“Hey, I didn’t make you sleep on my couch last night. You could have went home.”
He shoots me a look that says, I would never, or something much more intense like you’re my fated mate and I refuse to let you suffer alone, but says nothing.
Biting my lip, I look over at the leather couch, the gold blanket and pillows scattered across it. It looks comfortable enough.
“Fine. Only if you’re a gentleman. If you try anything I’ll scream. The gods will hear my cries of destress and smite you where you lay.” Laughing, I scoot to the opposite side of the bed, giving him room to slide in beside me.
“You wouldn’t.” His eyes slant as he climbs under the covers and then waves a hand nonchalantly to shut off the orbs of celestial light floating high above us.
“Oh, but I will. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Turning toward him, I raise my eyebrows up and down, daring him to try.
His eyes soften as his crooked grin grows, then he turns to his side, shifting his wings until he’s comfortable. “I respect you. I respect your feelings for Ere. My only concern right now is making sure you’re safe. Everything else we can figure out later.” His smile now is sleepy and weak, but his eyes dance with light as he tucks hair behind my ear. Then he curls his arm under his head to use it as a pillow as he gazes over at me.
Smiling up at him, I rest my arm under my head just like him, then, cuddle in a bit closer. We aren’t touching. There’s space between us. But still, the warmth of him near is enough to calm any worry I might have had before. “I feel very safe with you, Kairos,” I whisper.
I do. I also feel happier than I have in a while which scares the shit out of me. Back home I gave up on fighting my dark thoughts and depression for the most part. I chose to pretend I was fine instead of actually trying to be fine. The desire to rid myself of darkness and pain for good grows by the second here with Kairos. Fighting for happiness sounds better than pretending. Fighting for my mind to be free sounds invigorating. I will not sit back and be used or abused by Nyx or anyone else any longer, and I refuse to let any more harm come to Kairos or his people. They’ve all suffered enough. I have too, and I’m tired of suffering. We’ll all be free one day and I will chase the promise of happiness until I can’t any longer.
Death will have to take me.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Let It Burn
NORA
The wind caresses my face, my red hair swirling around me like a gleam of light against the thick, dark clouds rolling past overhead. The distant bleakness of the towering temple and city skyline in the distance steals my attention, even with the commotion on the ground. The clang of metal reaches my ears as the Dark Legion in their fighting leathers begin training far below. Hundreds of men and women with ebony wings pair up and swing and slice toward the others weapon with deadly precision. I find it both amazing and terrifying.
Kairos believes they’ll be prepared this time if Nyx and her demon army were to ever attack here. Their celestial wards, he says, will alert them far in advance, giving them the upper hand. Apparently, Queen Gaia’s wards are impenetrable. I hope he’s right. I hope we never have to see if it’s true. Nyx found her way into the Realm of Light once, after all. The thought of her here sends chills creeping along my skin, not out of fear of what she’ll do to me, but a deep terror of what she might do to these people. To him.
Kairos steps out onto the balcony and hands me a warm mug, clinking it against mine in a silent ‘cheers.’ I snort as he brings the cup to his lips and winks at me before taking a long sip. “Sorry. Fresh out of tequila. I hope coffee will suffice.” A crooked smirk and aquamarine eyes envelop me in warmth.
Tilting my head to the side, I roll my eyes overdramatically. “I only loved tequila so much that night with you at the club because it helped me escape the nightmare of having to talk to you. You’re a real bore, you know?” I laugh but he does not.
He bumps his shoulder into mine playfully. “Please. You felt anything but bored that night,” he says, leaning his elbows on the railing, his face now close to mine.
“Oh yeah?” Leaning in closer, my lips inches from his, I whisper, “tell me then, Kairos, what did I feel?”
“You felt exhilarated. The excitement rolled off you in waves. I make you feel alive.” His smile is wide, but I can sense the questions in his eyes. Despite his proclamation, he’s unsure how I really feel.
Looking into his eyes is like staring straight into the eye of a storm, the calming sensation right before thunder claps.
“What you sensed that night, Kairos, was the repulsion I felt from your over-the-top flirting. And also…boredom.” I shrug, keeping my eyes on him.
I try to play it off, hiding the sarcasm in my tone, but then laughter slips out and a smile creeps across his lips as I explode into a fit of giggles. He laughs and shakes his head, knowing my words are all lies. Everything about Kairos is beautiful, but his carefree laugh, his playful mind, and his selfless, open heart are quickly becoming my favorite things.
“Okay, little liar. Finish your coffee and get dressed. You’ve got an army to reintroduce yourself to.” He winks before chugging the last bit of his coffee and then heads into his bedroom without looking back.
“God, you’re bossy,” I tease, following close behind him.
Too close, apparently, because when he comes to a sudden stop and faces me, I crash into his hard chest, splashing the contents of my mug all over his shirt. Gripping me by the shoulders, he gently peels our bodies apart as I mutter curse words under my breath and wipe at his shirt with my bare hands. Not surprisingly, his lips twitch as he holds back a smile.
“What I meant to say, princess,” he waves his hand and bows low before continuing. “Is please can you get dressed and ready so as not to leave the immortal army who is expecting us waiting. They’ve only been hoping for your return for over a century, after all.”
His smile is cocky. I roll my eyes as I push past him and make my way to the closet. He is bossy. I was only stating a fact. Rummaging through clothes in the closet, I decide on one of the signature black robes of the realm. The emblem on the front features golden wings with a sword pointing down between them, just like almost everything else in the closet. I glance again at the wall of leather before sliding the closet closed. It’s sexy and I can tell Kairos prefers it, but it feels unnecessary today. I won’t be training or fighting, and I like the breeziness of the robes better. Running a golden brush through my hair, I turn toward Kairos, opening my mouth to speak.
Instead, I gasp. In his robe with the hood drawn up, flashes of the night on the bridge push their way into my thoughts. A shudder runs through me remembering the fear I felt plummeting toward the lake and then again when I faced him. I thought he wanted to hurt me. I know now that couldn’t be further from the truth. There isn’t the tiniest piece of Kairos that would enjoy hurting me. As he smiles and offers up his arm, I loop mine through it and we descend the spiraling marble staircase together.
Out on the training field, we keep our distance as the celestials continue fighting, paying no mind to the two of us standing here. Mio, the dark-haired green-eyed friend of Kairos’ who I met at my house last week smiles brightly as he spots us together quietly watching. The celestials’ fierceness is hard to ignore. In their black leather, their wings furrow and unfurrow as they twist and dive and roll across the ground, gleaming weapons in hand and strapped to their bodies everywhere imaginable. But god are they beautiful.
