Read Dark Promises (Dark #29) for Free Online Page B

found his lifemate and she was human, married with a family and happy. He said a man of honor would either meet the dawn or wait it out, hoping her spouse died before she did. He would never come between them. A lifemate makes his other half happy.”
    â€œExactly, Gabrielle. You’re not thinking how
you
would feel. If your lifemate happened to find you, you would be compelled to make him happy.” He kept his voice gentle as he explained a reality he was certain she hadn’t considered.
    â€œI wouldn’t know because I’d be happy with you and he wouldn’t reveal himself,” she pointed out.
    He’d always known she had a stubborn streak. That was part of what made her so good in a laboratory. She fought so fiercely for them. She would make a fantastic mother, one who would fight for her children with a ferocity that he would admire always. She took care of those she loved.
    â€œNo, he wouldn’t, Gabrielle, but he would suffer. He might even take his own life because we were giving ourselves a few years together selfishly.”
    She lifted her head and stared into his eyes. “You’re a genius, Gary. What are the odds of both of us finding our lifemates?”
    He knew so many of the ancients were still out there, looking, hoping. Hanging on by a thread. She had been in the Carpathian Mountains and met many of them. None had claimed her. The odds were far less for him. She saw the answer in his eyes.
    â€œExactly,”
she said. “Gary, we have a right to be happy. Both of us. We’ve helped the Carpathians. You know we have. This is our time.”
    His hands came up to frame her face. “And if I lose my emotions? My ability to feel love for you, what then, Gabrielle? What happens to you? To our children?”
    â€œI don’t know. No future is ever certain, Gary.”
    He took a breath and then he kissed her. Hard. Hot. Hungry. She tasted incredible. She kissed him back, opening her mouth to his, taking him just as hungrily, just as in need. Just as filled with despair. They clung to each other in silence until he lifted his head.
    â€œGary, I honestly don’t know if I can make it without you,” she whispered against his throat. “I don’t know how to live without you in my life.”
    He understood because he felt the same way. He tightened his arms around her, pressing her body tightly to his. Even though he feared he might be in danger of crushing her, she didn’t protest. She held him just as tightly.
    â€œPlease come away with me,” she whispered. “I’m afraid without you. You steady me. You make me feel as if I have an anchor in a world I don’t understand. If you leave me alone, I’ll just dry up and blow away.”
    He closed his eyes, his heart weeping. “Give me time to figure out whether we’ll have the time to raise a family and be together before I lose my ability to feel. I won’t put you through that, Gabrielle. I need to talk to Mikhail and Gregori . . .”
    â€œNo,” she said sharply, her hands going to the lapels of his jacket. “You know they’ll tell you to let me go. You know they will. This is between the two of us. Our decision, not theirs.”
    â€œHoney, you persist in thinking they’re the enemy.”
    â€œIn a way, they are, Gary. They’re my enemy. They’ve taken you from me. You were always mine, the only person I’ve ever really had.”
    â€œGabrielle.” He caught her chin and tilted her face up toward his, compelling her to look into his eyes. “You come from a loving family. You adore your sister and brother. You love your parents.”
    â€œVery much,” she admitted. “But I don’t fit anywhere. Not with them. They don’t know me. They don’t understand me. They never have, as much as they’d like to. These people”—she swept her hand around the field to indicatethe