Chapter Forty-three (Dane's POV) present Time…

I had thought to take her to the Eastlands and face whatever comes after. But then she asked me to show her what it was like being my woman and the thought of having more time with her seduced me even when I knew I was setting myself up for heartbreak. If I could, I would slap myself to reality. But even if I don't, reality will indeed catch up with me soon enough. It always does. I had learned that the hard way.

Hope is a terrible thing – a curse even.

Out of the two of us, I should know better but still, I hoped.

Every time she was taken away from me I always went after her with the hope that it would play out differently.

Of course, nothing different happened. I always lose her in the end. And still, I hoped she would not be taken. And when she was, the fear of never finding her would plague me and like a madman, I would go from realm to realm looking until I found her. It was an unending torture, but Heavens! How I love her.

Letting go was not something I could dare envis