Page 76 of Touched By Moonlight
“My home. Our home. It’s safehere.”
“Safe?” I laughed. “The Fionn are not safe. My people can be lethal. Are you delusional?” Did he have any clue what my people could do toshifters?
Toinnocents?
Amber flashed in Grayson’s eyes, signaling the rise of his wolf. He growled softly. “I know my people and my territory, Sienna. The Fionn who once lived in these woods died long ago. The forest has been benign untiltoday.”
My stomach gave a sickening jolt. The walk I’d taken earlier, lured into the forest by the mysterious whisper. I’d stirred up the ancient magick once more, like a dust cloud. This near disaster was all my fault. Had I never broken Grayson’s rule, the magick would have remainedquiet.
Carmen would have remainedsafe.
My hands shook and sweat poured down myback.
“This happened because of me.” I whispered, my chest hollow with the knowledge that once more, I had caused harmful magick to rise up. Magick that nearly hurt achild!
Grayson’s eyes returned to their normal blue. His expression softened and he framed my face with his warm, rough hands. “No. Whatever happened is not your fault. You saved her,Sienna.”
“Saved her? Because of me, she might havedied.”
The last thing I wanted was to freak out in front of Grayson, and show any kind of emotion. Because I’d spent three years perfecting my poker face, not letting anything under my skin. But this was a child, an innocent, who could have died from the magick brought to life because of what Iam.
Who Iam.
He stroked his thumbs over my suddenly chilled skin. “Stop that. It wasn’t you,Sienna.”
“My power destroys,” Iwhispered.
Grayson bent his forehead until it touched mine. The contact felt soothing and reassuring, knowing he did not fear me. “You are a good and noble Fionn, Sienna. You’re not evil. I have seen inside your heart. Only another evil Fionn Fae would use the magick to destroy andharm.”
He lifted my face to his haunted gaze. “I’ve seen evil and destruction, and how power can be used to destroy innocents. That is not you. I have dreamwalked with you and seen your visions in our shared dreams. You have been hurt by the Fionn and what they can do. But the magick here can be used for good – to heal the land, and cure illness. Power is neutral. It is the person wielding it that can turn it beneficial ordestructive.”
Oh, I wanted to believe him. For the first time in years, someone believed in me, so why couldn’t I believe in hiswords?
“Why are you so nice to me?” I whispered. For I was accustomed to people wanting something from me – to grab power, to use me for their ownpurposes.
“You deserve nice,” he murmured. “You deserve goodthings.”
I saw the shadows dance in his eyes. “No, I don’t. You know what I did to my colony. To myfamily.”
“They deserved it.” He rubbed his cheek against the top of my head. “Life can be harsh, and when those who are supposed to love you turn cruel, it makes you die a little inside. I want to see the light dancing in your eyes as it does when we make love. I want to see you smile, and hear your laughter. I want to make you happy, and fill your nights with passion and your days withpurpose.”
My heart turned over as he spoke. Did I really deserve all thosethings?
“Is this an illusion, Grayson? Are we still dreaming?” I gave a little laugh. “Sometimes I’ve been so damn lonely I would fall asleep early, hoping to conjure you. And when you entered my dreams, it pushed the loneliness away. I’m scared this is all in mymind.”
He clasped my shoulders and shook me a little. “It’s not, Sienna. I’m real. I’m here. So areyou.”
Grayson sucked in a deep breath. “You are important to me, Sienna. You have been since the moment our minds touched and our dreams were shared. You are my anchor in a world that looks to have gone mad at time. You are a balm to my soul. I want you to be with me, and my people. I want you to stay here, with us. If youwish.”
I touched his face, marveling at his acceptance of me. Emotions surged through me. Joy and doubt twined together. Someone wanted me, truly wanted me, and that made me feel less marginalized andoutcast.
It was a heady feeling, but deep inside, I wondered if it would last. Because in my experience, it neverdid.
“I’ve thought you a dream and never believed I would find you, Grayson. But even though you and I share a connection, and your betas seem to cherish me, your people never will acceptme.”
“When my people discover what you did, they will thank you, not chastise you. Some do fear the Fae, but after they discover how you saved Carmen, they will change theirminds.”
I wish I could believethat.
