Promise Me Anthology (33 page)

“What?”

“Heart’s Solace. It’s a spell to help those
with broken hearts forget their troubled past and find love again.
The powder can be readily mixed with alcohol—”

“I won’t hurt him,” Tasha said.

“This won’t hurt him. He will die if he
leaves, that I promise you. Don’t you want to save him?”

And myself in the process. “Yes. Can you
bring it by tonight?”

“It will be on the front doorstep by
nightfall.”

There was a sudden sound of the dial tone.
Tasha put down the phone.

This was the right thing. It was the only
way.

But Theo wouldn’t be the only one to take
Heart’s Solace. She would take it, also. If she was willing to
trust the man she loved to a sorcerer’s spell, she had to trust
herself, too.

* * * *

The powder was there at dusk, on the step in
an envelope. Tasha poured the packet into the bottle of wine, then
brought it into the bedroom where Theo waited, a duffel bag at his
feet.

“I have to go,” he said, raking a hand
through his blond hair. “Thank you again for all you’ve done for
me. I wouldn’t have come back to life without you, Tasha.” He gave
her a heart-melting smile.

It was now or never. They would either die
together, or live happily ever after.

Tasha poured the wine into two glasses. “Will
you toast to me before you go?”

“To what?” Theo said, taking the glass. “I’ve
never known you to drink, Tasha.”

“I’m getting married,” Tasha said, smiling
unevenly. “To our new lives.” She clinked her glass to Theo’s, then
drank it down.

“Congratulations.” Theo emptied his, too. He
set it down, then staggered slightly, holding onto a chair to
steady himself.

Tasha swayed then sat down heavily on the
bed. Her head was spinning, and she felt slightly sick.

Theo came over then went to his knees before
her. “Are you all right?”

“No,” Tasha said, wiping at tears. “You’re
leaving and you’re asking me if I’m all right? Don’t you know I
love you?”

Theo stared at her a split second, his lips
parted. Then he embraced her, his strong arms surrounding her, his
lips meeting hers in a rough, passionate kiss that took Tasha’s
breath away. She kissed him back, and then they were embracing on
her bed, her arms around him, running up his muscular back, his
lips devouring her hot skin.

“Will you marry me?” Theo whispered.

Tasha froze, then looked up at him. Had he
really said that, or had she imagined the words?

“I love you,” Theo said again, cupping her
face in his hands. “I know you’re not eighteen. But I want to be
with you—”

“You’re thinking of your America,” Tasha said
with a laugh. “Here in Russia, the legal age of consent is sixteen,
Theo. Having just turned seventeen, I’m certainly of legal
age—”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Theo said
lightly, kissing her neck.

“So long as you aren’t leaving,” Tasha
teased.

“I’d be a fool to leave you,” Theo said,
kissing her again.

Tasha kissed him back, her arms around him,
blissful. Neither she nor Theo noticed the shadowy figure watching,
or saw his smile as he faded away into nothingness.

About the Author

Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include
nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and
contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author
of the paranormal action-adventure
Lash
series and the
vampire romantic suspense
Promise Me
series. Tara divides
her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories,
chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog
beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

Other works by Tara Fox Hall with Melange
Books, LLC

Return To Me

Surrender to Me

The Origin of Fear in
Spellbound 2011
Anthology

Night Music
in Midnight Thirsts II
Anthology

Partners
in Midnight Thirsts II
Anthology

Kink
in Wicked Christmas Wishes
Anthology

The Oath
in Wicked Christmas Wishes
Anthology

Bedtime Shadows Anthology

Make Me Behave Anthology

Latham’s Landing, An Anthology

The Promise Me Series

Promise Me, Book 1

Broken Promise, Book 2

Taken in the Night, Book 3

Taken for his Own, Book 4

Turn the page for more books
available
from Melange Books

Also Available
From Melange Books

Immortal Confessions
A 'Promise Me' Origins Tale

Tara Fox Hall

At the turn of the 19th century, former
aristocrat turned lowly vampire Devlin Dalcon gets by on his
supernatural charms until he meets bride-to-be Annabelle. Smitten
by Anna's forthrightness, intellect, and bravery, Devlin risks his
life to spirit her away to Fontainebleau, France. There Devlin
begins his ascent to power in a desperate bid for wealth and social
standing for himself and Anna.

Forging alliances with other supernatural
leaders, he usurps the vampire Lord of Fontainebleau, amassing many
enemies during his brief reign. Within a few years, he and Anna are
again forced to flee for their lives to America. Living in hiding,
Devlin is determined to amend his ways. But when tragedy strikes,
Devlin's dark side, never fully extinguished, emerges rampant,
securing him the bloody throne of America even as his malevolence
and loneliness consumes him.

Also Available
From Melange Books

Lantham's Landing

Tara Fox Hall

All That Remains

Sandra has come to Latham's Landing seeking
to discover what really happened to her relative who disappeared
there years before, persuading her reluctant friend Tina that a
little paranormal investigation will be fun.

The Origin of Fear

Four college friends mount an expedition to
Latham's Landing—an abandoned island estate infamous for mysterious
deaths—to gather pictures and inspiration for a thesis on the
origin of fear.

The Fire Within

A bitter Caroline Stone embarks on a mission
to destroy the evil isle estate that took her fiancé, joining with
several others also out for retribution. Can the combined fire of
their hate triumph over the relentless evil of Latham's
Landing?

Also Available
From Melange Books

Darian's Surrender
A Shifter Novel (#9)

Jaden Sinclair

Dominic Vanderburg has grown up knowing about
the family feud between his family, and the Laswells, but never
knew what it was about. At age fifteen, he went with his
grandfather to the Draeger home with intentions of fixing the gape,
but instead he discovered his mate.

Darion Laswell is only nineteen when she is
summoned to a Gathering. Her parents are reluctant to let her go,
but unable to prevent it. She goes, but the last thing she ever
suspected was to be marked, and claimed, by a man whose family is
hated by her own.

Dominic comes from a world Darion knows
nothing about and fears she will never understand, but he does
everything he can to help her fit in. With his determination, he is
set to show his young mate that together they can mend the wrong
between their families.