Her stomach clenched. “What about Cruxan?”
“The Prime Leader wishes for him to return toOtalaas soon as he is rested. He will probably leave for his home in the next couple spans or so.”
She felt a jolt of panic race through her at the prospect that he would be leaving soon. Crystal’s gaze went to Beks, who frowned up at Lihvan.
“Right,” she whispered. “Where is he now?”
“At his dwelling, just down the terrace.”
“He has a home here?” Crystal asked.
“It is the Ambassador dwelling,” Lihvan explained. “Though Cruxan passes through the most on his way toOtala.”
Crystal wanted to see him. The need to see him actually surprised her.
“Can you point it out to me? I’d like to speak with him.”
Lihvan nodded and Beks gave her a small smile as she passed her on her way out the front door.
“You want me to wait up, darling?” the brunette asked, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
Crystal gave her a pointed look. “No,mom,but don’t worry, I’ll be home by curfew.”
Beks chuckled. “I won’t ground you if you’re not.”
Lihvan only looked baffled by the exchange between them, but once outside, he shook his head, as if used to his mate’s strange human ways, and gestured down the terrace. A small dwelling, hidden by the trees, peeked through, golden light pouring from its windows.
“He is there,” Lihvan said.
Her breath hitched with anticipation of seeing him. “Thanks.”
She gave him a small smile, wrapping her arms around her body when she felt how chilly it was outside. Beks had lended her a dress and a sweater she’d knitted herself out of threaded fur. It was warm and cozy and soft, but did little to keep the bite ofKrorataxair from her skin.
Crystal walked towards the dwelling. It didn’t take her long and when she looked over her shoulder, she saw Lihvan watching. She gave him a little wave when she reached the front door, before hesitating, wondering if she should knock or not.
She decided to at first and waited with bated breath. But after a while, she frowned when he didn’t answer, knowing that surely he’d be able to hear a knock on the door, no matter where he was in the house.
Crystal pushed the door open, closing it behind her.
“Cruxan?” she called out, looking around.
Like all Luxirian dwellings, there was a familiar layout, with the fire pit/living room being at the front of the house and the rooms and bathing pool room connected through hallways towards the back.
There was a fire going in the pit, warming up the space, but the rest of the house was quiet and dark.
She furrowed her brow, wondering if Lihvan got it wrong. But she took down the hallway, peeking in the two rooms she saw until she realized that the door to the bathing pool was ajar, a soft light filtering underneath.
“Cruxan?” she called softly just outside it.
She frowned before sliding the door back, peeking inside. The light was dim, but his scent was undeniable. His clothes were piled on the floor and then she spotted his figure underneath the water of the heated spring.
Her breath hitched, wondering what in the world he was doing.
“Cruxan,” she called out louder, her voice echoing around the cavernous room, bouncing off the stone walls.
In an instant, he surfaced, his horns, his dark, inky hair, his strong, masculine features coming into view. He stood in the bathing pool, the water barely covering his pelvis. Those gleaming, thick muscles on display were almost too much for her to handle, especially since she’d been dreaming about him, especially since her fingers twitched to draw him.
“Luxiva,” he rasped, his chest heaving, drawing in air. He was surprised to see her there, she saw that clearly on his face.
