Page 94 of Shackled to the World
“I’m sure. One hundred percent.” Annora tipped her head to the side and pursed her lips. “But the same goes for you. If you’re doing this out of a sense of obligation, or because of my father—”
“Your father never crossed my mind.” Edgar gave her a savage grin, the afterworld fading from his eyes and the fathomless blue she adored swirled in the depths as he pulled her closer. “I’m selfish and greedy and want you for my own. I want the family you’re building here, not the one that tossed me away, and I will defend you and this new future with my life.” He quickly searched her eyes. “If you’ll have me.”
Her skin tingled at his vow, her heart ready to burst. She tightened her hands on his shoulders, possessiveness and yearning sweeping through her. Everything he described sounded like a fairytale come true. “Yes—yes to everything.”
Edgar drew away from her, pulling out a knife from somewhere on his person. He held out his hand, silently asking for her trust. Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his, palm up. Gazing into her eyes, he ran the blade across her flesh. Blood beaded up from the small, shallow cut to pool in her hand, and she gave a hum of pleasure at the bite of pain.
She watched him make the same cut across his own palm, then reach for her, his bloody hand closing around the inside of her wrist. She followed his example, clamping his arm in her hand, and she peeked up at him.
Raw hunger and possessiveness blazed in his black eyes. She felt the tug of the afterworld as dark particles began to swirl and twine around their clamped arms. The darkness solidified until they were bound together by a curl of smoke. It licked at her flesh, and pain prickled along her wrist where his blood touched, searing into her skin like a brand.
She sucked in a harsh breath, her grip tightening on his arm as her fingers spasmed. Edgar grunted as if she’d kicked him in the balls. Then the smoke seemed to absorb into their skin, leaving her whole arm tingling.
He unclasped his hand from around her wrist. Instead of releasing her, he cradled her hand in his, and she looked to see that all evidence of the injury was gone. He slowly pulled her arm closer until the underside of her wrist came into view, and she gasped.
A tiny tree was etched into her skin, spanning her wrist from side to side, almost completely circular as the branches reached down and the roots curled up. The afterworld swirled in the black lines like it was alive.
She grabbed his hand, twisting his arm to find the same symbol stamped into his flesh.
“For eternity,” he murmured, running his fingers over the symbol.
The leaves seemed to sway until she’d swear she could see his name in the twisted branches. Emotions poured through at his touch—possessiveness, love, devotion, and an all-consuming need to protect.
His emotions.
He released her, running his thumb over his own wrist, as if to make sure it didn’t disappear. “Lore indicates that most couples start with a small symbol. Each phantom couple is imprinted with their own image specific to them. As they grow together, so does the mark. It’s tied to our health and emotions. As we grow stronger, the roots and branches can wrap around our entire arm…or wither and die.”
Annora covered her wrist protectively.
Edgar smiled, then bowed gallantly before her and offered her his arm. “Come…you need your rest. Tomorrow will be here soon, and we’ll need to plan and train for your father’s arrival.”
She accepted his courtly gesture, no longer nervous about facing the others, not with Edgar’s love wrapped around her. As she walked into her room, she paused when she saw the guys had spread the sheets and covers across the floor to create a makeshift bed.
The whole team was waiting for her. Logan was in the middle, already fast asleep, a little furrow between his brows. An open space was waiting for her next to him. Camden was at the end, while Xander was at the other end, both clearly keeping watch. Mason scooted over, making enough room for the two of them.
A little self-conscious about wearing just a shirt, she hurried under the blankets. Edgar hesitated a moment, but when no one protested, he took his place next to her. Being near the guys was like a contact high, their touch calming her. Logan sighed in his sleep and wrapped himself around her, and all her worries and anxieties over the day melted away.
* * *
Logan jolted awake, terror gripping him as he searched the room, his heartbeat only calming when he recognized his surroundings.
He was home.
His breath whooshed out of him, and he cradled his head in his hands, his insides shaking so hard he was afraid he would vomit. For a second he thought being rescued had been a cruel dream, and he’d wake up in that hellhole again.
But he knew this room, could feel the wood floor beneath him, see the familiar objects. Although he was ridiculously pleased to see the guys were gone, giving him some privacy.
He inhaled deeply, humming when he caught Annora’s delicious scent. It was hard to explain the smell…the closest he could come up with was a combination of warmth and flowers just after the rain.
He leaned over her sleeping form, joy bursting through him simply because he could actually look at her whenever he wanted. He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face, marveling at her silken skin.
She blinked up at him sleepily, nestling into his touch, a bright smile curling her lips and something inside him unfurled at the unguarded moment. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers.
Annora jolted under him, then pulled back to cup his face, her eyes wide awake. Then her brows knitted, and she began to poke and prod him, shoving up his shirt to run her hands along his chest.
“If you want to get me naked, you only have to ask.” He smirked down at her when she froze, her eyes widening almost comically when she realized what she was doing. When a blush swept along her cheeks, his heart warmed.
The worry that she’d look at him differently, might be repulsed by him, evaporated, and he fell to his side next to her and cuddled her close. She buried her face against his chest and he hugged her tighter, running his hand up and down her back.
