Page 36 of Omission

“Relax, sweetheart.”

“But—”

“Come here.” Leonardo uses my…shirt? At the perplexed expression on my face, the warlock king pulls me onto my side and lies in front of me, face to face with our legs intertwined, so I have a better view of his eyes. His hands caress me, slow rhythmic strokes that calm my bout of panic and I’m brought down after a few minutes. I’m pliant and a bit lulled when he begins to speak. “I’m going to begin explaining a few things first, and then I expect the same from you. Always honest, remember?”

“Please.”

“First, Gabriella changed you out of your dress as it was filthy and torn in a few places.” Before I can ask where it is, I feel him place a finger over my lips. He’s still blurry, but I can make out the top of his cheeks now. “We didn’t throw it away, it’s in a bag for you to do as you please with it when we arrive, but thought you’d be more comfortable in something of mine. My shirt and sweatpants are adorable on you. Big and swallow you up, but I think you look beautiful in them.”

“I’ve never worn anything other than dresses before.” This causes me to blush again. It’s his clothing I’m wearing, something I find myself excited about, but in the same breath, I’m admitting my lack of self-autonomy. That I’ve grown up not having choices. “It feels different.”

“Good or bad.” No judgment in his tone. So much understanding. “And I apologize if you feel we took—”

“It’s good, Leonardo. Very good.”

“To my loved ones, I’m just Leo. No need for formalities, Anaya.” He snuggles in a little closer, his breath skims my lips. “Please relax around us. We’re not going to hurt you.”

“I’m not afraid of you or your family.”

“Then say, Leo. You’re the only person alive with the right to call me anything you want.”

“What if I like saying your name? What if it gives me butterflies.” It’s easier to admit this since my vision hasn’t fully come back yet. Yes, I get to enjoy the warmth of his eyes—how I saw them before we met is still a mystery to me—but this is intimate. Our cozy bubble makes me happy. “Would you still prefer otherwise?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because what makes you happy fills that space inside my chest that’s been empty for so long.” Again, he begins combing his hand through my hair. He brings one of his large hands to my hairline and pushes flyway’s back, then tucks other strands behind my ear. This goes on for a while, it feels so good, and every so often it’s accompanied by the strokes up two fingers across my cheek. “And to answer your earlier question, Roberto’s resting and looks so much better thanks to you. He woke up once, but this time he recognized me, and after getting him to drink some water, he went back to sleep. Gabriella is watching him now.”

A bit of the stress I’d been carrying for Berto melts away. “I was happy to help.”

“But you overdid it, Anaya.” Leonardo’s tone gets a bit rough, a tinge of anger to it, and I don’t like it. Everything in me demands I fix it. Make him smile again. The mate bond between us is so strong already; I feel his concern. His true wish is to keep me close. “Never put yourself in danger like that.”

“I don’t like you being upset with me.”

It’s a bit confusing. Being told about a bond and experiencing it are two very different things.

Maybe it’s the fact I lived so long with the emptiness of thinking mine was dead, that broke something in me. Maybe it’s watching my father treat my mother like dirt under his shoe, that makes Leonardo’s care and open emotions an enigma.

Yet I wouldn’t change him.

I feel the ties between us now fully, and the longer we’re in each other’s presence, the stronger they become. Like a threadbare string that wrapped itself around my heart, but the more the organ pumps—it sings for him—the more solid the binding. We’ve gone from a feeling, this shock where we touch, to being irrevocably bound.

“I’m not mad at you, Anaya. Just the situation.” He exhales roughly, his sweet breath tickling my nose which I twitch, causing him to chuckle. “Are you complaining?”

“That’s better. Smile more.”

“You’re going to be trouble.” At that, my eyes mock glare while he moves his head back just a bit and copies my action. “What did you say about my eyes earlier?”

“It will probably make me sound insane.” I’m starting to feel lethargic and yawn, keeping my small fangs behind my lips. He hasn’t noticed yet, and I’m shy about them. Being a royal, mine are slightly pointer than other fae females. “But I’ve dreamed of them once. I was alone in my mother’s garden at home and a shadow watched over me; its eyes were just like yours. Same beautiful blue.”

“Interesting.”

“How so?” Another yawn, but I still manage to bring a hand up to his face and press my open palm against his cheek. My vision is still hazy, but I can make out his nose with a slight bump over the bridge now and those perfect lips that stretch into a dazzling smile. “Did you dream of me?”

“I’m starting to think the dagger gave me a part of you years ago.”

“Maybe the Gods were showing us the way, Leonardo.” More yawning. I’m burrowing deeper into the pillow under my head, watching him through a now loopy gaze. “Giving us hope.”

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