Page 58 of The Light Falls
“Sometimes, my room becomes unbearable,” he admits quietly. “This is the one spot not tainted by her. Over time, I’ve made this my home. It’s not much, but it means a lot to me.” A flush spreads across his cheeks. “I wanted you to see it.”
“It’s wonderful. Safe, secluded, comfortable, and has great views,” I tell him. “We moved so much; I never found a place to escape to that I could call my own.” I’d have poisoned Leandra for a secret hideaway like this one.
He pulls me over to the blankets on the other side, where he has a telescope set up. “Look through the lens.”
For the next hour, he sits behind me and positions and repositions the telescope to show me all his favorite places in the night sky. With his arms around me, I can’t help but revel in the warm, magical evening.
“This is wonderful,” I murmur. Turning my head, I find pouty lips a breath away from mine, and I ache to lean over and kiss them. To explore this tension between us. I flick my eyes to his.
For an eternity, he stares down at me with longing in his eyes. His hand strokes lightly up and down my arm. The quiet surrounding us and the moonlight shining down make this the perfect moment for a kiss. I know he feels the same because his eyes keep drifting to my lips, but anything that happens between us has to come from him. I can’t initiate it. Barely breathing, I wait for him to lean down and show me what he’s feeling.
His fist clenches, and the moment is lost.
With a disappointed sigh, I lay my hand on top of his.
“Would you mind taking me back to your room? Kian is standing outside your door. He’ll escort me back.”
Relief and anger war against each other in his eyes, but he immediately stands and opens his arms. His wings come out in all their glory.
“Do fire drakes have wings?” I ask, curious about them since I’ve never seen one.
Rivan’s look is smug. “Small, leathery looking things. They can barely fly.”
Sensing an old argument, I laugh. “Kind of like a wyvern, then.” Those were more common in the Underworld.
“Pretty much,” he says snidely, suddenly taking off. Lean hands hold me tightly. One thumb slides soothingly back and forth on a patch of skin between my shirt and pants. “We’re back.”
“Thank you for showing me your place,” I murmur. “It’s lovely up there.” A little heartbreaking, too. “I’ll send Tiernan to you after I speak to him. He can get you a uniform and other items for the trip.”
He grimaces. “Never thought I’d be wearing the uniform of a light Fae guard unless I was spying on them.” Reaching down, he draws me into his arms for a long hug. “Thank you. This means the world to me.”
His lean body feels so good against mine. I can’t help but wish I could run my hands over the dips and valleys pressing into me.
“You’re welcome,” I whisper. “By the way, don’t say anything to Tiernan you don’t want repeated to the Lesser Fae. I think he might be one of their spies.”
Shocked, Rivan raises his head and releases me. “He shouldn’t be near you if he’s a spy. I’m telling Kaius right now.”
“Cormal and Kaius both know. Not about you going on this trip, but they know about Tiernan. We haven’t proven it, though. So, maybe he isn’t, but I’ve caught him watching me several times,” I explain. When his mouth firms and he begins walking to the door, I grab his elbow. “Stop. Tiernan swore an oath to protect me.” I explain what happened the night I left here angry. “I’m safer with him than all the other guards. Well, except Kaius. Did you know he was Vargas?”
A wary look crosses his face. “Cormal told me, but I was sworn to secrecy.”
All these men need to have their head examined. “It’s fine. Solandis might not be okay with you knowing before her, so I wouldn’t mention it.” I grip his arm. “Be careful. Don’t take any unnecessary chances out there, okay?”
He laughs until he sees I’m serious. “I might not be the warrior I once was, but I’m quite capable of taking care of myself. You be careful here, got it?”
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
MERI
Cormal’s waiting in my room when I finally return. “Where have you been?”
“With Rivan,” I tell him, taking off my shoes and wiggling my toes. Changing clothes takes little thought, and I walk over to the couch and sit down with a sigh. “Camon agreed to meet the shipment and make sure it gets to the palace. Did you know his wife is pregnant?”
Cormal picks up my foot and begins to massage it. Surprised, I look up, but he’s staring off into the distance. Thinking. Always thinking.
“Interesting. I wonder if that’s why he’s playing both sides. It would explain a lot. So does this.” He puts down my foot and holds up a sheath of papers. “His proposal.”
“I haven’t had a chance to read it. What does it say?” I ask, laying my head on the back of the sofa.
