Garner Read online

  Love is death.

  Sabina would die because he loved her. She was right. That was his curse.

  Love is death.

  He gathered her in his arms. She slumped against his shoulder, as if she didn’t have the strength to hold her body upright one more second. He tilted her face toward his, and latched on to her gaze.

  What he wouldn’t give to lose himself in the rich green of her eyes, to plunge in over his head, without a life vest, without a safety line, just plunge in and let the tide sweep him away.

  She’d been right when she’d said what they had was rare and precious. Too precious to waste.

  And what had he done? He’d wasted it. All because he was too busy protecting his heart until it was too late.

  No.

  It wasn’t too late. It damn well wasn’t too late. He wouldn’t let it be.

  “You’re not going to die, Sabina. I’m not going to let you.”

  She looked up at him, her eyes unseeing.

  His gut twisted with anger. “Damn it, Sabina. You can’t die on me now. I love you. I want you here with me.”

  The corners of her lips quirked upward, as if she’d heard him. As if she’d tried to smile. She drew a deep, shuddering breath.

  “You’re strong, Sabina. Strong enough to heal yourself. Strong enough to come back to me.” He drew her close and held her tightly against his shoulder. “Damn it, come back to me.”

  He heard mirror shards crunch underfoot. Looking up, he met the eyes of Sabina’s cousin. Andrei seemed to take in the situation with a glance, his eyes rounding with fear for his cousin. He didn’t rush forward, though, but stayed in the shadows. As if he understood that he couldn’t help.

  That only Garner could save Sabina now.

  Garner kissed Sabina’s hair and held her tighter against his body. “I want to marry you. I want us to have children. You said you loved children. We can have as many as you want. And I want all of them to be filled with your strength and zest for life. I want all of them to be just like you.”

  She stirred in his arms, but he didn’t let her go. He couldn’t.

  “But you have to come back to me first, Sabina. You have to heal yourself. You can do it. I know you can. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.”

  “You make me strong.”

  Her voice was weak as a whisper, but it hit him with the force of trumpet fanfare. He loosened his embrace so he could see into her eyes.

  Dark, rich green stared back at him. The color of life itself.

  He swallowed into an aching throat. “You’re strong, Sabina. You always have been. You just didn’t know it.”

  “I’m glad you were around to let me in on the secret.” Her voice was still weak, but gaining strength with each word.

  “You’re strong enough to heal yourself. You’re strong enough to come back to me.” He hadn’t asked a question, but still he waited for her answer. A few moments ago he wouldn’t have dared hope for a miracle like this. Now he couldn’t stop hoping.

  She nodded. “Help me sit up so I can see myself in the mirror.”

  “Your aura?”

  “Yes.”

  He did as she asked.

  She stared at her reflection a long time in silence.

  “What do you see?” He held his breath.

  Finally she turned to face him, sitting upright under her own power. “I see love. The clear, pink color of love.”

  Tears blurred his vision. Tears of relief. Tears of hope. “Yes. I think I can see it, too.”

  He could. If not in the air surrounding them, then in his heart. In his soul.

  All the brilliant colors of life sparkled and danced in her eyes. “My aunt’s curse is broken. You love me, and yet I didn’t die.”

  He slipped his fingers over her cheeks and into her hair, cradling her face in both hands. The curse was broken.

  But there was more than that. So much more. Garner wanted to tell her about the rush of joy that made his head spin. The hope that filled his heart to bursting. The love that touched his soul. But the words wouldn’t form on his tongue.

  All his life, words had been his tools. Tools to defend the meek. Tools to fight back against his father. Tools to protect himself against pain and loss. But now, for the first time, words failed him.

  Because he didn’t need them now.

  He traced his thumbs along her cheekbones. Leaning down, he fitted his lips to hers. And when he finally found the strength to pull away, he looked deep into the green of her eyes and found his peace.

  GYPSY MAGIC

  I hope you enjoyed Garner (Love is Death), book two in the Gypsy Magic serial. Each of these compelling stories ends with an HEA for the hero and heroine. But only the full set will finally get to the bottom of the murder mystery. Be sure to read them all!

  Part 1: Wyatt (Justice is Blind) Part 2: Garner (Love is Death) Part 3: Andrei (The Law is Impotent)

  Other series from Rebecca York, Ann Voss Peterson, and Patricia Rosemoor:

  NEW ORLEANS MAGIC

  (Originally published under the title Boys in Blue)

  Part 1: Jordan by Rebecca York Part 2: Liam by Ann Voss Peterson Part 3: Zachary by Patricia Rosemoor

  RENEGADE MAGIC

  (Originally published under the title Desert Sons)

  Part 1: Luke by Rebecca York

  Part 2: Tom by Ann Voss Peterson Part 3: Rico by Patricia Rosemoor

  SECURITY BREACH

  Book 1: Chain Reaction by Rebecca York Book 2: Critical Exposure by Ann Voss Peterson Book 3: Triggered Response by Patricia Rosemoor

  CHRISTMAS IN JENKINS COVE

  Book 1: Christmas Spirit by Rebecca York Book 2: Christmas Awakening by Ann Voss Peterson Book 3: Christmas Delivery by Patricia Rosemoor

  AUTHOR WEB SITES

  Ann Voss Peterson: http://www.annvosspeterson.com

  Patricia Rosemoor: http://www.patriciarosemoor.com

  Rebecca York: http://www.rebeccayork.com

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  ANN VOSS PETERSON is the author of over thirty novels and has millions of books in print all over the globe. Winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award and a Rita finalist, Ann is known for her adrenaline-fueled thrillers and romantic suspense novels, including the Codename: Chandler spy thrillers she writes with J.A. Konrath and her own thriller series featuring small town Wisconsin police chief Val Ryker.

  A creative writing major in college, Ann worked all manner of jobs after graduation, ranging from grooming show horses to washing windows, and now she draws on her wide variety of life experiences to fill her fictional worlds with compelling energy and undeniable emotion.

  She lives near Madison, Wisconsin with her family and their border collie. Visit Ann at www.AnnVossPeterson.com, and check out the behind-the-scenes research that goes into her books. To hear about new releases and discounted books, and win the occasional prize, sign up to receive Ann’s newsletter and follow her on Facebook.

  Other books by Ann Voss Peterson:

  VAL RYKER SERIES

  Pushed Too Far Burned Too Hot Dead Too Soon Buried Too Deep (upcoming)

  Short novels featuring Val Ryker: Watched Too Long (with J.A. Konrath) The School

  CODENAME: CHANDLER thrillers, by Ann Voss Peterson and J.A. Konrath Hit

  Exposed Fix (with F. Paul Wilson) Naughty Flee

  Spree

  Three

  Rescue

  SMALL TOWN SECRETS (to be released in 2017 and 2018) The smallest towns have the most to hide…

  Lethal

  Witness Forbidden Kidnapped Guilty

  Stolen

  Malice

  Captive Frantic Vicious

  ROCKY MOUNTAIN THRILLERS (to be released in 2017) Manhunt Fugitive Justice

  Short Stories: Babe On Board (with J.A. Konrath) Wild Night Is Calling (with J.A. Konrath)

 

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