Page 103 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

“I do.”

His eyes flicked to a corner of the room, and she followed his gaze.

A canvas lay on a wooden easel, something she hadn’t noticed last night between the exhaustion and the dark. A canvas with an image of Vita, the black hair and scar unmistakable. It was a good likeness, expressive enough to give energy to the painting.

Heat flushed her cheeks as she turned back to him.

“I did my best. It was more difficult without the subject present. I…” Renatus trailed off, clearing his throat and glancing around the room before continuing. “I wanted to have an image of you… in case you never returned, never wanted to see me again.”

The words were difficult for him to say, not the confident timbre he always had. The façade was breaking.

Emotion welled in her chest, a force so strong it almost hurt. Tears burned her eyes even as her lips curled into a smile.

“The painting is lovely,” she murmured, her voice cracking.

Renatus returned the smile, though the expression was marred by discomfort. “I… should have come to you sooner. If I had, none of this would have happened. I’m so sorry, Vita.”

“Please, don’t say that. I also could have come back to the palace long before all this.”

He brushed his fingers into her hair, his thumb running along her scar, the permanent reminder that would she would never be rid of. “It was a mistake to push you away, as if I could ever deny my feelings foryou. As if I could ever rest again knowing you were out there, away from me. If I would have lost you…”

Vita shushed him. “You didn’t lose me. I’m here now. And I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me.”

She held her breath, eyes glued to Renatus as she awaited the answer to her unspoken question. Was this more than lust, more than obligation? Did he really want her, or was she still just a plaything to be discarded?

Any distress left his face as he pulled her against his chest, the whisper in her ear prickling her sensitive skin.

“Darling, I wouldn’t let you leave even if you tried.”

The possession should have frightened her, but there was no malice in the words, just the devotion she had been craving for so long. The commitment she’d yearned for finally wrapping its arms around her and holding her tight.

Never letting go.

“You are mine, Vita, until the end of time.”

The words fluttered past her ears, her eyes shutting from the exhaustion that still thrummed through her body, a content smile on her face.

CHAPTER 45

Vita

VITA’S STOMACH GRUMBLED, A pressure at her backside waking her from her slumber. She reached across the bed, patting her hand along the sheets in front of her, but no one was there. Just a strong arm wrapped around her waist, squeezing her tightly.

When she opened her eyes, she realized Renatus was gone, her heart sinking ever so slightly.

No, it didn’t mean anything. He didn’t have to be with her every moment of every day. He probably had work to do, certainly Shadowholde would be in shambles after what happened to the Praetor.

Verian stirred behind her, stretching his stiff muscles. “Good morning, sweet girl.”

“Good morning to you, too.” Vita pulled out of his grasp, squirming around so she could see him.

He grinned, dragging her back to him and nuzzling the top of her head as she settled against his shoulder.

A question gnawed at her, her muscles tensing. “Won’t you be late for work?”

Verian hummed, tangling his fingers in her hair, massaging her scalp. “Things will be hectic, with what happened to…”

The Praetor.

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