Page 44 of To Crave Deeply
The look on her face as I asked the question was priceless. Her jaw dropped, her eyes widened and then a little gurgle of laughter burst from her lips.
“I know we’re soulbonded and everything is going to shit—”
She snorted. “That’s putting it mildly.”
“But I want this. I want you, and if we do find a way through this clusterfuck, then I want you by my side. As my wife. As my Queen. As half of my heart and soul.”
“I want that, too. But… is now the right time? And what about Jasper? I can’t ignore the fact that he’s my soulmate too.”
She had a point, but equally, I didn’t care that her heart was big enough that she could love more than me. I loved her. Loved everything about her and, even without the soulbond, I’d have chosen her.
I sat up on the bed and cradled her face in my hands. “I know I am not the most righteous or most honourable man. I’ve made mistakes and done things that I’m not proud of, but I would never ask you to give up anything that made you happy. And if that means you have more than one partner in life, then that’s okay. I love you, Lori. I love all that you are and all that you can be.”
Her bottom lip trembled at my words, and I feared for a moment I’d said the wrong thing. I’d never been much good at expressing my feelings. Well, not the softer ones. Anger I’d always excelled at expressing, but never love.
Her arms encased my neck and she squeezed me fiercely. I fell back against the bed as we both laughed and then she kissed me. Those luscious lips pressed against mine and I was lost. Elation and joy ran through me, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d ever felt so wonderful.
She pulled back and fixed her glorious brown eyes on me. Her smile was wider than the sun and she was beautiful.
“Yes. I will marry you.”
Wait. Brown eyes? Panic clutched at my chest. Shit.
“Lori, look at me.”
“What is it?” Her eyes flashed as her fear grew and I could hear the tell-tale pitter-patter of her heart racing.
“Your eyes are brown. Iveri, where is she?”
My hands gripped her face as I searched her eyes looking for the soul that shouldn’t be there.
“No. No!” she screamed, her face paling as her pulse skyrocketed.
“What’s happening? Lori! Tell me!”
But it was too late.
Her pupils blew in her eyes until they were as black as mine. The ring of fire burst to life around the edges and my stomach sank as the woman I thought I’d buried all those years ago came to life right in front of my eyes.
“Hello, Daddy.”
A growl escaped my lips without me realising. I hated that she called me that. She was one of my creations, but I resented the filial title. The other three never called me that. They never expected me to be a father. I gave them an existence, gave them life, but I was merely their creator.
“Iveri,” I sneered, my anger rising at her calm composure.
“Long time, no see.” She stood from the bed and stretched her limbs.
I didn’t understand it. This wasn’t possible. I thought I had destroyed her, yet here she stood before me, parading around in the body of my beloved. I imagine Selene had gone behind my back to work some fucking magic to cause this. It certainly had her creative flare written all over it. A spell to cheat death for eternity sounded like Selene’s handiwork.
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
She smiled like the cat with the fucking cream, and I could feel my anger burning hotly through my veins. My Hellfire was itching to be released.
“Yet here I stand,” she said laughingly and threw her arms open wide. “Surprise.”
“What do you want?” I asked through gritted teeth. My pulse was quickening, my blood pounding in my ears like a drum beat to war. And I would go to war to get Lori back.
Iveri laughed maniacally. “No pleasantries, Daddy? Don’t you want to know what I’ve been up to?”
