Everlasting Embrace (Embrace Series) (36 page)

“
Everything
.
I remember being Ashley. I remember us, our love
,
and your family. Oh my
G
od, I can
’
t believe this
,
Caspian.
”

“
I am so sorry for everything that happened when you were Ashley
,
”
I sob and nestle my head on hers.
“
Can you ever forgive me?
”

“
There is nothing to forgive
. I
t was an accident. I knew
,
even though you never told me. We both made mistakes
;
but we
’
re together again
,
and it is going to be forever this time. That is
,
i
f you still want me.
”

“
Of course I do
,
Siobhan
;
I always have. Even before I found out you were Ashley. I love you for who you are now
.
I loved you for who you were
then,
and
I
am so happy to have you in my life. I would still feel this way
,
even if I never knew you are the reincarnated soul of the one I loved so many years before. I
’
ve been so scared to tell you how I feel
. I
t all seemed so fast. I guess
now
we know why.
”

“
I love you too
,
Caspian
,
and have felt it since the first time I saw you.
”

With our arms embrace
d
around one another
,
tighter than ever before, our lips touch in a romantic kiss
u
ntil
we
’
re
interrupted by Constance running down the hall with Sophia.
“
She
’
s
okay
. S
he
’
s okay,
”
I reassure.

Constance falls to her knees at mine and Siobhan
’
s side
.
“
I
s it really you? This is a miracle.
”
She throws her arms around both of us
,
and kisses us both on
our
forehead
s
.


  

  


Siobhan and I spend most of the night talking. Our date plans were thrown for a loop when Matilda informed us that Siobhan is the reincarnated soul of Ashley. For over thirty years
,
now
,
I
’
ve beat myself up over killing her. I took lives before, but Ashley was special
. S
he was the love of my life. I didn
’
t think I could ever forgive myself
,
or love again. She was my
soul mate;
and since meeting Siobhan
,
I
’
ve felt alive again. I
’
ve had a difficult time understanding why
,
or
how, but it all makes sense now. Siobhan and Ashley are one
and
the same. I realize now that it was her fate to be a vampire. If I had only been honest with her from the beginning, like Sophia
’
s been with Nathanial
;
once again b
eating myself up over the decades I lost
,
over the love I thought I
’
d lost forever.

“
What are you thinking about?
”
s
he asks while running her fingers through my hair.

“
Just you
,
and all the time we
’
ve lost
because I was too scared to be honest with you.
”

“
There
’
s no point in that. We
’
re together again
,
and both immortal now. You don
’
t have to worry about ever losing me again
.
”
Siobhan wraps her arms around me and her
bright
b
lond
lock
s
tickle m
y
cheek.

“
I can
’
t believe you came back to me,
”
I reply.

Moving even closer together, our lips touch. Soft and gentle
,
our mouths move in unison, our tongues begin to wrestle against one another. Picking up where we began that day in the shower, Siobhan and I continue to build on our passion
,
mak
ing
love
and
bonding us together
,
like never before. Thirty years earlier, when Siobhan was Ashley
,
and we made love for the first time, it ended her life
;
and in turn
, it ended
mine as well. Tonight
,
we are together and safe
,
a
nd share every spectacular moment together, creating new memories for our eternity together.

Discovery

Michael is starting to interact with us a little more
. H
e
’
s a pretty nice guy
,
and not as big of a jerk as we had all thought. I have to assume he is just dealing with something difficult. We have seen the pain on his face since day one.

Nik starts fussing a little
,
and I pick him up and begin to hum to him
. I
t always seems to calm him down. The first dance from our wedding,
‘
At Last
’
by Etta James
,
has so much more meaning to me than anyone could imagine. As I hum the tune
,
I notice Michael stop in mid sentence and stare at me.
“
What is it Michael? Do you know this song? It was our first dance
.
I love it so much.
”

“
I do know it
.
”
I can see the tears swell on his lashes.
“
It
…
it
…
has special meaning to me too.
”
He lowers his head in an attempt to collect himself.

“
I
’
m sorry, I had no idea.
”

“
How could you
,
Sophia
.
I
’
ve
never open
ed
up to any of you about my life away from here.
”

“
You know you can trust us, right?
”

“
I am beginning to learn that
,
yes. It
’
s just
…
personal.
”

Ben walks into the large office we are gathered in and smiles.
“
Hey
,
what
’
s up everyone?
”

Turning to
greet
him
,
I notice he cut his shoulder length hair.
“
Wow
,
Ben, you look great!
”
I place Nik back on the floor to play
,
and stand to get a better look.
“
Come here
;
turn around
and
let
’
s
see this new hair
,
Mc. Hottie.
”
Ben walks towards me
,
and
I
shake my hands through the new clean cut
,
shorter
stands of hair. He turns to show me the back
,
and I notice something on his neck
.
“
W
hat
’
s this
?
”
I ask
,
trac
ing
the symbol I recognize as an
Omega
.

“
That sill
y
horseshoe type thing? It
’
s just my birthmark.
”

Michael throws his head up and jumps from his seat, racing over to us.
“
What birthmark? Let me see
!
”
The shock on his face could freeze time. He spins Ben with
great
speed
,
and freezes as he stares at the birthmark.

“
What
’
s wrong with my birthmark
?
W
hy are you so freaked out?
”
Ben questions with concern.

“
This is no birthmark
. I
t is...I have to
go;
I must talk to some of
the Twelve
.
”

“
You can
’
t just do that
!
W
hat is it?
”
Ben shouts.

“
Don
’
t worry about it
!
I
t
’
s nothing to concern yourself about. The symbol is special
. Y
ou are special. I will explain more later, I promise.
”
Before any one can argue
,
Michael is gone, leaving all of us in shock.

“
Okay
,
what the hell is that about? What on earth does he mean?
”
Ben stands before us
,
confused and scared.

“
Well
,
let
’
s see what we can find out about it. I
’
ll get the Book of Shadows,
”
Ebony announces.

“
I
’
ll get my
M
acbook and
G
oogle it,
”
Danika runs off to her room.

“
Ben
,
don
’
t worry
. W
e will figure this out, and if we can
’
t
,
Michael will be back
,
and he can explain it then,
”
I try to comfort my friend
,
who
has had his life turned upside
-
down in less than a year.

Before Ebony and Danika get back
,
Michael enters the room, obviously distraught.
“
Okay
,
I will explain
. G
o sit down.
”

“
Where did you go
,
and why are you back so fast?
”
Alexander questions.

“
I was planning to go and talk to Katherine
,
and some of the other Twelve
,
b
ut changed my mind.
”

“
What
’
s wrong with me
that you wanted to talk to them
,
a
nd why did you change your mind?
”
Ben stands and begins to pace the room.

“
There is nothing wrong with you
. Y
ou have a great gift. I was in shock
,
and thought
the Twelve
should know. That
’
s why I left, but I changed my mind
,
remembering everything she
’
s been through since we found out.
”