Chapter 267: Fate
Jacob~
I stood by Easter’s window for a little while longer, just watching her sleep. The glow from her living room lamp spread softly across her face, illuminating the freckles scattered over her cheeks and nose. Her curls spilled in wild tangles around her delicate features, framing her like some enchanted forest nymph from the old tales my mother once told us, as the moonlight swirled around her like a living cloak.
She shifted in her sleep, a small frown brushing her brow before her lips parted with a sigh. I felt something tighten in my chest—painful, deep, a reminder of how fragile this peace was. Three days. That was all I had promised myself. Three days to see her, breathe the same air as her, hear her laugh as she tucked Rose into bed at night. Three days before I would disappear from her world forever.
I forced myself to step away from the window before I shattered that promise.
The cold night air brushed against my coat as I crossed the street. My boots made no sound against the pavement. When I reached my front porch, I didn’t bother with the key. Instead, I stepped through time and space, letting my form slip between the folds of the world. The shadows welcomed me, parting silently as I reappeared inside my living room.
Darkness wrapped around the room like a familiar friend. I didn’t bother turning on the lights. I could see everything perfectly—the simple brown couch with its quilted cushions, the bookshelf lined with old texts and bottles of herbs, the steaming mug of tea I had left yesterday morning while pretending I was moving into the house, was now cold and untouched on the side table.
I sat down heavily on the couch, leaning forward, elbows braced on my knees as I buried my face in my hands.
What was I doing?
My mind felt heavy. Too heavy. Thoughts of Easter pressed down on me like heavy stones strapped to my ribs. Her smile, her laugh, the way her eyes widened when she was surprised. The way she looked at Rose with a mother’s fierce love. The way she never looked at herself with the same gentleness.
How was I supposed to walk away from her forever?
As I sat there drowning in the silence, a voice pressed gently against my mind. It was Tiger’s.