Timeless (Immortal Love Series) (22 page)
Read Timeless (Immortal Love Series) Online
Authors: Amy Richie
“
You have just met him!”
You have just met him!”
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
I was torn in half. Part of me was furious that I was so close to Dominick and unable to do anything about it and the other part of me wanted to throw my arms around Nickolas and cry for all that would never be. But all of me, every part, wanted to protect Nickolas. I couldn’t imagine anything bad ever happening to him. I loved him.
“
You don’t have to worry about me,” he whispered softly before pulling me to his chest.
You don’t have to worry about me,” he whispered softly before pulling me to his chest.
“
She’ll hunt you down now,” I moaned, “She’ll know that you know too much. David must be right. She’s seen it all in my head.” I looked up at him with unshed tears pooling in my eyes. “I’m sorry Nickolas. We should have never come here.”
She’ll hunt you down now,” I moaned, “She’ll know that you know too much. David must be right. She’s seen it all in my head.” I looked up at him with unshed tears pooling in my eyes. “I’m sorry Nickolas. We should have never come here.”
He was shaking his head before I could even finish. “No, I’m glad you came. It makes the next thousand years or so easier to figure out.” he tried to look amusing. Failed.
“
You cannot wait for me. Promise me that you’ll…” My voice broke so I just stopped talking.
You cannot wait for me. Promise me that you’ll…” My voice broke so I just stopped talking.
He put both of his large hands on the back of my neck and forced me to look at him. “You are part of my life now, Eva. Whether you meant to or wanted it isn’t really relevant anymore.” I pressed my lips tight together and somehow managed to not cry. He licked his lips. “And as long as I don’t manage to get myself killed,” he winked and grinned, “then in the year 2152 I will come for you and claim what is mine.”
“
No,” I mumbled defiantly.
No,” I mumbled defiantly.
“
I’m afraid you have no choice my love,” he chuckled.
I’m afraid you have no choice my love,” he chuckled.
I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold my tears back anymore so I pressed my forehead against his chest and let them fall. I felt no shame, as I would have if David had been there, crying against Nickolas’s chest. Because I knew Nickolas loved me. Well, the me that he knew. The squishy, vulnerable me that needed him.
Now he needed me, but he was too much of a man to realize that. A man of Nickolas’s time protected women, not the other way around. If only he knew what I was capable of. If only…
I had to kill Dominick Letrell, there was no way around it. If I failed, Neleh would hunt Nickolas down until he was dead. I shuddered at the thought. But if I succeeded — that would change everything. Even if it meant the end of my life, I was willing to risk that to save Nickolas. That thought dried my tears. I was willing to die for Nickolas.
I brought my head up to look at him. The change he saw in my face alarmed him. “What?” he asked.
“
I love you Nickolas.”
I love you Nickolas.”
“
I love you too.” But his declaration sounded more like a question. He pinched my chin fondly before taking a step back. “David,” he whispered at my questioning look.
I love you too.” But his declaration sounded more like a question. He pinched my chin fondly before taking a step back. “David,” he whispered at my questioning look.
I had just enough time to dry my face before David appeared at my side. “What are you doing?” he demanded.
“
Nothing.” Did I sound guilty?
Nothing.” Did I sound guilty?
“
Are you crying Eva?” He got close to my face as if he didn’t believe I was capable of such an act.
Are you crying Eva?” He got close to my face as if he didn’t believe I was capable of such an act.
“
No!” My face flamed red, giving me away.
No!” My face flamed red, giving me away.
His eyes narrowed but Nickolas’s low growl convinced him to take a few steps back. My prince charming sure had a bad temper I thought with satisfaction.
“
Are you finished then?” David asked with impatience.
Are you finished then?” David asked with impatience.
“
Finished with what?”
Finished with what?”
“
Saying goodbye.” He glanced at Nickolas and then back at me. The air around us got suddenly thick.
Saying goodbye.” He glanced at Nickolas and then back at me. The air around us got suddenly thick.
“
I’m not going anywhere.” I jutted my chin out and squared my shoulders.
I’m not going anywhere.” I jutted my chin out and squared my shoulders.
