We plunged into absolute darkness.
I could handle many things and had. An absentee mother, a terrible marriage, a violent assault, life-altering genetic changes, but darkness…this absolute nothingness made me go still. A tremor rolled down my spine at the absence of any light. Even our melded powers had snuffed out or disappeared, but they were gone. Everything was gone. It was only me, only me, and I was alone like I’d been alone so many times, and was this death? Had I died? Was I doomed to drift in this nothingness forever and ever? This eternal hell of sensory deprivation?—
Evie.
I flailed, a scream tearing from my throat.
Evie.
Nothing could penetrate this blackness. I must have died and this was my karma.
The scream went on and on, and it would go on forever. Surely there must be something ahead, surely there wasn’t only this. My breath came in short spurts, my heart pounded against my chest, but if there was nothing, then I was nothing. Wasn’t I?
Heat touched my lips, firm and unyielding pressure. Something slid in my hair, then a firm grip against the back of my scalp, tilting my head back. Warmth. Comfort. Fingers ran over my jawline, down my collar and stopped at my throat.
Evie, Rowan whispered against my lips.Come back to me.
He kissed me again, more insistent, his tongue sliding against the seam of my mouth until I opened. Heat roared in my veins, his touch different but not unwelcome. His kiss was claiming, but tender. Outside, I turned toward him, running myhands up the tense cords of his neck, fingers roaming through the thick, shaggy mane of his hair. His hands dropped to my waist and pulled me closer, never breaking the contact of our kiss.
Slowly, I came back to myself, my power, my body. I trusted Rowan, more than I’d ever?—
There you are, he murmured, breaking the contact, as if he’d somehow known I was about to have an internal freakout.
His hand slid up my back and into my hair once more.Touch grounds us. I was losing you.
My lips burned from the contact of his kiss, and my thoughts were an internal jumble.
We’re still in the dark, Rowan murmured.But I am with you. We can discuss what happened later if you like. For now, we are both outside and inside this place, whatever it is. Focus on only this, Evie.
I let out a long breath.Thank you. My mental voice was more of a croak, but at least I could speak.
Amusement filled the link.I’ll never pass up the opportunity to kiss a beautiful woman, even in a life-or-death situation.
Ass. But his words and touch had jarred me from my terror. We still floated in a sea of obsidian, but he was here with me.
I was not alone.
Do you feel anything?
Other than the weight of that oppressive darkness, no. Nothing here feels alive.
I agreed and reached for my magic. Even though I couldn’t see it, it had not disappeared. Rowan’s power still melded with mine.
Concentrating, I followed the threads of power, seeking into the heart of darkness.
There,Rowan said.Can you feel it?
Yes.We joined hands once more and plunged into a sea of obsidian night.
Chapter
Nine
The magic had contaminated more of the earth than I expected, but our power was slowly eradicating that dark spot, showers of green and pink and golden sparks flecking through the oily magic.
Do you have more to give?I asked Rowan.
In response, he opened himself, and I did the same.
