Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
“Want the door open?” He pointed to the balcony.
“I’m all about the AC right now.” I pointed to my huge stomach underneath the white linen dress I wore. I was six months along now, and every day was an act of faith. In Ansin and in myself.
If we stuck together, I believed my future would be different. This child would live. It would be loved. I would protect him or her no matter what. Above all, it wouldn’t hurt anyone. I could already tell that the tiny person inside had a healing, loving soul. A Bastuli.
Ansin opened the curtains, revealing the amazing view—palm treetops, sailboats in the bay, and the endless aquamarine waves.
“So,” I said, “you ready to address the elephant in the room?”
“You are not an elephant. You are pregnant and very beautiful.” He plopped down next to me, propping himself up on one elbow.
“Funny, Ansin.” I raised a brow. He knew what I was talking about. During our wedding vows, he’d paused and recited a phrase that sounded like, well, I’d never heard the language before. Then, for a split second, I could’ve sworn I saw a bunch of peasants straight from a biblical film—threadbare clothing, stringy hair, leathery skin. One of the women had eyes just like Ansin’s. I didn’t want to say anything because that was our special moment. What if it had been in my head? I couldn’t ruin the memory. “Well? Am I crazy, or were there a bunch of medieval villagers at our wedding?”
“The Bastuli came before medieval times, but yes. My tribe was there. You and I are officially bound for eternity,” he said.
“Seriously?” I covered my mouth, holding back my elation. “What changed your mother’s mind?”
“Jeni, do you trust me?”
“Yes, but—”
“Can we leave a few secrets between us?” he asked.
That was a tall order. On the other hand, we were married now, joined forever. I didn’t just trust him with my life. I trusted him with my afterlife. I trusted him to protect this baby because I had no powers of my own anymore.
“Just tell me one thing,” I said.
“Yes?” he asked.
I wanted to ask what he and Mia had discussed all those weeks ago, because he wouldn’t say—something about not wanting to worry me and affect the baby. But how could a dead woman call him on his phone? What did she want? And was she the reason Ansin’s family had a change of heart? Because something had happened to make them change their minds.
Hell, maybe it doesn’t matter. We’d gotten what we wanted. We were happy. Right? “Are you happy, Ansin?”
“Extremely.” He kissed my lips. “Are you?”
“Yes. Of course.” He’d given me back my life.
“Good. Because you must promise, no matter what, that you will never make contact with King.”
“Why would I want to?” He was the last person I’d seek out.
“Jeni, promise me.” The joyous light from his eyes dissipated. He was dead serious.
“Yes, I promise, but tell me why you’re asking.”
“Because Mia was very adamant that you stay away, and—I do not know—I simply have a bad feeling.”
“Bad how?” I asked.
“I cannot say. It is merely a hunch that instead of finding peace, she has been finding power.”
“But she’s dead. What does she need power for?”
“Who knows? Maybe to protect her family? All I know is that she is dead but has not surrendered. And I suspect she is not done with the Seers yet. She may still see them as a threat.”
Oh God. “Will this ever end?”
Ansin bowed his head and kissed me. “See? This is why I didn’t want to tell you. The last thing you need is to worry. You must stay positive and focus on this.” He patted my stomach. “And you and I must focus on living. We have to savor every moment—of being together, of raising children, of growing old. Because it will all be over in the blink of an eye.”
“I will, Ansin. I’ll love you every moment.”
“I hope so, because you are truly stuck with me for eternity.”
I loved the idea. Not because I was a hopeless romantic, but because I loved him. Scars and all. There was no mystery behind it either, like with King. Ansin and I made sense. He’d earned my love.
I beamed into his eyes. “We are both ride or die for each other. But let’s just focus on the ride part for now. We have an entire afterlife to focus on the rest.”
But did we really? I hoped so. Without my Seer gift, who could say? All I knew was that I had this moment, and it was filled with hope, Ansin, and a fresh start. This baby would never restart Ten Club. If anything, it would fight tooth and nail against them.