Page 88 of The Bookseller and the Alpha (Witch Twins #1)

Calypso

I opened my eyes. Everything was dark except for a single shining gold thread that led upwards. I floated, weightless, bodiless. I was falling, slowly, like a feather in the breeze.

Distantly, I could hear a voice calling my name, echoing in the vastness. “Caly. Come back to me.”

There was a tug on the golden thread. Barely there. A wisp of sensation.

“Caly . ” Another tug. A little harder.

The darkness was peaceful. There was no pain. I didn’t respond. I was dying. I understood that. I had pushed too hard. Taken too much. But Luc was safe.

“Caly.” The voice was closer now. “Wait for me.”

Above me, in the darkness, outlined by the glow of the golden thread, I could see a shape, travelling quickly, rappelling down the golden thread.

A familiar shape. Luc’s body: broad shoulders, wide thighs.

Mismatched eyes. But his skin was shimmering silver, like his Beast. This was who he had become.

The two halves of his soul had merged. A phantom pain in my chest made me wince. I didn’t want to leave him.

If this was going to be the last time I saw him, I would look my fill. My mate. Handsome. Strong. He was everything a mate should be. Overbearing. Protective. Caring. If I had to leave him, at least I’d had the chance to save him.

He came closer, his strong arms pulling on that golden thread.

Wait. No, no, no. He wasn’t supposed to be here. He wasn’t supposed to be in the darkness. Falling.

It was that single golden thread, connecting us. The last part of our bond.

“Cut it.” Anger blossomed in my belly. “I saved your life. Don’t be foolish. Don’t waste my sacrifice.” I wanted to shout, to rant. I wanted to reach out and grab him. Hold him and never let go. But I was dying. I wrapped my arms around my chest to stop myself from reaching out.

Luc had caught up to me now. Holding onto the thread with one large hand, he extended his other arm, grabbing me around the waist, hauling me against his body.

“Caly. Baby. I don’t want my life if you aren’t in it.” His head lowered and he kissed me. Deeply. Desperately. A spark of heat ignited in my chest. “You can’t die. I won’t allow it.” His voice was a deep growl.

“You are so arrogant.” I kissed him back. Somewhere far away my heart began to beat.

“Of course.” He smirked. “It’s one of the things you love about me.”

***

The next time I opened my eyes it was daylight. My body was tucked against a hard chest. The chest was naked and stacked with muscle. The skin was silver. The arms around my body shifted slightly and I groaned. Everything hurt. Every nerve pulsed with pain as though I had been flayed.

“Lie still. Help is coming.”

“Luc.” My voice was a whisper.

“Yes sweetheart.” He nuzzled my hair, impossibly gentle.

“Thank you. Thank you for coming to get me.”

“Always.”