Chapter 46

My eyes are closed, but I can see bright lights flashing. I open them slowly and see Chris kneeling beside me.
"You know, you could have given me a chance to explain,” he says softly, almost in a whisper.
I turn my face away. "Chris, there’s no explanation good enough to justify you taking away my memories,” I say through clenched teeth. We both know he wouldn’t have explained anything. He never does. "All everyone has ever done is to play with my mind, erasing what they believe is necessary. By that, I mean my mother, my grandmother and you, and, maybe more. Soon there’ll be nothing left of me." My tears start welling up again.
"Kayla, you don't understand. You don't know the rules or what happens when they are broken."
"Please don’t patronize me. James and Cole told me it is against the rules for angels and witches to mate." Even though at the time he took my memories I had little knowledge of this world. I still put the fact that I know some of the rules out there.
"Did they tell you what will happen if those rules are broken?"
I shake my head.
"You are put on trial before the elders, a group of ancients known as the First Immortals. They sentence anyone who breaks that rule to death. Not just any death. They rip your soul from you piece by piece. Then they pierce your heart with the dagger of death. There will be no afterlife; there will just be nothing. The dagger suspends your soul into nothingness. It is what we call a fate worse than death."
I stare wide-eyed in horror. It sounds terrible. I just don’t get why he didn’t just tell me all this in the first place? Why just take away my memories? Then I think of the life I am living now. Maybe being suspended into nothingness won’t be that bad.
"That’s well and good, Chris. But it doesn’t explain why you stole my memories?" I stand on numb legs, losing my balance as I do. He grabs me by the waist. His eyes become cloudy.
"Because I would never have been able to control myself around you, that’s why." His face has gone red. To me, it feels like an electric current is running between us. It feels good against my skin. My stomach feels funny, like it is dancing with joy. "Especially when you look at me like that."
I didn’t realize I was looking at him like that. His lips brush mine. Not innocently but with fierypassion; sending a surge of intense heat through my veins. I want to pull away before I lose myself in the well of desire building up in the pit of my stomach. I try to remember I’m angry with him. It’s almost impossible though.
I can’t seem to stop myself. His mouth against mine seduces my senses. I can’t think straight. I stand stunned. Just as he’s pulling away, I lock my arms around his neck and kiss him back. The feeling in my stomach grows stronger.
He runs his tongue over my lips, causing me to gasp. His tongue slips into my mouth, sending shock waves of desire through me.
“Kayla!” he whispers slowly, prolonging each letter as if to savor them. I smile, my heart fluttering at the sound of his deep, husky voice. I clasp my hands on either side of his face. Never has the sound of my own name ever felt so amazing. He kisses me again and as he does the world falls away. All my worries and doubts fade to nothing. The provocative questions in my mind die away.
Slow and soft, his lips give comfort in ways words would never accomplish.
A loud bang on the door causes us to jump apart. Both our lips swollen, showing our deadly deed.
"Kayla, my father is home now, and it is best not to delay him, trust me," Misty's unsure voice floods into the room.
Chris places his finger to his lips, prompting me to keep quiet. A few minutes later soft footsteps draw away from the door.
Great someone else to order me around.
Chris winks. “Don’t worry, Father is not that bad. He is just impatient."
"How did you do that?"
"Do, what?" he asks with a blank expression.
"You, just read my thoughts."
"That’s impossible. The only people I can talk to telepathically are family and those I am connected to by blood or...” He trails off as if a thought had suddenly struck him.
"Or by marriage when the souls are bound together,” I finish for him. The look in his eyes tells me I’m correct. I push him away. There is something I am missing.
“I can explain…”
I try to get away from him, but he grips my wrist tightly.
"Of course, you can explain, Chris. You know what, you have more secrets than a vicar," I reply sarcastically.
"Vicars are supposed to be honest," he mumbles.
"Yes, and so are angels, yet all you do is lie!" I yell, pulling my arm free.
"I am not an Angel; I am a Guardian."
"Same difference." More tears brim my eyes. Secrets and lies seem to be the norm for these people.
He sighs deeply. “Look, I will explain everything after dinner." He wipes a stray tear from my left cheek and then disappears in light blue orbs before I have a chance to say anything else.
I turn and look in the mirror. I touch my face and gasp in delighted surprise. The horrid burn marks are gone. There’s no evidence they were ever present. Not even a faded scar.