January Dreams Carrigan Richards (the mitten read aloud TXT) 📖

me and my breath hitches. I twist around and he presses his lips to mine, kissing me so tenderly and lovingly.

He rests his forehead on mine, holding my hands against his chest. I see the muscle in his jaw twitch.

“Vincent, what is it?”

Melancholy flickers in his eyes. “I must sail out in the morning.” He lowers his gaze to my hands and kisses them.

My stomach drops and I shake my head. “No. You can’t.”

“The war has started. I promise I will return to you.”

“How long must you be gone?”

“I do not know.”

I start crying and he pulls me hard against him.

“I cannot believe that the second I find you; I must leave.”

“Why must you go? What am I to do?” Panic fills me.

“I’m part of the army. I must obey orders.”

“Please don’t leave me. My days without you are empty. I cannot rest easily when you are gone. I always have nightmares.”

“You said the same thing the last time I left.” He gives a pained smile. “This will be the last time, I promise. You must be strong once more. I know you can do this.”

“They all think I’m a traitor. What if something happens?” I hear the terror seep into my voice.

He takes my face into his hands. “Please don’t worry. Nothing will happen, I assure you. There are several people who will protect you if something should happen.”

“But the Elves. They could come back—”

“Trust me, Megan. You will be safe.”

I shake my head and cling onto him. I kiss him as though this is our last one and he responds as fervently. I feel my dress coming loose and I let it fall to the floor. He plants tiny kisses along my jaw as he removes my undergarments until I am left wearing nothing but the necklace.

Vincent holds me close to his body and carries me to the bed. “I love you, Megan, with every beat of my heart.”

“I love you, Vincent.”

I refuse to let anything ruin this moment, this night with Vincent. He is mine and I am his.

Everything is perfect. I do not think of anything else but him. We are meant to be forever.

The next day, I gather in a parlor with a few other women and I peer out the window, watching men rush about. I look to my right and a woman named Sophie stands, holding a baby, with tears in her eyes.

A few moments later, I feel a soft hand grab mine. I turn and face Vincent.

Clad in a red coat with long tails, and black pants, he looks handsome. “It is time,” he says, and my chin immediately quivers, and I can’t hold back my tears. No matter how many times we’ve been through this, it never gets easy. Being immortal, we’ve shared many lives together. Having him go to war with those vile Elves all of the time, from a hatred that runs deep, I still fear his outcome. I fear the day he doesn’t return to me.

He frowns and pulls me close. “I will miss you, mon trésor.”

“I don’t want you to go,” I weep.

He crushes his lips against mine. And in his seductive kiss, visions of us run rampant through my mind. Dancing, laughing, kissing, frolicking, almost every intimate moment we have ever shared, including last night. I am filled with an unparalleled love. This man makes me whole and I need him. When our lips part, he removes his black ring and slides it on my middle finger. “Please remember me.” He brushes my chin with his finger and walks out of the parlor.

I watch though the window as he and several other soldiers mount horses and salute goodbyes. I run outside and as I get to the gravel; I stop to see them gallop away. My heart plunges into the depths of darkness.

Chapter Thirty-Six

I wake in a sweat, my shirt clinging to me, my heart pounding. I think I finally broke my fever, but I still lack energy. Vincent is gone in my dreams. Is that true for my real life? I let the tears fall, soaking my pillow. I don’t think my body has much energy to cry, but I can’t stop. The overwhelming sadness I feel in my dream and how I felt after mine and Vincent’s fight makes it worse. I’m miserable, tired of being sick and tired of the weird dreams that make no sense.

I grab my phone. It’s mid-morning but with how dark it is in my room from the stormy skies, it feels much later. I’d gotten two messages. One from Cherry and one from Casper.

Cherry asks how I’m doing.

Not well. Vincent and I had a fight last night.

What? Why?

I don’t even know. I let it slip that I’d been talking to Casper and he got mad.

I told you it wasn’t a good idea to talk to Casper. On the other hand, Vincent seems like a jealous guy. You guys will make up though. 

I don’t know. He won’t talk to me. He said everything he did was wrong in my eyes. But that’s not true. I don’t even know what he’s talking about.

Didn’t explain it?

No. 

I’m sorry. I wish I could give u a hug. Want me to kick him in the balls tomorrow?

I smile. No.

I will. You say the word. When are u coming back to school? I’m miserable without u!

Soon. Stop sending me so much homework.

I can’t help it! U know it’s getting closer to exam time and they’re trying to squeeze in all this stuff before the end of the year. We miss u at work, too. Luke asks about you, too.

I miss u so much. 

Me too! You’ve got to hurry up and get better for the