Realm Walker (23 page)

She went outside to find Thomas leaning against the side of a limo. Not exactly what she had in mind when she told him to call for a car. He held open the door for her and she scooted across the seat so he could slide in beside her. They were quiet until they turned onto her block.

“Do you love him?” he asked, his voice so low she barely heard him.

“Not like you mean, but yes, I love him.” She glanced over to find him looking out the window on the other side of the car.

“What does that mean?”

“That means if he were to suddenly disappear from my life, I would be most unhappy with you. He’s one of my best friends, Thomas. You can’t ask me to give him up just because you’re back.”

“You will not sleep with him again. That is not a request.”

She’d been about to tell him that she’d never made love to Michael. That the only time they’d shared a bed had been in some backwoods motel when they only had one room available and she’d made Michael sleep on top of the covers. Thomas’s demand and the tone he made it in had her snapping her mouth shut. Maybe Michael was right, maybe it wouldn’t hurt him to keep thinking more had gone on between them for a while.

“You don’t get to dictate to me, Thomas. You get to ask. Nicely. If I’m in a good mood I may agree.”

He nodded but still didn’t turn to look at her. “I’ll leave,
Joya
, if that is your wish. It was never my intention to bring you pain.”

She blew out her breath in frustration. “This isn’t an either/or situation. I’m not picking him over you. I’m telling you that you don’t get to tell me what to do. You get to ask. Or tell me what bothers you. Period. Besides, you swore.”

He turned to her, brow furrowed. “What?”

“You swore you weren’t going to leave again and I’m holding you to that.” Her chest was tight, her breaths shallow. She prayed to all the gods for the strength to do this. To give him another chance.

A flurry of emotions flew over his face until it settled into his familiar blank mask. “I find it hard to believe you wish me to remain after what I discovered.”

“As much as I would like to blame you for everything, the only thing you did was make a stupid decision. Followed by more stupid decisions.”

He arched a brow. “Thanks, I think.”

She ignored him. “You broke my heart, but I’m beginning to realize that might not have been intentional.”

Thomas shook his head and looked back out the window. “It was an unforgivable mistake.”

“Even you’re allowed a mistake or two, Thomas. Of course, you make a lot more than you admit to.” His jaw clenched but he didn’t take the bait. “Only when one’s actions are malicious and uncaring are they unforgivable.”

He looked at her. “That doesn’t sound like you. Who said it?”

“Jeremiah says it to excuse some of my more errant behavior. It’s true though. Look, I’m not saying all’s forgiven and forgotten. You’ve got a lot to make up for.”

“What
are
you saying?” His voice was tired, weary.

“I’m giving you a chance. One chance. But if you hurt me again, we’re done forever. United or not.” If he broke her heart again she would never recover. She couldn’t help but think she was stupid for even giving him the opportunity.

He studied her for a long time without saying anything as they pulled up in front of her house. “I understand. There are many things I have to do to set things to rights after all of this. I’m going to need some time.”

She nodded and, after giving him a peck on the cheek, stepped out of the car.

The irony of Thomas asking for time wasn’t lost on her. She went in her house, waving at him before she shut the door. Rubbing a hand along the back of her neck, she sat on the edge of the couch. In a few days her life had gone from routine to chaotic. Thomas was back in her life complete with all his complications. Raoul was still on the loose for the time being, but with Thomas hunting him, his days were numbered. Her father informed her she was merely mortal after all and she’d been suspended from her job for doing her best to save the people she loved. On the other hand, she got rid of not one, but two demons and, contrary to the troll’s prediction, no one had killed her in the process. She guessed there was always time for that tomorrow.

* * * * *

About the Author

Kathleen Collins has been writing since kindergarten. And while her ability has drastically improved, her stories are still about monsters and the people who play with them. When she’s not writing, she works as a clerk in the local prosecutor’s office. There, she sees all manner of things she doesn’t bother writing about because no one would believe any of it anyway. The rare instances that she actually finds some spare time, she spends it playing with her two boys. Three if you count her husband. She is currently hard at work on her next book.

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ISBN-13: 9781426896545

REALM WALKER

Copyright © 2013 by Kathleen D. Collins

Edited by Krista Stroever

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All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

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