Westward Ho! Or, The Voyages and Adventures of Sir Amyas Leigh, Knight, of Burrough, in the County of Devon, in the Reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizabeth by - (best books to read for self development TXT) 📕

who treasure how precious that is, or they find a way to hide who they are from the world in fear. He has many, many defenses to protect how vulnerable he is. And you, a woman he loves, can smash those defenses with a wave of your hand.”

“I never try to hurt him,” she said, but the fight was out of her voice.

“But you do,” he stared. “And sometimes intention means less than action. Your actions are cruel. Even if you don’t remember our lives together, we do. Use your empathy.”

“I tried to talk to him…”

He cocked his head. “And that is enough for you? You feel that you have done enough to be kind to someone who loves you?”

“Damn,” she muttered. “You really know how to make a person feel like crap.”

He frowned. “I am being kind to you. If you were another woman, I would have taken greater action for hurting my friend so badly.”

“Like beating her up?” She asked with a grin.

“Beating?” His jaw dropped. “I do not beat women!”

She couldn’t stop the laugh that exploded from her lips. “It was a joke.”

He rose. “Your humor is… awful.”

That made her laugh harder. “I wasn’t saying you beat women! Just joking about what you do to protect Daniel!”

He crossed the room and planted his hands on both sides of the bed beside her. She was forced to lean back with his face inches from her own. “The only woman I have hit was you, when you begged me to spank you. Hard.”

Her cheeks grew hot. “I have not!”

His mouth quirked. “You have. And you will again.”

She leaned in, desperate for his kiss.

He stood, his cock level with her mouth. “Think about that, sweet Surcy.”

When he turned and left, it took her a long minute to remember to breathe. Damn sexy gargoyles!

And then, she thought of their conversation. Daniel seemed so… angry and tough. Was it really possible that she was hurting him? She’d started to imagine that he had never really loved her, or that maybe he couldn’t love who she was now. But if she accepted what Tristan said… and Daniel loved her but was just too broken to show her that he did, well, she was a complete ass.

She rose and froze. What would she say to him?

Something in her chest ached to find him. Her thoughts kept flashing to the man Tristan described. Someone who had never really known real love other than with her. If she could go to here and now and declare her feelings for him, she would. But do I know how I feel?

Instead of running to his room, she went to her balcony and stared out at Mark’s carefully tended garden, and beyond the treetops to the city that surrounded them. “Damn it, if only I could remember!”

Frustration blossomed within her. It wasn’t fair! If she could just remember, then she could honestly tell him she loved him. But as of now? She felt something for him… but it wasn’t love yet, and she couldn’t lie to him. Going to him now, what could she offer him? Pity.

Daniel wouldn’t want that.

She hated how helpless that made her feel.

So, she remained rooted in place, her hands clenched around the railing. Her mind far away—with a demon she wasn’t sure she’d ever understand.

No matter how much she wanted to.

13

The sound of someone knocking at Surcy’s door filtered out to the balcony. Exhaling slowly, she willed herself to be ready for whatever she might face next, then turned and walked back into her room. “Come in.”

Mark entered, and she swore he looked worse than before. Is he losing weight?

“Did you use it again?” She hadn’t intended it, but the words came out harshly, almost as bad as an accusation.

He winced. “Yes.”

“And you’ve found another Immortal?”

He nodded.

“Maybe… maybe this time just Daniel and Tristan and I should go,” she offered, knowing it would change nothing.

He drew himself up taller. “I’m fine.”

“No, you’re—“

“None of you could find him without me, so this is how it is. There’s no use in discussing it.”

She wanted to argue, but she bit her lip.

“Can you join us at the table?” He held out his hand.

She smiled at the simple gesture and went to him, taking the hand he offered. Instantly, a tingle ran between them, and she moved closer, planting a kiss softly on his lips.

He looked down at her, his blue eyes filled with happiness. “I can’t believe you’re real.”

She touched the stubble on his chin. “Of course I am.”

“It’s just… sometimes when I look at you, all I can think about was the first time we met, how the sun bathed you in light. How we were all worried you’d find out what we were and send us back to the demon-realm.”

Her smile faded. “I wish I remembered.”

“I do too.” His gaze ran over her. “It’s strange to have a whole lifetime of moments with you, and for you to remember none of it. I keep trying to push them away, but they’re still there.”

“I wonder which of us this is stranger for.”

He tilted his head. “It’s painful to remember, but I’d never want to forget.”

She kissed him again, overwhelmed with sadness. “Shall we join the others?”

He nodded and tugged her gently out of the room, his hand still holding hers.

At the table, Daniel and Tristan were eating massive sandwiches, with chips piled high on their plates. When Daniel looked up, his gaze moved to their held hands. He put his sandwich down and stared at his plate.

Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable. She was glad when Mark released her hand and sat down at the table.

“I’ve found another Immortal. And there’s possibly more of them. But there’s a catch.”

“Isn’t there always?” Daniel grumbled.

Mark ignored him. “The next Immortal... I think he may be a dragon.”

“Dragon?” Tristan frowned. “That should be no great problem. Dragons walk among us even now. They are hot-tempered, and conceal their dragon-forms with powerful glamours, but I would think with