Echo Soul Seekers

stares down at her feet, taking a moment to collect her thoughts. “So, I guess what I’m trying to say is—I’m declaring my love for you. And this lock, on this fence, is a symbol of that love. I love you, Dace Whitefeather, and whether we’re together or apart, it doesn’t change the essential truth. If there’s one thing I’ve discovered over the last few days, it’s that suppressing my love for you doesn’t make it go away or weaken it in the slightest.” Her lips lift, but her eyes suggest the tinge of sadness that dwells just under the surface. “I know what we’re up against, and I know you know too. But—” She takes a deep breath, and it’s all I can do to stand patiently before her, not crush my lips to hers. “But the thing is, I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be together. And, well, I was hoping you feel the same. But in case you’re not on board…”
    She dips inside her top, retrieving one of two long black cords with a small gold key attached to its end, which she’s quick to drape around my neck. Leaving it to lie against my chest, just like the one that she wears.
    I pinch the key between my fingers. “I won’t use it.” My gaze burns on hers. “I will wear this for eternity. They’ll bury me in it.”
    She bites her bottom lip, as her eyes go so bright and glittery, her cheeks so flushed and pink, I’m just about to kiss her. Just about to pull her into my arms and taste her in the way I could only dream about yesterday. When I remember I have something for her.
    I place the small package into her hands, watching as she works the stone free of the red-and-green wrapping paper. “It’s a—”
    “I know what it is.” She rubs her finger over the top, then flips it over and examines the back. “It’s your version of the lock and key.” She smiles at me.
    “It’s also meant to protect you, keep you from harm. It’s an amulet. May I?”
    I hook my finger around the soft buckskin pouch that hangs from her neck. Waiting for her to nod her consent before I loosen the string and open the top just wide enough to add the stone to her collection of talismans. My fingers lingering in the place where it lies. Finding it impossible to pull away now that I’ve touched her.
    Mesmerized by the warmth of her skin meeting mine. The rhythm of her heart beating hard against my palm. Her breath coming soft and fast as she stands just before me. Looking so beautiful, so radiant—I draw her into my arms and cover her mouth with my own.
    Aware of nothing more than the way her body melts and conforms against mine—the way she returns my kiss with an equal amount of desire and need. Allowing everything else to skew out of focus—Cade, Leandro, the Rabbit Hole—screw it all. This is all that I care about.
    Daire.
    In my arms.
    Loving me and needing me as much as I love and need her.
    She breaks the kiss, catching her breath as she says, “I’ve loved you since the first time you appeared in my dreams—long before I even heard of Enchantment.”
    My eyes narrow, surprised by her words. Never once guessing that she had the dreams too.
    “So you know how it ends?”
    She shakes her head, allowing her hair to spring into her face, making her even more irresistible. “No. I know how the dream ends. But that’s not how we end. Dace, I was thinking, can’t we give ourselves this night? I know we can’t be together full time, or at least not until after Cade is defeated. Still, I was thinking maybe we could give ourselves this one gift—this one night—just you and me. Tomorrow we’ll separate and do what we have to. But tonight … well, I guess I need something to go on. Something to carry me through. Something to ease the ache of loneliness and pain that comes from missing you.”
    I kiss her again. Fully. Deeply. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
    Love is meant to be shared—not hoarded. That’s the whole point of it.
    No wonder there are so many love songs on the radio. It’s a never-ending attempt by artists to describe the indescribable.
    Somewhere inside the Rabbit Hole a party rages.
    Somewhere inside that club Epitaph rocks the stage, while Xotichl waits for me to return so she can lead me to the vortex.
    Somewhere among the crowd Leandro roots for my dark side, as Phyre pokes through the embers of a passion that died long ago.
    But none of that matters right now.
    Because Daire and I are together.
    As we should be.
    As we’re meant to be.
    And when I