Waking up to my sin
And because I loved her, I had to become a ghost.
"I won't let them have you," I whispered, the words a vow to the shadows. "I won't let them touch him."
"Malakai, you're scaring me," she said, her voice small, reaching out for me again.
I forced myself to take her hand. I forced myself to pull her into my arms, burying my face in her hair, breathing in the vanilla one last time before the plan started to form. I kissed her with a desperate, crushing intensity—a "spicy," soul-searing kiss that tasted of salt and finality. I made love to her that night on the rug in front of the fire, my body memorizing every curve, every sigh, and every heartbeat of the woman I was about to abandon.