Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
Kronos
With a final glance Kristina’s way, Kronos slipped through the ether, leaving her cell and materializing inside Shelley’s.
He’d left Kris tucked up under her blue cover, her eyes responding to his sleep enchantment and falling closed as soon as he’d laid her out on the bed.
There was no longer a need for restraints.
She would sleep long into the hours to come, but if she stirred before he returned to her, he had no issue with her moving around the small, white space.
After everything they’d experienced together on that first day, she merited that much liberty.
Pausing in the atmosphere, he donned the short tunic that covered his groin, preferring to greet Shelley in the usual manner.
He’d alluded to her being ready for The Advancement in recent weeks, but his decision for her to leave would still come as news to her.
He needed to be ready to explain and console that it was time for her to move on.
He appeared in the corner of her cell, finding her stretched out on her bed.
“Master.” She straightened at his presence, pulling herself into an upright position and allowing the blanket covering her to fall to her lap. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Are you well rested?”
He advanced toward her, taking in her long, dark hair covering the swell of her breasts.
He had no doubt that he would miss Shelley—they had been on a great adventure together those last months—but having Kristina meant that things were already different.
He was no longer gratified to see Shelley’s body in the way he had once been.
She was beautiful, but she was no longer his.
That mantle had passed to Kristina. Instead, he wanted to reassure Shelley.
To let her know she was more than worthy of her life to come.
“I am, Master.” Her brows knitted as though she, too, could discern the unspoken change. “How can I serve you?”
He smiled at her willingness to oblige. It had taken a long time and a lot of work on both of their parts to bring her to heel, but ultimately, she had accepted his authority.
In her submission, he knew she’d discovered a freedom her old life could never have allowed her.
She’d finally learned how to trust, recognizing that he would push her, but he’d never let her fall.
He sensed there was solace in that for her, and as that trust had grown, she’d revealed many of her fears, telling him what she’d endured as a child.
He wouldn’t forget those disclosures, or the way he’d held her while she cried.
He hoped that the release had helped her to understand herself better and would serve her well in the future.
Either way, the moment was right to release her. She was ready to leave the restraint and protection of his realm.
“You can listen.” He gestured to the chair on the other side of the space, waiting as the seat skidded in his direction, coming to a halt by his calf. “I have news.” He settled on the chair, conjuring a small, blue runner by his feet. “Kneel.”
She slipped from the bed at once, falling gracefully to her knees on the mat in front of him and placing her palms on her thighs the way he’d taught her.
Pride bloomed in his chest at her obedience.
They’d never shared the same spark he’d felt with Kristina, but Shelley had once demonstrated much of the skeptical disdain that Kristina displayed. Her compliance had been hard won.
“You have come a long way, my little mortal.” He reached for her tresses, running his hand over their soft length to her shoulder. “I am proud of what we’ve achieved.”
She risked a glance his way. “Master?”
“I told you that I would sculpt you to my will.” He squeezed her shoulder gently.
“You have certainly changed me, Master.” Her head was lowered, but he noticed the way her lips twitched.
“We’ve changed each other.” He reached for her chin, insisting she meet his eyes. Her brown orbs widened at the change of tack. He’d spent days correcting her whenever she’d met his gaze, yet suddenly, he demanded that she did. “I have worked you hard, and you have shown me how to help you.”
“Master.” She frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Her confusion was plausible. Their routine had become as sure as the sun rising in the east. He would appear, and she would kneel. He would order, and she would comply, yet he hadn’t made any sexual demands on her that morning. Instead, he’d chosen to sit and talk. No wonder she was perplexed.
“I shall explain,” he told her. “But first, let us take stock.”
“It sounds like you’re saying goodbye, Master.” Bewilderment gleamed in her eyes, and one glimpse was all it took to let him know that the idea disturbed her.
He suppressed the instinct to chuckle. All those times she’d fought him in their early days, screaming for her freedom and swearing she would rather die than remain there with him, and then, when he finally decided to give her that liberty, she seemed thoroughly unsettled.
“You are ready for The Advancement.”
He had planned to discuss their time together before making the announcement, but Shelley was as sharp as ever. He might have conditioned her to please him, but beneath her mane of dark hair, there was a bright woman, one who’d learned to intuit his moods.
“You mean, I am to leave?” She blinked up at him.
“I thought that was what you wanted.” He ran his thumb over her lower lip. “You have told me so many times in the past.”
“I thought it was, Master, but…” Her words dried up as she sighed.
“But what?” he coaxed, allowing her time to digest the news.
