Page 28 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
She carefully traced the sharpness of his cheekbone and down his jaw. “Ican tell you love her.Ican see it in your eyes.Hearit in the way you speak of her.Ialready live in the shadow of someone else.”Herself.Shelived in the shadow of what she used to be. “Youwill win her back just asDarknesswill win backDawn.”Ellashivered against the cool night air.Thestory left her exhausted. “Becausebroken hearts can be mended.Andmistakes forgiven.”Andtrue love was hard to find.Sheknew because she searched for it every night in her dreams. “Iwanted a story with a happy ending.”
Thane pulled her closer to him. “Godsdon’t get happy endings.Theyjust get endings.”
Ella curled up next to him, resting her head on his shoulder.Shedidn’t have the energy to walk back to the inn.Nordid she want to.Itfelt right to be here with him, this close to him. “Andneither do we.”
CHAPTER13
ELLA
Ella snuggled closer to the warm body next to her.Thefamiliar scent eased her back into her dreams.Dreamsthat were filled with a familiar life and a soft darkness that made her feel whole and happy.Likeeverything in her life was where it should be.Includingher.Andthe someone whose arm was wrapped around her waist was right where he needed to be.
The night’s events played back.ItwasThane’sarm that was wrapped around her.Ellauntangled herself from his embrace and sat up.Theywere lying in the abandoned barn.Thesoft moonlight had been replaced with the harsh light of morning. “Shit,”Ellacursed, trying to remember how she’d ended up asleep withThane.
Thane rolled over, groaning.Heflung an arm over his eyes.
“Thane.”Ellatouched his side.
“Yes?”Helifted his arm to look at her.
He looked almost magical, stretched out in the warm morning light.Hissilver-gray eyes took on the warm hue of the sky.Hisshirt appeared wrinkled, and his dark hair begged for her to run her fingers through it. “Whyis it every timeIdrink with you,Ilose time?”
Thane moved his arm and looked up at her. “Maybeyou have a drinking problem.”
“No,Ihave aThaneproblem.”Ellafrowned down at him.Theirconversation from last night was still fresh in her mind.Thiswas what her life would look like with him.They’dwake up in a bed with sheets of silk, and servants would bring them a morning meal of pastries and fresh fruit.Thenthey would spend the day whispering secrets to each other.Atleast, that was a life she had wished for.Andwishes never came true inRiverton.
“Where’d you go?”Thanesat up, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“We have to stop this.Youhave someone, andIhave to stop wishing for things that are not mine to have.”LikeThane.Whenhe was this close, it was hard to remember the words she needed to speak.Timehadn’t stopped for them, and theMoonFestivalwas days away.ThenLillianwould be married, andEllawould have to make a choice.
“Do you love him?”Thanenuzzled her neck. “ThisWilliam.Ifyou say yes,I’llleave now and never return.”
“And ifIsay no?”Herheart leapt at his words.Herbody craved his touch.Shecould learn to loveThane.Becausehe understood her.Theywould grow together, learn what the other liked and didn’t like.Hewas pretty good at knowing what she needed before she knew.Likethe night in her room.Orright now as he ran his nose down her neck, his breath warm on her skin.Ifhe could let go of his past, so could she.Whateverwas in the past could stay there.
“ThenI’llstay here with you until all the stars burn out.”Thanepressed a kiss on her shoulder.
“And the one you’re searching for?”Ifshe had a wish right now, it would be for time to stop.She’dlie back down with him, let him kiss away her thoughts and fears.Feelhis body press down on hers.
“I don’t know if she is waiting,” he said, his mouth still pressed to her shoulder.
“But what if she is?”Theirfingers had interlaced, and she leaned closer to him. “Icould never forgive myself for taking you away from her.Iunderstand what it's like to be alone.”
“And what if she’s moved on and has married and started a family?”
Ella had never thought of that. “Areyou that horrible that she would?”
Thane shrugged. “Idon’t think so, but people change.You’vechanged.”
“Right.Butwhat if?—”
“She’s not,Ella.It’sbeen too long.Weare two different people now.Ihave learned from my mistakes, and she has decided that life is better without me.Thereis no happy ending for the two of us.Weare notDarknessandDawn.”
“I wish we were.You,Darkness, andI,Dawn.ThenIcould forgive you.”Asthe words left her mouth, something shifted like a ripple on a pond. “Thatwas silly of me to say.”
“No, it’s not.Youhave something in common withDawn.”
“What?”Shetwisted to face him.
“Fate tookDawn’smemory.”Hepicked a white petal from her hair.