“
Yes you are.”
Yes you are.”
“
For what?”
For what?”
“
Wh…”
Wh…”
My plans formulated quickly and I acted on them just as quickly. I needed to buy some time, that’s all. Neleh would send someone for us soon. As long as there was blood and screaming, Dominick would come — David had said so.
“
Why should I go back? I could just stay here with Nickolas. You want me to, right Nickolas?” I made my voice as vulnerable as I could manage. “I could just stay here with you.” Would batting my eyelashes be appropriate here? Probably not. Crying? Not yet.
Why should I go back? I could just stay here with Nickolas. You want me to, right Nickolas?” I made my voice as vulnerable as I could manage. “I could just stay here with you.” Would batting my eyelashes be appropriate here? Probably not. Crying? Not yet.
Chapter Twenty
-Five
-Five
“
What are you doing, Eva?” David snapped.
What are you doing, Eva?” David snapped.
Nickolas appeared undecided. My hope soared. “Eva, I...”
“
You have no idea what consequences could...”
You have no idea what consequences could...”
“
Neither do you.” I turned back to David. I would have to be more careful with him. He’d see right through me. “If I go back now what happens? Best case scenario, she lets the guards kill me swiftly.” Both men flinched.
Neither do you.” I turned back to David. I would have to be more careful with him. He’d see right through me. “If I go back now what happens? Best case scenario, she lets the guards kill me swiftly.” Both men flinched.
“
I can talk to her.”
I can talk to her.”
“
We both know that is not going to do any good.”
We both know that is not going to do any good.”
“
You can’t stay, Eva.” His voice became kinder, softer. “We didn’t...we didn’t plan for this. It wasn’t supposed to be...”
You can’t stay, Eva.” His voice became kinder, softer. “We didn’t...we didn’t plan for this. It wasn’t supposed to be...”
“
You betrayed us, David.” Ice crept into my voice. “If you had not lost your nerve, it would have been done by now.”
You betrayed us, David.” Ice crept into my voice. “If you had not lost your nerve, it would have been done by now.”
“
My nerve? You think I lost my nerve?”
My nerve? You think I lost my nerve?”
“
Once it was known, what happened and your part in it, the Letrell’s would have destroyed you.”
Once it was known, what happened and your part in it, the Letrell’s would have destroyed you.”
“
That may be so,” he smiled a small lopsided grin towards Nickolas, “but that isn’t why I...” he fumbled for the right word.
That may be so,” he smiled a small lopsided grin towards Nickolas, “but that isn’t why I...” he fumbled for the right word.
“
Betrayed us.”
Betrayed us.”
“
Eva.” He looked away for me, hiding his eyes. “Damien came to see me. That’s why I had a change of heart.”
Eva.” He looked away for me, hiding his eyes. “Damien came to see me. That’s why I had a change of heart.”
I already knew that but I just shrugged.
“
It was about a year before Tday. He...he reminded me about things I had forgotten. Things I had chosen to forget.”
It was about a year before Tday. He...he reminded me about things I had forgotten. Things I had chosen to forget.”
“
What things?” It was Nickolas who asked. I didn’t like where this was headed.
What things?” It was Nickolas who asked. I didn’t like where this was headed.
He looked up and met Nickolas’s eyes briefly, but looked back at me before answering. “I used to consider myself a Letrell. Dominick was...a brother to me.”
A sound of disgust and anger burst out of my chest. “David, don’t say that. Dominick Letrell is a...”
“
No, Eva, he’s not. He wasn’t.” He came forward and placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “But you cannot be blamed for your hatred. It’s all you have ever known.” His eyes held an ancient sadness that sucked the breath out of me.
No, Eva, he’s not. He wasn’t.” He came forward and placed a heavy hand on my shoulder. “But you cannot be blamed for your hatred. It’s all you have ever known.” His eyes held an ancient sadness that sucked the breath out of me.
“
David, I hate Dominick Letrell. I hate what he is. What he has done. To Neleh, to you, to me.” He was still shaking his head. Weak! That’s what David was, but not me. Just because David had some epiphany did not affect me whatsoever.
