Page 91 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
“So that’s it?Theend of us?”
“Just for a heartbeat.Andbefore you know it, it will be over, and then you andIshall marry and… and we’ll do whatever gods do.”
“Fight?Plotrevenge?Haveaffairs?”Aurorateased.
“Let’s not be like our parents.”
“I’ll miss you so much.EverytimeIwatch darkness steal across the heavens, my body will ache for you.”
Thane caught the first tear.Itsparkled on his finger. “Donot weep, my love.Thesky is not big enough to hold all your tears.Iwill still be here.Andon the longest night of each year thatWilliamis alive,Iwill come to you.Andwe shall have until the sun rises.Nowlet’s not spend our last night together worrying aboutDeath.”
Aurora closed her eyes, lettingThane’stouch pull her out of the mess they were in.Heled her to the bed, pushing her down on the cool silk sheets.Shetugged his shirt off, memorizing every plane of his body.Shetraced the shape of him, leaving her dusty mark all over.Itwould fade over time, but traces of her would always be there on him.Justas his prints would be all over her.Darksmudges on her hips and breast.Hisname on the tip of her lips, just as it had been onElla’s.ButunlikeElla,Aurorawould remember him.
“I love you,” she cried.
“Not as much asIlove you.”Thanekissed her mouth before kneeling before her.
He slid the gown up her thighs, pressing kisses on the inside of her knees.Anyworries she had melted under his wicked tongue.Herback pressed against the bed as he used his fingers and mouth to drag her closer to the sharp edge that would cut all the ties she had to the mortal world.Herclimax did little to ease the tension and guilt from her.Butthis was her life.Andthe god she belonged to.
She hoped the cut from her mortal life would be quicker and less painful than cutting her ties with darkness.
CHAPTER45
AURORA
“How long are you going to stand there watching him?”
Aurora jumped at the sound ofPain’svoice. “Godsabove.Whyare you stalking me?”
“First,Iam not.”Painstepped out of the shadows. “Andsecond, your beloved was worried.Hehas been insufferable these past days.Notas bad as his father.Butall the same, the underworld has been a miserable place.”Painpushed back a branch and looked at the mortal sitting by the river. “Sothat’s him?Theone my father is to protect.Simple-looking man.Notmy type.”
“Good.”Auroraturned her attention back to the reason she was here.Fordays she had stayed in the heavens, grappling with what to do.Butnow seeing him sitting alone, tossing wishes into the river, she knew what she must do.
“This is your fault,”Painreminded her.
“Not all of it.Someof this is your fault.”Aurorahad hoped to do this part by herself. “You’rethe one who thoughtThaneloved you.”
“You’re the one who wished to forgetThane,”Painretorted.
Aurora opened her mouth to remindPainit was her curse that made her wishThaneaway.
“It’sThane’sfault.”Painsmiled. “Hurryup and do what needs to be done.Wehave a wedding to attend.”
“You’re getting married?”Aurorateased the god.
“Humor is not your realm.Nowgo.”PainshovedAuroraout onto the trail.Godsfrom the underworld were so impatient.
Aurora sensedWilliam’ssadness.Itmade the air feel too heavy to breathe.Hehad loved her, or at least thought he did.Andno matter how many tokens he tossed into the river, his wish for her love would never come true.Lovewas not something to be taken.NotbyDeath, not by wishes.Ithad to be given freely without fear.Shewalked over to him and sat down.Itfelt like a lifetime had passed between them.
“Why did you come back?Didthe richMr.Tenebrisget bored of you so soon?”
“I guessIdeserve that.”Aurorapulled her knees to her chest, watching the river flow by.Sheno longer felt the need to take his soul.Thestrings were still bright.Fatehad done his part.Unfortunately, that was two debts she owedPain. “I’msorry.Inever meant to hurt you.”
“Did you ever love me?”Hisvoice was soft.
“It’s not that simple.”Aurorastretched her legs out in front of her.Shewore the black riding habit she had commissioned before she left.Hermother despised the dark clothingAurorainsisted on wearing.Butshe was in mourning, after all.Andit showed in the bruised sky each morning when she had to chase darkness from the heavens.
“Yes, it is.”Williamlooked at her.
