Before I Let Go (Skyland #1)(51)

I wanted him more.

He pulled away from me slightly before running his fingers across my face and pushing my hair out of my eyes. “We should get back to the festival.”

My heart dropped and I stared him. “What?”

He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck and stared into my eyes. “This is your first Twin Blood Moon Festival, and you shouldn't spend it hidden away in a cave with me the whole night.”

My fingers dug harder into his flesh, and I couldn’t explain it. I didn't want to let him go. I didn't want to leave this cave and face the world around us.

“I want more.”

Evren searched my face, and I could see the indecision in his eyes. Whether to stay with me or to go back out there with his people, and I felt pure guilt for making him choose.

“I will give you anything you ever want, princess.” He pulled me tighter to him, his arms wrapping around my back and eliminating any space between us. “I don’t want to only take pleasure from your body.” He searched my face as he said the words “I want all of you. Every moment, every breath. I want to know your heartbreaks and make sure they never happen again. I want to give you every part of me and to take every part of you in return.”

My hands trembled against him as my heart raced with his words. It was what I wanted too, and I would've given him that. I would've given him all of that and more if things had been different, but I wasn't sure that I was cut out to be the person he wanted me to be.

He was half fae and half vampyre. He was the son of two nobles who held more power than I could even fathom, and he was choosing me.

“I… Evren, I…”

He ran his hands over my neck as he smiled. “Come on, princess. Let's go get some wine and rejoin the festival.”

He moved to pull me from the cave, and I couldn't stop the dread that filled me.





CHAPTER 16





I could hardly concentrate as Thalia threw another kick my way. Evren and Sorin sat at the sides watching us. The two of them had just finished sparring and sweat dripped down Evren's bare chest.

Every time my gaze wandered in his direction, Thalia would land another blow.

“Ow!” I hissed as she hit my left thigh.

“Pay attention.” Thalia laughed. “If you're distracted by him half naked, I would hate to see you in a real battle.”

Evren chuckled, and I straightened my spine.

“I am not distracted by him.”

“You could've fooled me.” Thalia gave me a look that was a challenge.

“Shut up, and just go again.”

Thalia smiled before correcting her stance. She watched me, looking for a weakness, before her legs shot out to the right. This time, I was able to block her and land my own kick to her stomach.

She grunted before grinning. “Good.” She rubbed her hand across her abdomen. “That was much better.”

“Add your power!” Evren called out, and my gaze met his. “She needs to work on controlling her power when there are other things to concentrate on as well.”

I hated his words even though he was right. I hated how easily he could pick up my flaws.

“Don't you two have something better to do?” I didn't look at either of them as they snickered at my question.

“And miss this? I wouldn't dare.” I could practically hear the smile in Evren’s voice.

“Again.” Thalia nodded at me once, and I could see the unspoken words in her eyes. Show them exactly what you're made of.

I nodded back at her as I widened my stance just like she taught me to. Sparring with Thalia was difficult. I had to feel her magic rather than see it. I tried to clear my mind, not think of Evren sitting at the side watching me, as I tried to concentrate on nothing but her.

A blast of her magic shot out, aiming directly for my chest, and I raised my hands and hit it with my own magic before it could make contact. Black smoke poured from my fingers, but I didn't have time to celebrate. Another shot of her magic came at me from the left, and I blocked it once more.

She smiled at me as she took a deep breath, but then I could feel her magic again surging stronger than before. I pivoted on my heel just as I realized it wasn't coming from her, and I shot my own magic out toward Evren and stopped his in its tracks. Sweat dripped down my temples as he grinned.

“Good. You're getting much better at detecting magic.” There was a gleam in Evren’s eyes as he held my gaze.

“I didn't realize you were going to be stabbing me in the back with yours.”

“In the real world, no one's going to care if you're looking at them or if you're ready.” He pushed to his feet and dusted off his trousers. “You have to train yourself to be ready for whatever comes your way.”

I nodded because I knew he was right. “Your magic is easier to detect than Thalia’s.”

The smile that took over his face was wicked, and my stomach tightened as I looked upon him. “That's because you're my mate.” He took a few steps closer to me. “Our magic is linked, so you will be able to feel my magic much easier than anyone else's.”

“How else is our magic linked?”

“I don't know.” He took another step closer and black smoke trailed from his fingers. “It is legend that mates could pull power from one another in time of need, that you could take from me or I could pull from you, but I've never seen it done. Mates are rare, and mates with magic that is linked so intricately as ours is even rarer.”