Love, Immortal (Alchemy Book 2) Page 19
“No.”
“Did you write it?”
Ethan shrugged. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
“Goddammit, Seth.” Aaron pounded his fist against the desk.
For a moment, everyone in the room fell into stunned silence. Then Ethan broke into a wide grin, and Aaron barked a short laugh. Exhaling a resigned sigh, he rubbed his neck. “Just write the goddamn report as you say it happened and put it on my desk…along with the other report you still owe me. But take Davey home first. She looks like she could use the rest.”
Gee thanks.
Standing up, Ethan saluted the commander and helped Davey to her feet. “Yes, sir,” he said.
“Oh and Ms. Little,” Aaron called as they were about to step into the hall.
Davey turned. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for your help tonight. We’re all lucky you were there. Come morning, consider yourself pardoned of all wrongdoing in this whole mess. And your old job is yours if you wish to return to it.”
Davey smiled. “Thank you, Commander.”
He winked. “Call me Aaron.”
∞∞∞
On the way home, she and Ethan held hands the entire way. After coming so close to losing him yet again, there was a part of her that couldn’t be sated. Seeing him wasn’t enough. She craved contact. Skin against skin. Warmth against (cooler) warmth.
“Ethan?”
Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed the center of her palm. “Yeah?”
“There’s one thing you haven’t explained yet.”
“It’s probably because I can’t.”
She gingerly laid one hand against his side. “I removed your power cell. How was it you were able to regain consciousness—much less fight that maniac?”
“My outer skin constantly absorbs the sun’s radiation and converts it into energy. The system remained inactive as long as my primary source of power was engaged. Once you removed the cell, a bypass automatically kicked in. It would seem that your old man really wanted me to stick around.”
Davey shook her head. “Why didn’t I see that in his blueprints? Or any of his files?”
“Your father wasn’t a very trusting man.”
“So, you can live like this—without your power cell—forever?”
“Well, I can’t stay underground for very long.” Ethan smirked. “Or spend the winter in Alaska.”
Davey laughed. Admittedly, she was still getting used to Ethan’s evolved sense of humor. “You joked when I asked before, but answer seriously now. You seemed happy when your brother called you Seth. My father also called you Seth. Should I call you that? I mean, don’t you want your old identity back?”
Not answering at first, Ethan fell into a pensive silence. “So much has happened since I lost my human life and was reborn…as this,” he finally said. “I am Seth, but I’m also something more now, especially when I’m with you.”
Nodding, Davey squeezed his hand. She wasn’t sure how, but she somehow understood perfectly. “Okay, Ethan.”
They drove for several more miles and were only minutes away from the house when he tilted his head to one side and cautiously encroached on a new subject. “There were things about me that your father wanted to keep secret, but there are also things about you that even I don’t know.”
“Right.” Davey sighed and shifted in her seat uneasily. “You’re talking about the mysterious gift my father mentioned.”
“I am.” Ethan hesitated. “Do you have any more of an idea of what it could be…after everything that’s happened, I mean.”
“No,” she said softly. “I don’t.”
“That’s okay. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. And I’m not just talking about your gift, Davey. I’m talking about all of it. I’m sticking around this time.”
“What about Aaron?” she challenged, too afraid to hope just yet. “What about Global Cures? I’m not so sure they’ll let us be together.”
Ethan smiled and kissed her palm again. This time, a shimmer of electricity rippled between his lips and her skin. He winked. “I’m not so sure they have a choice,” he said.
The End
Eden Ashley
Born and raised in a small sunny town in South Carolina, Eden finds thunderstorms to be inspiring. There are few things she loves more (except maybe cake) than curling up with a good book on a rainy day, often reading into the wee hours of morning when something really grabs her. Rather than being backed into a genre corner, Eden loves to blend elements of romance, fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, action, mystery and adventure into her novels.
Other Works:
Dark Siren Series:
Dark Siren
Banewolf
Blood Chained
Primed Son
Maxima Masters Novels:
Godmoster
Alchemy Series:
Love, Alchemy
Love, Immortal