Page 316 of The Lands Defying
“I don’t want to,” she yawns, snuggling closer.
“You can rest now, I won’t go anywhere.”
She looks at me closely. “You really won’t?” Her eyes are full of fear at the thought and I pull her closer, knowing exactly what that feels like.
“I’m not going back down there,” I say on a rough swallow. “I made sure the rogures and the beasts of the below stay down there. It just took a lot of my power and time to make sure they wouldn’t come back, and therefore, be a risk to you. They are chained as they are meant to be, back under Cazier’s control as he watches over them. I belong here with you.”
“Always?” she whispers, her eyes imploring me.
“Always.” I take a piece of her hair and place it behind her ear. “I vow it.”
Her hand comes up and she places it over my heart, rubbing gently back and forth. Her eyes flash with so many emotions, until they settle on one that makes my heart pound beneath her fingertips. I’m sure she can feel it when she digs her nails in, taking a deep breath.
“I love you, Darius Rikoth,” she says softly, so softly and filled with so much certainty as I stare at her, watching the light of the moon reflecting in her eyes, in awe that this female can even feel such a thing for me. “Please don’t ever leave me again.”
I don’t know how I earned her love. I don’t deserve it, I never did and never would, but I will spend the rest of our lives making sure she feels like she didn’t give it away uselessly to me.
Make sure she is safe, satisfied and free.
“You have to know how I feel about you, little wolf.” I tell her, trying to find the words to let her know what she means to me.
Love is an emotion I haven’t felt with anyone other than my mother and sister, and of course I care for my brothers, but it isn’t the same. What I feel for her goes beyond the meaning of love.
“And what do you feel?” she asks, a shy smile on her lips that draws me in, and I can’t help but place a hand on the back of her head and bring her to my mouth.
The kiss is slow, but I show her my obsession with her, show her my devotion, affection. My need and craving for her will never end. When I break the kiss, and rub her nose, her eyes lock with mine and I have to wonder if she knows just how much power she has over me. Power that I will freely give her for the rest of our days.
I will be her weapon and I will be her home.
“Love is such a small word for what I feel for you, Vihnarn,” I start, and she smiles softly. “But if what I feel for you can be said in such a small word to describe it— then, I love you, little wolf. I love you like the night loves the moonlight.”
“Then you are my darkness,” she whispers.
“And you are my light.”
And I will forever chase it.
Epilogue
Rhea
Much Later
The gathering is full of life as we all wait around for dinner to be cooked.
We have four pots now, having expanded our home exponentially in the months since the rogures were defeated, and the Highers killed.
Of course, most of the Elites are here too, talking to their Alpha.
They have been around much more since Darius's return, and who can blame them. Damian cried like a pup and well, I can’t mock the guy. I even saw Jerrod wiping a tear as Leo punched him and then hugged him.
The reminder makes me smile because Darius didn’t even hit him back, knowing he was hurting and that he put them all in a position that would haunt them.
They spoke for many hours about Darius telling them to not interfere, and to never do it again.
It took a while, but Darius agreed. And then they all sparred, acting like nothing happened before going for a run.
“What are you smiling at, Vihnarn?”Whoops.
