Except that my eyes kept straying to the beach where just over a month ago, a blue dragon had crested the waves, kissed me, and stolen me away to his underwater kingdom. Even now, after I'd resigned myself to our love being hopeless, I still searched for Verin in the shallows. How pathetic is that? I was pining for him like a fool.
I cracked my neck and looked down at the jewelry box. “A month is long enough. Goodbye Hope, you heartless bitch.”
“Who is Hope?” A deep voice asked.
I spun around and my jaw dropped. Standing before me—right there in my bedroom with its palm-leaf ceiling fan spinning away above him and its hardwood floors beneath his feet—was the Blue Dragon. Verin's indigo hair hung loose around his shoulders just the way I liked it, his hands were balled into fists at his sides, and his eyes looked haunted—they were also in a shade that matched his hair. If that proof of emotional intensity wasn't enough, the tics twitching across his face and his clenched jaw cinched it.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I finally asked breathlessly.
“You let go,” he growled in accusation.
“I did what now?” I gaped at him, baffled.
Verin made a low rumbling sound as his stare dropped. I was in a bikini and sarong—the latter tied around my waist. But he wasn't appreciating the display. Well, he did a little, but that wasn't why he looked. He was searching for something and my skimpy attire allowed him to quickly confirm that it wasn't there.
“You've worn it since I left,” Verin said. “I could feel you through the coral and it... it comforted me. But today you took it off. You let go of us.”
“I thought it was time,” I whispered.
Danger! Danger! Danger!RS shouted.He could be toying with you again.
Can't you tell?I asked.
No. I let him go like you told me to,she grumbled.He isn't fueling me anymore.
Then do me a favor and be quiet.
Well, how rude!
That's not being quiet,Kyanite snapped.Shut the hell up, RS!
Fine!
“It's not time to let go, Elaria,” Verin protested.
“Verin”—I sighed deeply—“what do you want?”
Verin made a frustrated and furious sound. “What do I want? What do Iwant?!”
“That's what I asked,” I said calmly. I took a deep breath and went on, “Did you come here to torture me right when I was starting to move on, or do you have another goal in mind?”
“Torture you?” Verin growled. “I'vebeen tortured this last month. My bed smells like you so I won't let anyone change the sheets; your clothes still hang in my closet because I can't bear to part with them, even though you only wore a few things; and I spend most of my days in my garden, sitting exactly where I sat with you, staring at the fish and birds, and wondering why I'm such a damn fool!”
“Verin,” I whispered in shock.
“So, what do I want?” He stepped forward stiffly, his fists opening. “What do you think I want, Elaria? I want you! I want you in my bed and I want you to wear the clothes hanging in my closet. I want you sitting in that garden beside me and I want you to sing to me as I make love to you. That's what I want!”
“That's what I want too.” I held my hand out to him.
Just my hand, nothing too scary, but Verin stared at it as if it might destroy him.
“The RS released you. You're not bound to me anymore,” I went on. “And you don't have to be, Verin. We don't have to commit to anything more than being together. I'd be happy to have all that you mentioned and nothing more. Would that be okay with your people?”
Verin crumpled to his knees and hung his head, covering his face with his hands. It was my fantasy come true but now that it was here, I didn't want it. Not like that.
“Verin!” I dropped to my knees before him and laid my hands on his shoulders. “It's okay. You don't have to decide right now. Give it some time.”
Verin lifted his face but instead of tears, he wore a brilliant smile. He started to laugh but it was a laugh full of relief—the way you might laugh after hearing that your house was spared from wildfire because a family of beavers dammed your river and flooded your yard. A hysterical and slightly beleaguered laugh—one that expressed joy and annoyance and relief.
