Excerpt: Never Forget Always Remember
by Ashlyn Mathews
“Why were you sitting in the corner?” She opened her eyes and stared into nothingness.
He turned and propped his back against the railing, but didn’t answer her. Her face tingled. He can see in the dark. Elise kept her face clear of any telltale emotions, fearful he would reach into the recess of her mind and scoop out the terrible secrets she hid there—shameful secrets that could shut down businesses that had cropped up after her tragedy with Brian.
Fortunately for them, she wasn’t brave enough to reveal that horrible part of her life though the opportunity had been there during the investigation into Brian’s death.
“You want the truth?” X finally said.
“Are Fallens ever truthful?”
His eyes flared blue. “I’m tired of all the bullshit that comes out of your mouth about us Fallens.”
She swore she heard his teeth gnashing in the night’s silence. “Then prove me wrong.”
“And where should I start?” he said with sarcasm.
“The truth, X. Why do you suspect Drake in your friend’s turning?”
“If you want the truth, then I want something in return.”
Why wasn’t she surprised? “It depends on what you want.”
He took a step, and she held still as he cupped her face in his palms. “You don’t like Fallens. Forget I’m one.”
“Wha—”
“Forget I’m a Fallen and see me as a man.”
The expression on his face, highlighted by the glow from his eyes, told her he was dead serious. In return for him being truthful with her, she only needed to view him as a man instead of a monster? It seemed like an easy bargain. But—
“You won’t know if I’m being truthful or not,” he said. “You’re just going to have to take my word for it.” He smoothed the pads of his thumbs over her cheeks. “And I changed my mind. I don’t plan on staying away from you. Not after witnessing your nightmares.”
She staggered back. “You didn’t—”
“No, I didn’t read your thoughts, but I could see your face.”
He advanced and she backed up, against the railing.
“It was either the floor or me plastered to you in the bed, Slayer. I don’t do well when a woman hurts as much as you did in your sleep.”
The concern in his voice blindsided her. He removed her sword out of her grip, placed her weapon on the top rail and leaned in close until his lips nearly touched hers.
“I’m going to kiss you, Elise Castle.”
Her pulse sped while her heart ached at the tenderness in his words. She shook her head and clenched her fists at her sides. The tears fell, and she couldn’t stop them. Seizing her sword, she barged past him and ran toward the woods. She sprinted faster and further into the darkness. To hell with her bleeding feet. Pain was better than the warmth Xavier had offered her.
He would give her his tenderness out of sympathy for her only to burn and scar her with it when the job was over, when she’d never see him again. Her sight obscured by her tears, she didn’t notice him until he was in front of her. She instinctively raised her sword, and his hand shot out. The glow from his eyes highlighted the gash across his knuckles. She sucked in a breath and dropped her sword.
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