It did not take long for his breath to even into a steady rhythm. I was still on top of Bartholomew and his legs were loosely hooked over the backs of my knees. His warm breath rushed over my scales, and I swallowed a moan at the tingles it created. I took a deep inhale of his earthy scent.
“Oh, my Mate,” I whispered, lips brushing his skin. “I will keep you safe. I will make sure life is easy and slow, so you can smell the flowers. I promise.”
He grunted.
With a soft smile, I started to lift myself off him, but Bartholomew gripped my shirt in tight fists, muttering. I rested my weight on him again, and he quieted, grasp loosening. Grinning, I nuzzled him to spread even more of my scent. Bartholomew liked me—it was obvious in how he took great care of me—but it was more than that. He needed me; his clinging proved it.
“Don’t worry, Flower. I will never leave.” My lips trailed over the sparse hair on his cheeks and chin. I loved it. I hoped when we were rescued that he wouldn’t get rid of it. My tongue ran along the line of his jaw, and Bartholomew grunted, his legs tightening around me.
Warmth bloomed in my stomach and spread to my limbs, flooding me. My soul skittered as I stared at Bartholomew beneath me. Mine. He was mine. That was something I knew, but this new all-consuming heat was something else; something far softer and much more potent.
Pressing my lips against his temple, I groaned. “Bartholomew, I love you. I love you so much.”
He grunted.
I smiled at the snore that escaped him. I would tell my adorable mate how I felt and soon, but for now, I would bask in his presence.
Chapter 29
Cold confrontations.
“What have I done?” I whispered the second I woke up. Mindy was passed out beneath me, but I distinctly remembered him being on top of me when I fell asleepafterI’d told him everything. Literally everything.
Panic coursed through my veins as my pulse pounded in my chest. I’d told him everything and had just fallen asleep like I didn’t have a fucking care in the world. I had lots and lots of cares. Why had I said anything, let alone passed out afterward?
Yes, Serlotminden had said he was fine, but how could he be? I’d confessed tomurderingpeople. No one normal would be fine with what I’d done. Either he was lying or he was insane. I was guessing the former.
Slowly, I slid off Mindy’s chest, and he groaned, tail squeezing my calf. “Flower,” he said, half-asleep.
I cupped his cheek, dragging a thumb over his scales. He took a deep breath, giving me a goofy smile as he fell back into a deep sleep. His tail released me, flopping to the mattress, and I wiggled out from beneath the mound of blankets. Trembling, I shoved on my glasses, tugged on my shoes, and crawled out of the tent.
Pookie immediately stood and snorted in welcome. I absentmindedly patted her, my thoughts circling on my conversation with Mindy. Why? A little nightmare, and I’d confessed everything like a scared kid? I should’ve kept my mouth shut. He didn’t need to know what had happened on Xome. How could he possibly look at me the same way, when I would never see myself in the same light again?
The shuttle was too confining for all of the emotions clogging my head. I needed out. I needed air. I needed to not look around and see metal.
Shaking, I yanked the cargo bay door open and stepped into the freezing cold. A gust of wind blew over me, making the blanket flare and raising goosebumps on my arms. Ominous clouds hung in the sky, approaching with every second that passed, and my breath came out in a frozen cloud with each breath.
I ignored the growing storm and the frigid air. They both seemed far away in contrast to the icy storm coiling inside of me. I’d told him everything. My eyes closed and I sank to the snow, wrapping my arms around my knees. Mindy should have left me on Xome. I should not be here.
Screams echoed in my mind, followed by a resounding thud of the bolt. I had closed it each time to protect Vince. I, not he, had killed all of them. I had stood there and let them die, even as he stared at me.
Tears froze to my cheeks as the wind picked up, howling.
Something cold nosed my elbow.
“No, Pookie,” I said.
She snorted, grabbing the blanket with her teeth, and tugged.
“No, Pookie,” I cried. “Just go back to Mindy.”
Pookie crawled onto my lap, wiggling and shaking. I tried to hold her, but she refused to sit still and kept attempting to direct me toward the shuttle. The wind gusted and a snowflake landed on my nose, making me jolt. I looked up; the clouds had swelled in the short time and the temperature had continued to drop to the point I felt frozen where I sat.
Terror filled my limbs, locking me in place, at what I could only describe as buckets of snow falling so fast it almost appeared like a white wave coming toward me. It wasn’t possible. It couldn’t snow that fast. It couldn’t.
I tried to move, but my body refused to budge. My thoughts clouded and a sense of complete helplessness filled me as I stared in horror at the incoming snow.
“Bartholomew!” Serlotminden's voice sliced through the air. He snagged me and Pookie, who was squealing, and raced inside. My arms wrapped around his neck, holding him tight. I was going to lose him, wasn’t I? I deserved it and so much worse. I almost heard the ghosts in the back of my mind agreeing with me.
