Chapter 43 #2
Yasmin rested her cheek against the stone of the building.
She no longer had to touch them to hear their song.
The stones had led her to Ravi that fateful day.
She stood across the street from him, waiting and hoping he might see her.
But he hadn’t. She told herself to let him go, and instead, she followed him home.
She’d been returning to this spot every day since.
“See anything interesting?”
Yasmin jumped at the sound of Dain’s voice behind her. She spun around and gave him an annoyed look. “You know I hate when you sneak up on me.”
“But it’s so fun,” he replied with a crooked grin. It faded, and he glanced over her head to Ravi’s home. The Dark’s yellow gaze lowered to her. “Is everything set?”
“There are a few last-minute things to see to, but we’ll be ready.”
“Talk to him.”
She firmly shook her head. “You know I don’t discuss him.”
“You two belong together.”
“He made his choice. You should know, you were there.”
Dain’s lips flattened a moment. “Just talk to him.”
“I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and the kids. It’s more than I ever expected.” She paused a heartbeat. “You know more than you’re telling me about that day, but I’ve accepted that. I’ve accepted all of it.”
“Yasmin,” he began.
“I was the one who reached out to him at Navara. We had something spectacular. Then he left without a word. It made my decision easier.”
Dain bowed his head. “You and the children have decided on a location then?”
“We have.”
“I’ll be by tonight.”
She lifted her hand in a wave and began her last walk home.
Ravi came out of the kitchen when shadows billowed from the wall. He jerked in surprise, spilling his tea as Dain stalked out of them. The Dark glared. Ravi glowered back.
“Sure. Come in,” Ravi said sarcastically. “Shall I make you some tea?”
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Dain demanded.
“Oh, where to begin?” Ravi rolled his eyes as he turned and made his way to the kitchen to grab a towel. He set his cup on the counter as Dain’s boots thumped angrily in his haste to follow.
“I’m not joking,” Dain replied.
Would this day ever end? First Durga and now Dain? Ravi turned to face the Dark. “Perhaps if you told me, this would go quicker.”
“Enough!” the Dark bellowed. Then, in a quieter voice, he said, “You know exactly what this is about.”
Ravi held up his hand, a warning in his tone. “Don’t. I told you never to say her name. I promised not to ask about her, and you vowed not to tell me anything. That’s the way it has to be.”
“Aye, I made that idiotic promise before I saw how you broke her heart. I did everything we agreed. I gave her your money and lied about where it came from.”
“That’s shite, and you know it. You crafted your replies so it wouldn’t be an outright lie.”
“We both know what the lies were,” Dain said as he pointed a finger at him. “They all rest on you.”
Ravi turned away and braced his hands on the counter. He was hungry for any news about Yaz. Durga had tempted him, and the fact that Dain was here said the Dark knew something. “What do you want me to say? That you were right? That I should’ve talked to her?”
“Aye.”
Ravi pushed away from the counter and faced Dain. “It’s too late.”
“She’s in Rannora.”
“What?” The word was yanked from him.
Dain’s eyes glittered as he smirked. “As a matter of fact, she was just outside watching you. She’s done it for the past two weeks.”
Ravi shook his head, refusing to believe it.
“I have no reason to lie,” Dain replied. “She knows something isn’t right about the way you left. You need to tell her. Everything.”
“She’s been watching me?”
The sneer faded from Dain’s face. “I’m taking her and the kids away tonight. They decided as a family.”
Yaz hadn’t left. Yet. But she was about to.
Dain snorted loudly. The shadows rose and swallowed him. Then, he was gone. Ravi stared at the spot as more questions rose in his mind, questions Dain could’ve answered but likely wouldn’t.
Ravi dropped the towel onto the counter and turned around to find Durga standing inside his back door. “How long have you been there?”
She lifted one shoulder. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. She didn’t come see me.”
Durga rolled her eyes. “You left her, Ravi. Of course, she isn’t going to seek you out. Stop being stupid and go to her.”
“And say what?” he demanded.
“You know what to say. It’s what you should’ve said before you left her, but you were too afraid. She may come to resent you, but wouldn’t you rather try and fail than never know?”
After Dain’s and Durga’s visits, Ravi needed time to think. He walked the streets to clear his head and looked up to find himself in the East Haffeb district. He made his way to Yaz’s home. Ravi remained hidden as he watched the area.
One of the children ran past a window, followed by another carrying a bag. Sameer strolled behind them, laughing as he lifted one of the younger kids onto his shoulders. For weeks, Ravi had believed Yaz out of reach, and it had been a gut-wrenching experience.
He heard her laugh, and he closed his eyes to savor the sound. He knew what he had to do. Ravi squared his shoulders and focused on the door. Then he crossed the street to the building and stepped onto the porch. He rapped on the door he realized now hung correctly on its hinges.
“Is it Dain?” he heard the high-pitched voice of a child ask.
“It’s Dain!” several of the kids said in unison.
On the other side of the door, he heard Yaz say, “It isn’t time yet.”
Ravi clasped his hands behind his back so he wouldn’t yank her against him when he saw her.
Then, the door opened. Deep blue eyes collided with his.
Her smile faltered as she stared. His heart beat so fast he thought it might fly from his chest. Gods, she was beautiful.
The two weeks had felt like two lifetimes.
Her hair was in a thick braid hanging over one shoulder. Some strands had come loose around her face. She pushed them behind an ear, only to have them slip back against her cheek.
“Hi,” he said into the silence.
She stared at him without answering.
“I’d like to talk. May I come inside?”
