CHAPTER 31
Rosomon
Enjoying the view from our new apartment, I balance my forehead against the glass window, stretching my arms wide and imagining that I’m flying over the lights of this dark city—wending through its tall buildings, racing above the noisy cars on the streets.
With each passing day, this city has become less scary and has so many exciting things to see, and yet I yearn to return to the Light.
I miss Saxon and Tynan, desperately, but I also miss the relative calmness, the quiet, the fresh air—and my family. My throat tightens and I wipe unexpected tears from my eyes. It’s been so long, since I last saw my father and brothers, and for them it’s even longer, given the time I’ve spent here and in Lymbo.
Zogar told me that the relationship between the passage of time in the Light versus here in the Darkness is less predictable than it is between Lymbo and the Light. Something about it being non-linear, and the magic dividing the worlds.
However, much time has passed for them, my family certainly don’t know where I am. Do they even know I’m alive? Do they care? Has Father even noticed I’m gone? More tears escape, and I push myself back off the window. Olifer misses me. I’m sure of it. Alfryd likely does, too, even if he’d never admit it, and Father will have at leastnotedmy absence, if only because I ruined his alliance with Khotor.
Imagine if I’d married that horrid king—Tynan’s grandfather, no less. I shudder.
Since the night I fled from home, dressed as a boy, my life has been perilous, but I would never trade the life I have now, for the one I escaped. Not for all the gold in Zogar’s hoard.
Our hoard.Smiling, I shake my head. I don’t care about riches, but I love how he told me that everything he has is now mine—ours. His declaration made me feel valued, more equal in our marriage, and it also reinforced how I’m bound to him forever. I married Zogar to help right grave wrongs and never imagined I’d grow to care for my demanding, gruff husband.
But these two weeks we’ve spent together here have bound me to him in more ways than I ever expected, and we’ve not only made love many, many times, we’ve shared more of ourselves. And since he hasn’t been out of my sight until today, I’ve grown to know him so much more deeply.
Big things like being able to recognize and calm his rising anger, and small things like the way he prefers his drinks without the small cubes of ice available here, not to mention the soft growling sounds he makes when he dreams.
My hand rises to touch the jewels at my neck. Wearing the first necklace he gave me makes me feel closer to my husbandin his absence. I press the lowest ruby, nestled into the hollow between my breasts, and imagine that Zogar is kissing me there. To match the necklace, I put on one of the skimpy dresses he bought me, and I can’t wait to see his eyes widen with lust when he returns.
A bell rings, and I turn quickly toward the elevator door, my heart racing with excitement. Did he slay Gabreal already? Does that mean we can go back to the Light?
I walk over to the video screen to confirm that it’s him. I still can’t believe that Zogar found us a home with a private elevator. Our elevator has but three destinations—the lobby, our apartment and the roof.
My husband’s concern for my safety makes me feel precious—as valuable as the jewels secured around my throat.
Zogar’s face appears on the screen, and I quickly press the button to let him enter.
As the elevator rises, anticipation stirs my belly, and I take a few steps away from the doors, touching the jewels and trying to calm my rapidly beating heart.
I want to learn what occurred, but mostly I want to be held in his arms. Since we arrived in the Darkness, Zogar’s been a constant presence, and it’s been even longer since I’ve been without at least one of the three men I care for at my side.
I spent much of my childhood in solitude—only my younger brothers for friends—and while I loved wandering the woods alone and galloping on horseback across open fields, I’ve discovered I very much enjoy the company of others. Especiallycertainothers. I enjoy it so much, I can no longer imagine mylife without the opportunity to see all three of my men, every single day.
The elevator takes far too long to rise. The illuminated number above the door tells me that it passed our apartment, going first to the roof. It pauses there, before coming back down to this level. He must have pressed the wrong button.
The elevator doors open, and Zogar has a sly grin on his face—one that makes my insides flutter. It’s a new expression for Zogar, more like a smile I’d expect from Tynan, and I very much approve of how well it suits my husband.
“I’m so glad you’re safe.” I fly into his arms. “I was so worried.”
Pressing against him, I long to hear the comforting thump of his heart, but his massive hands shift me back slightly, and he looks into my eyes.
“Of course I’m safe,” he grins. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Did you find Gabreal?” I ask.
“In a manner of speaking.” He strides across the room and looks out the window. Like me, Zogar is awed by our view.
“What happened?” I slide my hand onto his back.
Leaning one arm against the window, he turns toward me. Cupping my chin, he tightly squeezes my face. It’s not exactly the contact I’ve been longing for, but I’ll take what I can get.
He looks deeply into my eyes, and I see something different there today. Perhaps it’s the weight of what happened with Gabreal. I can’t wait to uncover more mysteries about my dragon shifter. To discover more ways to love him. And I’m starting to think I might actually love him.
