Marker of Hope by Nely Cab Read Free Book Online Page A

wonder,” I smoothed out imaginary wrinkles
on the bed sheets, “why did you get engaged? It’s been a month and
a half since we last saw each other. Why were you in such a hurry
to marry someone else? You say you love me, but… I don’t
understand.”
    “It’s complicated,” he said. “Wait. Are you
asking me this because you doubt my feelings for you?”
    “You’ve doubted mine,” I said, and I
immediately regretted it. I didn’t want to start a fight. “Tell me
about this engagement.”
    “There’s nothing much to tell.” He sat next
to me. “It was arranged by my father…to appease the Council. To
convince them I hadn’t strayed from the laws and counter rumors of
me being romantically involved with a human.”
    “And you agreed. So easily?”
    “It wasn’t easy. I told you, it’s
complicated. I couldn’t deal with the thought of you…” he pinched
the bridge of his nose, “…and my best friend.”
    “David, nothing happened between Eros and me.
I thought I made that clear.”
    He stared at me for a brief moment. “Nothing
at all?”
    “Just a kiss…or three,” I said, and David’s
jaw clenched. “ He kissed me. Not the other way around,” I
explained. “I used him to go find my father, to see if I could stop
the transformation. I didn’t want you to turn into a Creatura
because of me.”
    “Why didn’t you tell me this when I last saw
you in Bucharest?”
    “I tried, but you didn’t give me a chance to
explain. You left. You…” I huffed. “You just left me there. You
wouldn’t take my calls. Do you know how many times I tried calling
you?”
    “Yes. Four hundred and forty-seven. You left
five voicemails I listened to over and over again so I could hear
you say you loved me.” He sighed. “Isis, I was angry. And hurt.” He
paused and ran a hand through his dark hair. “Outraged.”
    “I know. I didn’t expect anything less than
anger from you. But I thought you’d at least let me explain.” I
tucked my legs against my chest, under the white shirt. “I messed
up. I seem to have a real knack for it.” He said nothing. “I’m
sorry I hurt you.”
    “I’m sorry I hurt you, too. I made a mistake
when I left you in Bucharest.” He pulled me close and pressed me
against his chest.
    “So… is there anything I should know about
you and your arranged bride?” I looked up at him. “I mean, since
we’re being honest and all.”
    “That, you really don’t want to know,” he
said. I frowned at him. “I’m kidding. There was nothing between us
but empty kisses.”
    “Kisses?” My eyes widened, and I broke his
embrace. “As in plural? With an ‘s’? As in more than a few?”
    “Please…” He drew me against him. “Don’t. I
honestly don’t want to talk about her anymore. It’s upsetting us
both, and it’s a waste of energy—which we could be using doing
other things.” He pushed me down on the mattress. “Like making up
for lost time.”
    He propped himself up on one arm, half of his
weight over me. Using his other hand, he brushed the length of my
leg, and my muscles tensed.
    “I’ve missed you, terribly,” I told him.
    “Serves you right,” he pecked my lips,
“because I’ve been miserable without you.”
    I sifted my fingers through his wet, black
hair and reached for his lips. His hand moved under the oversized
shirt I was wearing. He traced small circles below my navel with
the tips of his fingers, and then abruptly, he pulled away from
me.
    “It concerns me you haven’t been seen by a
doctor.” He sat up and looked at his phone. “Did Galilea change her
phone number when she arrived here?”
    “I don’t know.” I picked up my phone from the
night table and handed it to him. “You can check.”
    David clicked on my phone’s display screen
and compared Galilea’s phone number to the one on his phone.
    “Same number. Why didn’t I think of calling
her myself?” He tapped the screen on his cell phone, and then held
it up to his