Page 121 of Betrayed in the Dark
“I’m sorry you went through all of this alone.” His hand slides around my neck, his thumb tracing back and forth. “But I’m here now, and you won’t have to go through anything alone ever again.”
I relax a fraction in his hold, wishing he was right.
He reaches behind me and brings the letter between us, staring at the words with so much vehemence.
“It’s a perfect replica of my handwriting,” he remarks.
“I know,” I whisper.
“But I don’t understand,” he continues, running his hand around to the back of my head. “What does this have to do with you marrying Alastor? Did he know you were pregnant and try to blackmail you with it?”
“He didn’t know,” I whisper. “He had no idea.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m positive. There’s no way he could have known.”
“But then, who did?” Eli asks, searching my gaze.
“I don’t know.” I release a deep exhale. “Besides my gynecologist, I never had a chance to tell anyone. Not a soul. I only put it on paper in my letter to you…” I freeze.
“What is it?” he asks.
“If you didn’t get my letter, then someone else did. Someone who…most likely, sent the response letter to me. That letter was the only way anyone would have known I was pregnant.”
I look at the letter lying on the floor.
The one that has haunted me for a year.
“I’ll find out who did this. I promise you, I won’t let them get away with it.” His arms lock around me. “But I need you to do something for me, Madeleine.”
“Anything.”
“Tell me what Alastor is holding over you. If it’s not this, then tell me why you would’ve agreed to marry him. Tell me everything, love.”
I pinch my eyes closed, my breath coming out choppy. “I can’t. Please don’t make me.”
“Whatever it is, I’ll help you out of it. I’ll take care of the problem. But I can’t if you don’t tell me what is going on.”
“But that’s just it… If I tell you, you’ll try to do something about it. You’ll try to stop the wedding. You’ll try to save me, but you can’t. Not this time, Eli.”
He lowers his face to mine. “I will always save you, and there’s nothing you will ever be able to do to stop me from putting an end to this wedding because I love you, Madeleine. So goddamn much. And it will be a cold day in hell before I ever let you marry that man. You are mine. And I am yours. That’s how it’s always been. And I won’t let this monster interfere with our destiny.”
I roll in my bottom trembling lip, shaking my head. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“I do.” He glides his lips over mine. Gently. Slowly. Softly. He pulls away, pressing his temple to mine. “Tell me everything from the beginning. Tell me your secret, Princess, and I’ll guard it with my life. I’ll save you from the villain in this story.”
With a pleading look in his eyes that draws me into his orbit, I reluctantly give in.
I don’t stop to consider the consequences of my words.
I don’t give myself a moment to back down.
I just breathe and tell him my secret.
LAST NEW YEAR’S DAY
It’s New Year’s Day. A day meant for celebrating with loved ones or simply to start fresh. To start working on those damn resolutions everyone feels it’s necessary to make.
