CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

W illow heard the shower turn off and the rustle of the sheets as Brayden climbed into bed.

She had so many questions.

What would she tell her friends? Moving to Hawaii overnight was hardly something she would do without a lot of planning and consultation with at least Brianna.

She pulled out her phone and stretched out on the couch. There was no way she was going to tell a soul about the vampires and put them in the same position as her, but she could warn Bri off Craig, whatever was going on between them.

Hey Bri, how’s your day?

Hey girl. Good. What are you up to?

Oh, not much, just fighting for my life in a vampire compound, lost the love of my life, and moving to Hawaii. Apparently.

Been thinking. You’re not into Craig, are you?

No. What? No.

Okay. Good. He’s bad news. Stay away from him, okay?

Totally. His ego can’t fit through my door, anyway.

Oh God, she did like him.

I mean it, Bri. He’s not what he seems.

If only she could expand on it without endangering her friend’s life. The thought of anyone else going through what she was right now, even her worst enemies, was incomprehensible. She would never do anything to put someone else in her shoes.

Gotcha. Running into a meeting. I’ll call you tonight. x

Love ya x

Who knew if she’d have any recollection of this conversation, or what would happen, but she wanted her friend to know she was loved.

Aww you too. xx

She looked around the apartment, taking in all of Brayden’s decor. On the coffee table in front of her, she noticed a coaster from the bar they’d visited last week. Willow picked it up and realized it was the one she’d drawn little hearts on the back of. She smiled sadly. Beside it was a little blue box.

She glanced at the doorway before reaching for it. Its little hinges creaked as it opened. Her mouth opened as she touched the little silver heart locket hanging from the matching chain. She pulled it from the box and let it fall into her palm. As it did, the heart flipped over to expose the engraving.

My Willow. Yours forever. Love, B.

Tears sprung to her eyes and began falling down her face. Before she could stop herself, the tears had turned to hiccups. She hugged the piece of jewelry to her chest.

Wiping her eyes with the back of her arm, she looked up and found Brayden standing in the doorway. Naked.

She stared.

He stared.

“I...” she started to say, but he was in front of her before she could finish, taking it out of her hands.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have opened it.”

“Shh,” he said, and undid the clasp, placing it around her neck. “It belongs here, even if you never remember where you got it.”

Willow hiccupped. “I hate this.”

His eyes were soft with pain as he nodded. They sat in silence as he rubbed his thumb over her hand. The ache to be with him so powerful it began to override her fear.

She blinked.

Willow saw the moment he recognized the shift. His pupil slowly decreased and the silver eyes she loved, now with a dark line surrounding it, looked back at her. Determined.

“Come,” he said softly, no room for disobedience, and stood.

She let him lead her into the bedroom, undress her, and put her in his bed. They fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms.