Suddenly, a long nap doesn’t seem like such a bad idea. This time spent waiting for him, scared of the unknown, is agonizing. Maybe if I go to sleep, he’ll be here when I wake.
I freshen up in the room Raef rented out before collapsing onto the small, hard bed and passing out almost immediately.
Chapter 72
I dream of a brilliant, shining, starry sky, with dramatic clouds slowly revealing all the splendor above them. Then I see the ghost of a majestic dragon, soaring through it all. And then it all switches, and I dream vividly of Daegan returning. I feel him wrapping his thick, warm, muscular arms around me, enveloping me in his scent that feels like home. It feels so real I could almost…
“Daegan!” I cry out, flipping around to face the body behind me on the bed.
His eyes lock on mine and I begin to shed happy tears as I wrap my arms tightly around his neck, placing desperate kisses on his mouth, his cheek, his hair, everywhere.
“You’re really here.”
“I’m here.” His hand brushes the side of my face as it runs through my hair. He looks me over with concern, seeming to check every bit of me. “You’re okay?”
I slowly nod. “I am now,” I whisper.
His eyebrows crease. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head and close my eyes, burying my head into his chest. I wish I could just stay here in the safety of his arms forever, shutting out all of our problems.
Another tear escapes my eye. He strokes a finger down my back as he holds me closely to him. “I love you. With all that I am and all that I’ll ever be. In this life and the next. I’ll always find you.”
“I love you too,” I repeat, and I mean it with everything that I am. “And I’ll find you too. Though you always seem to beat me to it.”
A deep rumble that resembles a chuckle emanates from his chest, and I place my head against it.
We lie in silence for a while, just enjoying being with each other again. But we both know we can’t stay here for long. I think we’re both trying to hold onto this peaceful moment for as long as we can.
“Did Raef tell you about…” I can’t bring myself to say it out loud again. Especially to him. I’ll break in front of him.
He shakes his head. “I asked where you were as soon as I saw him, then came straight here.”
I release a heavy sigh into his chest, hiding my face. I have to say it. I just need a moment.
As if reading my mind, he asks in a soft voice, “Where’s Rhydra?”
I shake my head, a strangled squeak escaping me as I try to hold it in.
He wraps his arms around me so tightly that it actually makes my chest hurt even more. I squeeze my eyes shut so hard it hurts, trying to choke it all down. But it’s impossible. Now that I’ve stopped worrying about whether he’ll return, everything else I’ve been holding back breaks loose. I’m a mess.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers into my hair. “She was incredible. Brave.” He strokes my hair over and over. I lie in his arms for so long, letting him soothe me, until I finally feel a little better.
“I killed so many people,” I whisper in horror.
“I’m sorry, love. I’m sorry.” And that’s all he can say as he continues to hold me.
“Are you okay?” I look up at him with my puffy eyes, and he smiles at me like I’m still the most beautiful thing in the world to him.
“Yes,” he replies.
“It’s okay if you’re not. You’ve been through just as much.”
“Unfortunately, Elysande, I’ve seen a lot of death in my life. I wish I were more like you. I wish it affected me more.” His somber confession is heartbreaking. It makes me want to squeeze him even tighter.
“We can finally try it,” I say, pulling my head from his warm chest.
His clothes look clean and new, like he wasn’t just on the run from a bloody battle for days. Later, I’ll have to ask all about what took him so long to find us, but not right now. All that matters is that he’s here.
