Only once thelintamair—the formal mating ritual—was completed would they be able to settle, to relax and breathe, spending the rest of eternity together.
Obsidian sighed, closed his eyes.
The biggest problem of all…
She had to agree to it first.
Chapter Fourteen
AFTERPENELOPEFRESHENEDUPANDPULLEDHERclothes back on, Obsidian led her down to the second floor via a secret exit. Hidden behind the entertainment center in the living room was an elevator that carried them down one floor, delivering them into what could only be described as a library to rival all. Not that she’d been to many libraries, but if she’d known this was what she was missing out on, she would’ve made it a weekly trip.
Dark walls lined with books, masculine furnishings, a cozy fireplace … they fit well within the decor of the house, yet they felt distinctly intimate. A private area to relax and read, should the need arise.
On one wall, floor-to-ceiling windows were opened wide to allow the night in. With only an hour to go before dawn, Penelope figured they would soon be sealed tight to ensure the safety of everyone within the mansion. Tucked neatly behind the curtains were tracks on either side of the window. Probably the shutters Obsidian had mentioned.
The rest of the walls were lined with shelves and filled with books. A wooden ladder secured to a railing offered access to those on the highest shelves. Most of the books appeared ancient, and she would’ve bet big money they had come from centuries before.
Obsidian was two thousand years old. She still couldn’t believe that. Two millennia. That was a long time. She couldn’t help but wonder what he did to pass the time. How much time did he spend here, inside the mansion? For her, cabin fever never seemed to be an issue, and in a place this enormous, she couldn’t imagine ever getting bored enough to want to leave. From the outside, it was evident this was more of a palace than a house, so she figured there was significantly more to explore.
“What’s on your mind,ayreme?” Obsidian asked, his thick arms wrapping tightly around her.
She gripped his forearms, held on. “Just taking it all in. This is a lovely house.”
“It does the job.”
He sounded so practical, but she knew a lot had gone into building this place. Not only money but time, effort, and quite a bit of planning. From what she’d seen, it was all electronic. No manual door locks or switch plates on these walls, no sir. When she’d snuck into his bathroom earlier, she’d been in the dark until he informed her she had to request the lights to come on. Verbally.
Like she’d ever get used to that.
Obsidian continued to hug her, and she suspected he was waiting for her next question. God knew she’d already bombarded him, but she couldn’t help it. She was both confused and fascinated with all of it. Like she’d told him at the motel, this entire situation felt strange. More so now that she was here, in this new place. It might’ve been home to Obsidian, but it felt like a foreign country to her. All new and unexplored.
“I know you’re probably growing tired of my questions.”
He leaned down, brushed his lips against her cheek. “I’ll never tire of them,ayreme. Your curiosity intrigues me.”
“What does that mean?Ayreme?”
His lips grazed her once more. “It’s a term of endearment, meaningmy greatest love.”
It was the simple things like that that had her heart filling. Hard to believe she’d only known him a few days considering how overwhelmed by emotions she was.
Penelope tilted her head back, peered up at him. “Why did you bring me in here?”
“To introduce you to a few people,” he said simply as he released her, then took her hand and led her to the sofa.
No sooner had she eased down into the buttery-soft leather than the doors opened.
In walked several men and two women, all eyes locked on her as they stepped around one another until they were fanned out in a semicircle with her being the item on display.
“Thank you all for coming,” Obsidian told them as he placed his arm over her shoulder, pulling her into him. “I figured I’d make the official introductions.”
Ah, so an introduction, not a firing squad. Good to know.
“Everyone, this is Penelope Calazans. Myamsouelot.”
For whatever reason, the pride in his voice warmed her.
“You met Acadia,” Obsidian said, motioning to the stunning woman Penelope had encountered downstairs.
