Page 136 of Legendary

“They think I’m dead, you know. Lilith and Dimitri. What’s going to happen when they find out I’m not? Lilith has lost twice now, Nick. She isn’t just upset or angry—she’s fucking fuming.” Dani kicked her legs out, one after the other.

“I’m not afraid of her or fucking Dimitri.”

“I’m well aware.” She sighed and gave me an incredulous look. “Nicholas, you used the power of an Enchanter. I think you, of all people, know who to ask.” She raised an eyebrow at me.

I chuckled. “I probably have some other things to talk to her about anyway.” Dani just hummed, watching me. “I can stay with you if you want. I can get you something, anything you need.”

“Nicholas, you are very, very sweet, but I just want to rest for now. Something feels weirdly off, but calm yourself, I’m fine. Just probably the aftereffects of previously being dead.” She tried to sum it up as if that was the logical answer, but something about her tone told me she was a little concerned.

I hesitated, but started to turn around when she called my name again. I faced her, only to be met with mischief. “Is there anything else you want to talk about?”

I shook my head. “Not that I can recall.”

“Are you sure? Nothing you want to get off your chest, since I’m telling you it’s totally okay to say it right now?” She wiggled her eyebrows as shetilted her head to the side, resting it on her shoulder as she leaned back further onto the bed.

I coughed, remembering how distraught I’d been. I had wanted to say those words to her for a while, but no time had seemed right, and I was so emotionally fucked up that I just didn’t know how to explain myself. “No idea what you’re talking about.”

“Ah, so I guess youdidn’tmean what you said. It was just a chunk of hefty bullshit.”

I fast-walked over to her. “I fucking meant it, alright? I, ugh, I really wanted this to happen in a normal, romantic moment.”

“I really don’t think we’ll ever have one of those. Maybe I prefer it that way.” She winked at me as I gazed at her. I was completely lost in how close we were, but I steeled myself for what I was about to say.

I cupped her face in my hand and moved the pad of my thumb along the soft skin of her cheek. “I do love you, Dani.”

She sighed, but this sigh had the essence of swooning, something I would keep with me for the rest of my life. “You want to know something?”

“Hmm?”

“I just might happen to love you too, Nicholas Cassial.”

I smiled before I kissed her. It wasn’t a rough kiss. It was slow and I could feel all the softness her lips provided. Whatever I’d done allowed me to do this again—be in her space, kiss her just because, and maybe, eventually, just be so irrevocably happy. I wanted to remain in this love filled bliss forever, but I knew I couldn’t. She was here with me now, feeling the same way I did, and I had time to explore that with her. I had made it happen so that she had more time with me, so we had more time to exist together. A tiny spark of warmth shocked me as she took my hand in hers. It was a spark that I recognized in myself, but it wasn’t coming from me.

I pulled back and looked at her as she gave me a cute and confused look back. I dropped my eyes down to her hands, only to find nothing was different. Maybe I had imagined it. She pulled me back in, giving me one last peck on the lips before pushing me away. “Go talk to her. Get your answers. I’ll be here when you get back.”

I did as she said, that warm spark replaying in my head. Right before I walked out the door, I looked over my shoulder. “I love you.”

She tried to hide the smile pushing its way to her face. “You too, you handsome night light.”

I heard a hiss as I passed by a door on my way to find Natalia. I heard the sound of my best friend on the other side, whining about the pain. I knocked, but then remembered he hardly knocked on any ofmydoors, so Ijust walked in. Reese was lying face down on the bed, while Xander placed a thick gray cream on his wound as Natalia watched.

“It’s fucking cold.”

“You didn’t complain this much when I was looking at your wings, you big baby. You sound about as bad as your vicious little demon friend,” Xander laughed, continuing his work.

“Don’t ever compare me to her, for the love of all that is ethereal.”

I caught myself laughing. Reese finally noticed I was in the room and shot his head up. “You finally woke up.”

“Like thirty minutes ago, yeah. Wings in one piece?” I knew he wouldn’t be able to extend them for a while until they healed.

“From what this guy says, yes, but I’ll see for myself in a few days.” He side eyed Xander with a skeptical look.

Xander patted around Reese’s leg, letting him sit up and gingerly scoot his way to the edge of the bed. The Enchanter rolled his eyes as he turned away from Reese to go wash his hands.

“Feeling any better, Nicholas?” Natalia asked.

I looked at each of them, running my finger along the bandage at my wrist. “I need to speak with you about something.”

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