He nibbled her cheek. "Did you know your facial markings are showing?"
"What?"
He reached up to draw the pattern with his fingertips. "Your Sentinel marks are showing."
She used her powers to remove them. "What about now?"
"Still there."
Oh, dear gods . . . she'd had no idea that they would show when she had sex. What if she'd mated with a Katagari bear and they'd come out?
It would have been disastrous.
"I'm sorry I can't hide them."
He kissed her cheek. "Don't apologize. I think you're beautiful."
She tightened her arms around his as those words warmed her to the core of her being.
Fang trembled as he was finally able to withdraw from her. He hated doing it, but he had no choice.
She turned in his arms to kiss him deeply. "Can I go with you?"
"No," he said, his tone firm.
"Fang-"
He shook his head. "No, Aimee."
"I want to be there with you."
"You can't."
She growled at him. "Why not?"
He leaned his forehead against her cheek while he cupped her face with his hand. "Because if I see you there, I won't be able to go through with it and I can't do that to my brother." He looked up at her and the painful torment in his eyes scorched her. "Do you understand? I have to do this alone." He brushed her tears away with the back of his hand. "I love you, Aimee."
Those words infuriated her. "Now you say that? Now? What is wrong with you?"
He smiled tenderly. "I never once in my life had good timing. Too late to start now."
She pulled him to her and held him close. "I love you, Fang. Damn you to hell for it!" Then she took her necklace from around his neck and and placed it in his hand. "If I can't be with you . . ."
He clutched it tight and repeated the words that were engraved in it. "Where I am always thou art. Thy image lives within my heart."
She nodded as more tears flowed. "Mate or no mate, you are the only one I'll ever love."
He kissed her gently before he made himself leave her. If he didn't go now, he'd chicken out completely.
Because honestly, it was hard to justify his brother's happiness and life by breaking the heart of the only woman he'd ever really loved.
It's all right, he told himself. He'd be waiting for her on the other side. One day he'd see her again and there the demon wouldn't have any control over him. He wouldn't have to fear ever hurting her.
She would be safe and there wouldn't be anyone who could keep them apart.
But in this life, he had to do the right thing.
Sick to his stomach, he dressed himself and took one last look at Aimee. Completely naked, she kissed his hand that held her locket.