Midnight Rising - By Lara Adrian Page 0,117

and a few of the two of them together in happier times. Eva's artwork was in the container, as were some of her clothes.

"I woke up a while ago and realized I needed to clear out a few things that no longer belong in my life," he said.

His voice was calm, not angry or bitter. Just...resolved.

Rio seemed to be in a state of true peace; her sense of it registered all the way into her veins as he embraced her in silence, watching the fire dance on the lawn.

"For the past year, I've hated her," he said. "With every breath in my body, I prayed she was burning in hell for what she did to me. I think my hatred for Eva was the only thing that kept me alive. For a long time, it was the only thing I could feel."

"I know," Dylan said softly. She tunneled her fingers into his thick hair, caressing his head as he rested his cheek against her hip. "But it was Eva who led me to you on that mountain. She cared about you, Rio. I think in her own misguided way, she loved you very much. In life, she made some terrible mistakes trying to keep you all to herself. She did some terrible things, but I think she wishes she could correct them in death."

Rio slowly stood up, still keeping a hold on her as he rose to his feet beside her. "I can't hate her anymore, because she brought me to you. And not just that day up there in the cave. Eva was in my car the night Dragos took you."

Dylan frowned. "You saw her?"

"I was still hours outside of New York, knowing that if Dragos had you, I'd never be able to reach you in time. Cristo, the fear that went through me at the very thought - " He broke off and pulled her closer to him. "I was on the highway, driving as fast as I could, praying like hell for some kind of miracle. Anything to give me hope that I wasn't going to lose you. That's when I heard her voice beside me. I looked over and there she was - Eva, in the car with me. She told me where Dragos had taken you. She gave me the location of the dam, told me to trust her. I didn't know if I could - not ever again - but I also knew that it could be my only hope of finding you. Without her, I would have lost you. She could have told me I'd find you in the middle of a raging inferno and I would have gone in after you. She could have betrayed me again, led me into another ambush, and I would have gone, just for the hope of finding you alive."

"But she didn't," Dylan said. "She told you the truth."

"Yes. Thank God."

"Oh, Rio." Dylan rested her cheek against his chest, hearing the heavy pound of his heart as if it were her own. She felt his love pour into her as warm as sunshine, a love she sent back to him tenfold. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," he said, then tipped her chin up and kissed her, long and slow and sweet. "I'm going to love you forever, Dylan. If you'll have me, there's nothing I want more than to spend every day - and night - of my life loving you."

"Of course I'll have you," she told him, reaching up to smooth her fingertips over his cheek. She smiled slowly and with seductive promise. "I'll have you every day and night of my life...and in every way imaginable."

Rio growled deep in his throat, a spark of amber lighting in his gaze. "I like the sound of that."

"I hoped you would." She smiled up into his face, a face she would never tire of seeing, especially when he was looking at her with so much tender devotion in his eyes it left her breathless.

She glanced down at the box of Eva's personal effects, then out at the bonfire. "You know you don't have to do this. Not for me."

Rio shook his head. "I'm doing it for both of us. Maybe I'm doing it for her too. It's time to let go of everything that happened before. I'm ready to do that now...because of you. Because of the future I see with you. I'm done looking back."

Dylan nodded gently. "Okay."

Rio picked up the box and looked to her to accompany him to the fire. They walked together, silent as they neared the undulating flames.

With a soft push, Rio sent the box of pictures, art, and clothing into the middle of the bonfire. It roared to life for a brief moment, shooting a spray of sparks and smoke high into the dusky periwinkle sky.

In a thoughtful silence, Dylan and Rio watched the fire burn for a while, until the flames grew less hungry, their fuel spent. When it was just smoke and embers, Rio turned to Dylan and brought her into his arms. He held her close, whispering a quiet prayer of gratitude next to her ear.

And in the rising smoke from the dying bonfire behind him, Dylan watched over his broad shoulder as an ethereal, feminine shape took form between the flurry of floating ash.

Eva.

She smiled a bit sadly as she watched the two of them embrace. But then she gave a slow nod to Dylan and gradually faded away.

Dylan closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Rio and buried her face in the solid warmth of his chest. After a little while, her cheek rumbled with the vibration of his voice.

"About that 'having me every way imaginable' promise of yours," he said, clearing his throat. "You want to explain some of what you had in mind?"

Dylan looked up at him and smiled, her heart overflowing with love. "Why don't I show you instead?"

He chuckled, the tips of his fangs already starting to emerge. "I thought you'd never ask."

THE END