Page 26 of Eternal

“Okay, goodnight, Soren.”

“Goodnight, my darling,” I speak softly as she ends the phone call.

I lean back in the chair I’m sitting in, trying to steady my breathing again. I can’t be doing this. I can’t fall for her. We barely know each other, yet it feels like we’ve known each other forever. Like we’re traveling souls, always finding each other in the next life. But I can’t keep falling for her. It’s a danger for her. If people learned about my weakness, she’d be dead the moment I pissed someone off.

I start pulling together plans for after our marriage, deciding sleep is not as important as hiding my darling away.

Chapter eleven

Freya

SorenandImadea vow to not see each other again until the wedding, which was only a month away. I moved in with Abe and Serena in Miami until the wedding. While Serena and I spent most of our time exercising and enjoying our time at the beach until the wedding, that time flew by in the blink of an eye.

My sister rips into my room, turns on the lights overhead, and jumps on my bed.

“Today’s your wedding. Today’s your wedding! Oh my god! I’m so excited. There’s so much to do! Let's go, let's go, let's go!” She squeals excitedly, waking me from my nightmare.

I roll over onto my back and yawn loudly, “Get off my bed before you break something, you dork.”

Serena jumps off and does the same thing to Abe. A loud squeal and laughter erupt from the other room, and it sinks deep into my pores.I wonder if Soren and I will ever get to that point.I lay there trying to shake the nightmare out of my head as Abe brings me a cup of coffee with a bit of creamer.

I sat up and thanked him. He joins me at the foot of my bed. “How are you feeling about today?”

He’s severe, his body radiating with worry. He might’ve been Serena’s bodyguard throughout college, but he and I became close too. I take a deep breath, unsure of what to say because I don’t even know howIfeel.

“Um. I’m ready to get this whole thing over with. I never imagined this is how my wedding day would be, especially with the threats looming over our heads.”

Abe offers a small, broken smile as he stands.

“I suppose that’s one way of looking at it. Serena said you guys are going to some spa soon, so I’ll leave you to get ready.”

With that, he shuts the door leaving me to my thoughts. But my phone dings, yanking me out of the downward spiral I was heading towards.

It’s a text fromSoren.

I hope you have the best morning you could be having.

I gnaw on my bottom lip as I contemplate my response.

I’m doing the best I can, considering it doesn’t feel right.

Soren is quick to answer.

I know, my darling. It’s for the best. I’ll see you later today.

I don’t respond as I am sick to my stomach, nerves seizing my body. Serena bursts through the door again, and I turn to her, tears streaming down my face as I think more about the fate of my future. Her face falls, and she looks guilty. She comes up to me with her arms open, pulling me in for a hug.

“I’m sorry, Freya. I just thought you’d be looking forward to it a little more since you guys have been happier together.”

She’s right. Soren and I have been happier and beginning to bond in our forced relationship. There’s still just so much I don’t know about him, and I wish I had more time to get to know him before I was hauled down the aisle. I wipe my tears away, only allowing myself to cry at this moment. The rest of the day, I’ll have to put on a happy face and pretend like everything is okay.

Serena and I leave shortly after to have breakfast and go to the spa. She rattles off the list of services I’m scheduled for; facial, massage, mani-pedi, and full body waxing.Wait, what?I start to pay closer attention. The names of private body parts get tossed back and forth between the receptionist and Serena until I butt in.

“Um, excuse me. Yeah, I don’t need a full body wax, thank you.”

Serena jumps in, “Okay, maybe not a full body, but definitely a full Brazilian.”

I blush, unsure of what to say next. Brazilian wax? I’ve never had that before, and I’m not so sure that’s necessary.

---