That ant Amber hadn’t lied.
She knew this stone. She knew where it ca from. She knew what it was ant to do.
Lewis had kept a steady alliance with the Doltons for years. If Amber ant him harm, it would have shown long ago. So the fear in her eyes when she looked at could only an one thing.
The stone could hurt him.
That was why she looked at like I was the threat.
And that was why he had lied.
My chest tightened.
Maybe this wasn’t a simple soul–binding stone like he claid. Maybe it was sothing else entirely. Sothing dangerous. Sothing that demanded a price.
He was lying to .
But where was the other stone?
He had insisted I keep mine on at all tis. But what about his? We were together every day. I knew his scent, his warmth, every shift in his breathing. He wasn’t carrying anything unusual on his body.
Unless he was hiding it sowhere.
The thought ca fast and wild.
Before I could stop myself, I started searching the master bedroom. Under the mattress. Beneath the pillows. Inside drawers he used often. Every place his hands touched daily.
Nothing.
I moved to the walk-in closet, opening his watch box, checking every compartnt, even running my fingers along the seams like I was hunting prey.
"What are you looking for?"
His voice ca from behind .
My heart almost stopped.
Lewis moved like a shadow when he wanted to. Silent. Controlled. Always aware.
I didn’t turn around imdiately. If he saw my face, he would read everything. He always did.
I casually picked up one of his watches and tilted my head. "I was just wondering what styles you don’t have yet. I thought maybe I’d get you one."
He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around from behind. His chest was warm against my back. Strong. Familiar.
"I don’t need more watches," he murmured, brushing a kiss near my ear. "But if it’s from you, I’ll take anything."
His lips lingered, and I gently pushed him away. "Wait. I haven’t washed up yet."
"Wash later," he said softly. "You’re not dirty."
His voice had that smooth tone again. The one that made it hard to think straight. The one that cald my instincts and made lt into him.
But not tonight.
"No," I insisted lightly, acting spoiled. "I feel sticky. Go lie down and wait for ."
He studied for half a second, then patted my head. "Hurry. Before Riley and Harlan destroy the kitchen and I have to clean it again."
I couldn’t help laughing. Those two were fully capable of it.
"Fine. I’ll be quick."
When he stretched out on the bed, I grabbed the papers with the traced stone outline and went into the bathroom. I tore them into tiny pieces and flushed them away, watching carefully to make sure nothing remained.
No evidence.
My eyes fell on the laundry basket. His clothes from earlier were inside. I searched through every pocket, every fold.
Nothing.
He had co out of the shower wearing only a robe. There was no way he could be hiding a stone on his body.
So where was it?
The Master’s unfinished words echoed in my mind again. Back then, I had been uneasy. But when Lewis didn’t seem to suffer any visible loss, I slowly relaxed.
What had the Master not finished saying?
What price did Lewis have to pay to bring back?
If it was money, he wouldn’t hide it from .
If it was power, he would tell .
But if it was his life...
My breath grew uneven.
He had said I would have family, friends, even children. But he never said he would grow old with .
Not once.
Each ti he talked about the future, he left himself out of it.
We wouldn’t have children.
He wouldn’t stay.
Was that the price for my second chance?
Pain pierced through so sharply I almost cried out. Tears filled my eyes.
No.
He would notice imdiately.
I bit down hard on my finger, forcing the tears back. I couldn’t let my eyes redden. I couldn’t let him sense the shift in my heartbeat through our bond.
He never expected to figure this out.
There was still ti.
Lewis, I won’t let you die.
When the world abandoned , you called back. You lit the path for my soul and pulled ho. How could I let you walk toward darkness alone?
My fingers tightened around the stone at my neck.
Was this the key?
If I destroyed it, would his plan collapse?
The thought flashed through , but I pushed it away instantly. I didn’t even know the full truth yet. What if the two stones were tied to our bond itself? What if breaking it hurt him instead?
Amber hated . I couldn’t go to her.
But the old woman in the small town...
She knew.
And she had no reason to harm him.
I would go back there.
Without telling Lewis.
Once I made that decision, I washed my face and walked out of the bathroom.
Under the warm yellow light, Lewis was leaning against the headboard with a book in his hand. His skin looked pale against the sheets, his features sharp and almost unreal. When he focused on reading, he looked distant. Untouchable. Like soone carved from moonlight.
But he was mine.
And I wanted to anchor him here. To make him human. To make him stay.
I climbed onto the bed and kissed him first. Slow at first. Then deeper. Our breaths mixed, warm and uneven.
This ti, I didn’t hold back.
"Lewis," I whispered.
"Elena."
He rolled us over, pressing gently into the mattress. He reached for the bedside lamp, but I stopped him.
"Leave it on," I said softly. "I want to see you."
His gaze softened. "Alright."
Then his eyes dropped to my neck. "Where’s the stone?"
"I took it off when I showered. Just for now," I said evenly. "I don’t want anything between us."
He didn’t question . He kissed again and murmured against my lips, "Put it back on later."
"Okay."
As we moved together, I searched him quietly. His shoulders. His chest. His waist. There was nothing hidden against his skin.
The bedroom had nothing.
The closet had nothing.
The bathroom had nothing.
Maybe the study.
His breathing grew heavier near my ear. "Can I "
I wrapped my arms around him and whispered, "You don’t have to be so restrained."
"Elena," he muttered, half laughing, half breathless. "You’re going to kill ."
"I don’t want to kill you," I said lightly. "I want to grow old with you."
He didn’t answer.
Afterward, he tried to lift to clean up, but I held onto him tightly.
"What if I get pregnant?" I asked.
"It’s your safe days," he replied calmly.
"There’s no absolute safe period," I insisted. "Lewis, I want to have a child with you. Don’t you want that?"
I searched his eyes.
He looked away first.
"Of course I want one," he said quietly. "It’s just not the right ti."
That confird everything.
One of the prices was children.
If it was only that, I could accept it.
But what if the price was him?
I forced a smile and nuzzled his neck. "We’ll have children in the future."
He patted my back. "Yeah. We will."
Silly man.
You’re twisting words again.
What you really an is that I’ll live on. That I’ll love soone else. That I’ll have children with soone who isn’t you.
But there is no one else.
I grabbed a robe quickly before my emotions spilled over. "I’m going to wash up again. I’ll check on Riley too. Make sure she and Harlan aren’t fighting."
He nodded, unsuspecting.
The mont I closed the bathroom door, my legs gave out. I slid down to the cold floor, tears finally spilling freely.
I pressed my hand against my mouth to keep from making a sound.
Lewis.
You big liar.
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