Eternal Echoes, Emblem of Eternity Trilogy Book 2 Read Online Free PDF Page A

not date other people. We want you to date us.”
    My eyes went huge with surprise. For a moment, I was stunned. “I know we have this weird triangle thing going on, but I’m not the least bit interested in multiple boyfriends, or polyandry. I can barely handle one of you, let alone two.”
    Emil’s mouth cracked into a smile. “We want you to date each of us separately. You won’t be exclusive with either one of us until you’re ready to take that step and choose.”
    My mouth fell open. I had no words for at least thirty seconds. That gave me enough time to gather my thoughts and think of plenty to say. “Let me get this straight,” I said, scooting back in my chair so I had something to hold me up in case my spine decided to compress—which was a distinct possibility. “You want me to start going on dates with you both again, but you don’t want me to choose between you yet?”
    “Yes,” Alex said.
    Emil nodded.
    I glanced back and forth between them, wondering if this was some sort of practical joke. “You realize a few months ago when our relationships were—” I paused, struggling for an adequate description, “—undefined, you both had testosterone-fueled fits and wanted to kill each other?”
    “That’s not really fair, Evie,” Alex admonished.
    “Are you kidding?” I asked, incredulous. “That first night at the sand dunes, I was scared to leave you in your tents. I thought for sure I’d wake up and find one of you mortally wounded.”
    Emil grinned. “But now you know we’re immortal. Problem solved.”
    Alex took a deep breath. “We were still establishing ground rules then.”
    “Yeah,” Emil agreed. “I wouldn’t have killed him. Fought him, yes, but killing is a little extreme. Plus, I don’t want to win by default. You made the right decision two hundred and fifty years ago. I want you to choose me again, just like you chose me before.”
    I could hear Alex grinding his teeth together without even having to look at him. “The point is, you need to date us. If you don’t, you’ll never be able to choose between us.”
    My eyes tracked back and forth between them. I couldn’t argue with their logic. I’d been thinking the same thing. But it didn’t seem fair to date them both with no guarantee of commitment. “I’m not ready to make a decision, so there’s no point.”
    “That’s the whole point,” Alex said. “You’ll never be ready if you don’t spend time with us.” He paused. “Quality time. Alone time. On actual dates.”
    I leaned back in my chair, my arms falling to my lap as I tried to figure out how to address their suggestion. “Look, I know you two have been waiting a long time for me to make this choice, and I admire your patience, I really do. But it hasn’t been a long time for me. You haven’t even been back in my life for a year. And I’m only eighteen! I know you want an answer, and someday I think I’ll be able to give it to you, but I don’t want to be pushed into a relationship because you want to know now.”
    “We’re not trying to push you,” Alex said. “And we’re not even asking for a relationship. Eventually, you will be ready to choose, and when you are, we want to make sure you’re prepared with as much information as possible to make the decision you feel is right. There are no hidden agendas.”
    I watched them carefully and decided to throw out a thought I’d had recently, “Has anyone stopped to think that we’re all soul mates?” It was a working theory. I hadn’t ironed out all the details. “Maybe our soul was split three ways somehow? There has to be a fix for that. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about all this stupid choosing.”
    “No,” Alex answered immediately. “That is not what happened.”
    “I would have to agree with Alex,” Emil said. “I have no romantic feelings for him at all.”
    “Likewise,” Alex said, his tone even.
    I rolled my eyes. “That’s not how I meant it. Seriously, could