“Because I need you to know about the shadows that cling to me.”
But instead of running from him, she cocked her head and asked, “Haveyouever taken a life?”
Blake’s whole body froze. Had he ever taken a life? “No.” But that didn’t mean that only people who took other’s lives were the monsters. Beasts came in different forms. His came in the form of his title. Dark, heavy, and a blight on this world.
“I’ve never taken a life either.”
Blake started.
“Are you surprised that I haven’t taken a life? I can assure you, I have never.”
That’s not true . . . You’ve taken mine.
“Of course,” Blake said gruffly. “You are all that’s good.” An angel. Which was why he couldn’t let go of his obsession, hisyearning. She had dragged him from the flaming pits of hell. Even if just for a moment. There was no forgetting that. There was no letting that go. Not for a man like him, who craved the light.
Her light.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
His brow furrowed. “I beg your pardon?”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were that boy?”
“I . . .” What could he possibly say?
“You recognized me from the start, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” Blake admitted.
“Have you ever even met my brother?” she asked him.
Blake inhaled deeply, then confessed, “No.”
Her breath caught. “When you said you met my brother years ago, you meant me, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
She stared at him for a moment, eyes ablaze. “Then the reason you are helping me is because I helped you all those years ago.”
“Yes.”
“And how did you know I needed help now? Have you been spying on me all these years?”
“No spying, no.” That was a bit too...
“Then what would you call it?” she countered, arching a brow.
“Keeping abreast with your life.”
Her gaze continued to bore into him, searching, studying. “This is all rather...”
“Madcap?” Blake offered. “Which was why I didn’t tell you. I am well aware of how strange this must seem to you.” He glanced back at the tree. “It’s just that I never forgot you after that day. I’ve also never been so grateful to anyone before in my life. Or since.”
“I see.”
Blake waited, and when she said nothing more, he glanced back at her. “You can hit me if you want.”
“Hityou? Why on earth would I do that?”