“But you have given my life structure, Master,” she murmured around his thumb. “You’ve given me purpose. How do I go back to a life with someone like Joel?”
Her tone was mournful, but his lips stretched into a smile as she sought clarity on the most significant issue of all.
“You do not, beautiful.” He cradled her face in his hand. “You have knelt wonderfully for me, Shelley-Ann, and in doing so, you have proven far too good for children masquerading as men like him. I told you when I took you that you were more than he deserved.”
Her eyes flickered fleetingly closed. “I remember, Master.”
“And I meant it,” he reiterated. “You have proven your worth to me, little mortal, but more importantly, I hope you now see your value for yourself. You do not need a man, but if you choose to attract one, then I foresee he will align with your new values.”
Kronos would make sure he did. He never tracked any of the women he released, but he made them a vow; if they ever truly needed him, if they were in danger, he would be there to help them.
“Thank you, Master.”
“And even when you leave my side, you should know, a part of you stays with me.” He never revealed the lasting connection between them until the mortal was set to depart. “If you are ever in jeopardy, simply think of me, and I will come to you.”
“You’ll come?” Her eyes sought reassurance.
“If you’re in trouble, Shelley-Ann, then I’ll be there.”
It was an oath he’d made to many others, and one he’d always stood by. He would remain her protector until she passed to the next life.
“This is a lot, Master.”
“You are capable of coping.” He had every faith in her. “You have learned to serve me well, and along the way, I have helped you to release many of the burdens you carried. Now you have space for what lies ahead.”
Her expression was nervous. “I’ve told you about my childhood and the things my uncle did to me.”
“Yes.” Kronos suppressed the familiar wave of fury that rolled over him at the reminder.
It was just as well Shelley’s uncle had already moved to the next life, although he wasn’t opposed to tracking him down in the underworld and demanding that Hades enact revenge.
“May I tell you something else, Master?” She leaned into his palm, her eyes fluttering.
“Yes.” His hand shifted to stroke the side of her face. “In fact, I command that you do. Tell me everything on your mind.”
There wouldn’t be much more time available to them. He wanted to hear it all.
“When I first came here, I didn’t think I could survive.” Her smile was sad suddenly. “I didn’t think I could survive you…” She paused, swallowing hard before she went on. “But you’re right. Being here and surrendering has quieted my mind. It has given me peace.”
His lips curled at her admission. “Peace is what you deserve.”
It was the least she warranted after her long months of faithful service.
“I don’t worry about the same small things I used to obsess over anymore.” She blinked up at him. “And even though I don’t understand why you chose me, you have helped me, Master. It’s been good to get that old trauma out of my body and refocus.”
“It was not good for you to hold onto so much shame, guilt, and anger somatically.”
He vividly recalled how tense and fearful she had been when he’d brought her from the café that first day. It had taken months before he could start to massage those emotions away.
“Thank you, Master.” She turned to kiss the side of his hand. “Thank you for helping me when no one else could.”
“It has been a pleasure.” The pad of his thumb traced a line over her cheek.
“It’s funny.” She shrugged, glancing around the room. “I always thought I’d be happier to get out of here.”
She shifted closer to him, resting her head on his thigh. It was an act he would never normally have permitted, but with their time together coming to an end, his resolve appeared to have softened. Or perhaps it was that Kristina had weakened it.
“You shall thrive,” he assured her. “I shall take you right back to that moment at the bus station, and all shall be as it was before, except the Shelley-Ann I drop back there will be wiser and stronger.”
Her face rose from his skin. “Back to the bus stop, Master?”
“That’s correct.” He smoothed her hair away from her face. “You shall have your possessions with you as before, and I shall ensure you are equipped with enough currency to make whatever choice you next choose.”
“But I can’t go back to that.” The crease he had grown so fond of appeared in her brow. “I don’t want to live with my mother, but I can’t go back to Joel.”
“No.” He quite agreed. “You have evolved beyond them both. That is why you are now empowered to make better choices. Travel to wherever you choose and resume your life. Leave little men like Joel behind you.”
“Okay.” She stilled at that, seemingly thinking through her options. “But Master, I don’t understand. How can we go back to that exact moment when it’s in the past?”
Leaning down, he planted a chaste kiss on Shelley’s forehead. He had shared a lot with her over the last year, yet still, there was much she didn’t comprehend. She knew he was powerful, but she had no idea just how much.
“I am Father Time, Shelley-Ann.” He straightened, staring down at her. “Just as you have done, time shall bend to my will.”