HER SWEETEST DOWNFALL (Paranormal Romance / Fantasy Novella) (Forever Girl Series - a Journal) Read Online Free PDF Page A

onto her back and closed her eyes, Ethan’s gaze still burning into her senses. In her mind’s eye, she could visualize him sitting in the chair by the fire, resting forward with his hands clasped between his knees, staring at her through the rogue tumble of his dark chestnut hair. The sheen of his tanned skin in the firelight, and the sparks of gold in his earthy-brown eyes. 
    Her breathing was shallow, and she hoped the rise and fall of her chest was hidden well beneath the blanket. The last thing she needed was him to think he had any power over her or effect on her emotions, that he was what she was thinking of as she lie in bed. Should he realize that, he might be too quick to attempt to manipulate her.
    “It won’t go away,” Ethan said finally, his voice cutting through every emotion she was fighting to deny. “The burning will return. It will get worse. And it will not stop until you’ve honored your calling.”
    She would not listen to him. She would release every idea he had suggested. Her mother was alive—that she needed to believe—and she could not waste time here playing these games with this strange man. If she didn’t at least try to find her mother, she would spend the rest of her life wondering, “ What if ?”
    In the past, Ophelia had been one to waver in her beliefs, to be easily swayed into changing her thinking, but right now, her life and future were on the line. If she had to fight who she was in order to stay true to herself, then she would welcome such a contradiction.

Damascus, 1808
    Ophelia sat up in bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The one small window in the cabin, located right beside her bed, was covered with a wool blanket, but the morning light that slanted in had roused her awake. The mark along her neck radiated a warm tingle, a reminder of the night before. A reminder, also, of the way Ethan’s fingers had so delicately brushed her skin there as he’d unbuttoned her gown.
    “Good morning, Ophelia.”
    At the sound of Ethan’s voice, the whole of the situation came rushing back to her. Her gaze darted to the fireplace. He was still sitting in the same place, staring into the crackle of the fire.
    “Is it?” she snapped. 
    There was nothing good about this morning. Ophelia reached to pull the blanket away from the window, to peek outside, but as soon as the light cut into the room, something thumped behind her.
    Ophelia’s gaze averted to the broad-shouldered man now standing behind her. The morning light revealed translucent, butterfly-like wings that stretched from his back to up above his head and down to the floor. 
    The sheer wings, however, were not beautiful as she’d imagined. Instead they were amniotic, like the filmy membrane that clung to animals during birth, with black veins spreading throughout like bloodshot eyes.
    Ophelia gasped a small intake of air, and a bit of peace settled over her. At the very least, he was what he claimed.
    “Close it.” His tone was stern but his dark eyes conveyed . . . panic? Once she’d honored his request, he eased back into his chair. “Please keep the blanket up until nightfall.”
    “Are ye afraid of being seen for what ye really are?” Ophelia asked.
    In that moment, Ethan’s expression relaxed. Was it her wide-eyed gaze that softened him? Or perhaps the innocent note of questioning in her voice?
    Part of Ophelia hoped his wings would be seen—that someone would happen upon their cabin and rescue her. The other part of her, however, could not deny her heart’s strange desire to stay. Her father would have scolded her to make up her mind. She had, though. Ethan left her curious, to say the least. He made her cheeks warm when he was near and often left her fighting off the urge to giggle. She could slap herself for being so childishly infatuated with him, but ultimately she could not resist. Her only doubt now was whether she’d become sure of something that would only lead her to