Chapter Twenty-Eight

                                    

                                          
Hello, Lovelies, 
                          
Thank you for reading Beautiful Darkness!  We only have three chapters and an epilogue.  I want to say this because I know some of my readers live in the same area as I do.  We had tornadoes around Dallas last night.  I know it's bad.  My husband is working in emergency services and he's seen it.  I hope everyone is safe.  I'm sending my love to you.  
                          
News: I'm still editing Sparked.  I know it's taking a while but I'm trying to make sure it's the best version I can do and then, it will be going to my editor. Thank you so much for your patience.
                          
We only have three chapters and an epilogue left of Beautiful Darkness but remember there will be a sequel, Splendid Shadows.
                          
I hope you enjoy the chapter.  If you do, consider turning that star orange.  Comments are appreciated.  If you have questions, comment or send me a message.
                          
-XXX Amanda 
                          
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I woke up with Jade in my arms.  More than anything I wanted to pull her closer to me and fall back to sleep while pretending that our relationship was normal but our relationship wasn't normal and though it never would be, I wanted to give her as close to normal as I could.
                          
            I brushed her hair from her face, wanting to view her while she slept so I could engrave this image in my mind.  I wanted to see the exact reason why I was about to step down into the darkness.
                          
            I moved from the bed and searched out Gaige, finding him already in the kitchen, pouring coffee into a mug.  He turned to me his brows raised before he nodded as if he knew what I was going to say before I even opened my mouth.
                          
            "She's talked you into going after Calvin, huh?" He asked and then, sighed as I nodded, "I'm glad she could see the reason why it must be done."
                          
            "I don't like leaving her," I said, swallowing hard, "Especially after what happened last time."
                          
            "I get it, man," Gaige said, his brows lowering in worry, "But I assume we'll do things differently when you leave this time."
                          
            "I want you to take her out of state...Somewhere you know but no one else here knows about," I said, my lip trembling because the words felt like a finality that I didn't want to think about, "I-If anything happens, take care of her.  I trust you, man.  Don't let anything happen to her."
                          
            I had expected an argument but Gaige nodded, "I would love to be in the middle of the action but brothers first," he said, raising his chin, "I'll take care of her until you get back to her and even after."
                          
            "Thanks, man," I said, turning to have the conversation with Jade but each step toward her tore my heart out a little more because I knew that finding and taking Calvin out of her life wouldn't be an easy feat.  Then, once I found him it would be a fight to the death.  I just hoped it wouldn't be mine.
                          
************
                          
            I watched her sleep, committing each line of her face to memory because I knew I wouldn't see her for a while.  The thought caused an ache to settle in my heart as if it was preparing to be torn to pieces.
                          
            I loved her more than I would ever be able to show her in a lifetime and I knew I was far from worthy of her.  A tear slid down my cheek and I wiped it away, knowing I couldn't cry if I was going to do this.  
                          
            I reached forward and brushed her hair from her face with the tips of my fingers.  A tremble shook through me as she opened her eyes.  I stared into the dark endless pools that no longer reminded me of her sister but of Jade, the woman who held my heart in her hands.  It was hers and no one else would ever own it.  
                          
            "Macon," she whispered reaching for me.  Her fingers slid over my skin and for a moment, I closed my eyes allowing my soul to reach for hers as I absorbed the warmth from her before reminding myself that I had to do this...I had to send her away to a place I didn't know so that it would protect her...Just in case, I was the one who died.  
                          
            When I opened my eyes, my heart cracked a little more at the love I found shining from her.  I placed my hand over hers, intertwining our fingers as a sigh escaped her lips.  For a moment, her face twisted in pain, reflecting mine so perfectly, I wondered if we shared the same soul.  
                          
            "You've decided to go after Calvin?" She asked, her voice trembling and shattering me even further.  
                          
            "You were right," I said, my breath rushing from me, "We will all be in danger while he's alive.  I have to go after him."
                          
            She nodded, her back straightening, "I'll be okay while you're gone."
                          
            My thumb skimmed over her cheek as I nodded, "I know you will be because Gaige is taking you somewhere I won't know until this is over."
                          
            "Macon," Panic coated every syllable of my name, "You're sending me away?"
                          
            "Until it's over," I said as tears filled her eyes, "It's the only way to keep you safe."
                          
            She shook her head as a tear rolled down her cheek catching on my hand, "What about you?"
                          
            I was silent and I could see the worry slide over her face, "Macon, is this a suicide mission?"
                          
            "No," I said, my lips trembling, "But it is a fight to the death.  Which means I can't promise you that I'll return.  All I can do is promise you that you'll be safe no matter what happens."
                          
            "I want you to be safe too," she said, her voice broken and gritty. 
                          
            "There's no other way," I said, pulling her against me and indulging in her one last time as my lips met hers and I poured enough love into her that I hoped she wouldn't doubt why I was doing this.  
                          
            "Don't make this harder," I said, brokenly as I rested my forehead against hers, "Please...As long as you're safe, I know I can do this.  Have faith in me."
                          
            "I do have faith in you," she said as tears continued to flow down her face wetting my hand, "I'll go."
                          
            "Then, I will fight to come back," I said, kissing her once more.  
                          
            She stared into my eyes and I knew three words were stuck on her tongue but they had to remain there just like those same three words had to remain stuck on mine so I would have something to come back to tell her.  If I said them, I feared they would seem too final.  I needed that extra thing to fight for...A goal I needed to do that meant the world to me.  They would not be my final words to her before my death.  I wanted them to be the first thing I said as we started to live.  
                          
            I kissed her forehead and rose turning to walk toward the door.  As I stepped out of the house into the cool morning air, tears flowed down my cheeks and a sob broke from my throat.  
                          
            Abel clapped my shoulder, "Don't worry, man," he said, thankfully not giving me hell for crying like a baby, "We'll bring you back to her."
                          
            I nodded once getting into the car turning my focus to the man who would have to die for me to return to the woman who had stolen my heart and a piece of my soul.