Falling into the White (The Ancients Series) by Christine M. Butler

Then you were taken by Marcus and I needed to make sure you were found, and that you were unharmed. I had my bags packed, and was ready to go afterward. I knew you’d be all right, but my dad wanted us there for his decision. I figured that I would show up late, make sure you were really okay, and then go. I mean, it has been painfully obvious from the beginning that you were only into Evan. I didn’t want to make things weird, or kill myself pining for someone I couldn’t have. Then my dad handed down his decree.” He was watching the emotions as they passed across my face.
    “I didn’t…” I reached out, and absently touched his chest with my fingertips. “I never realized.”
    “Believe me, I know. Here I was celebrating in my own skin that I might actually have a chance, and you were so angry, and pissed off at me, like it was my fault.” I winced, and he put his hand out, gently running a finger down the line of my jaw. “I understand. That didn’t make it any easier to swallow then though. I had a huge crush on you, and you thought I was a monster.”
    “Well, you did attack my best friend.”
    “It was a misunderstanding, and I can’t tell you how sorry I was about that.”
    “Was?”
    “Ashley talked to me about it a couple weeks ago. She told me she forgave me, and made me see how it was a blessing that it happened, because Asi was there to make sure that she’d make it through the change. Had you guys tried to do it on your own it might not have been a success. I still regret being a dumb ass, but she made me feel better about it.”
    “I didn’t know that.” I definitely needed to get on the same page with Ashley. I mean, she had told me basically the same thing, but she didn’t tell me that she had officially had a chat with Mikael, and forgiven him.
    “You are there for me, even when I don’t deserve to have someone there.”
    “What?” He looked puzzled.
    “Yesterday, after that witch came, and Evan was being a dick again. You didn’t hesitate. That’s the other thing that has been changing my mind about you.”
    “I would do anything for you, Jess.” His head dipped, and he spoke low, but he never took his hand off of my cheek, where his thumb was still stroking across my jawbone. “You still don’t trust me though.”
    “What? Why…”
    “What really happened with the witch?” His eyes were back on mine now. “There was more, wasn’t there?”
    I nodded. “Yes. She told me I was about to come into more power, and to be careful with it. She warned me that I had to choose a mate and that one of you would destroy me, but the other would help me. She said Ashley would know before I did. I mean, you know, that she would know who was going to hurt or help.”
    “What do you think about that?”
    “What do you mean? About who would hurt me?” I just shrugged, and he still didn’t move.
    “What does Evan say about it?”
    “I didn’t tell him everything.” I realized that I never removed my fingers from Mikael’s chest, and they were tracing the skin across his shoulder blade all on their own. As if I had no say in it.
    “Why?”
    “I didn’t… I don’t…” I was stumbling over my thoughts, but they no longer mattered. Mikael’s hand dropped from my cheek and wrapped around the nape of my neck. Those emerald jewels of his eyes looked deeply into mine before he pulled in close and brushed his lips over mine. I moved into him, our upper bodies coming closer together, and that was all the invitation Mikael needed. His left hand wrapped around my waist, and pulled me all the way to him. He was standing firmly on the rock bottom, water not quite lapping up to his shoulders, but I couldn’t stand without the water being in my face. I leaned into him further, and let him hold me in place, instead of treading water, and kicking him.
    His other hand came down then, and went to my waist, as my arms wrapped around his neck to steady myself further. Mikael deepened the