Rune grinned and settled on the pillows, imagining all the fun they could have with him at her mercy. But he had questionsto ask becausesomethinghad certainly changed in their brief time apart.
“Did you find the answers you were looking for?”
“The Sleeping Curse…” Alora bit her lip, her brow furrowing. “Lady Zinnia said it began with my mother, but I can’t shake the feeling I have something to do with it?”
Rune frowned. “Why would you assume that?”
“Because I’m not human n-not fully. Clearly.” Alora waved her arm glowing white with her magic, shadows curling around her fingers. “She said my mother went to Khar Avalen and made a wish for me with magic of the Blood Moon.”
Rune stilled.
His blood went cold at the mention of that damnable place. There were things buried there that even gods feared to name.
“I was born of magic not of this world and my mother paid for it,” Alora said faintly.
Rune’s chest tightened as he listened to Alora share what she’d learned from her godmother.
“I need to find out more about who I am,” she continued. “Tomorrow, I’m going to the ruins.”
He opened his mouth to argue, having the urge to hide her away from the world and keep her safe. But Alora curled against his chest, her body finally giving in to exhaustion.
“Will you come with me?” she murmured sleepily, her eyes closing.
Sighing, he brushed the golden locks from her temple. “I will follow you to the ends of the earth,ra’ayati.”
“Hmm… you called me that before. What does it mean?”
“I will tell you once I rule the shadows again.”
“What if I don’t want to give them back?” she teased with a yawn. “I like you helpless. You’re not so terrifying.”
Her arm wrapped around his waist, palm lying flat on his back. He exhaled in wonder as the old ache there faded.
“Helpless?” he smirked softly. “Power or no, I am still the most dangerous thing in this Realm.”
A light bloomed in his chest as the bond reacted with Alora’s amusement. And he didn’t realize how relieved he was to feel it still intact.
She snuggled closer, her sleepy voice humming through his mind.So arrogant.
He watched Alora’s features relax as she fell asleep with a smile on her lips. The one good thing about becoming mortal, was that he no longer suffered the maddening crave to devour her. She still smelled like briar roses, but the primal nature that could smell the delicious magic in her blood had gone dormant, along with that other beastly side of him.
Rune settled on the pillows beside her. Alora was powerful. More than she knew.
More than him.
Whether she had stolen his power by accident or by instinct, it had saved them both.
“You changed our fate again,” he whispered faintly.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
A current brushed his lips, electric and faint. The air stirred, a flicker of shadows curled over his skin, reaching for him.
Rune drew back with a sigh of relief.
“Well,” he murmured. “Let her keep it for now.”
From his pocket, he drew out Alora’s ring. The blood red ruby glinted in the candlelight. He supposed in some form or other, he’d forced it onto her finger. But if he hoped for his bride to one day accept him, it began with her choosing him first.
