Page 91 of Exquisite Monster
Taking a breath and closing my eyes, I stepped off the edge. I dropped for an eternal moment, and my mind was thrown back to the fall through the earth. Horror, dread, and fear stole what little breath I had. Even greater panic clawed up my throat, and then I was in Sirrus’s arms with him lowering me to the ground.
I stumbled away from him and sank onto the grass. Pushed my fingers into it. I wasn’t falling. I was on the ground. Safe.
Sirrus cursed roughly and then he was beside me. “Stars, Lena, I didn’t even think of it. I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t think of it either,” I managed. My heart still pounded, but the world was coming back into focus.
He reached for me, and I curled into his arms without hesitation. His heartbeat under my ear calmed me. One hand stroked my hair slowly. “I will not ask you to do that again.”
“You couldn’t have known if I didn’t.”
“Still.”
I blew out one slow breath. My bond with Endre was still blank. “Where is Endre? I can’t feel him.”
“He left yesterday while you and Zovai went toSythal Itur.”
“What? Why?”
Now therewashesitation in him. “He went to see Gleym. He thinks she might be able to help us.”
I whipped back to see his face. “She can’t help him. I already asked.”
“He knows that,” Sirrus said slowly. “Or rather, he suspected. But she could still be of help. She’s known the Elders a very long time.”
Swallowing, I let Sirrus help me to my feet. “I wish he’d said goodbye. When I felt him gone…”
“The fault there is mine as well. I meant to tell you last night and it was me who told him to leave as soon as possible so that he could come back swiftly. While you were occupied seemed like the right time.”
That made sense. It didn’t mean I liked it. “We didn’t…” my breath hitched, and I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his shirt. “We didn’t have enough time to say goodbye before. I don’t want to lose that.”
Sirrus’s pang of regret rolled through me and I held him tighter. “A mistake we will not repeat.”
We remained like that, holding each other, until the last vestiges of panic drained from my body. “I love you,” I whispered.
“Even the stars couldn’t speak to the depth of how much I love you,” he whispered back.
“Show off.”
He laughed softly and shifted his arms to lift me straight off my feet. It was awkward, but he still carried me slowly. “I will always show off for my mate.” He paused. “When we shift and catch you in the air. Does it make you panic?”
I shook my head. “It hasn’t yet. Maybe because the fall isn’t far. It’s over before my mind even remembers.”
“Good.” He still carried me away from the tower.
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
He set me back on my feet and guided me into the shade. The chirp was all the warning I had.Varídove out of the trees and straight for the two of us. Sirrus threw his hands out, sending gusts of wind toward the tiny dragon that he evaded, even flipping over mid-air to avoid colliding. He slowed when he reached me, scales a soft shade of yellow.
“What was that?”
“TrainingVarí. So no matter what we face or where we are, he won’t have to leave your side.”
I held out my arm forVaríto perch on. “You’d do that for me?”
The look he leveled at me made me laugh. “Show me?”
