Page 314 of The Lands Defying
His hands flex next, like he’s shaking them out and I stare at the dark head of hair.
I take a step, my legs shaking, eyes blinking, praying they are not deceiving me.
Praying this isn’t like that last time where I ran to an illusion, only to fall face-first in my flowers as my heart broke all over again.
The figure turns their head to the side, as if sensing someone here.
Another step.
Their shoulders rise, like they are taking a deep breath, and then, they turn.
I pause, a cry building in my throat as we stare at each other.
And then, I’m running.
That cry spills from my lips, my eyes never leaving his face as he tilts his head and smiles a boyish smile, one that he only ever shares with me.
He doesn’t move, no, the asshole waits for me and as soon as I’m close enough, I hear his voice flitter around in my mind as our connection floods open.
“Found you, little wolf.”
I crash into him, and he’s wrapping me up in his arms, his body shaking as I cry into his neck, holding him close as he breathes me in.
“My Vihnarn,” he says, his voice like gravel as I hold him like he will disappear in the next breath, because that’s what he did. He left me. “Shh, little wolf. I’m here.”
I don’t recognize the noises coming from me, like a wounded animal, but he holds me just as close, breathing me in.
“I'm here now.”
“Are you?” I choke on my own words and I hear his rough swallow. “Are you real?”
“I am.”
I pull back, and my hands go to his face, tracing his jaw, his nose and mouth. I move to his hair next, feeling the strands that are a little longer now, until I rest my fingers over his marking, then move them lower to feel the beating of his heart.
“You’re here,” I breathe, tears spill down my cheeks. “You’re really here.”
He stares at me so deeply, so intently as those glass-like flecks appear. “I missed you, Vihnarn.” His power comes out, wrapping me up in it and I'm sobbing, shoulders shaking, but he looks at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. “Shh.” He holds me tighter as I wrap my legs around him, his own body trembling. “Fuck, I’m here now.” Runa whimpers within me, and I feel Drax there, just under his skin in greeting. “I’m sorry it took so long to get back to you.” He takes someof my hair, wrapping it around his finger. “It took longer than I ever expected.” A haunted look crosses his face, his eyes darkening.
“You left me,” I croak out. “Why did it take you so long to come back to me?” I inhale his scent, trying to let it calm me as I grip him, scared he will disappear, scared I'm dreaming.
“I had to make sure it was safe before I came back, to make sure beasts that should stay in the below…stay there.”
“And will they? Stay there? Do you have to go back?”
“It is done,” he tells me and I sag into him, another tear dropping.
“You are such an asshole for leaving me,” I whisper, sniffing and he wipes the tears from my face.
I want to be angry at him for leaving, for making me go through months of agony, barely breathing, but I’m filled with so much relief that he is here.
“I'm yours though,” he tells me, his voice gruff, like he can barely contain hisownemotions.
“Mine,” I agree softly, sniffling.
He holds the back of my head, moving my face to his neck and I breathe him in fully for the first time in months as his grip on me is almost painful. He doesn’t move, just keeps me close to him until his hand goes to the back of my head, grips my hair and pulls my head back.
Our eyes clash, my eyes full of tears and his full of anguish. I see the pain he has been in, so much like my own and I never want to be apart again, never want him to stop looking at me like I'm his everything.
