Chapter Forty-Nine
Naples, December 1843
Receiving your letter was a shock. Liam’s impressed by how well you’ve obviously become at hiding your energy. We haven’t felt a vampire in quite some time. I’m just happy you’ve managed to escape Zenas.
On that note, it appears that he has indeed forgotten about you for the time being. I don’t know about Lawrence. I haven’t seen or heard from him since shortly after you left.
As for your problems, I ache for you, my dear friend. I wish I could see you now so I could help you, but I understand your reasons for staying away. I’m grateful, because as you know I would want to follow you, and even though Zenas appears to not hunt you anymore, I know Liam would not approve. My advice to you is this: you have a good heart, Amaia, whether or not you want to admit to it. Follow it. It will take you to where you need to be.
I’ll check back here often in hopes that you leave another note. Please, let me know how you are doing. I miss you daily.
Love,
Meg
Amaia clutched the letter to her chest. In her mind, she heard Meg speaking the words she had written. Her voice, the scrawl of her handwriting, her scent on the page, it all gave Amaia strength. She might be alone in body, but not in spirit. The support was heartening, and she’d reread the note frequently in the months since retrieving it.
She wished she could pen a reply, but there was nothing to say. The next chapter of her life was yet to be written. She couldn’t contact Meg again until she knew what would happen next. Soon, she would know whether her note would elicit celebration or comfort. Whichever outcome, she knew Meg would play the role of best friend perfectly, far better than Amaia ever had.
Less than a week remained until Michael’s birthday. If Amaia followed her heart, it would always take her to Michael. But was that the best choice? She knew the answer was no. Her presence did nothing but complicate Michael’s life. He deserved peace and long life, two things that she would never be able to give him.
But what would she do if he didn’t want her? Could she really just walk away, never see him again? No. As Meg had told her before, the thought of endless time without him was enough to drive her mad. She would have to keep watch over him. Liam’s words flitted through her mind. Michael was hers to protect. She would keep him safe, and if he ever needed her, she would be there. She could content herself with being in the shadows of his life, intervening only when Michael’s best interests were at risk.
In less than a week’s time, she would face judgment. She knew Michael thought his love was strong enough to withstand the trials of their life together. Even if he was right, and he chose to open the gates of heaven to her, she would still have to be strong enough to do what was best for him. Her resolve must be absolute. If he welcomed her into his life again, she must be prepared to do whatever it would take to give him the life he deserved. She would live up to his exalted opinion of her. And if he shunned her? Then she would have to find the courage to do all of that without him by her side.
•••
It was strange to walk to him. She didn’t feel the eagerness and nervous energy that usually propelled her to run. Tonight, the pit of her stomach clenched tighter with each step. Two eternities were spread out before her, but she would only be able to lay claim to one, and the choice wasn’t even hers.
She knew she would honor Michael’s choice. That was what made this so difficult. She had relinquished control, and without it, she felt lost. If the house was dark, she would dissolve into the shadows, never to touch Michael again. She had to. She didn’t trust herself not to beg him to take her. Michael knew there was no way for them to be together. There was no way to break the cycle. They had tried everything. Amaia didn’t imagine there was any way he would want to keep trying, to keep experiencing the heartbreak. He had a chance to be happy, and it wasn’t with her.
As she neared, she closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see anything until she arrived. In the darkness of her mind, she tried to prepare herself for the sight of his darkened window. All she could think of was turning and walking away. Anything beyond that made her stomach drop.
She was so close. In the dark, she would be able to see him, but he wouldn’t be able to see her. Good. If the answer was no, she didn’t want him to see her walk away. She had killed in cold blood on more occasions that she could count, she had rented her body out to more men than she could possibly remember, and she had never felt shame during those acts. Yet if Michael rejected her tonight, she didn’t think she would ever be able to rid herself of the stain of knowing she was a creature he couldn’t love.
One eyelid cracked open and then the next. At first, her eyes couldn’t focus to make out anything in the orange flare, partly because her mind didn’t want to know what was there. Instinct took over and she picked up speed. Michael’s house was on fire.
Her eyes focused, and she stopped. There was no fire. After the shock wore off, when her mind registered the reprieve, the picture before her took form.
The house was a festival of lights. Two candles glowed in each of the windows and two parallel rows of candles led to the entrance. Sitting there in front of the door was Michael, scanning the tree line as if willing himself to see in the dark. His frame was taut, vibrating with the tension of having to stay put, his breath puffing in clouds in front of him. When his eyes swept her hiding spot, she saw all of her insecurities, hopes, and fears mirrored in them. The slight breeze played with the flames, and the light danced across Michael’s form.
A smile erupted on her face, and she broke into a run. Her mate called, and she would not keep him waiting.
•••
Thank you for reading Haunting Echoes!
Want to read more about Amaia and Michael?
Pick up right where this story left off in
Immortal Echoes
Get more of their story in the prequel
Fates Entwined
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine