* * *
Three hours later,they finally stop to get a drink of water. Both are breathing heavily, blood and sweat coating their bodies, but large grins grace each of their faces. Finally!
“Well, darling, your plan worked.” Solandis’ melodious voice rings out, her tone conveying her amusement and approval of my actions. “Vargas, darling, we need to get going soon. Are you done?” While her words imply a question, she’s really stating her intention to leave soon, with or without him.
I laugh. I’ve missed the games these two play with each other. Several heads turn toward us, a question in their eyes. “When Solandis is ready to go, she leaves. She’s left Vargas and returned home, by herself, many times.” Vargas chuckles and winks at Solandis.
While Vargas says goodbye to the others, I clasp Solandis’ hand in mine. “It meant so much to me to have you at the ceremony, standing as my guardians. To be by my side, seeing my witch heritage unfold after all the years of secrets, was more than I could imagine. I guess we’ll find out what it means to be the Rowan, witch of seven bloodlines, destiny of something, but we have some answers, and soon, we’ll have more.” I smile tearily at her. I’ll miss having her here. “I wish you could stay longer. One day, when this is all over, we’ll all meet at the house and you can spend time getting to know everyone better.”
She pulls me into a tight hug. “I know you’re in good hands. Never forget how much I love you, darling. No matter what happens, I’m here for you.”
“I love you,” I reply, hugging her tightly.
“Where’s my hug?” Vargas bellows.
I slide out of Solandis’ arms and stand before him, wrinkling my nose. I wave my hands at the blood and sweat covering his body, using my magic to clean him up. Then I step into his arms. “I love you too. Take care of each other. I’ll text often. Let us know if you find out anything.”
After Solandis gives everyone a rare hug, they conjure a portal and leave.
Valerian comes up to me. “Thank you. I was handling him wrongly, and I couldn’t understand why he was being such an asshole.”
“He needed reassurance that you could handle whatever’s coming our way,” I explain softly. “Now he knows you can.”
2
THERON
My phone pings with an incoming text. I’m tempted to ignore it and continue with my delicious daydream, but of course, I don’t. Picking it up, I see a text from Arden, asking if I have time to meet with her. Amusement ripples through me. I came to the garden to get away from her, to breathe without her delectable scent teasing me, to dream of roving hands and the slide of her towel as it falls to the ground, leaving me with a wet and naked Arden in my arms. The vision has teased me ever since I found her fresh from the shower in her room.
A second ping comes across with an apology for bothering me and a request to meet up later. Pursing my lips, I reply with my location and an invitation to join me.
Five minutes, she texts back.
Closing my eyes, I savor the grass beneath me, my bare feet planted firmly, letting nature’s elements seep into me from below while the sun shines down from above. Releasing a breath, I try to recapture the relaxed drowsiness of a second ago, but my body is tense in anticipation of her arrival.
The swoosh of the elevator doors opening fills the air, and seconds later, she stands beside me, her unique scent of strawberries and honeysuckle tickling my nose.
“Theron,” she murmurs, her hesitancy to bother me apparent in her tone.
In a flash of movement, I sweep her legs out from under her before catching her in my arms. Lowering her to the ground beside me, I roll over and stare at her surprised face.
“Didn’t Vargas teach you to expect the unexpected?” I tease her, my amusement apparent. My fingers brush the hair out of her eyes, and startled, I pause for a second. Usually hazel, they seem different, lighter, and a bit greener perhaps.
She stares at me intensely for a few seconds before laughter spills from her luscious pink lips. “He did,” she replies. “I didn’t expect it from you, I guess. You’re usually in a suit and so proper, so…Fae. And I rarely see you sparring or doing physical things. Don’t get me wrong, I like this side of you. It’s a surprise, though.” She shrugs. “I’m not disturbing you, am I?”
I jolt with surprise when I hear her description of me. I hadn’t realized I’d never shown her more than the formal façade. I’ve definitely got some work to do.
“Always and never,” I answer truthfully. Getting up on my knees, I lean over and trail my hands along her long legs to her feet. I slip off her shoes and plant her feet in the grass. She sighs in pleasure. At the sight of her lying in front of me, a bolt of desire makes my hands tighten on her ankles, but I force myself to relax.
She pulls her bottom lip in for a second, then tells me, “Before we get into anything else, I want to thank you for shaking Vargas’ hand. It meant a lot to him and me. I’ve never seen another Fae shake his hand. Even Solandis’ sister, the queen, won’t embrace him.”
“I learned a long time ago to measure a male by his actions, not his race, rank, or power. I know from personal experience how judgmental and unforgiving the Fae can be, even to their own.” Memories cloud my voice as I reply. I lower myself to her side and stare at the sky. “I know Vargas to be worthy because of you. All the training and love he gave you is the highest recommendation of his character.”
When she turns her head, mine also turns, as if it’s tuned to her every movement. She smiles, her hand coming up to cup my jaw.
“Thank you. I got some of my best traits from Vargas,” she responds. “He’s fierce and loyal to those he loves and brutal to his enemies, but he takes time to laugh and enjoy life. He tells me to leave it all on the table and take the time to capture the moments, because those two things will later define the memories of my life. Given how long he’s lived, I believe him.”
Hmm, he’s right,I muse. She lapses into silence, and I use the time to take in this moment with her. My eyes drop to her lips, and all I can think about is how they would feel against mine.
