Page 98 of Under a Wicked Moon
“Because my mate’s sister is in love with you, and that’s not going to change.”
He blinked, wondering if he’d heard correctly. “She’s, uh…what? She doesn’t remember me.”
“She’s in love with you. A part of her remembers you. But she’s being all stoic and saying she’s moving on.”
He dropped his head. “I don’t know what the right way is.”
“I think you do.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Vivi kicked a small shell along the white sand beach. Everything here was beautiful—the azure water, the birds,
the sounds of the waves—but it wasn’t her home. How she even remembered what home felt like she wasn’t sure, but it wasn’t here. There was little inherent magic in the shores. It didn’t speak to her soul like their short trip to Scotland. Everything about that area, especially in the forest, resonated deep inside.
Nova told her about their family house in Scotland, but she hadn’t been allowed to visit. They assumed the house would be watched, so they considered the trip to see it too dangerous.
She rounded a boulder and stopped stone-cold.
Ky.
On the beach in bare feet and jeans, he held a modest bouquet of yellow flowers.
He looked so handsome with his recent shave and his overgrown hair trimmed and styled. There was freaking product in his hair, which erased the wild factor he’d exuded before. She missed the edgier him.
“Hi.” His voice rolled over her. That voice she heard almost every night in her dreams. Never did she see him or feel his touch. Just the voice.You’re safe.
“Hi.” Her breath caught when she made eye contact, and her heart rate escalated. She’d forgotten how commanding he was in person. “Are you lost?”
“I was. But I found my way.” He closed the space betweenthem. “These are for you.”
She took them. “Thank you.”
Hands in his pockets, he looked out across the water. “The water is calming. This is a great place.”
“Yeah,” she said awkwardly. “But it feels like a vacation stopover rather than a place to plant roots.”
“I get that.” In silent communion they stared out at the calm waves for a moment. He said, “I’m sorry for how I handled things in Scotland.”
“It’s fine. I understand my brain is dangerous, especially if we knew each other before.”
He moved close and took her hand to raise it and place a kiss on the top. “We did know each other, Vivi. We were imprisoned together. We shared the torture of what they did to us, which was… Be glad you can’t remember. We had only each other in that awful place.”
“You kept me safe.”
“I don’t know about that. They separated us and kept us apart except on full-moon nights when they wanted us to, uh, give in to baser instincts. To breed.”
“Did we?”
He shook his head.
“So you kept me safe even from yourself?”
“I tried. Toward the end, it was difficult. If Roman and Flynn hadn’t gotten us out, I would’ve given in. Because, Vivi, I’m so deeply in love with you. Even this new you. The old you was rather badass.” He chuckled. “When we first met, you threatened to strangle me with my dick.”
She snort-laughed. “I did not.”
“You did. It was cute. Totally respected it. Kind of flattered you thought there was enough of me to use to strangle me.” His sheepish grin was adorable. Endearing. “That tough girl is still in there, but this new you, the real you that is so open to the world,is inspiring. I like her even better. I can’t think of anything other than you. I realize you don’t know me. That I’m no more than a stranger, but it wasn’t always like that.”
