our foreheads together, catching our breath. His grip is still secure on me as if he doesn’t want to let go. His jaw grinds back and forth as he works through his anger.
“I want to kill him for hurting you.”
My heart squeezes. “I’m okay. I promise.”
“I’m not,” he grits. “The thought of his hands on you…the idea of him hurting you, it fucking kills me.”
“I don’t want you doing anything, understand me? We’re letting the police handle this, End.”
His gaze rakes across my flesh, taking in the scars and the cuts. “You’re mine, Selene, and that means I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. I can’t let this slide.”
I shake my head, my gut churning with worry. “We have Luna to think about. I can’t… She can’t lose you, Endymion.”
He seems to understand everything I’m not saying. The muscle in his jaw twitches, and it’s obvious he’s not happy, but he still presses a soft kiss against my lips that steals the breath straight from my lungs.
I take one last look in the mirror, only wincing slightly at my reflection. The scab on my face is mostly healed, but that doesn’t stop the pitying looks. News of what happened traveled fast, just as I figured it would. Telling my parents was the hardest part of all, mainly because I could see the worry written all over my father’s face. He wanted to tear Thomas limb from limb.
He wasn’t the only one.
I think the only saving grace was that Endymion was there with me every step of the way, silently promising he’d kill him if he ever stepped foot in this town again. That was the thing about Thomas. This wasn’t the first time he’d been in trouble here in Dunsmuir. He’d ran off enough times to hide out until the dust settled. He’d always come back when he thought the town forgot about his previous mistakes; only this time, it wasn’t just a small mistake.
“Mommy,” Luna groans, trotting into the bathroom. “Daddy wants to know if you’re done yet.”
Twisting the lid on the lip gloss, I drop down to my haunches, leveling my gaze with my sweet girl. I braided her hair in a fishtail braid on each side, adding little sunflower bows to each end. We’re both wearing soft blue sundresses with tiny flower prints. I paired hers with a jean jacket and some cowgirl boots. She looks as cute as a button.
“You look very pretty, Mommy,” she says, cupping my cheek.
“Thank you, baby. You look very, very pretty, too. Are you excited?”
Her grin widens. “I am. I’ve never been to a party like this before.”
Guilt stabs me in the chest. We didn’t exactly know a lot of people in Pasadena. We didn’t have any reason to attend any parties that involved anyone in the city or hang out with friends. It was just birthday parties with the three of us. This is the first time she’ll get to experience this town and the yearly events that happen.
I wonder idly if that guilt will ever pass. Part of me thinks it will over time, but the other part, I think it’s something I’ll have to deal with for the rest of my life. Something I’ll have to keep making up to her and her father, day in and day out.
It’s the town’s yearly Summer Fest. I remember coming here with my parents as a kid and dancing under the stringed lights, eating the food, and hanging out with Julia. I used to look forward to these events until Endymion came along. Then I just spent my time watching him from afar. It’s strange to think that now, after so many years, he’ll be the one at my side tonight, with our daughter.
“We ready to g—” The sound of Endymion’s voice cuts off when he steps into the bedroom, looking our way. A smile lights up his face when he looks at Luna. She does a little twirl for him, making us both laugh. At the sound, his gaze drifts to me, and the smile slowly slides off his face. His eyes alight with heat. The green there is a force to be reckoned with. His gaze has a texture to it, one I can feel roll through my body in waves.
He closes the distance between us, an unreadable expression on his face as he takes me into his arms. That angry swarm of bees is back wreaking havoc inside of me. I can’t help but wonder if the