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The rest of the night—what was left of it—brought back more memories. Until, eventually, she sensed that her mind was finally as full as before she had fallen into a coma.

They were all back—the pieces of everything she’d lost, back where they belonged, nudged into place every time Darien showed her another of his own memories.

With Darien lying beside her, sleeping soundly on the mat, his touch lingering on every part of her body, she had never felt so whole.

96

Motel 58

STATE OF WITHEREDGE

It was late, and the motel room was quiet.

Shay lay on the bed in Roman’s arms, the blankets and sheets tucked around them, her left hand pressed flat against his right. He watched her face, marvelling at her features while she marvelled at the sight of their hands flattened together.

“Truth or lie?” Shay whispered. When Roman tilted his head slightly in question, she confessed, the words so quiet they were nearly inaudible, “I lost your necklace.”

Shay waited for his response, her heart pounding in the quiet.

Slowly, the corner of Roman’s mouth sank, deepening the small scar on the one side. The response made Shay’s heart beat even faster. But those gold flecks in his irises remained bright like bits of glitter, and Shay didn’t know what that meant, how to read him.

She swallowed, the pounding of her heart shifting into a nervous sprint, her stomach winding up into tight knots. “Roman, I’m so sorry—”

But Roman snaked his hand under the collar of his shirt, pulling up one of the silver chains he wore around his neck.

The same necklace she’d stolen from him in the alley. A wing-shaped locket—an antique made a very long time ago, only a handful of them existing in the whole world. Engraved on the back was the phrase, Love must always win.

Shay’s mouth fell open, words eluding her. How? And how had she not noticed him wearing it?

“Truth or lie?” Roman whispered, his gentle yet husky voice raising a chill on her back, yet at the same time setting fire to her blood. He tucked the chain back under his shirt. “I stole it back.” His lips quirked with a cunning smile, the dimple in his cheek showing off.

“When?”

“The first night.”

“Our first night?” she gasped. “Here?” She looked pointedly around the room. “But…you could have just left.” Taken off while she was sleeping or in the shower and never seen her again.

He shrugged and took her hand back into his, threading their fingers this time and setting their joined hands in the soft sheets. “Guess I didn’t want to.”

She stared at him. Minutes passed, and as the silence continued, Roman began to look worried.

He traced his thumb across her knuckles. “Shay—”

“You’re full of mysteries,” she whispered. “You’re literally a walking mystery, Shadows.”

He gave her a little smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Are you disappointed to learn that the Wolf of the Hollow isn’t the predator everyone made him out to be?” Something told Shay her answer meant more to him than he was letting on.

“No,” she mouthed. “I don’t find you disappointing at all.” She pushed up onto her knees, and as Roman shifted to lay flat on his back, his eyes already darkening with arousal, she swung one leg over his waist to straddle him. “I find you addicting,” she said, speaking another of her confessions. He was still a predator—a very intimidating, accomplished predator, but the kind that chose his prey wisely instead of killing without need. She slid her hands up his shirt and over his chest, feeling his heart speed up with anticipation under her touch. “And I find you wonderful, Roman Devlin.”

She pulled her shirt over her head, and then proceeded to show the Wolf of the Hollow precisely how wonderful she thought he was.

Roman left before sunrise.

Shay was still asleep, her face smooth and relaxed, her soft features suffused with the glow of the street light sneaking in through the curtains.

As he stood by the door, keys in hand, he couldn’t help but look at her.

He’d never felt this way before. There was a deep pull in his heart, a need that had no logic or common sense. His life before Shay had come along was so small, so simple. A girl wasn’t something he’d felt like he was missing, but now that he’d come to know Shay, he couldn’t imagine life without her in it.