***
The moment I lay Belle down on the cot of our rundown cabin, taking a step back, I’m struck by her beauty.
I forgot how lovely she was, and I just wasn’t prepared. Even with a worry line etched between her brows, she’s still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on.
She hasn’t changed. Only a few months would have passed in the human world, but it’s been too long for me and my brothers.
Waytoo long.
I haven’t felt the warmth of a woman’s skin in over a century.
I stand above her bed and watch as she sleeps. Her chest rises gently back and forth, and she appears to be at rest.
I don’t want that wraith to ever feature in her nightmares again. Nothing will harm her while she’s in our realm. Absolutely nothing.
It’s just the two of us at the moment. Nero went out hunting with Madoc and Grey, which is a first. Normally, he’d be in the cabin reshuffling furniture around, and his cleaning has only increased since we left Belle in the human world.
I still can’t believe she risked her life to come and find us. I imagine old Monty was of some help in that department, and my heart lifts with hope.
We were too afraid to go back for her just in case we brought the darkness back with us. Hopefully, in our absence, light has returned to the human world.
It would be selfish if we ever tried to go back just so we could be with our mate.
However, her presence here doesn’t make much sense. If the human world was restored, then why is she here? If she were truly happy, would she have bothered to risk her life and come to the Abyss?
Unless the darkness never left.
Belle stirs and my cock jolts at the sound of her sleepy moan. I could listen to that sound on repeat for hours.
Every little thing she does is so sexual, I don’t know how any man could keep their hands to themselves when they’re near her. Not that I’m giving them an invitation.
I was never as territorial as my brothers, but I will ruin any male who so much as gives her the googly eyes. Well, any male who isn’t one of my brothers.
I’m tempted to reach across and stroke her cheek with the back of my finger, butI don’t want to rouse her.
That wraith really took a lot from her. They feed off energy, just like parasites.
Theyareparasites in this world, but there are far worse creatures. And that is why I am so glad that I found her.
Thank God we live along the fringes. If we had still been living in the castle, then Belle would have perished like the poor woman whose worst fear in the world was losing all her teeth.
Humans truly can be vain at times.
Her eyes flutter next, and finally, I get a glimpse of those beautiful hazel irises. My heart beats twice as fast.
One hundred years it has been since I last gazed into those spheres of hazel.
Her eyes snap open, and she jolts upright on the cot, jerking her head around. Heavy gasps escape her sweet lips, and I nestle down on the bed to calm her pounding heart.
It’s beating so loud; I can hear it from several feet away.
“Belle... it’s okay. It’s me, Enzo.”
She gasps, whirling around to face me, and her eyes settle in my general direction. Her eyes won’t have adjusted to the darkness of our realm yet, so I give her a moment.
“E-Enzo...” she whispers.
I smile, even though she can’t see. “Yes.”