Page 42 of Tragic Ink
“What? No. Of coursenot.”
“Because you weren’t going to tell me the truth about yourself otherwise, wereyou?”
“Gwen,I—”
“How long are your ordersfor?”
He sat back. “What do youmean?”
“Your oath to protect me,” I said. “Will it end when this threat is over? Or will itcontinue?”
“I have sworn to protect you for as long as you are alive,” he said, and the way he said the words sent tingles down myspine.
“And are there... rules about getting involved with me? Will you get in trouble ifwe...?”
“No trouble,” he said softly. “But there is onerule.”
“What is it?” I asked, not even sure I wanted to know based on the intense expression hewore.
Gently, Rhys took the bag of chips and set both it and my drink on the coffee table. Then he scooted inagain.
He took a deep breath before he spoke. “Once we’re together, we can never break up. It’s all or nothing for Protectors. Our choice has to befinal.”
“Oh.” I licked my lips, not quite daring to tell him that’s how it already was forme.
His eyes burned into mine. “That’s why I stopped our kiss and walked away from you before. What I felt for you was so deep, and I knew what would happen if we continued. I knew there would be no going back for me, and I couldn’t let that happen without you fully understanding what you were gettinginto.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “What would havehappened?”
“My soul would have forged a connection with yours, and that’s not something I can break,” he admitted. “You would have beentrapped.”
I blinked, staring into his dark eyes, searching to be sure he was serious. “Oh,” I said again. I was sosmooth.
“I understand if you need to think about it now. Take all thetime—”
“I don’t need to think about it,” I said quickly, then blew out a breath. “Sorry, I guess this is unexpected. I didn’t think you’d ever...” I searched for words that hopefully wouldn’t sound as awkward as they did in my head. “Rhys, you’ve had my heart since the moment I sawyou.”
He scooted closer. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to hear you saythat.”
“Yes, I do,” I said, the words no louder than a whisper. “Because I’ve wanted it all along too.” My heart thudded wildly, and I swallowed hard against the nerves I felt admitting all of it aloud, but he’d already apologized—more than once—and made it clear how he felt about me. All while I’d thrown it back in his face. And for what? To punish him? Except all it did was punish me, too. And I was tired of doing that. If Rhys was offering himself up, I was going to take him. Rhys was my Protector, but he was also my one and onlylove.
“I’m sorry for being so angry all the time,” Isaid.
“You had a right,” he began, but I shook myhead.
“I use anger to cover my hurt so that people can’t really see me, but all that does is make the pain worse. I want you to see the real me,Rhys.”
“Gwen, you have to know how sorry I am about hurting you before.” His voice was rough with emotion. “But I couldn’t risk breaking my oath, and I had to protect you first and foremost. That kiss...” He trailed off, his expression twisting intoregret.
“It’s in the past.” I reached for his face and ran a hand down his stubbled cheek. “I loved you when I was six and I love you now, Rhys Graywalk. You are my choice,always.”
His lips spread into a slow smile that lit his eyes. “I love you, too, Gwen Facharro. I always have, and I alwayswill.”
Slowly, he reached out and let his fingers trail down my cheek and around my neck. The air around us felt tense, like the universe was just waiting for us to make the nextmove.
Rhys leaned in. His lips brushed over mine, and just that soft, quick contact was enough to make me tremble. I squeezed my hands together, praying he hadn’t noticed the way my arms shook at his touch. But then I opened my eyes and caught sight of his wary expression. My eyes widened. “What’swrong?”
“I just want to make absolutely sure,” he saiduncertainly.
