Page 6 of Emerald

He nods. “I’m never going to lie to you, babe. Monogamy is not in my veins. This is as close as I can get to something more.”

“And you’re okay with me sleeping with other people if I say yes?” I ask, needing him to clarify.

“You’re a beautiful woman. I cannot stop men from wanting you. I also know it is your job. I don’t need to know about it, just like you don’t need to know about the women I’m sleeping with.”

This is true.

“I want us to promise that we won’t bring anything that is happening in our world into the bedroom. When we are together, I want it to be just us,” he asks.

“I can do that,” I agree.

“You’ve shone light into my dark heart, and I never want to disappear beneath the shadows again. You’re my only solace in this fucked up world, Elena,” he declares.

“Shit.” I wake up with a start as I try to force my eyes open, pulling me from my nightmare. It felt like Dimitri was right here with me in bed. As if I could feel his hand on my chest and his skin underneath my fingers. I give myself a good shake, trying to get rid of the last lingering thoughts of Dimitri.

Sitting up, I stare out across the unfamiliar bedroom and let out a heavy sigh.

I’m alive.

Maxim is alive.

And he and Grace are together again.

Everything is the way it should be. Except you keep thinking about the monster you left behind. My mind’s broken, missing him for a microsecond is messed up. At least the fucker had the decency to shed a tear when he found out I was dead, in the privacy of his home, while staring at my photo beside his bed as I watched the surveillance footage.

I flop back against the bed, stare at the white ceiling, and watch the fan’s blades slowly move around. My mind wanders back to last night and the intensity of our rebirth. The champagne was flowing, and the laughter, tears, and hugs came in abundance from Grace’s family. It was a lovingly domesticated affair except for the two back from the dead guests. No one dared go to bed, worried that if they did, they would wake from this dream and the bleak reality of how they thought the day was going to turn out would return.

The crack of a branch has me jumping from my bed. I press my back against the whitewashed walls, trying to get the best vantage point to see who is out there. Sliding along the wall, I’m able to peer through the window to see if it is a friend or foecoming through. It’s Damon and Brooks. What the hell are they doing here?

Opening the door before they even knock surprises them.

“Good morning,” I answer breezily.

“Told you we couldn’t surprise her,” Damon nudges Brooks, who gives me a scowl.

“You already underestimating me, Brooks? You wouldn’t be the first,” I say lightly.

“Can we come in and talk?” Brooks asks gruffly.

I open the door and let them in. I look around the garden to double-check that no one followed them before closing the door.

“What can I do for you both?” I ask.

“We need to talk,” Damon responds.

“I think we’ve established that by your early morning appearance at my door,” I answer, folding my arms.

Brooks glares at me. “Thought it would be best if we ran through the story about your reappearance to the Clark family. You know they will have questions.”

“You mean your girlfriend will have questions?” I bite back.

Brooks gives me another grumpy glare. Damon tries to hide the snigger that falls from his lips.

“If you mean Sophie, she is a good friend and colleague. She is like a dog with a bone. If she sniffs something is wrong, she won’t let it go,” he warns.

“That’s sweet that you think Sophie will break me. I’m going to forgive you for thinking like that as you’re new to the team. I’m not some dumb girl with a gun.”

Brooks grinds his teeth at my comment. “I’m aware of your reputation as Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld, as they like to refer to you.”

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