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And that was exactly how long it took before my sweet, precious Jezebel opened her beautiful eyes.

For the first time in all that time, I felt whole again.

Complete.

“There you are,” I whispered, unashamed of the tears pricking my eyes.

They said real men didn’t cry, and for cowboys that went double.But I didn’t buy into the world’s view of what manliness or machismo meant.

Fuck that.

I loved this woman.She was everything to me and my Wolf.Not having her by my side was never part of the plan, and had she left this world, I would have followed and dragged her sweet ass back.

But I wasn’t going to think about all that because here she was, staring at me with wide, bright eyes, and fuck, my heart constricted until I thought it would implode.

“Emmet,” she croaked.

Her voice was rough and scratchy, but she had never sounded more beautiful to me than she did right then.

“I’m here, Angel.You’re okay,” I said, the latter probably more for my benefit than hers.

But she would be okay.I’d swear it on anything, anyone, anytime or place.

It was the one promise I intended to keep above all others.Even if I had to give my life for hers, she would be okay.

Jezebel was mine to protect.Mine to keep safe.She was mine.Period.

Demon reared up inside of me.The black Wolf snarled loud and clear into the metaphysical plane where he waited until we swapped skins.

Mine.

Chapter Sixteen-Jezebel

My entire body burned with pins and needles as my limbs slowly unfroze.I felt life pumping through my veins, sluggishly at first, then with a renewed vigor I’d hardly ever experienced.

In fact, that might have been the first time.But that was okay.There was a first time for everything, right?

Those shades had really done a number on me, and I understood now where I hadn’t before.This curse of mine was a gift, or so my grandmother told me when I’d crossed beneath the veil to the other side.

My heart squeezed tight inside me.I’d died.Actually, died.The mob of angry ghosts had savaged my life’s force, but as Grandma explained, I was the one to blame.

“A gift like ours can’t be ignored, my darling.You have a responsibility.”

“I’m sorry.Daddy always said it was a curse,” I whispered, tears rolling down my ghostly façade.

“I should have explained to him so he could teach you.But I’m afraid the men in our family could never understand.The third eye has always been reserved for the feminine, my child,” she replied, and her voice sounded so familiar to me, even though I knew I’d never heard it.

“I’m sorry I failed you, Grandma.”

“Nonsense.You didn’t fail.”

“But I-I’m dead,” I whispered, afraid I would break from the sadness alone.

“Oh, hush now.You’re not dead.You’re in between,” she explained, and I saw serenity pass over her features with awe.

“But then, why am I here?”

“To meet me, of course.See, I wasn’t strong enough to fulfill our family’s destiny, but you, my dear.You are.And you have a Wolf to protect you.How wonderful!”