Fated Connection (Book 1)

Chapter 32

NEVADA 

I smiled as I looked at August, his lips slightly swollen from the bruising kiss we had just shared and his eyes filled with a warmth I had never seen before. It felt like I was in a dream, floating on a cloud as I processed the fact that August wanted to be with me. Dominic had always been the wall between us but now it seemed as if August was willing to put his friendship on the line, just for me.

"I think you may have a hero complex," I teased which earned me a flat look in return.

"I'm no hero, princess."

I snorted in a very unladylike manner and rolled my eyes. "August, you refused to pursue me because of your friend, until you found out that being without you could literally kill me. If that doesn't scream damsel in distress then I don't know what does."

The fact that I was currently depending on August to stay alive did irk me to an extent because who would want their life linked to someone in such a dangerous way. I knew that once the claiming ritual was complete then August and I would be able to be away from each other, if we chose to be, without my life force being drained or his blood lust getting out of hand. Thinking of how we would fix this limbo we found ourselves in sent a rush of heat to my cheeks.

August scowled. "Your life is more important than anything else to me."

The way he had spoken those words left me with an uneasy feeling as if there was more he had chosen not to say.

"But?" I hesitantly prompted.

"But… you were right when you said that you don't know me. I want to do right by you, Nevada," he said, the warmth in his silver eyes nearly masked with sadness, "but I'm not a good person. I wasn't before I became a vampire and I'm even worse now. Dominic will never give his blessing."

I could hear the pain in his voice, the regret of not being who he thought I deserved. I laced my fingers through his and leaned my head against his shoulder in an attempt to ease his distress. 

"Dominic may have been your prince all those years ago, but he no longer holds that kind of power over you," I pointed out as gently as I could. "I know that he means a lot to you, and if I told you I didn't understand, that would be a lie because I get it. But he doesn't get to decide what makes you happy, or who."

August gripped my hand tighter but said nothing. I could only hope that he would find a way to accept that fact.

"As for not knowing you," I continued after a moment, "I know that you aren't a bad person, regardless of what you believe, because I've seen how deeply you care for others. I also know that the gods picked you for me out of every other being in the world and I choose to trust them."

I looked around the garden as I let my words sink into his mind, my eyes scanning over the brightly colored flowers now cast in shadow by the sun lowering beyond the horizon. The sky was a mix of pinks and oranges, flowing into shades of purple and finally dark blue as night grew closer. I could see storm clouds in the distance, a hint of rain riding on the warm afternoon breeze. It should have been simple, and maybe in a different life, it had been easier for our love to prosper. 

"I don't want you to love me because the universe tells you that you're supposed to," August finally said, the timber of his voice filling my body with a sweet warmth. "I want you to love me because you choose to."

I looked up, silently counting the few stars that were scattered across the darkening sky. I knew what he was actually asking of me and I felt a tug on my heart. August wanted me to know him, fully and completely, before we took that final step. There were things we probably needed to work out, both with each other and with those that were with us. If I agreed to wait, it would be a risk for both of us, and it could cost me my life. Did I trust August enough to put my life in his hands?