"Wait." I spear into his room to confirm my clothes are hanging in his closet before I turn to search his eyes for answers. "You moved my stuff into your room?"
He scratches the back of his head, a boyish grin stretches across his face. "I told you in Elowen, I wanted you to move in with me." When I remain quiet, his smile fades, and he steps toward me. "If it's too soon or if you prefer your own space, I'll move everything back downstairs."
I slip my hand over his cheek. "Atlas," I chuckle and admit, "I've never shared a room with anyone before. Well," I shrug a shoulder, "minus sharing one with Eris on our journey to Tronovia." That seems like such a long time ago.
"I'm not sure if that means you want to stay with me or – "
"Stay," I interject before he can finish laying out other options. "I want to stay." I wrap my arms around his neck, and he instantly scoops me up to wrap my legs around his waist. "I think I might like having a roommate."
"Oh,Strenlys, roommates don't do what we're about to do." His eyes darken and flood with desire.
Expectation ignites within my lower belly. I crave him desperately, but I want a shower more. "I need to clean up first, my love."
"How convenient." He purrs, pressing a kiss to my neck. "There's a soaker tub big enough for two just down the hall."
My heart races in anticipation as he carries me to the bathroom.
"We don't have extra clothes," I remind him. "Or towels."
"For what we're about to do," his grip tightens around my ass, "we won't need them."
Seventeen
Shaye
I'm running. Sprinting through the desert. The moon is high above me, though barely lights my path. The sand is cool beneath my bare feet. I don't see what or who I'm running from, but I sense it. An overwhelming evil chases me, fear prickles my skin. Despite my best effort, the sand dunes slow my advancement. Every few steps I cast a glance over my shoulder in hopes I don't see what lurks in the night.
Suddenly a scream makes me stop.
I listen as my name echoes across the desert. I know that voice.
Abandoning the need to escape, I search for who is calling for me. I fight, clawing my way over an enormous mound of sand. That's when I see him.
"Nyx!" I scream and slide down the other side of the hill. His arms are stretched wide, shackled in a cell. Blood drips down his face and pools at his knees.
I sprint inside the open-door cell but when I reach for him, he disappears. A cackle spurs me to whip around.
Vesper.
Her fingers are tangled in Nyx's hair. She yanks his head back and the glint of her knife in the moonlight stops my heart.
"You didn't think I'd make it that easy, did you?" Vesper hisses and slices her dagger across Nyx's throat.
"No!" I scream but when I lunge toward him, the sand opens beneath me, and I plummet into darkness.
"Nyx!" I spear upward to find myself in Atlas' room. Our room.
Inhale, exhale. I wipe sweat beading around my forehead with the back of my palm.
It's a wonder I didn't wake Atlas. He's normally a light sleeper, especially when I'm having one of my nightmares. But his side of the bed is empty. I blink, making sure the darkness isn't hindering my vision, but the fireplace illuminates the room enough for me to confirm Atlas isn't here.
Panic stirs within me. What if Vesper –
Stop!
I wrangle my fear before it explodes into something more than I can manage.
"Atlas is safe. Nyx is safe. We're all safe." I repeat until my heart settles.