David, I hate Dominick Letrell. I hate what he is. What he has done. To Neleh, to you, to me.” He was still shaking his head. Weak! That’s what David was, but not me. Just because David had some epiphany did not affect me whatsoever.
“
When Damien came to me and reminded me who I was, I realized what had to be done. You may think of me as a coward, Eva, but I did what I had to do. I could not,” his eyes bore into my face, “I cannot allow you to kill Dominick.”
When Damien came to me and reminded me who I was, I realized what had to be done. You may think of me as a coward, Eva, but I did what I had to do. I could not,” his eyes bore into my face, “I cannot allow you to kill Dominick.”
I threw my head back in distaste. “And what will happen now? You have already let it go too far. Neleh…”
“
I accept whatever consequences befall me.”
I accept whatever consequences befall me.”
“
You will die? For Dominick Letrell?”
You will die? For Dominick Letrell?”
“
Yes.” Without hesitation.
Yes.” Without hesitation.
This was certainly not what I expected, not from David. “What about us?” I jerked my head to include Nickolas. “You sentence me to die for him too? And Nickolas? We will all die.”
“
No one is going to die,” Nickolas said suddenly.
No one is going to die,” Nickolas said suddenly.
“
You don’t know her,” I responded immediately.
You don’t know her,” I responded immediately.
“
Do not worry. I won’t let her hurt you.”
Do not worry. I won’t let her hurt you.”
“
That really helps. Especially if you are dead.”
That really helps. Especially if you are dead.”
“
Eva.”
Eva.”
“
I want to stay with you.”
I want to stay with you.”
“
We have to go, both of us, now.”
We have to go, both of us, now.”
“
I’ll go back and delay Neleh and the guards,” Nickolas offered.
I’ll go back and delay Neleh and the guards,” Nickolas offered.
“
No.” David said it before I could. “You need to get as far away as possible. Go find Damien.”
No.” David said it before I could. “You need to get as far away as possible. Go find Damien.”
“
Damien? No Nickolas, stay away from the Letrell’s.” I grabbed his arm. “We’ll stay away from the Letrell’s,” I corrected.
Damien? No Nickolas, stay away from the Letrell’s.” I grabbed his arm. “We’ll stay away from the Letrell’s,” I corrected.
“
Eva, you know you can’t stay here with me.”
Eva, you know you can’t stay here with me.”
“
Why?” My voice faltered.
Why?” My voice faltered.
“
You’ll always want to kill Dominick.”
You’ll always want to kill Dominick.”
“
No,” I tried to deny it but we both knew the truth. “We’ll stay away from them. They won’t ever have to know we exist.’
No,” I tried to deny it but we both knew the truth. “We’ll stay away from them. They won’t ever have to know we exist.’
“
It’s too late for that.” He glanced warily behind him. Was Dominick coming? My heart sped up in anticipation. “You have to go now, David is right.”
It’s too late for that.” He glanced warily behind him. Was Dominick coming? My heart sped up in anticipation. “You have to go now, David is right.”
“
What if I never see you again? Nickolas, don’t you want me to stay?”
What if I never see you again? Nickolas, don’t you want me to stay?”
“
Not here, not like this. I have already claimed you as mine Eva but you will not stay here and live your life running from Neleh.”
Not here, not like this. I have already claimed you as mine Eva but you will not stay here and live your life running from Neleh.”
“
But you…come with us.”
But you…come with us.”
“
Eva,” David was already protesting but I ignored him.
Eva,” David was already protesting but I ignored him.
“
Come with me, Nickolas, please.”
Come with me, Nickolas, please.”
He shook his head though and my stomach fell to my knees. “The past will not be changed. I know my course and…” he hesitated, “I will follow it through.”
“
What course?” He nodded to David, who came forward to take my arm. I jerked myself away from him. “What course?”
What course?” He nodded to David, who came forward to take my arm. I jerked myself away from him. “What course?”
“
Just take her.”
Just take her.”
“
No!” Sols and Max appeared as if on cue and took a hold of my arms.
No!” Sols and Max appeared as if on cue and took a hold of my arms.
David took out a large syringe filled with a milky white substance. “This will turn out just as its supposed to,” he said solemnly.
