Free The Heartbeat Thief by AJ Krafton, Ash Krafton

even realized it until now.
    “How?” She had been groomed to be courted and dowered off to a worthy suitor but now, this man—
    “Man?” He stepped around from behind her, materializing before her eyes. “Is that all I am to you?”
    Eyes wide, she struggled to make sense of what she was seeing. Her feet tingled as the adrenaline jolted through her and she swayed on rubbery legs.
    Knell grasped her arms, a deceivingly firm hold disguised as a tender embrace. His eyes, huge and dark and fathomless, reflected her face within. His skin had the sheen of porcelain, finely sculpted into proud cheekbones, a cleft chin, pale lips. He swiveled his head until he was nose to nose with her. His smile was icy, no warmth or humor in that thin stretch of lips.
    Those lips hovered over her own, nothing but her breath stirring between them.
    Would he do such a thing, here in full view of the travelers and the passengers on the train? Would he cause such a scandal? She reached up to put her hands against his chest and pushed—
    And her hands went right through him.
    He melted into fog and dissolved from sight, leaving her alone on the platform.
    She stilted on rigid legs, to and fro, searching for him. Where? He couldn’t leave her, not now!
    Abandoned. He’d abandoned her, far away from the safety of her home. She’d never walked this far, not even as an adventurous child tagging along after her brothers.
    She spun and cut through the thinning crowds, searching the platform. Nowhere. Her last resort was to run down the steps to the back of the station and hope the phaeton was still there.
    She rounded the corner, breathless.
    Gone.
    Fear turned into a solid mass within her, filling her, snuffing her thoughts and squashing her breath. He’d left her in Woking and she had no money, no contacts, no idea how to get home—
    But that wasn’t the worst of it. He’d left her .
    She didn’t fear for her safety as much as she craved his presence. She wanted him more than she needed him. Not having him near caused an entirely different kind of fear to take root.
    She’d get home, she was confident, even if it meant walking for hours. But if he’d left forever—what kind of life could she look forward to? An empty shell that she’d have to fill with socials and suitors and the mind-dulling prospect of settling for a match with a man who could never compare to him .
    He’d called her his beloved. She couldn’t go back to an average life after hearing that, after feeling the things he’d made her feel. He’d tripped across nerves deep inside her that would never stir under another’s touch. She knew it with dread certainty, with sharp clarity, and with absolute desperation.
    Utter and complete desperation nearly suffocated her. She pressed her hand to her chest. Breathe. Just breathe. Don’t think—
    “Are you feeling well, miss?” A porter stood near her, and reached for her elbow. “Is there someone I should find for you?”
    Swallowing hard, she lifted her chin.
    “I’m—I’m fine. I’m just looking for—” She daren’t say her father . She had no idea when he had taken up that particular illusion, or who had seen him wearing that particular visage. “My carriage.”
    “I can help you, miss. Sometimes personal carriages have to make way for the larger. What’s it look like?”
    “A—a black phaeton, with red cushions, drawn by a black mare.” She forced a smile. “I do appreciate your help.”
    Her smile, as thin as it had been, had the same effect on him as it did nearly everyone else.
    “You wait here, miss. I’ll be back once I find it.” The porter bobbed his head and nearly tripped over his feet when he ran off, her champion.
    She paced along the side of the station, head wagging in every direction, eyes searching without cease. Wait here , the porter had said. Where else could she possibly go?
    The minutes dragged by, each an agony in itself. The initial rush of fear having subsided, a sink hole