Hecate's Spell (Monsters and Gargoyles #7) - Lacey Carter Andersen Page 0,47
I was a little hurt Andros had selected a mate without me. But it was also because a tiny part of me thought that she would abandon us once she was free.
If she did so, I’d need to pull my brother together. Blaise and I would have to give him a purpose and fold him into our Brotherhood so that he didn’t fall into despair. But how could I do that if I was missing her too?
I glance down at her beautiful face, so innocent in sleep.
Damn it. I think it’s too late for me already.
I feel a breeze move over me and I stiffen. Why the hell do I feel like my brother is encouraging me to care for Hecate? Why the hell do I feel like he’s pushing us together? It’s strange, but just the notion eases some of the tension inside of me. I only wish I knew for certain that this woman is ours forever.
But, I guess, there are some things worth the risk. And falling in love with the woman my brother already loved? It was probably the least risky thing I’d done in years.
Even if it didn’t feel that way.
So I’d open my heart, at least a little, and hope that it lead to love and not heartache.
Time passes and Blaise and Hecate stir. Blaise covers her in his kisses and runs his hands over her body. I’m uncertain what women want the morning after, or whatever the hell this is, but she touches me too, and then we all seem to be cuddled together. No one wants to get up, but we know we have to. We bathe again, eat another meal, clean up our camp, and head back to the tunnels.
Blaise leads this time. Hecate is between us, always between us from now on, I decide, and I follow.
It’s hard not to turn around. Not to look for my brother. The monster and my brother had both said that he would be there, we just had to have faith, but I need his reassurance after too long without it. And what’s more, I feel like I need my brother even more after the night with Hecate. It feels as if whatever spell she had weaved is pulling at the wall around me, but I’m terrified to let them fully drop.
So even though Blaise and Hecate make conversation as we travel, I can’t seem to find anything to say. At least, I can’t decide on the right thing to say, so I don’t speak. They cast me the occasional glance, but all I can manage to do is try to hide my uncertainty behind a blank stare.
And listen. Listen to her musical voice. Listen to her laughter and her stories, and feel that aching place in my chest seem to hum. Is this what it is to fall in love?
I have no idea.
But I enjoy her company more than I ever imagined, while still being silent and awkward. And it’s nice that Blaise finally has someone to talk to about happy things, not just my obsessions. There’s no doubt in my mind that she’d bring a lot of joy into our lives, if we let her.
I think I’m ready to let her.
Time has little meaning in the depths of the tunnels, but there’s no resting place, long past the time I would’ve expected one, so we keep going. Hecate slows after a time, and we both match her pace, not wanting her to know that we could go faster.
At last, the tunnel leads into another big room. But this one isn’t a dark cavern, it’s a massive garden. We all step onto the level surface and stare in shock. Huge butterflies fly overhead. Massive flowers rise above us. And golden crystals cover the entire ceiling, glowing like the sun. Even the air is sweet, and we hear the trickle of water.
“Beautiful,” Hecate says, and I look at her and see tears in her eyes.
I remember all the time she’s spent in Hades’s realm, all the time she spent as a prisoner, and I promise myself in that moment that she’ll be surrounded by light and beauty for the rest of her life, once we escape. Unable to stop myself, I take her hand, then brush the tears away that fall onto her cheeks. She looks at me then, and for the first time outside of sex with her, I feel like we’re staring into each other’s souls.