To Love a Vampire - A.K. Koonce Page 0,58
but I found death instead.
Would I reach the deep ocean floor before death settles in? I hope not. I hope whatever has its hold on me takes me away and devours me quickly.
My mind feels heavy and tired.
Just as my limbs relax around me, a strong, hard body pulls me against them. My head settles against their chest.
Asher.
The sound of his heart pounds wildly beneath me.
Luca was right.
He’d never let me fall.
Twenty
Something Almost Normal
The fire that was in my arm just moments ago has shifted to my lungs as I cough up salty water and choke for air. Asher lies me against the smooth, warm rocks of the shore, the waves drift in like a blanket over my toes and ankles. My hands clutch my throat as I lie coughing and shuddering for air that is slowly making its way into my pained lungs.
A seagull sits a few feet away tilting its head to the side, trying to understand why the human girl can’t succeed with the basic task of breathing.
As I sit up, Asher kneels at my side, his hand resting flat against my spine, rubbing short circles between my shoulder blades. The tattered pieces of my dress cling around my ankles…probably what I thought was attacking me in the ocean…
He’s entirely unaffected, like our cliff diving experience was just light exercise to him. His wet hair sticks to his forehead, brushing his eyebrows that are set in concern. Water clings to his long lashes as he watches me, waiting like the seagull for the human girl to catch her breath.
In a light zig zag pattern, he runs his finger down my arm. Water droplets cling to my flesh, my eyes trail his movement against my skin where he traces against stark black lines. A thin rope design is etched into my skin, crisscrossing down my forearm and wrapping around my wrist and the back of my hand.
I trace the lines as well, trailing behind his finger. A matching brand mars his forearm with the same intricate black lines. My heart warms and flutters at the sight of his branding next to mine. It’s pretty in a strange way. Meaningful and touching. A memory I will never forget, nor will the lines embedded into my flesh allow me to.
“Are you okay?”
His voice is quiet. The world around us is alive and loud and we’re just here, dropped into it, keeping to ourselves the best we can to not disturb the sound of the crashing waves or the squawking birds or the rushing wind. The sun set sometime between leaping from the cliff and nearly dying beneath the waves but the sky is on fire with an ethereal orange and pink glow, highlighting the heavens around us.
“Yes,” I say, my breathing as normal as my tight bodice will allow.
His hand, lined in black, brushes my wet matted hair from my face. His thumb trails my jaw as he watches me in silence for a few minutes. “You let go,” he says, a statement filled with thought and concern. “Months ago, I was afraid I’d never find you again and I had that same fear just now. I’ll never let you go, Fallon, but that means nothing if you won’t hang on.”
“I-” I pause as guilt shakes into my chest. A chill runs down my spine and I fold my arms over my chest to keep some warmth in me. “I didn’t want to drag you down. I don’t want to drag you down, Asher. I’m not as strong as you are, I’m human.”
His brows pull together as he tilts his head to meet my downcast eyes. “I’m human, too… Partly. I’m definitely not perfect and I am very much aware that you are not perfect, either.”
“Thanks,” I say sarcastically.
He laughs, his fingers digging into my thick hair as he tilts my head up. His beautiful eyes bore into mine. “I meant that we have flaws. I know you have flaws, but they are my own now. You are a part of me.” He glances at his inky arm. “I wouldn’t have dove into that water with you if I didn’t think I couldn’t take care of you. I’ll always take care of you, Fallon. But you have to let me. We’re a team, remember?”
I shudder at his words and the cool wind. He wants to take care of me.
“I’m sorry,” I say, looking away, keeping my focus on the flat gray rocks.
“Don’t be sorry.” He pulls my body into his