“Which is why my grandfather trapped it.”
“Right,” Owen said. “This spirit thrives on any type of disruption. I assume the two of you”—he glanced from me to Roan—“know what sort of calamities can occur when you’re together.”
“We’ve heard,” I said, doing my best to keep the bitterness from my voice.
Owen frowned. “Which is why it’s so important you stay away from each other.”
“Seriously?” Roan said.
Owen nodded. “From now on, the two of you can’t have any contact.”
SEVENTEEN
Iscoffed. “You must be joking. I understand not being together, but no contact?”
Owen gave his head a hard shake. “I wish it was different, but this is the way things have to be.”
“Blissful has helped me,” Roan protested. “Been there for me.”
Tart reached for his arm. “We’re sorry, but we’ve seen the devastation that can happen when your gifts are thrown together. It’s best for everyone.”
“But not us.” Tears pricked my eyes. I couldn’t, no,wouldn’tlet them keep us apart.
“Blissful,” Tart said, “you’ve spent your life helping people, keeping them safe. If you and Roan remain connected, you won’t help people; you’ll potentially harm them. Think of that. Something you don’t want to happen will, even if you try to stop it.”
I shook my head. I didn’t know why I was getting so upset. This was expected. Tart had told me we couldn’t be together, but for my father to state so unapologetically that we had to sever all contact was like having my belly button twisted.
My heart ached. I stared at Roan. He stared at me and extended his hand. I took it, and we climbed the stairs, leaving them below.
When we reached the kitchen, he backed me into a corner. “This is not goodbye,” he said earnestly.
I sniffled. “How do you know?”
A whimsical smile tugged on his lips. “Haveyoumet you? You’re a boulder smashing through a small town. You don’t take no for an answer.”
A tear trickled down my cheek. “I have no choice this time.”
He thumbed it away. “For now. But not forever. I’m smart. You’re smart. We’ll find a way to beat this.”
I pointed downstairs. “You think those two aren’t smart?”
Amusement danced in his dark eyes. “They were a little preoccupied with other things—a surprise baby and the church. They already had questions about their faith.”
“They said they were drawn to each other.”
“Same as us.”
“It may have had something to do with their gifts.”
Roan shook his head. “This—what we have—has nothing to do with gifts. This is all us.”
He swept me into his arms, tugged me to his chest and kissed me. My back arched and my head was tipped back as far as it would go as Roan balanced me against him.
We drank from each other, and every second of that kiss I wanted to tattoo on my mind. I didn’t want to forget one moment. I wanted to feel the pressure of Roan’s lips on my mouth forever, and I never wanted to separate from him.
Once we parted, it would be goodbye. We wouldn’t have contact.
Until when? Ever?
