Page 32 of Fated In Forever (Nocturne Vampire Clan #4)

But the power sealed within the tome itself was what I needed right now, a terrible and wonderful secret. The power to grant a single wish to The Book’s possessor.

This wasn't mere magic; legend stated The Book had the authority to rewrite existence itself, to alter the fundamental nature of reality according to the wisher's deepest desire.

We had never tested the myth—Esme had always counseled saving that wish for a time when it would be direly needed—and now was that time.

Vicious narrowed her eyes, pulled her hand away. “Why do we need The Book? Tell me there isn’t some awful ritual we have to perform to open up the door.” Then she snorted. “Of course, there is, because that’s the way things work, isn’t it?”

“There is a chance,” I said, my voice tight with sudden urgency. “The Book contains the spell to open the portal, but I won’t know until I try.” A white lie, but a necessary one. “And I have to try, Vicious. You can’t stay here, and this could be your way home.”

Home. Her home, not mine.

No, my home was here, now. These shadows, this black sand was part of me. Leaving here would be tantamount to suicide, this I knew, as clearly as I knew Evangeline would die if she stayed here with me.

“But you said the portal was dark. Closed . There is no way a couple of old relics from our realm would even work here.”

“Esme never discovered where this came from.” When she zipped up her jacket, I handed her The Book. “Who’s to say this relic is even from our realm? It could have come from anywhere.”

Her bottom lip jutted out, defiance in her eyes. “Before I agree to anything, how do you intend to use this to open the portal?”

I couldn’t tell her that The Book’s gift came with restrictions. One wish per person. That once granted, the wish became unchangeable, and couldn’t be taken back. And, of course, there would be a price exacted, because magic always demanded its pound of flesh.

No, I couldn’t tell her any of that, but I could tell her the rest.

“There is magic imbued within this relic that will grant me a wish. Anything I want. My hope is…” I swallowed hard. “I can wish you back to your world, Evie. Send you back to safety.”

“As simple as that?”

“As simple as that.”

Evangeline's hand found my arm, “And what is the price of this wish?” Her grip tightened. “Because I know there is one. If you think, for one minute, that I’ll allow you to pay some hideous cost to keep me safe, you are mistaken, Malachi Draven.”

“I am not sure I can ever leave this place now. I mean,” I stepped back, spread my arms. “Look at me. Do you really want me back in your world? How would I fit? Any future we might have had…” I looked away, trying to force the next words up my dry throat.

“Any chance at a normal life I might have had is gone. My future is the same, here or on earth. Hiding away in my castle. Cut off from the rest of the world. Because I’ve lived long enough to know one thing. ”

I slid my finger beneath her chin and tipped her tear-filled eyes up to mine. “No matter where I go, I’ll always be a monster, and the world is not kind to monsters. Sooner or later, I would be hunted, or killed, if that was even possible. And that is no future for you, my love.”

Hope gleamed in her eyes, hands gripping my arms with desperate force. “That is not a solution. We’ll find a way, we could…”

“That is not the future I want for you, Evangeline. I love you too much, you see. I love you more than my next heartbeat, my next breath. And I refuse to watch you fade away because I am unable to let you go. So…this is me, letting you go. Go be a queen. A sister. An aunt.”

I swallowed as I watched my future slip between my fingers. “Go be a mother. Live, Evangeline. Live boldly and loudly and bravely and don’t for one moment entertain the thought I regret my choice, because I never will.”

I belonged to this realm now, had been remade by its power, shaped by its dark purpose. My essence was tied to the Underworld in ways that went deeper than mere presence. I was becoming something that could bridge the gap between life and death, though I still didn’t understand how.

“This is my home,” I whispered, her cheeks wet with tears. “And besides, this place seems to need...” I struggled to find the right word, “A guardian. Someone to guide all these souls…somewhere. Fuck knows they’ve been waiting long enough. ”

“You're talking about sacrificing yourself to send me back.” She whispered, her voice sharp with anger, the darkness in her eyes flashing brighter. “I won't let you do that.”

“And I won't let you become what this place wants to make you.” I turned to face her fully, taking her hands in mine. “Look at yourself, Evie. Really look. You're changing, becoming something that’s more shadow than light. If you stay here much longer, there won't be enough of you left to save.”

She started to protest, but I pressed on, desperate to make her understand.

“Your world needs you. Blake and Riordan need you. You have a sister who depends on you, more now than ever. You have a life to live, a life that is only beginning. Go back, Evie, go back and live. Staying here…you aren’t meant for the darkness.”

“And what about you?” she demanded, her grip on my hands tightening. “Are you meant for the darkness, or are you still convinced you’re a monster, just like you always have?”

She tapped her finger on my chest. “That’s your playbook, Malachi. Playing the villain, because it’s easier to be the bad guy than the good guy.”

“Well, this time the bad guy got the most beautiful girl.” The words hung in the air between us, and then I shook my head. “I'll always be the bad guy,” I said softly. “No matter how hard I try to do the right thing, can’t you see I was made for this place? Look at me and tell me I’m not.”

She shook her head violently, dark-streaked hair whipping around her shoulders. “No. There has to be another way. Use the Wishrender to wish us both back, and we’ll make people accept you, we’ll make them see…”

“Evie.” I cupped her face in my hands, my talons resting gently against her increasingly pale skin.

“You know how people are. They’ll never see.

I will end up trapped in my castle, you’ll remain at Crimson House, and the guilt and resentment will grow.

Let me go. Let me go now, and move on with your life. ”

Tears ran down her cheeks—tears that caught the strange light of this realm and gleamed like liquid silver. “I can't do this. Not now. Not when I've finally...” She trailed off, but I could see the words in her eyes.

“I know,” I whispered, brushing away her tears with my thumbs. “I feel it too. But sometimes, love means letting go. It means choosing what's right over what's easy.”

The constant cloud of souls above us sensed our torment, whirling faster, like fireflies in the throes of a mating dance.

Gods, I hoped the things weren’t actually mating.

“When are you doing this?” she asked, her voice barely audible as she wiped her cheeks. Not us doing this, but me , as if I was punishing her.

“Now.” I couldn’t stand looking at her paling skin and darkening hair for another moment. The sooner she went back, the better, because if I had to live with the knowledge, I’d somehow harmed her and the damage had gone too far to be undone…

“Right now, actually.” I took her hand, smoothing my thumb over her smooth, warm skin again, because touching her felt too nice and I couldn’t help myself.

She nodded slowly, acceptance and heartbreak warring in her expression. “Will I... will I be able to say goodbye?”

“Of course, we’ll say goodbye.” I tried to smile. “I’m not a monster, Vicious.”

The joke fell flat, as I knew it would, but I had to try.

“I’m sending you back through with The Book.

” I said, already planning the next steps in my mind as I swirled my finger through the air, gathering up the swans, the iron blade and depositing them safely in her pocket.

“You will then be the possessor, which means you will get one wish. Use it on Ravok. wish him into oblivion, or wish him dead. But…”

I licked my suddenly dry lips. “For every wish, there is compensatory price. And you cannot take the wish back, once it is made. No matter how badly you might want to.”

Above us, the souls continued their endless dance, and I pulled Evangeline closer, holding her against my chest. In a few hours, I would be alone.

I’d become part of this realm forever. But for just a few more precious hours, I could pretend we were simply two people who had found each other in the darkness.

And as long as she was here, I would love her completely.