Page 98 of City of Darkness

He watched her carefully as she tried to make a choice.

The pull of her life back in London was fierce, and the urge to live was stronger than anything she’d ever known.

“And you’re sure you’ll want me at age forty?” she said.

He let out a soft laugh. “You mortals are so preoccupied with aging. At forty, you will be at your most beautiful, Aven.” He reached forward and placed his hand at her cheek. His touch made her feel like there was a lightning storm inside her. “And I can’t wait to see it.”

Then, he leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips, the lightning intensifying until she felt like her body was lit up and glowing. Her eyes fluttered closed, succumbing to the feeling.

Maybe it won’t be so bad, she thought.I’ll be forty, and he’ll still look like he’s in his late twenties.

Tuonen pulled away, and the light faded. He took her hand in his and shook it firmly.

“We have a deal, then,” he said with darkened eyes.

Power flowed from his palm to hers, and she knew she was being bound to this bargain, that there would be no escaping it.

But she also knew that the moment she walked through into her old life, the moment she truly escaped and was alive again, she was going to spend the rest of her life trying to cheat death, no matter the cost.

And from the wry look in Tuonen’s eyes before he led her to the boat and took her back to Death’s Landing, she knew he knew this too.

He was up for the challenge.