Chapter 43: Chapter 43

“This is it,” she eventually whispered. Her hand was shaky when she opened the car door. She felt like she was moving in slow motion, and by the time she got out, Ryder was already waiting for her. He reached his hand out to her, and she held on to it, interlacing their fingers. His hand was slightly colder than hers, but it didn’t bother her. Their connection gave her strength—she liked the pleasant feeling that spread through her fingers, and she focused on it while they entered the graveyard.

It was a forlorn place. Trees lined up left and right of the gravel path that led to countless rows of gravestones. Nobody else was here; they were alone. She led Ryder to a very specific stone in the middle of the yard. They halted in front of it, and Elena was surprised to find the earth surrounding it overgrown with flowers. She hadn’t planted them, and she had no idea where they had come from, but it was a comforting sight, reminding her of her old home’s garden.

“Hello mom, hello dad. I… I wish you were here right now. It’s hard to be separated, and I miss you so much,” she said quietly, a lump forming in her throat. This was tougher than she remembered. Merely gazing at the gravestone made her eyes burn with tears. And speaking was almost impossible.

Ryder squeezed her hand reassuringly and kept his gaze on the stone, letting her pour her heart out without interfering. He knew that she needed to do this in order to feel better. It would be a relief—at least that was what he hoped.

“A lot happened in the past weeks. I found out that I have a soulmate,” she paused for a moment, a weak laugh escaping her. “Isn’t it crazy? Who would have thought? We’ve talked about soulmates so often, to think that I would have one is almost ironic, in a way. I brought him along today so you can meet him.”

Her voice cracked a little bit, the sound making him frown. Elena’s sadness was palpable—it stung his chest, stealing his breath. The heavy emotion tainted her sweet scent, hanging in the air like a cloud of smoke. As the silence stretched on, he decided to fill it.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” he began, earning a surprised glance from Elena. “My name is Ryder, I’m Elena’s soulmate. She has told me a lot about her family, and I wish we could speak to each other, but this will have to do. You don’t need to worry about her; I will take good care of your daughter. I’m grateful I met her because she is an amazing person.”

Her eyes were focused on him as he spoke, filled with wonder. A fragile smile appeared on her lips as her gaze slowly drifted back to the grave. An aura of serenity surrounded them, and the silence that followed Ryder’s words was comfortable. Once more, Elena wondered how her parents would have reacted to her connection to Ryder. How easy would it have been for them to accept him? Would they have liked him? She gnawed on her lower lip, watching the flowers swaying in a light breeze.

At first, she thought she was dreaming—but what she saw was real. A pink rose opened its bud and began to bloom. Its petals looked pristine and vibrant, unnaturally beautiful. Elena watched the flower with wide eyes, squeezing Ryder’s hand. Even though she couldn’t explain what had happened, relief flooded her in waves.

Maybe she didn’t have to worry. Maybe her parents would have loved Ryder.

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By the time Ryder and Elena returned to the car, it was three o’clock and too early to go home. Ryder suggested visiting the next bigger city on the way back so they could spend more time together. Elena’s mood had improved significantly, so he figured they might as well make the most of the day. It was nice to see her smiling cheerfully.

“We could turn this into a spontaneous date,” he said. “If you want?”

“Sounds good,” she smiled, getting an idea while observing their surroundings. “There is a small park nearby. I used to visit this area often—and I wouldn’t mind returning.”

“Then let’s go there.”

She gave instructions on where exactly he needed to drive and where he could park the car. Within ten minutes, they had left the car and crossed a street that framed the park within the city center. As they entered, the dense trees and bushes swallowed the loud traffic noises, offering tranquility. It was nice to return here, the view giving her a sense of nostalgia. A path led through the trees. Occasionally, some people walked past Elena and Ryder.

It wasn’t long before they reached a lake. Two small bridges connected the path to a tiny island in the middle. They formed two arches over the sparkling blue water, and when they crossed over the first, Elena halted to gaze down at the water. Clouds and the blue sky were mirrored on its surface. Soft waves distorted the image when a swan couple swam by, staying close to each other as they made their way over the lake.

“Did you know many swans stay together for life? Once they have found their significant other, they rarely part ways,” Ryder said while his eyes followed the two animals as they swam over the lake.

“Yes, I’ve heard of that. It’s what makes them fascinating,” she replied. “Aren’t they cute?”

“Almost as cute as you,” he teased, causing her cheeks to flush.

“I’m not cute.”

“Lies. You are the cutest flower I’ve ever seen.”

Her heart skipped a beat. This man was relentless with his cheesy compliments and the sweet things he said. Ryder appeared like an intimidating person on the outside, smiling rarely and carrying himself with deadly elegance—but looks could be deceiving. After everything they had been through, he had earned her trust. Elena’s affection for him kept growing the longer they were together. How strange it was to be attracted to a vampire. She would have never thought it possible.

“What are you thinking of, buttercup?”

“You,” she blurted, her eyes widening once she realized how blunt she sounded.

“Me? Well, that’s a pleasant surprise,” he smirked. “Continue.”

“No,” she mumbled in embarrassment and gazed at the swans on the lake. Ryder didn’t give her a chance to calm her fast heartbeat. He wrapped his arm around her back as they walked on, gently pulling her into his side.

“I bet you never stop thinking about me,” he drawled.

“How are you so ridiculously confident?” she snorted. “Tell me your secret.”

His fingertips ghosted over her hip, and his smirk widened. “I have the prettiest soulmate.”

Elena drew in a breath, heat gathering in her cheeks. “You… you’re a devil. Why are you teasing me so much?”