Avenger Page 15
Pru giggled. “I can’t believe Celestine would approve of temptation.” She teased, emphasizing the last word for Leema’s sake.
“I’m telling the truth. He was desperate to reform me. I just don’t get how you became my Destined One before you woke up from the coma. I mean I kissed you in the hospital but—”
“A kiss that woke me up,” interrupted Pru.
Maxine was busy opening and banging cabinets. Looking for a drink.
“I don’t think so. I think it was time for you to wake up since the medication was flushed from your system. But how did the Spirit Within know you’re the one before you even risked your life for me?”
“The Spirit Within is capable of judging a person by their words,” Leema said. “Pru must have indicated or showed willingness to give her life for yours. In the Laymour, we go by intentions if they are good, and wait for your actions to judge if these intentions are bad.”
The mention of intentions steered Luke’s thoughts back to Celestine. “Leema, why is Celestine’s action considered a sin?”
“Because he took over your body without permission.”
“But the Spirit Within allowed him to.”
“Lidwien asked him to protect you from possession only. Instead, Celestine interfered and healed you.”
“He saved my life. Besides, it’s my body and I don’t have a problem with what he did.”
“If we allow what he did, then what is the difference between us and rogue spirits?”
“Your logic is flawed, Leema,” Pru whispered. “He was helping not abusing.”
Leema said, “You are entitled to your opinion, of course. What I have stated is a Laymour law, one that should never be broken. Celestine will be judged for his actions.”
Pru opened her mouth to protest, her feathers were definitely ruffled. Luke said, “Don’t waste your breath. Been on that path with Leema and her ilk for a long time, and let me tell you now, it’s a dead end.”
“Surely she can do something, Luke. Sin is a big word.”
“I’m not giving up, sweetheart,” he said. Pru believed that if she had asked for the animals’ help earlier, Celestine wouldn’t have had to take a risk. No matter how much Luke tried to convince her otherwise, she still carried that guilt. To change the topic, he said, “What happened with the Doberman, tiger, and the python?” Logically, they would be put to sleep since they’d killed humans.
“I don’t know. Last I heard, Andrew’s lawyers were fighting left and right, raising all kind of awareness of abuse against animals to gain support. They’re using the ostrich’s stabbed body and shot rabbit as examples. Their ultimate aim is to get the animals released under Andrew’s care who’d promised to lock them up in predesigned habitats.”
Luke wished he were the one pulling the strings to bring this happiness to her heart, but Andrew had the means, while he didn’t. “If I didn’t know how much Andrew loves Adoria, I would’ve been jealous. By the way, remind me to speak to him about being my best man in the wedding. He sorta likes me now, but something ties my tongue in knots when I’m around him.”
It was her turn to arch an eyebrow. “Wedding? Jumping to conclusions, aren’t we?”
“Stating a fact, sunshine. You know how tenacious I can get when I have a target.”
Lock after lock of red curls fell down her shoulders, outlining her features. A smile tugged on her luscious lips. “And your target now is…”
How he loved her voice when it turned throaty.
He lowered his gaze lazily to her full lips and took her chin between his fingers. “You.”
Luke bent his head and claimed her silky lips in a slow and gentle kiss, savoring her taste and demanding a response in return. Pru didn’t disappoint, for her arms circled his shoulders and stole his breath away in a kiss sweeter than revenge. It sealed a promise of a shared future. A shared life.
This was the prologue to many more kisses to come.
About the Author
Su Halfwerk writes in the horror and paranormal romance genres. From a tender age, the written word left a strong impression on her, later on terrifying, blood-chilling books became the object of her interest. Su’s style in horror combines shuddery terror with elements of surprise; some would even call it an enigmatic twist. In the world of paranormal romance, she transforms the desire to scare into a quest to seduce and tantalize.
His to Possess, was a finalist in the 2011 EPIC Awards in the Paranormal Romance category.
When not writing, Su is designing book trailers for herself and other authors.
You can find Su online in any of these places:
www.suhalfwerk.com
http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/
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