From the size of the building, it would take time to walk through all the wings.
In the foyer, we took the big broad staircase to the third floor housing the east wing, and we left Zayde and Layla in the first suite and me and Vexxion in the second.
“Your closets are spelled,” Vera told all of us with a smile. “I took care of that this morning when I realized you’d soon arrive. You’ll find a variety of clothing magicked to your exact size. They’re yours to wear as you wish; please feel welcome. If something’s missing, tell the closet, and it’ll appear.”
After giving us a nod, she, Reyla, and Brodine continued on toward the north wing, leaving the four of us behind.
Layla gave me a quick hug, speaking by my ear. “I’ll see you tomorrow? Zayde and I are going to bed early. We’re tired.”
And they were eager to be together. They never stopped touching, and their gazes were only for each other. Pure envy raked across my soul whenever I looked their way.
If only . . .
I wasn’t going to give up on Vexxion. My emotions were a wreck, and they kept flipping me in every direction, but my love for him shone through. I’d find the man I loved inside him somewhere, and one day soon, we’d finally be together again.
“Are you sure you don’t want your own suite?” I asked himonce we were inside and had shut the door. “It’s safe enough here beneath the thorns. I doubt you have to watch over me now.”
“We’re sharing a suite,” was all he said. He strode to the broad bank of windows on the right side of the room and peered around a gauzy curtain.
Because I wanted to be with him even if he rejected me, I stopped arguing about it.
Drask swept off my shoulder and landed on a perch beside a window, cocking his head to look outside.
I glanced inside the big bathing area, taking in the usual fixtures. I’d use the tub later. Then I walked across the sitting area to look inside the adjacent room that held an enormous bed with dark blue drapes, plus a few bureaus. A door on the far side led to the closet. One side of that had been filled with everything I adored wearing, from ball gowns in a variety of colors, to my favorite black leathers. The other side held formal tunics as well as casual clothing in Vexxion’s size, plus a few sets of leathers he might choose to wear as well.
I returned to the living area to find him sitting in a chair, his feet stretched out to almost touch the cold hearth. He rose when he heard me and turned, holding onto the back of the chair.
The cavern he’d once described, the one with a wire stretching across, filled the room now. Except he stood on one side, and I remained on the other. I’d outstretched my arm, and though I couldn’t see his, I suspected it reached toward me as well.
But our fingers couldn’t reach far enough to touch.
Did I dare try to flit to where he waited?
I strode over and took one of his hands, squeezing it. “I hope you’ll feel welcome here.”
He led me around to the front of the sofa and sunk down, urging me to join him. It felt good to sit with him even if a wall remained between us. It felt normal, if such a thing was possible after all we’d been through.
“I . . .” He sighed. “It’s strange not being at Bledmire, not to have his collar around my throat.” His fingertip traced across the area.
Did it also feel strange to be with me? It must. How lost he must feel about everything.
“We’ll end whatever this is,” I said fiercely. “And we’ll do it together.”
“I remember everything right up to the moment I arrived at the fortress. Everything after that is dark and cloudy.”
I shared a bit of how we’d met. “You were a pain in the ass,” I said with a laugh. The memory was so vivid even now. If only I could send the image to his mind.
Wait.
“Would you let me try something?” My voice was one big croak as I explained. “You can say no. I won’t enter your mind. I won’t push a spell or my power on you. I promise.”
“Do it,” A smile flickered across his full lips before they smoothed. “Iwantto remember. I feel as if it’s right there, like a word on the tip of your tongue you can’t force past your lips.”
“Tell me if I’m overwhelming you, and I’ll stop.”
He stared into my eyes, and after he nodded, I sent himeverything I had, all the love and joy trapped inside me. All ofus.
“I manipulated you,” he finally said with a frown. “And I wasn’t honest.”