“
David. Don’t erase my memory. You have taken everything from me. Please David.”
David. Don’t erase my memory. You have taken everything from me. Please David.”
“
It’s not cleaner Eva. It will just make you sleep.”
It’s not cleaner Eva. It will just make you sleep.”
“
You don’t need to do that.” I struggled uselessly against the two men holding me in place. “I’ll go with you. Without a fight.”
You don’t need to do that.” I struggled uselessly against the two men holding me in place. “I’ll go with you. Without a fight.”
He grinned. “Eva, you’ve never done anything without a fight.”
“
Nickolas, don’t let him inject me. He betrayed me once; he could easily do it again. You don’t know what could be in there. Nickolas, please don’t let him.”
Nickolas, don’t let him inject me. He betrayed me once; he could easily do it again. You don’t know what could be in there. Nickolas, please don’t let him.”
But my pleas fell on deaf ears. Nickolas was already turning away. “Hurry,” he called back over his shoulder right before he disappeared.
“
He left me.”
He left me.”
“
He had no choice, Eva.” He took a hold of my arm and shoved the point of the needle into my vein. I didn’t even notice.
He had no choice, Eva.” He took a hold of my arm and shoved the point of the needle into my vein. I didn’t even notice.
The trees around us were what I noticed instead. The trees that had swallowed my last view of Nickolas. They stood still, timeless, uncaring. I thought of the small wooden house that had become my safe haven.
It was odd to think of it at that moment. Certainly I was within hours of a painful death. Soon the trees would be gone, replaced by ash and stone buildings. I had failed my mission. Somewhere out there in the trees Dominick Letrell ran freely. This was probably the closest I would ever be to him and there was nothing I could do about that.
My head started to feel heavy and the colors around the tress started to blur. It would be over soon. My brief touch with humanity. My own humanity. The only time I had ever felt real was when I was with Nickolas, but he had left me to my fate. I couldn’t stop the blackness from coming, so I welcomed it. The trees. I would never see them again, I thought sadly.
Chapter Twenty
-Six
-Six
When I opened my eyes I was laying in my bed at the lab, in Lexon. I didn’t cry, not because I didn’t want to or have reason too, but I knew she would be listening. I rolled over onto my side and stared at the blank wall. No warm fireplace here, or a soft bed, or Nickolas bringing me enormous amounts of food. My heart constricted at the thought of Nickolas. What was he doing now? Was he dead?
I sighed heavily and tried to clear my head of such dangerous thoughts. It didn’t matter anymore anyways, what was done couldn’t be undone, what I felt couldn’t be unfelt, and what I had failed at was inescapable. I knew the consequences and I accepted that. It was easier somehow, since I had known Nickolas. At least I had loved and been loved in return, I wished I could have at least told him how much that meant to me. I wished I had more time to tell him the things I hadn’t been able too.
I heard the door open and close but I didn’t turn around to see who it was. “You’re awake?” David.
“
Yeah.”
Yeah.”
I heard him swallow nervously. “Are you ok?”
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
“
Are you thinking about Dominick?”
Are you thinking about Dominick?”
No. “Yeah.”
“
Eva?”
Eva?”
“
What?”
What?”
“
We were wrong.”
We were wrong.”
I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. “Ok.”
“
We never should have thought we could change the past. I am glad you failed, it seems better this way.”
We never should have thought we could change the past. I am glad you failed, it seems better this way.”
“
Failed?” I asked angrily. “I wouldn’t have failed if you hadn’t dragged me back home.”
Failed?” I asked angrily. “I wouldn’t have failed if you hadn’t dragged me back home.”
“
No matter what you might think…”
No matter what you might think…”
“
And if those two idiots hadn’t turned on me.” I turned then for the first time. David looked different. His eyes were worried and lined in bruise like shadows. The rims were bright red, as if he’d been crying or had many sleepless nights. I was stunned.
And if those two idiots hadn’t turned on me.” I turned then for the first time. David looked different. His eyes were worried and lined in bruise like shadows. The rims were bright red, as if he’d been crying or had many sleepless nights. I was stunned.
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