Page 13 of The Lands Defying
Five
Rhea
I watch Darius sleep.
It’s not often I get to do this, but I woke before him, and now I’m watching his chest rise and fall as his hand circles my wrist, like he can’t let go of me.
I squirm, deliciously sore from Darius’s attention and I feel…content. I remember the way he never once looked away from me, never let his skin be far from mine, never let himself be removed from my body.
Darius more than fucked me last night, he stole a piece of my soul.
But did he really steal it when I let him have it?
Fingers flexing, I move my hands and trail them down the side of his ribs, following a line of a tattoo when I come to a stop.
I tilt my head and move closer to get a better look.
Is that…
“Enjoying yourself, little wolf?” Darius’s voice is like gravel, and my head snaps up to his to see him watching me, a lazy smirk on his face.
I go to move my hand back, but he grabs it and places it back on his ribs.
“I got it as soon as I could, after I saw your eyes light up at one.” I look down to the small lesia flower he has on the side of his ribs, and my chest warms.
“You could have gotten anything else,” I mutter, unsure how to respond.
“Why would I get something else when they are something you cherish?” A tendril of his magic slips around my waist. “They remind me of you.”
My heart.
“Why there?” I wonder. I trace it as he still holds my hand.
“I put it on my side because that’s where you will always be. Beside me.”
“Will I?” I dare to question. We are at war, whether the lands know it or not. Not only do we have to survive it, what happens after, when we don’t have a common goal to work toward? When we don’t have to work together anymore?
In a sudden move, I’m hauled on top of him and he brings my face down to his. “Yes.” He says it with absolute certainty, determination filling his eyes. “Do you not feel it?”
My eyes bounce between his and I nod, slowly. “I do.”
The connection doesn’t feel as frayed anymore, pulled as tight.
It feels stronger, pulling me to him more than I have ever felt.
Things feel different between us now. Not fixed, or even right, just…different.
He held me all night after he made me come again and again, and for once, I didn’t argue or fight him on it. I wanted him there, no, I needed him there. To be close to him, to wrap his scent around me and he made me feel…safe.
Again, things are not right, and may never be. It’s complicated what had happened to both of us and the reasons why. I haven’tforgiven him, and he doesn’t want to be forgiven. But maybe, we can finally begin to move forward now.
As long as he keeps his vow to not hurt himself anymore.
The thought makes me sick if he were to break it.
Darius rubs his nose against mine and breathes against my lips. “I will always be near you, no matter what that looks like, and you will always be with me.” He lifts my arm and places a soft kiss in the middle of my forearm.
I suck in a sharp breath.
