Fleeting Love - Dawn Wright (little red riding hood ebook free txt) 📗

back, hard knocking the wind from me but I try to get up anyways. He kicks me it my face before slashing down with his blade. I raise my arms to defend myself even as I swing my legs around to collide with the back of his feet hoping to knock him down. His blade slices twice across my up raised forearms before my feet hit him.

He staggers backwards but remains standing. He comes back over cursing as I try to get to my feet. I'm on my hands and knees preparing to rise when he reaches me. He delivers a brutal kick to my ribs that lifts me off the ground and sends me flying a few feet with its force. I feel my ribs give. He follows me and kicks me again. I curl up in a ball as he continues to beat me until I black out from the pain...

When I come to the humans are gone. The forest is silent. Slowly I uncurl myself crying out in pain as I do. I've never been hurt this bad and just this movement threatens to make me unconscious again. Craning my head and looking around I see Talon lying several yards away, still. No, he can not be dead. Not when we were going to be together not now not like this. Groaning I attempt to stand, unable to do so, I drag myself across the ground over the corpses of some of our attackers to him. Reaching him I see his clothes are completely soaked through with his blood and his chest rises and falls shallowly. My throat constricts at the sight and my eyes burn.

“Oh Talon.” I choke out. His eyes flutter open and he turns his head towards me weakly, his once vivid eyes dim and full of pain, but even so I can see his love for me in their depths.

“...Ri...vae..a...” He gets out, blood staining his lips and leaking from the corner of his mouth. His breath rattles wetly in his chest. His voice is low and hitching.

“Oh my Talon.” I say sadly touching his brow, gently brushing his darkish sandy brown hair, now matted with blood, from his forehead.

“...I...l...lov...e..you...” I blink back tears and lean forward ignoring my own injuries. I press my lips against his and we kiss-a kiss that tastes of blood and tears and sorrow. Pulling away my tears well over and carve tracks down my face. I know just as he does that that was goodbye.

“...I love you too Talon.” I say. He moves his hand seeking and I bite my lip as I grasp it. He grips my hand with his smiling through his pain at me. We hold each others hands tightly even as his eyes dim and his breaths get shallower. I cling to him and pray.

Spirits of the forest, Gods of the People, please hear my prayer. Lady of the Skies, Father of the Mountains, Goddesses of the Hunt, Heart, and Home hear my cries. Save him and I will give anything in return, save him I beg of you. Gods of the Beyond I plead with you spare him.

Silently I send out my pleas hoping despite what I know in my heart that he will live. My tears pour in rivers and as his eyes dim completely like a candle that finally blew out, as his chest falls and does not rise again, and as his hand clutching mine loosens its hold I openly sob. I stretch a shaking hand out and tenderly close his eyes before caressing his cheek. Then I curl up beside him and let oblivion take me...

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Publication Date: 03-06-2014

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