“It’s too much.”
“Right now, all we're doing is landing, then we’ll go to our quarters. You, me, and Lucy. One thing at a time.”
One thing at a time. One moment to the next. All I had to do was focus on my next action, and I would survive.
The ship bobbed one last time as it landed. Kal bit me again before shifting me off his lap. He snagged Lucy’s carrier, and she meowed unhappily. I pressed into his side, ignoring everything, and we stepped out of the shuttle.
“Seth, look. We’re home,” Kal whispered.
A towering building made from metal and glass stood in front of me. The spires twisted up into the air like dragon tails. Multiple balconies without railings covered the structure, and drakcol flew from level to level. Trees, plants, and flowers grew in every available space. It was beautiful.
“This is the palace, my home.”
“This?” I asked, gesturing to the massive building.
“Yes, and this is the capital.” Kal turned me around, and my mouth fell open.
A city sprawled before me filled with thousands of tall buildings. Most were made from the same metal and glass, and dark specks, drakcol, flew through the air. It was breathtaking, overwhelming, but most of all—alien.
Chapter 46
Home sweet home.
People bowed, greeting me, but their eyes followed me and my mate. They were naturally curious. I’d been the royal troublemaker, the problem child, who had to fight for access to the Crystal. Seth was my reward. Still, I wanted to snarl at them, to warn them away from my mate.
He was pale, shockingly so. I kept my tail around his ankle and his hand within my grasp, though his fingers were ice against my scales. Head down and shoulders slumped, Seth took shallow breaths.
The moment we entered our quarters, I asked, “NAID, is the barrier in place?”
NAID’s typical blue silhouette appeared, and a monotone voice nothing like the one I’d become used to over the last six months replied, “Yes, Prince.”
“Please notify my family of our arrival and let them know we are not up to guests today.”
“Yes, Prince.”
“That will be all.”
I let go of Seth and set Lucy on the ground. I opened the transport box, and she snuck out, hunched to the ground and tail puffed. My gaze shifted to Seth; he didn’t react to entering our quarters, swaying on his feet. I hooked my arms around him, drawing him close. Seth didn’t even twitch. He was overwhelmed. I wanted to show him the quarters I’d grown up in and all of my childhood things. I wanted to take him on a tour of the palace and let him see all my special places. But Seth needed time.
Kissing his temple, I tugged him toward my—our room. Lucy skulked after us and darted under the canopy bed draped in a thick white blanket. Vines with flowers coiled around the wooden frame. Open windows, which led to a railless balcony, lined the two back walls, letting in the breeze and making the sheer curtains flutter.
He flopped onto the bed. I tugged his shoes and socks off. I yanked my boots off, then I snuggled next to him. “I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I need to sleep,” he said, voice empty.
“Do you want me to leave?”
Seth shook his head.
I kissed him, settling partially on top of him.
The day passed quickly since I’d slept most of it. I woke up a few times, but each time, Kal soothed me back to sleep. When I woke up again, the sun shone through the open windows.
I rolled over, touching the empty spot next to me. Sleepily, I examined the room—my new home. The bed took up most of the space, as did the tall windows, but there were two frosted glass doors with vine carvings on the remaining wall. One led back to the living room, and the other, I assumed, went to a closet and bathroom.
I had no idea where Kal was, but I doubted he’d gone far.
Floral scents filled the room, and a breeze wafted in from the open windows. No sounds of traffic or car horns invaded the peaceful atmosphere. I squeezed Kal’s pillow, inhaling. His familiar Christmas scent soothed the remaining stress lingering in my muscles.
