He was resigned. "I'm letting that one sort itself out."
CHAPTER NINETEEN
When I woke up, the room was dark. It was just me and the darkness. The club had shut down hours ago. A sense of emptiness swept through me, but then a different feeling came and took its place. I knew what had woken me so I sat up and hugged my knees. I pulled the sheets close to my chest. "You're here, aren't you?"
No one else was in the room.
But I felt her and I wanted to see her. I wanted to speak to her, hear her answer back. A sudden intensity took hold of me, starting in my feet and sweeping up. A vacuum had formed and it sucked everything up in me. Then I was inside of it. I squinted as my eyes adjusted. What was dark was light now and I knew the Immortal had answered my wish.
Talia stared back at me, perched on the end of my bed. A woeful look was with her, but when I focused on her, she screamed and jumped back. She vanished from the room, but was back in the next instant. I knew I had caught her so I reeled her back. An invisible hand lurched out of me towards her. She appeared again and was more fearful.
Her red hair floated around her as did the white dress she wore. It was the same outfit she'd worn the night she had jumped. She looked the same as a spirit as she did as a human.
"Can we talk?" I spoke out loud, but when she frowned I thought it instead. 'Can we talk?'
Her eyes widened again and I felt the panic in her. 'This isn't right. How are you doing this? You're not supposed to be able to do this.'
'I don't think I'll be able to do this again.' I felt her start to calm down and she settled more on the bed. Could a ghost feel comfort?
'Lucan has my child. You've told Lucas?'
'Yes. Well, not about Lucan. I didn't know.'
She nodded. 'What does he plan to do?'
'I have no idea.' Did she know about us?
'Lucan was the one chasing me that night. He and his men. They killed everyone that was there. They were all trying to protect me, but none of them were Lucas. Only he could've fought them off. Lucan took my daughter. He took her and then he wanted to kill me so the thread would jump to her. I couldn't have that. I couldn't condemn her life. But then the thread took over my body and I went to you. I have no idea how I got there, but all of a sudden you were there and I felt it leave me. I knew they didn't see it leave me so you'd be safe. I wanted to warn you about Lucan, about my daughter, but I couldn't. I couldn't say anything.'
She closed her eyes and flinched. Both of us replayed that night as she jumped off the building. The peace had been evident on her face.
That same peace was with her again, but she lifted still-stricken eyes to my face. Sireenia had said Talia hadn't let go of the human world and that something still held her there. It was her daughter.
'I will find your daughter. I will make sure she is safe.'
Her eyes clung to mine. She wanted to believe me. The desperation was evident, but she held back. I knew she didn't trust me so I shifted forward and reached for her hand. I held my breath, but then my fingers touched hers and I let it go in a rush. I could touch a ghost. I could feel her. It was mind-blowing. As I blinked back tears, I couldn't believe it. And then her fingers grasped mine. She tightened the hold and smiled as tears of her own fell too.
'I cannot believe this. You are the true Immortal. You're the one all the prophecies speak of.' Her relief washed over me. 'My daughter's name is Lily. I named her after my mother, but I don't know if they've changed it. Her growth will speed up with the Mori. She could be older than seven months, but she will answer to Lily. It's engraved in her and even Lucan can't take that from her. Please find my daughter. Please make sure she's safe.'
I nodded, feeling overwhelmed. I'd grown accustomed to the weirdness that came with being the Immortal. I could do so much, some of it at my control and most of it not, but this time I was taken aback at the intensity I felt from her and how much my body reacted. My heart pounded stronger with each second I held her hand. I had to find Lily. The child was important, more than me, but before I could ask, something changed and Talia was gone.
"No!" I reached for her, but only felt air. She was gone. Not even her spirit lingered and I knew she wouldn't be coming back.
Lily. I had to find her. I had to protect her.
"Hey."
I shrieked, but calmed when Roane put a hand on my shoulder. "I thought—nevermind what I thought." I brushed away my tears and looked at him. Some light shone into the room from the hall and it cast a shadow over his face. His eyes were hooded and the light reflected off his cheekbones. Two plump lips were visible and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. I'd forgotten how good he looked.
Anything I was going to say was forgotten. He opened his mouth to speak, but then I licked my lips. His mouth closed. The air changed in that moment. It pulled us both in and things were forgotten. The world was forgotten or maybe I wanted to forget it for a moment. I didn't care; I jus
t knew what I wanted at that moment. Him.
His hand cupped the side of my face. "What's wrong?"
My heart started to pound, but I shook my head. We should talk. There was so much to tell, but I didn't want to. There was always something wrong.
We'd been apart for too long and now that I knew he loved me, that it was me and not her. I reached for him and pulled him close. His thigh brushed against mine. I closed my eyes and hoped it wouldn't go away. Then his thumb started to caress my cheek and his other hand rested on my chest. He felt my heart pick up speed.