Authors: SM Reine
Nothing would ever change that.
It was getting quieter out as the hours grew later, but the band was still playing at the pavilion. Seth wandered back that way in pursuit of more beer. The lights appeared through the trees, as inviting as the warm glow of the moon.
Before he reached them, the band stopped playing a song halfway through and started something new—a slow version of “Für Elise.”
Seth pushed a branch aside to find that there was only one couple left on the dance floor.
James and Elise were swaying in time to the song with the practiced grace of professional dancers. Seth hadn’t had any idea they were at the wedding. He’d never bought into Rylie’s fear that they were dead, but his niece’s reception was still the last place he’d expected to stumble across them.
He froze among the trees, watching them dance in stunned silence.
They both looked young, healthy, happy. The fact that they were alone didn’t seem to be a problem, even though they easily could have danced for an audience.
James led Elise in a turn, and her gaze cut across the pavilion, through the trees, and landed on Seth.
Even at that distance, Elise’s eyes flashed with a distant light that reflected universes, swirling galaxies, vast fields of stars. For an instant there was no iris or sclera or pupil—only infinity. Seth felt like he could fall into her gaze and never land.
She turned in James’s arms again, and that glimpse was gone.
The dance slowed. He folded her in his arms, resting his chin on top of her head. They swayed in place.
Elise pulled James down to kiss him like they were the only people in the world.
Seth broke free of his reverie and strode toward them.
“Hey!” he began, not quite sure where he was going to go from there. There was too much to be said, too much to ask. He didn’t even know where to start.
“What?” That response came from behind him. He glanced over his shoulder to see Trevin lingering at the edge of the gazebo.
When Seth turned back, the dance floor was empty. The band wasn’t even playing. They were packing up their instruments and looked like they had been for several minutes. All the cables had already been unplugged, the cello packed into its case, the microphone stands collapsed.
The only sound was the distant roaring of a waterfall, the laughter of werewolves in the trees, and a quiet breeze.
“You okay, man?” Trevin asked, easily hefting a keg with one arm.
Seth stared hard at the place Elise and James had been a few moments earlier.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’m fine.”
He was pretty sure that Elise and James were fine, too. Better than fine. But wherever they had gone, he doubted anyone would be seeing either for a very long time.
Dear reader,
Although this is the end of The Ascension Series, it’s not the end of books in this universe! You may be interested in reading the
Preternatural Affairs
series next, which shares the Union’s side of the story.
I’m also going to start at least one new series in this universe in 2015. Which characters would you like to see get books of their own? Seth? Anthony and Brianna? The werewolves? Visit
my Facebook page
and chime in with your opinion!
In the meantime, if you’d like to know the instant my new books come out, visit my website to sign up for my
new release email alerts
. I hope you’ll also leave a review with your thoughts on the site where you bought this. It helps other readers find the series, and it would mean a lot to me!
Thanks so much for your ongoing support. Happy reading!
Sara (SM Reine)