Page 97 of Love Me in the Dark

I didn’t realize how tall he was until we stood up. I had to crane my neck and lift my chin just to meet his gaze.

“Again, I’m so sorry.” I quickly thrust the papers in his chest.

He shook his head and smiled. “No apologies necessary.”

We stood there for a moment not saying anything, though it looked as if he wanted to speak. Every time his mouth opened, his brow would knit like he was fighting to find words. Something that I doubted he had a problem with. This man struck me as the kind that knew exactly what to say and when to say it.

I could feel him studying me. His dark gaze rolled down the length of me in a way that made me want to cover up and expose myself at the same time. Plenty of boys looked at me, but none had looked at me like that. As if they were starving and I was the only food around for miles. It was a bit terrifying.

When he finally did speak it wasn’t at all what I expected. “I should be going.”

He gave me a little nod and walked away.

My mind told me to stay away. Yes the man was very refined, but there was something dark hidden inside him. Thesmart thing would’ve been to let him go and continue on my way.

I wasn’t smart.

“Wait,” I called out. “Let me buy you a cup of coffee. It’s the least I can do…”

I still don’t knowwhy I didn’t listen to my mind’s warnings that day? Maybe if I had…

“Really Cheyenne, I don’t understand why you keep fighting me.” My mother rolled her stern blue eyes my way. “You don’t want Shelby to make the same mistakes you did.”

The mistake she was referring to was the son my parents forced me give up. That was the thing with my family, you couldn’t make a wrong choice, and if you did, you’d never live it down.

Hence my latest struggle. My husband Brett had been offered a new position in Florida. Normally that would be a great thing, but the town we’d be moving to was the same town Louis Kessler lived in. So, I’d been hesitant.

We only had the one night together and he probably made more of an impression on me than I did on him. I doubt he would even recognize me. Louis had his own wife who was utterly gorgeous. I was a nurse. My parents were not happy about that. How dare their daughter work. Brett made good money, but I wanted a career. I wanted something for myself.

“Honestly Cheyenne,” my mother sighed. “What kind of debutant is Shelby going to make if you insist on letting her play with cars and run around like a boy?”

On the other hand moving would get my daughter away from my parents, which I was liking the sound of a lot more when my mother once again yelled at Shelby to get away from the car. Would it be worth it to save my child from the hell I grew up in?

My answer came with the scowl Shelby shot my mother.

“Mama, why don’t you come inside.” I placed my hand on her back and steered her towards the door. “there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

5

Louis

13 years ago

Every father had moments of pride when it came to their sons. The first time they got to hold their baby and look in his eyes. The first word they spoke, or step they took and the way they looked up at you when they reached up to grab your hand. I had lived these moments with both of my boys, who were very different in many ways.

Mason was a typical four-year-old. He hunted imaginary monsters with his best friend and played in the dirt. While Micha was very serious. Far more so than any six-year-old should be, but he understood the crown that was on his shoulders. Sometimes I wished he could be more of a child like Mason. Perhaps that was my fault?

I spent more time with Micha, preparing him for his future responsibilities. That didn’t mean I favored my eldest son. Theyboth caused my chest to fill with pride every time I looked at them. Micha needed me more. He was an angry child.

“Micha William Kessler, are you prepared to take the oath and pledge your life to The Order?” Martin Creswell’s deep tone boomed through the stone chamber.

My first born son puffed his chest out as if he was a full grown man and firmly stated, “I am.”

Micha was now at the age where he could be initiated. I’d prepared him for this moment. Told him what would happen and made sure all of his doctrines were memorized, yet I was still nervous. Probably more than he was.

It would help if I could run this initiation–I ran all the others. However it was my son and therefore I couldn’t be the one to brand him. The king of kings could not indoctrinate his heir.

Control was not an easy thing for me to give up. Even now I was counting all the things Martin was doing wrong. His robe should be tied over to the right not the left. His hood should be up and the candles already lit when we got here.