Page 129 of Lunar Diamonds
“That’s why I hate the dark. And Rhianna knew that, locking me up, too.”
In that moment, I found hate. For Sandra, for that Bryan guy. For Rhianna. How dare they hurt and damage him like that?
He grasped my knees gently. “Sandra died a few years ago. Fell down the basement stairs. Ironic, huh?”
“Extremely.”
“Bryan suffered a stroke a week later, dying three months after that.”
Would it be bad to say “good!” to that? I kept my mouth shut, focused on him, not those arseholes.
“But none of that fixes the scars they left. They called me useless and it still resonates now. I don’t have a lot of self-worth, you know?”
I stroked his left cheek with the back of my hand.
“Hence the phoenix,” he added. “It’s a fightback. Part of the healing.”
“Oh, Drake…”
He blinked a few more tears free. “Thanks for listening.” He kissed me softly on the lips. “I never talk about this. I always want to be strong, locking it away because it really fucking hurts. But it’s out of the box right now, and I can’t… I just had to tell you.”
“I’m glad you did.”
He blew out a long breath. “I always sleep with the lights on. The ginkgo powder takes the edge off.” His lips curled up into a small smile. “So do you.”
I pulled him into a hug. “You’re a fabulous man, Drake Parish.”
“Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”
A repeat of his statement at Mystique Square, almost turning me to jelly.
I held him, stroking his beautiful copper skin.
“I can’t even imagine the pain of what you’ve been through,” I said, resting my chin on the top of his head. “But I wish I had a spell to take it away.”
He looked up, pinning me with his gaze. “You do chase it away. You’re… You’re a light I’ve needed for a long time.”
“I…” I didn’t know to reply, caught between elation and uncertainty. “I…”
I’d always dreamed of a knight swooping in to change my life. You know, the full fairytale fantasy. But maybe I could be Drake’s knight, a constant stream ofthatlight he mentioned.
Wow. What a wonderful prospect, and a scary one.
Wait. I knew exactly what to say.
“You’re so beautiful, Drake. And worthy.” I pushed fingers through his hair. “The most beautiful man in the world. I’ve thought so from the moment I saw you. That charming smile worked. You got in here.” I tapped my head. “You take my breath away.”
Without a word, he kissed me as tears cascaded down his face.
Yeah. I’d be that knight of light.
With bells on.
Chapter 39
DRAKE
Puzzle pieces slotted into place. A sense of rightness settled into this room.
