? The way I see it, your days are a little more numbered than mine"

I frowned He rabbed ainst him "You can try and convincethat’llme you don’t lovehis doubts? I couldn’t see any All I saas love

When I continued to hesitate, he leaned in slowly, giving me time to protest, to escape, to lie and tell him I didn’t want him, didn’t need him, didn’t love him

I couldn’t, so with a kiss, I surrendered

He lifted me into his arms and carriedmy skin as he laid me on the bed

As our lips touched, our bodies joined to the sound of gentle whispers and proht There was nothing we couldn’t accoether," Nic h in the sky, and ere still in bed, I conteht back fro, but you never knehen soht come in handy Instead, I slipped the talisman around my neck, and it settled comfortably between my breasts

The moon would always call to me, and that was okay That was as it should be Instead of dread I awaited the next e the rules again - they always did - and the J&uer-Suchers would have to adapt

What would the future bring?

A phone rang solanced raht on my tattoo

"I love this," he whispered "Very hot"

For Nic, I never had to be anything other than what I was What a gift What a guy

There was a knock on the door

"Get up," Jessie announced "We’ve got work to do"