Total pages in book: 132
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125465 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 627(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
“I didn’t want to upset you,” she reminds me as we untangle our arms. “But it seems like you’re in a dark place. I couldn’t let you leave without making sure you know there’s an ally here who gets it.”
Thunder rolls outside, sounding like it’s directly overhead. We both turn, eyes wide, when the windows rattle.
“Yikes. I’m going to duck under the covers and pretend storms don’t make me nervous,” Aspen murmurs, wincing. “Though I’m so stinking sleepy, I’ll probably pass out and miss the whole thing.”
Before she leaves the room, I touch a hand to her belly. “Take care of your mama,” I whisper. “Don’t tire her out too much.”
“Please.” She laughs as she crosses the room. “If I can handle your brother, I can handle anything.” For the sake of kindness, I bite back a snarky remark about him being the biggest baby I know, waving before she closes the door with a soft click.
I trust her. She won’t say a word. For the first time in forever, it feels like somebody “up there” is on my side, throwing me a bone in the form of my sister-in-law. Knowing I can call her if things get too dark makes me slightly less apprehensive about being alone and without a friend.
Wind howls outside the window, and the room lights up when lightning streaks across the sky. We hardly ever get thunderstorms here, but it’s almost majestic when we do. I sink into the window seat, enjoying the perfect view of the backyard and the garden my father planted for my mother. Small lanterns line the edge of the garden, giving off barely enough light to see.
Every time the lightning flashes, my eyes scan the garden. No matter how many times I tell myself not to do it, not to even attempt to look for him because he’s never really there, I do. I look everywhere, hoping that one day he’ll appear out of thin air and explain to me what the hell happened. Even now, when it’s clear the heavens are about to open, and we might need an ark to make it through what’s about to fall, I can’t help but look for him.
Because this is my last night at home. His last chance to find me here.
Another bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, and that’s when my eyes catch something. With the flashing light, it’s hard to tell if it’s real or a figment of my imagination. Either way, my heart jumps in my chest.
It could be him.
That’s the only thought that pops into my head. Another flash, and I see the same tall, dark figure hiding in the garden. He hasn’t moved. He stares at me, watching me as I watch him. Every hair on my body stands on end.
He’s covered from head to toe in black, making it impossible to be seen, that is unless he wants to be. Something inside me snaps, either my sanity or something else entirely, and I feel drawn to the mysterious person. My instincts tell me to stay put, but if it’s Ren, and I didn’t take the chance, I’d never forgive myself.
Plus, my father has guards posted all over the property. This isn’t some random person trying to break in. Ren knows this place like the back of his hand. He’s the only one who could sneak past the guards undetected.
Against my better judgment, I rush away from the window and slip my feet into a pair of slippers sitting beside the bed. I try to move quickly but quietly so as not to wake anyone. Fear zings through me once I reach the back patio doors and exit onto the lawn. Everything about this is a bad idea, but I won’t be able to let it go until I check for myself.
My gaze sweeps the garden. I was sure he would be gone by the time I made it down here, but to my surprise, he isn’t.
My heart beats heavy in my chest, and my breaths come out almost like pants. He doesn’t move as I approach, his black form remaining eerily still.
“Ren?” I say his name, the foreignness of it making it come out like a squeak. I still haven’t seen the man’s face, but somehow, deep inside, I know it’s him. He’s tall and lean like a great pine standing in the forest.
The sky opens up, and the first raindrops fall, landing on my bare arms. A shiver ripples through me. I should’ve grabbed a sweater before I decided to rush outside. Stupid me.
I walk closer now and say his name once more.
“Ren? Is that you?” He doesn’t move and that forces me to invade his space or risk never knowing if it’s him or not.
A niggling at the back of my mind reminds me of all he has done. That he’s technically the enemy, the villain.