Page 75 of Eternal

“Says you, the non-doctor.”

“Just trust me on this.” He brushes his thumb up over my lower lip.

My heart races in my chest, and the path he leaves behind on my skin feels like it’s burning up.

“Declan.” His name is nearly a whisper.

A question.

A fear.

This was easier when I could think of him as the sky and me as the ocean. Then we were opposites, and there was nothing there for me to try and understand. But I forgot about the horizon. A place where two opposite ends meet. And now it’s like he’s a storm cloud raining down on me.

Are we opposing forces or one?

Are we enemies or each other’s mirrors?

Declan pulls my mouth to his, and he’s a tidal wave crashing down.

My hand grips his wrist as he holds my jaw. The kiss is simple. No tongue and teeth and fight. But still, it manages to be all emotion. It’s stronger than when he’s being rough with me, in the same way that water has the power to do more damage than fire.

Flames char the surface, but rivers slip through the cracks. They wear down the surface and change the shape of it.

Declan laces one hand in the back of my hair, and I sink into his kiss like it’s real.

I forget why I hate him.

I forget I’m not a star in the sky, endlessly floating. And when we break apart and the cool night fills the space between us, I’ve never been lighter.

Declan stares into my eyes, and I’d like to think he’s not the enemy. But when his gaze moves over my shoulder, and I turn to see Jase watching through the windows, I’m reminded this is just a play.

Fake.

Declan tugs my strings so I’ll do what he wants. But he’ll never actually want me.

“Let’s go inside. It’s cold.” Declan stands up, waiting for me before making his way back toward the house.

But with no one watching, he doesn’t take my hand this time.

22

Falling Into A Black Hole

Declan

The main courtyard atBriar is always busy in the middle of the day. It’s an easy place to catch anyone you’re trying to run intoaccidentally.

Which is why I’m seated at one of the tables waiting with my feet kicked up. Watching and waiting for my colorful little minx to appear for her next class.

Teal has been avoiding me for the past twenty-four hours, and I’ve let her. I gave her space after her father’s party because that much social interaction makes her cagey, and it’s already hard enough to break through her barriers without her pre-built defenses in the way. But enough is enough.

Every time I get one step forward with her, she reverts to her battle stance. She can’t resist the urge to challengeme at every turn, and she’s become well-versed in finding new reasons to hate me.

As much as I used to enjoy it when she sharpened her teeth on me, I’m ready to hear her admit things have changed.

Hating her had its purpose, and it served me well for years, but not anymore. I’m done playing by the rules laid out in the Ian Pierce handbook. Tealene Donovan is no longer off-limits.

At least, not for me.