Sameer moved to stand behind Yaz with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked taller, older. Or maybe it was the new clothes. “Nay.”
“Sameer,” Yaz reprimanded softly as she glanced at the lad. Then she refocused on Ravi. “Say whatever you need to say but do it quickly. We’re on a tight schedule.”
She spun on her heel and walked away.
Ravi swallowed nervously as he stepped over the threshold and shut the door behind him. When he turned, the children stood on either side of her, watching the entire scene. He noted they were all in new clothes and shoes. The scared, hollow look they had once worn was gone.
He cleared his throat. “I, um, I was hoping to have a private conversation.”
“This is my family. Say it in front of them or not at all.”
Ravi nodded and took a small step forward. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left the way I did. I…I could give you a bunch of excuses that, at the time, I believed legitimate. It has recently come to my attention that I’m an idiot.”
Sameer snorted.
Yaz cut him a dark look.
Ravi swallowed past the lump of dread in his throat and moved another step closer. “The truth is, I was scared. Of how I felt about you and what you made me feel. I never let anyone close. How could I with my job? It’s easier to keep everyone at a distance. That didn’t happen with you.”
Now that the words were coming, he couldn’t stop them.
“I think about you constantly. You’re in my thoughts during the day, and you consume my dreams at night.
I wake each morning thinking I’m holding you, only to discover I’m alone.
” He took another step. “I used to tell myself that I didn’t need anyone, but it was a lie.
I was too afraid of loving someone. Of letting anyone in.
Until I fell in love with you.” He paused, the pit in his stomach growing.
“I should’ve stayed and talked to you that day.
I should’ve told you how I felt. I should’ve done so many things differently. Please, forgive me.”
He felt the eyes of six children studying him as he stared at Yaz. Her face gave nothing away. Had he missed his chance? He’d been too afraid to ask her if she wanted a life with him, and now he could lose her because of his fear.
“Why are you here?” Yaz asked.
“I just told you.”
She shook her head. “Why are you here? Now?”
His hands itched to hold her. He needed her against him, her arms around him. He hadn’t realized how much until that moment. “I love you. I know I messed things up, but I’m begging you for a second chance. I want to be with you. Always.”
“You would leave Shecrish and the elves?”
“I would,” he said without hesitation. “I’ll go anywhere you are.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You would hate it.”
“I would be with you. And the kids,” he said, looking at each of their young faces. He returned his attention to her. “Tell me you don’t love me and I’ll walk away and never bother you again.”
“I can’t,” she whispered, her voice breaking.
Hope bloomed in his chest. Ravi took another step closer. “Yaz, be with me. Let’s be a family. All of us. I’m not promising to be perfect. I’m going to make mistakes.”
“We’ll call you on them,” Sameer stated.
Ravi grinned as he looked at the lad. “I’m counting on it.” He slid his gaze back to Yaz. “I want to fight with you so we can make up. I want to make decisions with you. I want to have adventures as well as quiet nights at home. I want dinners to be loud and rambunctious. I want it all. With you.”
“What about when you’re off on missions?” she asked hesitantly.
He closed the distance between them but didn’t reach for her. “As of earlier today, I’ve retired as an active agent. In between training new recruits, I’ll continue searching for Gita and One to bring them to justice. Which means, I’ll be right here.”
Her brow furrowed. “But you love your job.”
“I used to love it. Then I nearly lost you, and things changed. I haven’t been in the right frame of mind to go out on assignment since Shaldorn. I made this change before I knew you were still in the city. But I would still make it if it meant I could be with you.”
Yaz glanced at the kids. “You hurt me.”
“I’m sorry. I hate that it happened. I’ll make it up to you for the rest of our lives if you’ll let me.
Yaz, my heart is yours. It was yours before I realized it.
Whatever you want, whatever you need, I’ll give it to you.
Just give me a chance to prove I’m the one for you. Let me love you like you deserve.”
A tear dropped onto her cheek. “I’ve been waiting for you to find me.”
“I know,” he said as he pulled her into his arms. His eyes burned with unshed tears when she melted against him. “I’ll always find you.”
She sniffed and leaned back to look at him. “I love you.”
Ravi seized her lips in a slow, sensual kiss. The world fell away as desire flared. Gradually, the shouts of joy intruded upon their embrace, but he wasn’t upset. He and Yaz shared a smile as they faced the kids.
All of them were clapping and shouting. Even Sameer was grinning. It would take some time to win over the lad and prove to him that he loved Yaz, but Ravi would do it. They were a family now.
“About damn time,” came a voice from behind him.
Ravi and Yaz turned to find Dain. All but Sameer rushed the Dark. Dain stood there as the children dug into his coat for small toys and sweet treats.
“They adore Dain,” Yaz said after Ravi looked at her in surprise. “He always has something for each of them, but they have to find it first.”
Ravi viewed Dain with new eyes. He looked at the entire world differently now thanks to love. He squeezed Yaz to his side and kissed her temple.
“What remote section of Zora are we off to explore?” Ravi asked.
Everyone grew quiet as they stared at him with varying degrees of surprise.
Finally, Yaz said, “Dain was taking us to a house I’ve rented in the city.”
“Rannora?” he asked.
Dain chuckled. “He’s a little slow.”
The children giggled. Sameer snickered.
“Aye,” Yaz replied. “I’m also guessing Durga didn’t tell you that she hired me to be her ears in the city.”
Ravi laughed as he lifted Yaz and spun her around before claiming her lips once more. “To the future,” he whispered.
“To our future.”
“Aye, love. Our future.”