Rhyland leans into my touch, his eyes closing as he takes a deep breath. "I know, Angel," his voice low and raw. "It's just... it's not something I talk about much, you know?"
I nod, my heart aching for the little boy he once was, yearning for a father he never knew. "I get it, Rhy. Believe me, I do. But hey, you've got me now, right? And I'm not going anywhere."
A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, his eyes opening to meet mine. "Thank fuck for that," he murmurs, his hand coming up to tangle in my hair, his fingers twisting in the strands. "I don't know what I'd do without you, baby."
I grin, my nose wrinkling as I kiss his jaw. "Probably brood a lot and punch things," I tease. "What about your mother?" I ask softly, my fingers threading through the silky strands of his hair.
Rhyland's jaw clenches, his eyes taking on a faraway look as he delves into the painful memories of his past. "My mother's name was Freya," his voice barely above a whisper. "She said she was named after the Norse Goddess Freyja. She was all Iknew, and she filled my head with stories of the gods descending from the heavens and gifting her with me…or some shit like that."
I smirk. "So, you're telling me you're the result of some divine booty call?" I ask, my fingers trailing down his chest, my nails scraping lightly over his skin. "That's one hell of an origin story, babe."
Rhyland snorts, shaking his head as he rolls his eyes. "Yeah, well, as much as I wanted to believe I was some kind of divine gift, I grew up and realized that I was more than likely the result of some deadbeat knocking my mother up and leaving her high and dry."
I wince at the bitterness in his tone, my heart breaking for the man in my arms. "I'm sorry, babe," I whisper, kissing his chiseled chest softly. "That's a tough pill to swallow, no matter how old you are."
Rhyland shrugs, his expression hardening into a mask of indifference. "It is what it is, Angel," his voice gruff with emotion. "Can't change the past, no matter how much we might want to."
I nod, my mind already whirring with possibilities. "True," I concede. "But maybe we can uncover some answers about your father and, in turn, shed some light on that lightning mojo of yours."
Rhyland's eyes narrow. "What are you getting at, baby?"
"I'm saying," I muse, my fingers tracing that sexy dark hair trail leading straight to the promised land. "What if there's more to the story than we know? I mean, think about it. You've got these insane powers that no other vampire has. That's got to mean something, right?"
Rhyland frowns, "I don't know, Angel," he admits, hesitating. "I've never really given it much thought. I just assumed it was some fluke, a glitch in the vampire matrix, or some shit."
I shake my head, my grin widening. "Nuh-uh, Viking," I counter. "I don't believe in coincidences, especially regarding you. There's got to be a reason for your lightning powers, and I'll be damned if we don't get to the bottom of it."
Rhyland chuckles, his arms tightening around me as he pulls me closer. "You're not going to let this go, are you?" he asks, his voice a low rumble in his chest.
"Not a chance, babe," I confirm, my fingers walking up his chest to tap him on the nose. "You should know by now that once I sink my teeth into something, I don't let go until I've gotten to the bottom of it."
Rhyland groans, his head falling back against the stone floor with a thunk. "Fuck me," he mutters in amusement. "I've created a monster."
I giggle, my lips kissing the underside of his jaw. "You love it," I whisper, my breath ghosting over his skin. "Admit it, you're just as curious as I am about your lightning trick and where it comes from."
Rhyland sighs, his hand coming up to cup the back of my head, his fingers tangling in my hair. "Yeah, I am," he admits. "But honestly, baby, I'm not sure I want to know the truth. What if it's something I can't handle? What if it changes everything?"
I pull back, my eyes searching his swirling baby blues. "Hey," my voice is soft and reassuring. "No matter what we find out, it doesn't change who you are, Rhyland. You're still the same stubborn, brooding, sexy-as-hell vampire Viking I fell in love with. And nothing, not even some divine deadbeat dad, can change that."
Rhyland's eyes soften, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I love you, Angel. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm sure as hell not going to question it."
I grin, my heart swelling with love for this beautiful, broken man. "I love you too," I whisper, my lips brushing against his in a soft, sweet kiss. "And you deserve everything, babe. Don't ever forget that."
Rhyland groans, his tongue delving into my mouth, claiming me with a hunger that sets my blood on fire.
Our little cuddle session is rudely interrupted by the sound of splashing because, apparently, the universe just can't let us have one fucking moment of peace.
We scramble to our feet, frantically pulling on clothes and grabbing weapons, ready to face whatever fresh hell has decided to crash our party.
I've got my daggers in hand, poised to strike, half-expecting that creepy-ass sea creature to come slithering out of the water, ready to claim us as its mid-afternoon delight. Instead, Mirella emerges from the depths like a mermaid on a mission, her expression all business and no play.
I sigh in relief, sheathing my daggers and trying to calm my racing heart. "Mirella? What the hell are you doing here? I hope it's not to critique our technique—we're rather fond of our methods, you see."
Mirella, clearly not one for small talk or innuendo, cuts straight to the chase. "The Queen has summoned you, and you cannot refuse," she informs us, suggesting that 'no' is not an option.
Rhyland and I share a look of mutual bewilderment. "And pray tell, what happens if we do refuse?" I inquire, my eyebrow arched in question. "Not to be difficult, but we're on a tight schedule."
Mirella's expression tightens, her eyes flashing with a hint of warning. "If you refuse, there will be consequences," she states. "I don't wish to be unpleasant, but please, Dani. The Queen desires an audience with you both, as you have survived the trial."
