Page 49 of The Raven
He placed two fingers under my chin and gently lifted my head to make melook at him, an affectionate, warm smile playing on his lips. “Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for. Mason was there when you neededhim.”
My eyes widened, words getting stuck in my throat. He knew I’d had sexwith Mason? Notjusthad sex with him, but fellevendeeper in love with him than ever before. How could he be okay withthat? Why was he not mad?
“I’m not mad, Raven,”he said, answering my unspoken thoughts. Hereleased my chin but laced his fingers through my hair, almost as if he couldn’t help but touch me in some way.“Baby, I always knew how you and Mason felt about eachother. You two were inevitable. I know you loved me, but you loved him too, and I could never find it in me to be jealous, because the love you and he share is so fucking special. A once-in-a-lifetime lovethatdeep down, I always knew I wouldn’t have with you.”A lone tear slid down my cheek, and Eric carefully brushed it away.“It wasn’t our time, Raven. Maybe in another lifetime, I’ll get to be the boy who moves in next door and steals your heart and soul. But for this life, the here and now, you’ll always belong to Mason, and he’ll always belong to you.”
More tears followed as I gaped back at Eric. Tears for him. Tears for me.Tears for a lovethatwould never be.
No part of me could deny his words. If I were honest, I’d always known inmy heartthatI belonged to Mason.
“You need to knowthatI did love you, Eric. I still do,”I managed to saywithout breaking into sobs. I needed him to knowthatthe love I held for him was never a lie.
His smile widened, and he moved a hand to rest against my heart.“I neverdoubted your love for one minute, baby. I always said your heart was big enough to love us both.”
A sad smile tugged at my lips. Maybe in another lifetime, I’d get to keepboth Eric and Mason, and the Vipers wouldn’t have an opportunity to rip us apart.
For several long seconds, Eric and I stared at each other, a million unspokenwords passing between us, until a throat cleared from beside us.
Oz placed his hand on Eric’s arm.“It’s time.”
Regret flashed over Eric’s face as he nodded once. I looked between the twoof them, unsure as to what was going to happen. When Oz stepped away, Eric cupped my face, his warm palms against my damp cheeks.
“I’ll never forget you, Raven. You made every second of my life worthliving for.”Before I could reply, he pressed his lips against mine.
Why did it feel like he was saying goodbye?
I closed my eyes to stop more tears from falling. All too soon, Eric pulledaway, but when I opened my eyes again, the space in front of me was vacant. I turned, looking for him, but knowing I wouldn’t find him.
Eric was gone.
“What happens now?”I asked, finding Oz watching me intently.
“It’s time,” he repeated.
“Time for what?”
Oz took a step toward me, reaching out to place his hand on my arm likehe’d done to Eric.“I told you before, Raven. I would show you the truth, andthenyou will have a choice to make. A choice whether you go back or move forward.”
I shook my head, confusion rushing through me.“You’re talking in riddlesagain, Oz. I went back. The Vipers are dead.”
His head tilted to the side.“A soul can’t rest until it resolves its unfinishedbusiness,”he replied softly.“Your soul isn’t at peace, and neither ishisbecause they were torn apart.”
My jaw dropped as the truth slammed into me.
It was never about the Vipers.
“Now it’s time for you to make your choice, Raven. Do you move forwardor will you go back?”
What CouldHave Been
The Cop
One week.
One week since the events of Halloween. One week since Raven saved mylife. One week of feeling like I couldn’t breathe because I missed her so damn much.
I’d lost count of the times I thought about ending my life, unable to live withthe gaping hole in my heart her absence had left behind. The stab wound was healing, but a scar would remain, a constant reminder of the night I lost her.
But I couldn’t end my life.
