(Listen to the music while you read)

"We have to hurry," he warned, voice low. Silent against the pronounced ruffle of fabric. Bethan was taking her time though. Carefully and cautiously wrapping a few of their more precious memorials. She was calm and deliberate. While he was distracted and sharp. Often it was the opposite, he could not remember a time when their roles had reversed. A soft hand came down on his wrist, stilling his flurry of activity. He stared through her daring eyes a moment. She was not often the one to initiate physical contact with him. Save perhaps in her sleep, when her small form unconsciously sought warmth. Her eyes met his with a fierceness that he could not run from. She knew exactly what was going through his head. This was the end. Was that regret he saw? Coloring her bright eyes with a tinge of gray?

"We have time," she stated, before returning to sorting through their various small belongings. So many circumstances had led them to that moment. From marrying in haste, to taking this assignment. Not even a moment to understand the commitment they had made, before they were once more thrown into the chaos of the job. But he always knew what it meant. He loved her, wanted to protect her. He had failed, or was about to. A little part of him wanted to keep up the charade, hoping maybe he could save her somehow. Hoping that maybe a little part of his life would be given back. After everything had been taken, it was a dream worth hoping for.

"How do you know?" his voice was sharper than he intended. Her own responded with the same fire and sharpness, cutting through him like it always had. He found her fire amusing, but knew it wasn't her.

"I've lived my whole life on this island. I know how it works. I've seen it happen enough times," she scoffed, last words said in a low whisper. Her eyes would not meet his as he turned from his watch at their window. "We still have at least an hour before any sort of military excursion can apprehend us, longer if the market is crowded. We have almost as long until the creatures tire of waiting and come after us." She glanced at him. "Either way, our odds are not in our favor."

    His eyes lit with that passion that always burned in them. He would give them the best chance he could. He would not let her give up.

"Then lets face them with all we have left," he replied, gentle voice calm and finally at peace after the long evening. She wouldn't face him, but he saw the subtle dip of her head.

    He takes what time he has left, before the senseless chase, to sit next to their window. Their contact with the world. It was a symbol for all the time they had lost for each other. Moments that could never be returned. He longed to tell her, tell Bethan that he wanted to protect her. Loved her enough, that if a choice had to be made between them both dying or her living, he would make her live.

    He watches bemused as she groans. Fingers tangled in strings on her back. He stands silently, his approach unheard.

"Let me," he answers, to her slight head turn. He notes her eyes are down cast and filled with something not unlike despair. His fingers move swiftly, but softly, swiping and brushing the skin of her neck at times. He finds himself wishing he had more time with her. Wishing to kiss her velvet lips just once. Wishing to have her bear his children. Wishing to grow old with her. Wishing that she had time to sort her chaotic emotions for him and maybe come to love him truly, instead of this strange partnership they have. He longs for her, wishes for her. Wished for those moments to come back, that he may relive them with better purpose. He pushes those thoughts aside as she shivers. Weakness at last throwing her up in his care.

"I know. I know," he says, no words left to make sense of the heartbreak filling their very being. She leans into him sideways, her shoulder under his chin. He softly tangles one hand in her ruffled tresses and moves the side of her face towards him. Her temple rests against his lips. He applies only light pressure with them. He will not kiss her. Not now. Maybe later. Later, when their world falls to its knees. When they hopefully find peace knowing that their fight was not in vain. Praying and hoping there is an afterlife that will accept them. Not knowing what lies beyond scares him. Maybe her too. Now is the time to be scared. "One is not alive until he feels fear." He remembers that being said to him. By an old friend, now gone. He wasn't there for him in his last moments, but he can be there for Bethan as she clings to him. That would be enough. It would be peace. Tears stream over his tired coffee eyes. Warmth. 

1/12/17

A/N Thanks for reading! I know, this sounds awfully sad, doesn't it? I'm not entirely sure what the ending will be, but we shall have to see. :) I forgot to mention that these excerpts are from two different books. The way I'm structuring my world, each island will get two stories each. With this one, I will be following the story of these two characters. I will specify which books the excerpts are from in future installments. I hope you enjoyed reading this and please let me know what you think! Thank you and Happy Reading!

Note: This is from Deliver Us from Evil (Book 2). They get married either at the end of 1 or the very beginning of 2.

Note 2: The prior excerpt was from Death Before Immortality (Book 1).