Page 105 of Touched By Moonlight

Tightness eased inside my chest. Logic told me I had no choice in the destruction I caused, but the guilt had remained. Hearing another Fionn Fae tell me my actions were justified felt likeabsolution.

“Do you take energy from the campground?” Iasked.

‘I siphon it as needed to ward my own property lines and heal my people when they are sick and try to coax the land to heal as well. I’m not strong enough draw out enough of the magick, just tap intoit.”

“Tell your pack, Grayson. Tell them what happened and what youare.”

A head shake sent my hopes spiraling downward. I got his reluctance to share everything about his background with his people. Grayson was a tough alpha and tough males aren’t known for blabbing about their own problems. And yet by refusing to let his people know exactly what he was, he was selling themshort.

“Have you ever considered they would understand if you did tellthem?”

Jaw tightening, he folded his arms across his chest. “My own damn father kicked me out for having Fae blood, Sienna. Do you think I’d want to let the world know what I trulyam?”

So proud and stubborn. I wanted to shake him because Grayson needed acceptance and love from the very people he promised the same, and yet he was loathe to riskit.

“You’re willing to accept everyone in your pack for being different. And yet you refuse to accept yourself and share with them who you trulyare?”

“They follow me because I am a strong alpha wolf. Not aFae.”

Maybe I had spent three years running from my reality, but I also knew that I could no longer hide what I was. Who Iwas.

“Why do you want me to share my magick, Grayson? To become an all-powerful alpha no one cantouch?”

“Fuck no,” he yelled. “I want your magick shared so you won’t feel as if you have to keep running anymore, damnit! So you won’t feel isolated and different from any other Fae, and always look over your shoulder in fear that someone will try to hurt you simply because you’re stronger than theyare.”

His voice dropped to a bare whisper, anguish in each word. “I know what that’s like, Sienna. I love you and want to spare you that pain, spare you from runningaway.”

“Oh Grayson.” My throat tightened because I loved him, loved Nicolas and Stephan and the thought of leaving made my heart break. Yet I could not remain here in shadow, as helived.

“Can’t you see I may be running, but at least I’m free? How can I stay here as a Fae if you won’t even admit to being one as well? You say you love me, but real love,” I struggled against the tears clogging my throat. “Real love accepting someone for what they are, faults and all. And you can’t even acceptyourself.”

Grayson’s expression tightened. But I saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes. Toolate.

“With any luck, I’ll be out of the state before Kallan even knows it. You and your people will besafe.”

“And that’s your choice?” he asked quietly. “Keeprunning?”

“It’s the only choice I have. Nicolas will give me a ride back so I can pack up and leave. I can’t stay here living a lie, knowing you refuse to admit you have flaws when you readily accept everyone else’s. Good-byeGrayson.”

I turned my back on him and walked away. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done, even harder than releasing my powers to destroy my ownfamily.

Because when you truly love someone, leaving them means leaving your own heartbehind.