8
Raider’s pressed so close to the stone wall, he has to step back when the door moves. Nerves strung tight, praying this will work, he stumbles back to give Rune space.
Because that’s Rune, divinely beautiful and achingly real, framed with light and stone. He’s smaller than Raider imagined. Maybe five foot seven at the most, his frame swamped in the purple tie-dye shirt. His face is open and soft with nervous awe, and so much trust Raider isn’t sure he deserves.
“Well, fuck,” Val says, voice echoing in the catacombs. “It fucking worked.”
“You did it, Rune,” Raider says, and holds out his hand.
Rune steps forward slowly, eyes darting everywhere, and touches Raider’s palm. Like a bird landing on an unfamiliar branch—and balancing perfectly. If Val’s research is correct, this is the first time Rune has touched anyone in two hundred years.
Her research probably is correct, because she’s been on a winning “I told you so” streak all month.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, cutie,” Raider says, with an unstoppable grin. He’s never cared much about holidays before, but this is definitely his new favorite. “How’s this for a date?”
“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Rune repeats softly. His voice is strange, the accent hard to place, but not as strange as it should be given his long captivity. “You’re here .”
“I’m here.” Raider’s palm heats beneath the slight touch. He wants so much more, but he’ll go as slowly as he needs to. And he thinks he can help Rune out a bit. “You’re doing so good, cutie.”
Sure enough, the praise brings Rune to motion again. His eyes glitter at the simple words, which lends weight to Raider’s current working theory about Rune’s origins.
It’s also why Raider’s scheme worked just now.
“I never knew there was a door there,” Rune says. “Could I have found it before?”
“There wasn’t a door,” Raider admits.
Rune freezes. “What?”
Raider reaches out slowly. When he pushes Rune’s hair back just like he’s been yearning to, Rune shivers at the touch. Fuck, Raider has centuries to make up for.
“Your powers get stronger when I praise you,” Raider says. “You can feel that, can’t you, gorgeous? How wonderful and strong you are?”
Rune shivers and sways closer with his words.
Raider gently squeezes Rune’s hand. “The door appeared because I told you it would, and you believed me.” Raider crooks a grin. “Sorry for lying to you.”
Rune blinks. “You didn’t lie, though. It worked. Even if it only worked because I believed you.”
Still probably counts as a lie, but Rune not being picky about the truth is a good thing. The door bullshit was a gamble after Raider realized they wouldn’t be able to break the enclosure spell. Not without bringing this entire mountain range down, at least. Raider would absolutely do that for Rune, no question. He’d just need some intense prep work to prevent casualties, environmental damage, and governmental interference.
Going to prison doesn’t fit Raider’s five-year business plan.
So, Raider and Val handled it the way they always handle tough jobs. They winged it. Val played generic ritual sounds from her phone, Raider praised the hell out of Rune to juice up his power, and Rune trusted Raider enough to believe the door would appear.
Val steps closer, but not too close. “Hi, Rune. Nice to meet you face to face. Thanks for keeping my brother from becoming a spinster.”
Rune looks at her, dazed. “You’re here too. Hello.”
“Do you feel dizzy?” Raider asks. “Sick? Can you walk okay?”
“I’m overwhelmed, but I’m not sick or hurt.” Rune’s gaze returns to Raider, as if he’s the most interesting thing in the entire dusty chamber. “You’re here,” Rune says again, quieter this time. “Can I touch you?”
Raider leans forward.
“Okay!” Val interrupts. “You two get out of here while I redo the safety charms.”
“You’re the best, sis.” Raider nods to the open door. “Rune, do you need anything from inside?”
Rune doesn’t even look back. “Nothing. Take me away, please.”
Raider squeezes his hand and leads him from the catacombs. Stone tunnels give way to the bright, open sky. A breeze dances through the budding trees, and a narrow dirt path winds toward the campgrounds. The evergreen valley is gorgeous, even before spring fully blooms, but Rune’s upturned face is more gorgeous than all the rest.
“I forgot how large the world was,” Rune murmurs, then stops suddenly. “I think I should sit down.”
They sit right there on the dirt path, cross-legged and facing each other. It’s awkward, Rune clinging to Raider’s hand the entire time. But Raider won’t let go until Rune does.
Holding Rune feels right. Like Rune is the purpose Raider has been missing.
“We can sit here as long as you like,” Raider says. “My camper’s parked half a mile away, so we can go there when you’re ready. Or just stay outside. I don’t know if you’ll want to be outside all the time, or if you’ll want some enclosed space while you adjust.”
The breeze ruffles Rune’s hair. “I don’t know either. There’s so much of everything.”
“You can go wherever you want, whenever you want. Just say the word.” Raider grins. “I’ll admit, what I want to do is take you home. Show you my shop. Take care of you, while you get used to this gigantic world.”
“I’d like that.” Rune gives a tiny grin in return. “Thank you. For that, and everything.”
“I’d say any time, but nobody is ever locking you up again.” Raider takes Rune’s other hand, moving slowly, except Rune grabs him back so quickly.
Rune tilts his head. “You seem so sure I’m not an evil demon. What do you think I am?”
Rune’s fiery eyes aren’t human, but they aren’t demonic either. Humans have always feared what they don’t understand, especially when they find those mysteries living among them. Not a safe and distant mirage they can define according to their own laws.
“I think you’re a god, cutie.” Raider leans forward. His cheek presses against Rune’s, and Raider murmurs his next words right into Rune’s ear. “And I’m looking forward to worshipping you.”