Page 89 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Aurora tried to step away.Hiseyes were bright silver and filled with fear. “Thane, what’s going on?Areyou hurt?”
“Please, just trust me.”Thanetugged her away. “Godsabove,Itried.Ireally did.Buthe wouldn’t listen.”
“You better run off,Aurora, or whatever name he chose for you,”Williamspat.
Aurora pulled away fromThane.Sheturned to tellWilliamher name wasAurorawhen she felt it.Thepull. “No,” she cried, backing intoThane. “No.”Thiscould not be happening.NotWilliam. “Whathave you done?”Theground shifted.Thanecaught her before she fell. “William, what have you done?”Hissoul called to her, demanding she take it.
“Me?”Williamturned to face her, his lifeline bright, his soul ready to be plucked from his chest.
“Yes,”Auroracried. “Didyou make a deal with the old woman at the fair?”Thetears fell fast, blurring the bright glow ofWilliam’schest.Itwas her heart that must break.Butwhy?Hadshe not suffered enough?
“Yes!Shepromised me you would come back.Andlook, you’re back.Withhim.”Williampointed atThane. “Doyou know what kind of monster he is?Shewarned me.Shesaid he would try to steal you.Andthat onlyIcould protect you.”
“She lied.Youfool!”Aurorascreamed.Thepull was stronger now, the words forming. “Itold you to stay away from her.Shecan’t give you what you want.”
William stepped closer toAurora. “Idid it for us.”
“No.Youdid it for yourself.”SheshovedWilliamaway from her, afraid of what she’d do to him. “Iwas never yours to have.”Shedidn’t want to say the words.Wordsthat tried to push over her tongue and out.
“And you are his?”Williampointed atThane. “Ella, he is a nightmare.Heis in the business of taking and breaking people’s lives.Hewill hurt you.Thewitch showed me your heartache.Shetold me that’s why you were here.Becauseof him.Hetakes what is not his to have.”
“And so doI!”Aurorareached forThane.Theneed to ripWilliam’ssoul from his body was so intense, she wanted to pluck her eyes out so she couldn’t see it.Shoveriver rocks in her ears so she couldn’t hear its call.Cutout her own tongue so she couldn’t say the words that filled her mouth. “Thane, please make it stop.”Aurorapressed her face into his chest, covering her ears.
Thane pulledAurorainto his embrace. “Howcould you be so careless?Youmade a deal withDeathfor the one thing he cannot give you.Herlove.”Thaneshook his head, sweepingAuroraup into the darkness.
Aurora tried to shut out the call ofWilliam’ssoul.Howcould he have been so stupid?Socareless with something so precious.
There are consequences for breaking a heart.
CHAPTER44
AURORA
She clung toThaneas he whisked them into the safety of theBetween.Thecry ofWilliam’ssoul faded, as did the desperate need to take it.Shecould still feel it like an itch that she couldn’t scratch.Aquiet buzz in her ear.Thane’sroom formed around them.Themoon was starting to rise over the hills ofManere.
“Gods below.”Aurorastumbled away fromThane.Sheblinked back the tears. “Ishould have known it would be him.HaveInot suffered enough?”Shepressed her hand to her forehead.
“It’s not you.”Thanewalked over to the whiskey and poured a glass. “It’sthe girl.”
Aurora searchedThane’sface. “Whatgirl…”Aboy and a girl. “Sissy?”Aurorarecoiled, walking over to the bed and sitting down.Shefelt nothing and everything at the same time.
“I’m sorry.”Thaneswirled the whiskey around in his glass.
“I don’t understand.How?”
“When she wished for happiness, her wish righted all the wrongs.Itwas her and him who were to be wed until you wished away your memories,”Thanesaid into his glass. “Shewill not get that happiness if you takeWilliam.Shewill die alone, doing backbreaking work.”
Aurora covered her mouth, trying to hold the sob in.Thiswas all her fault.
Thane walked to her, taking her hands as he knelt before her. “Iwon’t let you do this.Iwill not let you break her heart.”
“What choice doIhave?”Aurorawhispered as the reality of what she had to do sank deep into her bones.Godsremembered everything.Aurorawould forever know thatSissy’slife hadn’t been a good life.Insteadshe’d have a life that would break her and turn her bitter.Butwhat choice didAurorahave? “Iwill do what is expected of me.I’ma god, after all.Iwas born selfish, born to take.”Shespat out the words, hating the very bones that ached for what she must do. “Thereare consequences for breaking a heart.”Theconsequence would be that she would never forget.
“For me,Aurora.”Thanestood. “Notyou.Itis my curse, andIwish you would let me suffer the price that must be paid.”
“And what of me?Icannot live without your love.”Shelooked up at him.
“You never lost it.Ithas always been yours to have.ItisIwho must live with a broken heart, not you.Youcan have me and my love anytime you want.”Thaneran his hands over his face. “Tellme, when we fight do you ever doubt my love for you?”
