The muscles of his jaw jerked with my words, as though he didn’t want to allow himself to believe me.
“Please don’t leave me,” I whispered, gripping his hair fiercely. “I need you.”
One by one, his strained muscles relaxed as he returned from the shadows, gifting me the warmth of his embrace again. Laying on his back, Dante cradled me to him, his arms more possessive than before.
A relieved breath left me, and I let my cheek return to his chest, draping my arm around his torso. The beating of his heart resounded against my ear, both strong and soothing.
“No one has ever done that,” he murmured so low I almost didn’t hear him.
“What?”
“Break through the darkness to reach me.”
The undertone of his statement said it meant far more than mere words could convey.
“Because they were afraid or because theTwilightdidn’t let them?” I asked, sensing my reaction may have triggered the past for him.
“Both.”
Lifting my head to look at him, I found the starry sky swirling again in his irises.
“You are the only one theTwilighthas ever let in…”
Blinking, I tried to understand his meaning. “But you’ve used the darkness to transport us to your room…”
He nodded knowingly. “Only you, Natasha. I can’t use it with anyone else, it will obliterate others on contact.”
Shocked, I just stared at him. “Like,killanyone who tries to touch you, or be with you through the darkness?”
Once again, he nodded, but this time, agony sharpened his already chiseled features, telling me everything he hadn’t.
“Have you lost someone close because of it?”
“I have… The woman I loved.”
“I’m so sorry.”
My hand lifted to his cheek, cradling it in my palm to erase the hurt the past had left on him. Satisfaction filled me as hegave into my touch, his eyes briefly closing even as his muscles tensed.
“What about your cloaking shadows? Your healing?”
“My healing is guided by Greek magic, by ancient spells taught to me by Hecate. The same is true for my cloaking, the shadows are just a vessel. I’m a Witch after all.” He smirked. “Yet, my darkness is a completely different power. When I wield theTwilightthere is no danger unless I command it. When theTwilightwields me…”
The intensity capturing his eyes made them darken.
“When itwieldsyou?”
“When I let it take me. Transport me through the veil of space. When it reminds me that I’mitsvessel.”
“So, theTwilighthas power over you too?”
“In a way, yes. But I am its only wielder, so ourrelationshipis based on mutual respect. I don’t abuse it, and it doesn’t abuse me.”
“Why didn’t it hurt me?” I carefully whispered, needing to know.
“Because you are mine, Natasha… TheTwilightchose you.” A heavy breath left him, and it felt as though the pain of the past finally let go of him, filling him with hope for the future instead… a future with me.
My wolf stirred against my chest in response, wanting it too.
