EXCERPT
Life had its strange ways, presenting him with
a chance to love her as he should’ve loved her centuries ago…
He must learn
how to bear a lonely life. As Kate had said, what kind of life could he give
her? Of course, she’d referred to Phantom and
Christine, but Kate might as well have spoken of him and her. Yes, he could
provide for her, but not give her his heart, and love without heart just wasn’t
love.
A corner of
clear plastic case sticking out of the pink wrapping on the passenger seat
caught his eye. Kate had the CD in her hand when she
left the car. She’d put the soundtrack in her purse. How had the case found its
way back to the car? Perhaps she left it behind to make sure he would return
it. No, she wouldn’t do such a deceitful thing. She had
promised she believed him when he’d said he would see her again. He placed the
CD inside the glove compartment.
He opened the
door and set one foot on the concrete. Emina’s ethereal whisper stopped him
from exiting his car.
‘The CD is a guarantee you’ll pay Kate a visit.’
His heart ceased
for a few beats, pain stabbed at his chest. “Emina, my dove. You must not
interfere.”
‘You promised me, Matthias.’ Scolding in
her tone made her voice louder.
He sank against
the backrest. How could he keep his vow when he spent
every moment thinking of what life might’ve been had she lived? “That is one
promise that will have to go unfulfilled. I can never love another.”
‘I will not cross over until you fulfill my
dying wish. And there’s a matter of karmic debt you created
during your time with servant Kate. It must be repaid with this Kate. The
imbalance in your life goes back over three centuries.’
He raked his
fingers through his hair. Karmic debt, the concept of compensating for the ill
treatment of an essence during its past life had to
be repaid to the reincarnated soul was not new. Emina was right. Her wish was
selfless. She had thought of him and their children, wanting him to find
someone who’d love them and who they’d love in return, and reclaim the balance
in his life.
‘Open your heart and you’ll see there’s room
for love. Kate is not just another woman. She loves you to a fault.’
“This Kate is
not the same woman I love—” He clamped his mouth shut before his tongue could
complete the word. Preposterous to think he had loved
a servant. “You saw me kiss her in the car?” Blood rushed to his head. What
would she think of him?
‘You should be ashamed for allowing your
stubbornness to get the best of you. Why are you turning your back on her, on
love?’ Her whisper faded, and he
strained to hear the last few words.
“I’m not
stubborn. It’s a sense of propriety. Stay with me, love. Let me explain. Don’t
leave.” Desperation edged his voice and closed his throat. ‘With you gone, I fear the beast is stirring
inside me,’ he confessed, despite his qualms. By not admitting
the fact he hung onto a false hope that he imagined the urges and the voice
every time he succumbed to desire for Kate.
Warmth spread
over his chest. Emina’s whisper echoed in his mind. ‘The beast is part of you,
has been for centuries. Without it, you wouldn’t be where you are today. Once
you allow yourself to love Kate, the entity residing in you will be placated.’
Her voice faded.
He waited. Had she gone or chosen to give him her famous silent treatment?
BLURB
Kate Rokov’s grades are
plummeting. She needs to get the voice out of her head, or she will flunk her
finals. Matthias Zrin, a three centuries old immortal, born into an
aristocratic family as Miles Rušinić, is enthralled with Kate. It is his voice
preventing her from sleeping and her ignorance is testing his limits. He wants
her to write down his story to settle his late wife’s earthbound spirit. His
tragic love story has become Kate’s obsession since fifth grade during her
summer trip to Rušinić Castle. Their coming together settles the old spirit and
breaks an ancient curse and, in doing so, a flame spanning over three centuries
reignites and burns with wild desire. In this tale of two life times and desire
versus emotional need, both know some dreams will have to wait for the right
time, but the magic between them is impossible to withstand.
1 comment:
Thanks for hosting me on your blog. It's always fun to reach out to new readers.
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