Rhazien seemed miles away, and what I needed was to be held. Supported, encouraged, cradled even.
“Majesty…” A figure looming in the archway of the garden stole our attention. Dommik’s angular features were shrouded in shadow. The night suited him.
“You’ve discovered us. I didn’t think we could escape for long, but I thought we’d have a little more time before getting interrupted.” Rhazien stood, passively scolding the commander for interjecting, leaving me still and silent, slowly falling apart on the bench behind him.
“Apologies, Majesty. You’re needed inside.” I couldn’t see Dommik beyond Rhazien’s frame, but his tone signaled a concerning amount of urgency.
“Regarding?” Rhazien gestured for me to stand.
My limbs felt like they’d been replaced by thick steel but I managed to rise, despite the garden beginning to spin.
Dommik’s eyes locked with mine and I wanted to disappear. His discerning gaze stripped me bare in the fraction of a moment. A muscle twitched in Dommik’s jaw before he gritted, “Urgent Hive business.”
Hive business. Vampire business. Business I wasn’t allowed to be privy to yet. Considering all Rhazien had told me so far, I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I’d had enough earth-shattering news for one week, and I needed to focus on steadying myself.
Rhazien let out a frustrated grunt. “Duty calls at the most inopportunemoments. Apologies, Reyva. I’ll find you once I deal with thisurgentbusiness. Would you like to accompany me back to the ballroom or explore the garden?”
Back to the room filled with hungry vampires gawking at me? While I’m still digesting that I’m expected to prevent a vampiric war? No, not yet.
I gave his arm a gentle squeeze. “I’d like to stay. Just a little longer.”
He nodded. “Dommik, please escort my jewel back when she's ready.”
“Of course.” The commander bowed his head.
Before departing, Rhazien took my face in his hands and leaned down to give me what could only be described as a courteous and respectful kiss on the cheek. The touch of his lips was so gentle, if my eyes had been closed, I might not have known he’d kissed me at all.
It was a sore reminder of how little we knew about each other. But I couldn’t expect that of him, not this early on. We were still strangers.
“I’ll rush back to you. I promise.” His thumbs rubbed my cheeks as he searched my eyes.
I blinked and gave him a close-lipped smile, ignoring my sinking chest. “I’ll be fine. Go.”
One last thumb stroke and with that, the regent was gone.
A biting chill rode on the breeze and I fell to my knees in the garden. The unforgiving boning of my gown poked at my middle, urging me to stand again or at least practice good posture. But I needed to be down low. The world was tilted as black spots threatened my vision.
“Reyva? Reyva! What is it? What’s wrong?” Dommik’s garbled words barely broke through the ringing in my ears. My eyes were fixed on my splayed hands on the garden cobblestones.
Breathe. I needed to breathe. When I tried to take a long inhale, my lungs refused, failing to let enough new air in to calm the war drum that was my frantic heart. Its percussion pounded at my temples.
“Here.” Fabric covered my back and arms and the scent of pine wafted from its threads. Dommik’s hands encouraged me to stand, only touching me atop the jacket he’d draped over me. “Come here,” he huffed, pulling me into a tight embrace.
One arm secured my lower back and the other wrapped around my shoulders. My face buried into his tensed muscles beneath his black shirt.
This was off limits, but I needed this.
I didn’t fight him. I just let Dommik hold me there in the garden. His arms were a necessary paddock for my nerves to re-center and settle.
A small gasp escaped through my already quickened breath when he squeezed me even tighter. His chin rested atop my intricate braids and he began to sway slightly and hum.
I let my eyes fall closed and focused on the rise and fall of his chest, letting myself get carried away by the gentle vibrations of his wordless song. It was comfortable and familiar. Safe.
My breath deepened and my mind began to still. Nestled here, between Dommik’s grasp and the hard muscle of his body, was a cocoon, sheltering me from the dangers of my own mind.
When my panic subsided, my vision returned, and my balance steadied, he asked, “Better?”
“Mmm.” I nodded softly against his chest.
