West

by Stacey Marie Brown

I thought it cute she felt she had to explain her relaxed appearance. I guess a siren didn’t let many people see her in exercise pants.

I was accosted by an overwhelming urge to reach out and pull her into my arms, to shield her from pain in the hope it might take mine away.

The four treasures of Tuatha Dé Danann are not a myth.”

I knew the four jewels were the Sword of Light, which Kennedy used to kill the last Seelie Queen, the Stone of Fál, the Spear of Lugh, and the Cauldron of Dagda. All were considered mere legends and bedtime stories to scare fae children, but when a map appeared on Ember’s back, leading them to the sword, we realized they were no myths.

My heart almost stopped. The most dazzling, beautiful smile I had ever seen stretched across her mouth. Her eyes sparkled with life. And then she started to chuckle. It was the most incredible sound because it wasn’t held back. My face spread into the biggest grin as my head jerked from the road to her and then back.

Kissing Rez earlier was not something I would ever forget. The feel of her lips, her mouth as desperate as mine, and the feel of her moving against me would be forever ingrained in my memory.

The beast had claimed her.

Because the only thing I know is when I am with you everything feels right in a way I haven’t known in a very long time. If ever.”

She grinned, and her eyes lit up. She looked…happy. It was the most beautiful I had ever seen her. And it killed me.

“Nothing worth getting is ever easy, sweetheart.”

“Rez. Please. I finally found you. Don’t make me live without you.” I shook her, demanding she wake up. “I’m not strong enough.” The darkness already beckoned me, ready to push me off the cliff. If Rez died, I would gratefully go over.

This wasn’t simply losing the woman I had fallen completely in love with, but my mate. A doomed love…

When did this happen? When did I fall in love with her? How did I let it? But with each kiss, I realized I didn’t care. I was more than okay with it.