at that point. You’re nothing but a manifestation of pure rage. Revenge against those who damned you is your only driving force.”
“Are you saying Philip died violently?”
“Yes.” Zeke moved his gaze to the ceiling. “His screams haunt me to this day.”
“You told me you were responsible for his death. How?”
“You’ll think me wicked once you know. It will be just as I deserve too, for I loathe myself every day because of it.” He brushed his fingers through my hair as a distant look appeared in his eyes. “We all have a dual nature. A monster lurking inside us. I’m a lot like Dr. Jekyll in a way, outwardly good…but sometimes shockingly evil.”
“Tell me.” I dreaded the answer but needed it too. It was the only way to move forward.
However, something strange happened after that. There was a slight pressure behind both my eyes followed by a tingling sensation.
“Carter?” Zeke’s voice sounded so far away, like I was underwater and he was on the surface calling out to me. Cold touched my cheeks. “Darling?”
My vision dimmed before going black.
And then I opened my eyes to a beautiful night sky.
“They say there’s a man in the moon,” Ezekiel said, as we strolled hand in hand along the narrow path. “I wonder if he’s watching us now.”
“Perhaps he’s a protector,” I responded, and then smiled as he stopped walking and pulled me to him.
“A protector of what?” he asked.
“Lovers strolling on moonlit paths?”
Ezekiel shared my smile and leaned closer to me. The lake stretched before us, the surface shining with light in some places and dark in others. Stars reflected on the water. It was much like life, I supposed, a balance of light and dark.
I closed the gap between our mouths. It had been too long since I’d kissed him.
“We mustn’t,” he said, breaking from my lips. “Not here. Not out in the open.”
“And who will see us?” I asked, putting my hands on his waist. “The man in the moon?”
“Philip,” he warned, shaking his head. “You know what they will do to us if they learn the truth. We cannot risk it.”
“Shall we go to the stables then?” I grinned when I saw his will slipping.
“Very well,” he said, grabbing my hand. “But we best make it quick.”
We jogged back down the path and toward the stables before crouching low and looking at the mansion. The windows were dark. Everyone had put out their lights and gone to bed. As quiet as possible, we opened the stable door and dove inside before going to our favorite, empty stall.
We had gotten lost in each other so many times there. I wanted to do it even more.
All caution was thrown aside as our lips met, once, twice. I giggled as he shoved me against the wooden post and deepened the third kiss. Then, I pushed Ezekiel backward to the hay and straddled his hips. He slid his hands up under my shirt while I tangled mine in his soft hair.
The horses shifted in their stalls around us, and Ezekiel cut off my laugh with another hard kiss. We pulled apart as I began to fidget with his clothing. He smiled and rested his head back against the hay. But then his eyes widened.
“Philip!”
Someone gripped the back of my hair and yanked me off him. I reached up and grabbed the person’s hand to alleviate some of the sting before I was flung against the same post Ezekiel had pushed me against earlier when we kissed.
“You goddamn sodomite!” a deep voice boomed, before I felt a kick to my stomach.
“Don’t hurt him!” Ezekiel yelled.
I looked up to see three more men around us. I recognized them. They were the sons of Mr. Warren’s close acquaintances and had often come to the mansion for dinner and drinks in the parlor. Their fathers were wealthy, powerful men, and in turn, so were they. However, they were known to be rebellious and acted out in town, always getting into trouble.
One of them grabbed Ezekiel by the back of his neck and forced him outside. I cried out to him before being picked up by the man who’d kicked me and carried from the stable.
“Release us at once!” Ezekiel yelled, as we entered the mansion. “This is my home, and you have no business here!”
I was thrown into the foyer beside the staircase, my shoulder slamming against the hard floor. I grabbed the railing and attempted to stand, but I was kicked back down.
“I order you to