Marigold

[William's POV]

Closing my eyes, I allow Marigold's face to come to me willingly for the first time in I wasn't sure how long. For the most part, I tried not to think about her since it usually left me having trouble breathing due to the pain I felt from losing her.

“Have you decided to go to sleep sitting up?” Elise asks when I continue to let all the memories and emotions attached to them flood into me. “I thought you were going to tell me a sad story that would make me want to open up to you.”

Sighing, I just ignore the hit that Elise is giving me. I was beginning to learn that when she was at her sassiest, it was when she desperately wanted to hide something. Who was becoming acquainted with the actions of the wild cat? Oh, it was me.

“Right, my sad story.” I agree, trying to decide where to begin. “Have you ever felt the pain of losing a mate?” I ask, deciding that the very beginning was the right place.

“Can’t say I have.” She responds, though I see something flash in her eyes t