Eternity Read Online Free PDF Page A

understanding to sink in. “That sounds awful.”
    Eran grimaced, though I couldn’t understand why my pity would cause that reaction. “Yes. I’m sure it was,” he concluded.
    Even though Eran’s answer sounded dispassionate, I made an effort to comfort him. “I only meant that he’s now required to live an eternity in a place he didn’t necessarily choose,” I explained, hoping the odd disappointment I saw in Eran would subside.
    “I understand,” Eran said serenely. “I’m not offended. I just don’t enjoy recounting it because, at that time, he tried to assume my role.”
    “Your role?”
    “Yes…Marco was your bodyguard.”
    “My what?” I said, loudly. I couldn’t have been more surprised if he’d told me that I’d been a cat in my past life.
    “Your guard. You hired him to protect you during the French Revolution. They were chaotic times, Magdalene. No one knew who they could trust. Even relatives were suspect. In retrospect, you made the right choice but chose the wrong person.”
    “Okay…” I muttered, allowing the realization to sink in. “So I hired him to be my guard. What happened after that?”
    Eran dipped his head and when he looked up, his lip curled. “After that…he fell in love with you.”
    I didn’t quite believe what I was hearing. “Fell in love? With me?”
    “Yes,” Eran replied, his lips thinned in resentment at the memory. “Marco fell in love with you.” Eran turned to look at me for the first time. “But it doesn’t mean he won’t hesitate to kill you. He is enamored with you superficially. It can’t be compared to-“ He stopped himself then.
    “To us,” I finished. “It can’t be compared to us.”
    Eran turned away again. “No. It cannot be compared to us in the smallest sense.”
    I paused, realizing a little conquest had been won. Each time Eran, who kept me at a distance, admitted his true feelings for me under any circumstance I felt placated. It was a small victory but one I savored. I tried to hide my joy but wasn’t sure if I’d succeeded. "So…he was my guard and he fell in love with me.”
    “Yes,” Eran grumbled. “He then proceeded to try to protect you from Fallen Ones without fully understanding his predicament. At the time of his death, at the hands of a Fallen One, he was told by that Fallen One if he were to die and return to join their ranks, that he would be able to have you for all eternity.”
    I gasped. “I find that incredibly offensive.”
    “You should,” Eran replied, clearly satisfied with my reaction. “As you know, he did return but…clearly he did not win you over.”
    “No, and he never will.”
    Even with Eran’s head facing away, I could see him respond with a content smirk.
    “So did time heal old wounds or is he still in love with me.”
    “Slighted…would be the word I would use to describe him.”
    I absorbed all that Eran had told me for a moment and then a somewhat pertinent question came to mind.
    “So as my eternal guardian, where were you when Marco was sacrificing his life for me?”
    For the second time, Eran turned to me. I could see in his manners that he was hurt by my inference. “He did not sacrifice his life for you. To clarify, he nearly plunged himself into the sword in order to be given the powers to defeat me.”
    “Defeat you? So you were there, protecting me.”
    Eran responded, equally firm and passionate, “Always…Magdalene.”
    I had never – to my recollection – seen Eran jealous for me. But at this moment, it seemed to flow from every pore in his body, and it surprised me.
    He looked away again. “As it is, he has since found another squad to run with…one he can influence and dominate.”
    I reached out and placed my hand on his arm again. “Thank you for telling me.”
    “It is important that you know. He won’t stay hidden in the shadows while he’s here. That much I can guarantee. Marco enjoys your attention.”
    With that affirmation, I couldn’t help