January Dreams by Carrigan Richards (best fiction books of all time txt) 📕

“Take this and go lay down, sweetie,” she says, handing me some medicine.

I swallow the pills and head back upstairs. I need to talk to Casper about the dream, but I promised Vincent I wouldn’t talk to him. He’s been texting me since the lilies came and I’ve not replied. I pick up my phone and thumb down to his name. My heart vibrates inside my chest. I can’t. I shouldn’t. Instead, I rest my phone on my nightstand.

The cell is dark and cold, and I never hear any voices. Not even squeaking mice. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy. But as I’ve been here for however long, my mind has constantly been flashing with memories of Casper. The man I’d fallen in love and ran away with. The one whom I felt safe with no matter the circumstances. Slowly, I begin to remember everything and I’m not sure how that is possible. To think Vincent killed him makes my heart ache like I’ve never felt before. The only thing that keeps me sane is thinking of Casper.

The first time I laid eyes on him, I couldn’t help but stare. Vincent had left and I missed him terribly but there was something different about the man with beautiful, brown eyes. His golden blond hair was tied back in a ponytail at the nape. He was tall with lean muscles and his skin was the color of the sun. I had never seen him before, but we had Fairy Sprites come and go often.

When he touched me, I didn’t want him to let go. I felt safe. Comfortable. Like I was where I was supposed to be. It was an extraordinary feeling—one that I had never felt before. We danced to several songs, laughing, and our eyes never strayed from one another. I never wanted the night to end. What a silly notion. It was crazy to be feeling such intensity toward a man I didn’t know. I had been with Vincent my whole existence—there was no one else.

Until now.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I remember the night Vincent whisked me away from Casper, I asked him to take away my memories. Vincent had set the lantern on the small table and glared at me with cold, wounded eyes. He looked so worn-down and weak. As did I. I hated being on the run, but it was worth it.

“Vincent, please,” I begged him.

“All this time I thought you had been tortured,” he said, running his hands through his dark hair. His voice was rough as if he hadn’t slept in days. But by the looks of him, I didn’t think he had slept much in the past few years. His blue eyes were pinned to mine.

“I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.” It was the truth. I loved Vincent, but not like I did with Casper.

He shook his head. “Seven years, Megan. Seven years I thought they stole you and tortured you or worse killed you.” Tears pooled his eyes. “And you were having some affair with him.” His jaw twitched as he gripped the handle of his sword that hung on his belt. “You left me without a single word. No warning. Nothing. You vanished.”

My chin quivered. It never occurred to me to leave some sort of letter. “Why would you send your men to kill me, then, if you thought they kidnapped me?”

A crease formed between his eyebrows. “What are you talking about? I would never have you killed, Megan.” He took a step closer. “Is that why you left?”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t know why I left. You were always gone, and I-I fell in love with Cas-”

“Don’t say his name,” he spat.

I got to my feet. “I don’t know why. It was all so sudden. I love you, Vincent. I can’t explain what happened.”

He stared at me for a long moment, then he let out a relaxed breath and closed his eyes. “I can’t believe this.”

“What?”

“The man manipulated you. Elves use their charm to get what they want. Did he have some ulterior motive as to why he was here?”

I felt my knees weaken. Had Casper manipulated me so he could find the Jewel? Was that why I fell in love with him so deeply? It couldn’t be true. He spent seven years with me running and not searching for the Jewel. Now he was dead and the pain in my heart was too much for me. I had to tell Vincent something. I had to stay alive so I could find the Jewel for the Elves. For Casper. But I didn’t want to hurt Vincent any more than I already had. “He was looking for the Jewel.”

“Of course. He charmed his way to your heart so he could get the Jewel. I should’ve known they would’ve tried something like that.”

“Why would they do that to me?”

Vincent stepped closer and pulled me into a tight embrace. “Megan. Of course, your love for him wasn’t real. He fooled you. I thought I lost you forever. I thought I had done something undeserving of your love.”

I shook my head. “No, you did nothing. Tell me what I can do to make it better.” I drew back, searching his eyes.

“Megan, having you here in my arms and knowing that you love me is enough. I never want to lose you. You are everything to me.”

His words only made me cry harder. I had never felt such a heavy guilt, but my grief for Casper weighed on me more. Our love was real, it had to be. I wanted to hold on to that forever, but I would never truly be with Vincent with that knowledge. I had to let go of Casper. I had to be free of him I couldn’t live knowing he was dead.