Part 24 (1/2)

”With Lena. He slipped off his wristlet and left it on his bed before he took off.”

I raise my eyebrows. ”He doesn't know you're here, does he?”

Beck laughs. ”No.”

”Because he wouldn't let you come.” Beck leans closer to me and his breath tickles my neck. ”If you get caught here looking like Ryker, he's going to get in trouble.”

Beck sighs. ”Less trouble than if I get caught looking like Ryker with no wristlet. If anyone catches me, it'll seem like Ryker sneaked over to see you.” He kisses my collarbone. ”Now, please stop thinking, Birdie. Just enjoy the moment,”

I close my eyes. Everything feels right. Whole. Like every piece of me is right back where it is supposed to be.

But it can't stay like this. I know that. ”Promise me you'll leave tomorrow. That you'll go far away from here. Please.”

”Why would I do that?”

I push up on his shoulder with the palm of my hand. ”Because I'm dangerous. I'm learning to use magic, but I'm still unpredictable.”

Beck rolls off me, and props up on his elbow. ”I don't want to be lectured. I only want to enjoy the time we have together.”

”I could kill you.”

Stop. You need to relax. His raspy voice fills my head. Talking to him like this is more intimate than speaking out loud. It as if he's all around me and a part of me at the same time.

My hands fumble with the b.u.t.tons of his s.h.i.+rt until it falls open exposing his broad chest. When I trace the indent of his hip, Beck inhales sharply. His lips crush mine. With one hand, he tugs at my nightgown, pulling it higher until it's bunched around my waist. My chest heaves as my breath speeds up.

As I wrap my arms around him, pressing my chest to his, the clock on the mantle rings out. We both freeze. Chime, chime, chime, chime, chime.

Moonlight casts strange shadows around him. Light and dark mingle, chasing after each other, eternally d.a.m.ned to banish the other from existence.

”No one can hurt us, Birdie. We're safe.” His words fill me with dread. It's a lie.

My body trembles, holding back tears. Everything could all change right now. These may be my last seconds being Lark. Fear boils in me. In mere moments, I could turn on Beck and kill him.

Chime, chime, chime.

”I'm yours, Lark. Always. No matter what.” Beck's voice shakes. ”I'm not afraid.”

”Liar.” My arms encircle his torso and I pull him into me. Chime. Chime. Chime.

He doesn't resist. Chime.

Midnight.

His eyes glisten as he wipes a tear from my cheek. ”Happy Birthday.”

I run my hand to the back of his neck and guide his lips to mine. ”Don't ever leave me.”

”Never.”

For a few short hours, I believe it's possible.

23.

”Beck,” I whisper. ”Annalise will be here soon.”

Harsh, early morning sunlight spills into my room and across Beck's sleeping body.

He's still here. It wasn't a dream.

And I haven't killed him Hope flickers in my soul. Maybe it will be all right.

”Come back over here,” Beck mumbles. His hoa.r.s.e voice is beautiful.

The silk sheets Mother insists upon are tangled around my legs and my pillow has fallen on the ground. ”C'mon, you have to go.” I poke him in the side and he groans.

”We still have time.”

I plant a kiss on each of his closed eyes and slide off the bed. ”The sun's rising.”

When I fling his clothes at him, his eyes flutter open. His s.h.i.+rt hits his bare torso and he grins. ”I've missed seeing you in the morning. Your hair always looks crazy.”

With a shake of my head, I pull on his hand. ”Up. Now.”

At any minute, Annalise could show up and find him. And then what?

As I watch him slip on his boots, I suddenly remember today's my Binding Day and dread fills my heart.

It's going to be okay, Beck says silently. He tilts my chin up and I see worry in his eyes. He's just as scared as I am. ”Promise me you won't give up.”

”I promise,” I whisper.

His lips brush over mine and I fight back tears. Neither of us knows what the day will bring. When he kisses my forehead, Beck reaches behind me and unclasps my necklace. It slides down my torso and onto the bed. He studies my face as if trying to memorize it and then grabs Ryker's wristlet from the bedside table before vanis.h.i.+ng. I sink to my knees and grasp at the empty s.p.a.ce where he was standing as if trying to hold onto his presence. He's gone and I don't know if I'll ever see him again.

I know he had to go. It's for the best. But my heart feels like an impossibly heavy sh.e.l.l in my chest.

It'll be all right, Birdie.

Anger swims through my blood. This is so unfair. So impossibly unfair. It's our birthday. It's supposed to be our binding day. And what am I doing? Sitting around waiting for Annalise to fetch me and help Mother bind me off to Ryker.

I crawl under the fluffy down comforter and pull it up to my neck.

”Is everything okay?” Annalise asks.

I startle. My sister-in-law studies me from across the room with a look of curiosity. ”Are you crying?”

Tears I didn't know I had spill down my face and I flick them away. ”Nerves,” I lie.