“Yep. So tell me, human…” he takes your jaw in one hand, leaning in so close your lips nearly brush. “What is it you were dreaming about?”
You swallow hard. Blushing.
“Um.” If you tell him you were crying out his name because you thought he was dying, you might never hear the end of it. So instead you say, “My apartment was underwater. And I was being sucked down to Atlantis.”
“And you were trying to call to me for help?”
“Yeah, uh, something like that.”
Ziros laughs softly. “Little human, did your subconscious forget? We’re attached. If you got sucked down to Atlantis, I’d be the first to know.”
“The lifeline was—” Oh, no.Ohhhh, no. The stupid tears are coming out all on their own. “Broken,” you manage before breaking into sobs.
“Shhhh,” Ziros says, rocking you against his chest. “Shhh, human. It’s okay. You’re okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
If you weren’t crying, you might laugh.
Who would have thought the scary-powerful-dude wouldalsobe so good at comforting?
At least he doesn’t seem to have realized you were cryingoverhim, not crying outforhim.
Because that would be extra embarrassing.
“Here,” he says, handing you another tissue.
When you’ve finally caught your breath again, he scoops you into his arms, carrying you to the bathroom. The bathroom is allfancy marble and glass and polished fixtures, everything as clean and sparkling as can be.
“Hold still.” He sets you on the edge of the counter, running a washcloth in cool water and pressing it gently to your face until some of the stinging fades from your eyes. “Better?”
You nod, taking a deep breath.
“Good.”
He swings you into his arms again, carrying you back to bed.
“Now lie down.”
It’s the middle of the night, and you’re tired enough that you curl onto your side, your eyes closing before your head even hits the pillow again.
To your surprise, Ziros slides under the covers behind you.
“Now sleep,” he murmurs in your hair. “And don’t worry about anything, my little sorceress. I’ll make sure nothing happens to you.”
Did he just call youhislittle sorceress, or did you imagine that in your sleepy haze?
As you drift away back into dreams, you barely hear him whisper at your ear…
“Oh, and human? One more thing.” His voice rumbles against your hair from behind, so low you could almost miss it. “Don’t cry over me.”
Ziros
Ha!
She was really crying over me. I can’t believe it.
I never thought I’d see the day. A human. Crying overme.
And I don’t know why, but I feel a strange mix of feelings at that realization.
