Free Of Light and Darkness by Shayne Leighton Page B

bony cheek on top of her head, listening to the thoughts she knew he had not since paid much attention to. This did complicate things quite a bit, and she knew it.
    “Shhh, Lottie.” He stroked her hair. “You shouldn’t have to hide anything from me. You know that. I told you to come to me under any circumstance. I meant it.”
    He delicately slid his hand up the side of her arm—a gesture she was sure he meant to be comforting, but it wasn’t. She pulled away. “I’m sure this was not the sort of circumstance you meant.” She quickly brushed away more falling tears.
    Valek held her by the shoulders, separating himself farther so he could look directly into her burning face. She denied herself from looking up at him, wanting so much to protect him from her horrible, weird, perverted thoughts. Instead, her gaze rested on the sopping skirt of her dress.
    “Listen to me now, Lottie.” He spoke gently, though his words seemed to carry a current of electricity. It made her want to glance up, but she forced her focus downward.
    “Not now, nor will I ever forsake you. Not under any circumstance. My love is unconditional. I hope you can understand that.”
    Her eyes pricked, and she clenched her jaw tighter.
    “We are going to go home now and give all of this up for tonight. This can be discussed a different time.”
    She heard a smile on the last three words, and she knew he was trying to be nothing but comforting again. Her gaze finally touched his, her heart feeling like it had splintered. “But what about you? I didn’t hunt for you tonight.”
    He smiled again. “I’ll be fine.” He stood. “Come. Let’s go home.” He held his arm out to her, offering to pull her from the thoughts she was drowning in.
    Apprehensively, she took it and they started walking together, out of the abandoned garden. Her eyelids felt so heavy, she fought to keep them open. The world around her started to tilt in odd ways. Her teeth began to chatter again. She just wanted it all to be over.
    The image of the Witch hovering over him branded itself into Charlotte’s mind, and she decided she didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Valek’s hand enveloped hers, but things still felt a little weird so she tried to casually wriggle her hand free. He let it go, but Charlotte was sure he didn’t miss her motive. He rarely missed anything.
    “I was actually just about to come and find you after our argument when she knocked on the door,” he continued.
    She knew he was only trying to make things better, but it wasn’t working and Charlotte wished he had just left it alone. The earth started to tilt a little more under her feet. She blinked, stumbled forward, and caught herself on his arm.
    “Lottie?” He stopped. “Lottie, are you okay?”
    His liquid velvet voice reverberated around in her hollowed-out head. It almost sounded like he was calling to her down a long, steel tunnel. She opened her mouth to respond when her eyes rolled back into her head. The entire world disappeared from under her as everything faded to black.

    ***

    Aiden was still awake, skimming over a crumpled set of parchment paper. Everyone else in the house had already gone to bed, and he found the solitude—something he rarely experienced with so many siblings—soothing as he read.
    Before him, lit by a dim lantern perched next to him on the edge of the sofa, was a list of names, all employed by the Central European Magic Regime . Aiden was determined to find out who the assailant from the woods was. How dare anyone from the Regime try and attack him?   After all, that Lycanthrope guard should have known immediately who he was.
    He glanced up at the small, wooden clock above the mantle. The second hand ticked, like a metronome, a little too loudly. Father should be arriving any moment. Aiden had called on him the moment Charlotte left, not wanting to reveal to her the enormous secret he’d been hiding over the years they had been friends.
    Danek Price was