Chapter 18
Caiden
The soft, aching way Soul spoke about his brothers kept echoing around in my chest. I hadn’t considered that he was leaving his family behind to be here with me.
We’d talked about our pasts when we’d been wandering and looking for answers, but I’d never realized when he said he had a pack, that they meant so much to him.
And then my mind drifted to the man we’d met in the alley—to Fate—who seemed so sure of himself. So positive that we already had our answers.
I glanced down at Soul. He was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, his expression soft. I didn’t think he was sleeping, but the way he was so relaxed as I trailed my fingers slowly up and down the bare line of his shoulder was gorgeous.
He deserved just as much happiness as I did.
“You know,” I started softly. His brows twitched, though he kept his lids closed.
I took advantage of it, tracing the strong lines of his muscular arm, then dragging my finger to his broad chest. He let out a low, rumbling noise of pleasure as I continued my gentle perusal of his body.
“I keep thinking… maybe we’re going about this the wrong way. ”
We were technically safe now, as far as I could tell.
Soul was certain that his brothers wouldn’t be able to cross Gethin’s barrier, and it wasn’t like the little library we’d been thrust into was actually that uncomfortable.
We could stay here for as long as we needed…
but at the end of the day, there was still one problem.
We didn’t know how to solve anything. We’d found a temporary band-aid for an issue that was going to follow us for the rest of our existence.
That was no way to live.
That was no way to love.
And fuck me, I wanted to love.
“I don’t know what other way we can do it. It doesn’t matter how long we have to stay here… as long as we’re together, that’s all that matters.” Soul’s words were so sincere, and it only made me more resolute in my decision.
He was willing to give up everything for me, wasn’t he? But I had to think—no, I knew—that he didn’t have to.
It didn’t have to be like this.
“That’s not fair, though, is it? Soul… I love you.” The trail of my fingers drifted carefully, and I pressed my palm flat over his heart where I’d seen that red line. “I love you enough to think that maybe Fate was right. Maybe we already have the answers, and we just need to stop running.”
“Caiden…” Soul’s eyes finally opened, and I could see it there. He realized what I was doing—but it was too late. I’d already made up my mind. I’d decided to put my faith in Fate…
“I’ve spent my entire life running from Death one way or another, Soul. Maybe that’s the answer…. maybe it’s time for me to stop.”
“Caiden, no.” His hand was warm on my wrist, but it didn’t matter. I’d seen what that man I’d helped had done.
I knew what I needed to do.
“It’s okay. I believe Fate brought us together…
and I have to believe that he wouldn’t have done it if it meant you had to give up everything to keep me.
” I leaned forward, pressing my lips against his in a soft kiss.
His arms around me were an anchor—a tether…
but I was done running. “Meet me by the Lake where the flowers bloomed.”
And then I closed my eyes and let go—if things ended up going south and Death really was an enemy instead of something I should have embraced from the beginning…
Well, at least the last thing I’d ever see was Soul looking at me like I was his entire world as I faded away.