“Endymion,” I said softly, releasing his hand.
“Yes, Nyleeria?” he said, echoing my tone.
“What I said about humanity…” I held his gaze, showing him my truth. “I’m sorry. Thank you for tonight.” My gratitude extended beyond the knife throwing to the kindness he’d shown me at dinner. The way he’d absorbed my anger but hadn’t taken it personally. His graceful patience as he’d explained his kin to me so that I might understand. All of it.
“Until next time, Nyleeria,” he said, then valenned away.
Chapter 35
An Undeserving Target
Blissful quiet greeted me upon entering the empty villa. Holding the heels in my hand, I walked across the cool tiled floor barefoot toward the expansive veranda. On the way, I nabbed a light blanket off the couch and wrapped it around myself—it wasn’t cold, but there was something comforting about being covered, less exposed.
Stepping onto the veranda, a soft summer breeze greeted me, playing with the hem of my skirt as I lazily padded toward the lounge area that was centered by a tiled firepit. The heels made a soft thud from being unceremoniously dropped to the ground before I nestled into an oversized chaise lounge, tucking into myself.
I stared out into the moonlit gardens, and for the first time in a long while, there were no thoughts left to plague me—throwing daggers and exhaustion had chased them all away.
It was our last night in these lands, and as I rested my head on the angled backrest of the chair, looking up at the stars, I was surprised to see familiar markings across the black expanse that covered Lumnara. A part of me felt this place was separate, like a parallel universe, but it was as real as the human realm.
How would I ever absorb this new reality I found myself in? As if in mockery, the firepit came to life. I smiled at the magic that’d somehow known I wanted a fire, that comforting crackling sound, and the hypnotic dance of the flames. Giving into the yellow and amber hues, it took only a few breaths before their calming presence lulled me to sleep.
The sun’s warmth pulled me from my slumber, and I noticed rosebushes I hadn’t been able to see the night before hedging the veranda—reminding me of Endymion’s floral metaphor. The more I thought about it, the less I believed that particular aspect of me came from the spark, as it was well and truly contained while I was in the Summer Court. There must be something wholly unique about who I was as a person, not just what some ancient powers had thrust upon me.
Unwrapping myself from the blanket I was cocooned in, I stretched away the sleep and got up, only to find Nevander standing guard at the threshold to the villa. A pang of guilt washed over me. I should have fallen asleep in Thaddeus’ suite. I wondered if he’d watched over me all night or if he’d taken shifts with Tarrin. They’d never complained about being tired or worn out from guarding me at night after attending to their duties during the day. Perhaps immortality granted them the ability to function on less rest.
“Good morning, Nevander,” I said.
“Good morning, Nyleeria.” A genuine smile bloomed on his face as he followed me back into the villa.
Thaddeus and Tarrin were having a lighthearted conversation at the dining table, which was filled to the brim with baked goods, fruits, and juices. My stomach growled in anticipation.
“Good morning, my dear,” Thaddeus said as he saw us approach.
My dear. He’d never been so casual with me before, not even in private. My heart raced, but I couldn’t identify the emotion coursing through me. I knew Tarrin and Nevander were well aware of what had transpired between Thaddeus and I, but I wasn’t prepared for intimacy outside the bedroom. I shook off the discomfort, positivethat I only felt that way because I’d never had someone claim me in front of others.
Thaddeus stood and closed the small gap between us, then pulled me in before kissing me deeply. My body tensed, acutely aware of our audience, but I returned the kiss, and within a heartbeat, all fear melted away from his warmth, his familiar touch.
Caressing my cheek, he pulled away and smiled down at me, then pulled out the chair next to him.
“I’m going to go slip into something a little more comfortable first,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”
The second I closed the door to Thaddeus’ suite, I pulled the pins out of my hair and stepped out of my dress, needing to be in my own skin again, to be able to run my hands through my hair.
My feet ached from the heels and were gritty against the smooth tile from the beach. I ran the water and washed the sand away. After I’d scrubbed the makeup off and brushed my teeth, I released the pink diamond from the bracelet straps and slid it back on the chain, letting its comforting weight rest against my chest once more.
It took a few minutes, but I found my clothing tucked away in a small closet off the suite on a portable rack—I chuckled to myself, wondering if Kai gave up on hanging them somewhere more permanent.
Now dressed in a simple skirt and a light tank top, I tied my hair up, and made my way back.
“Better?” Thaddeus asked as I sat down.
“Much,” I said with a relieved sigh, then served myself. “What happened after I left?”
“Remind me not to get on your bad side, Ny,” Tarrin said. “I wouldn’t have wanted to be on the other end ofthat, let me tell you. You could hear a pin drop for minutes after the doors closed behind you.”
Thaddeus’ lips curled in a knowing smile. “It isn’t pleasant,” he admitted, already being on the receiving end of my anger once before. I smiled sweetly at him and winked—lest he forget.
Tarrin laughed at our exchange.
