Chapter 23
The distant sound of rain falling outside stirred Anelize awake. A glimmering light pouring in between the curtains of the window announcing that dawn had come, and the sun was finally coming to welcome them all to a new day. No matter how bleak that day may be.
Fiery golden light streaked across the room and over the rumpled covers and sheets of the bed. The bed where she was currently laying, encased in warmth where an arm was firmly wrapped around her. As it had been all night.
Turning her attention away from the sheets tangled between their legs, she found Aeric was already awake.
His attention solely on her. Neither of them spoke as she slowly reached over and ran the tip of her finger over the lines of his face.
Over the faint line along his forehead, the shape of his brows, then the slight bump along his nose that served as a reminder of their first meeting.
Down to the soft bow of his lips then further, where she traced the bottom.
His lips parted at her touch before she teasingly ran her finger down to his chin and neck.
Aeric’s chest rose and fell faster with every fleeting caress, and she smiled at the effect she had on him.
Then the shadows began to close in around her vision and she tensed.
Moving to sit up, she turned to stare at the ray of light on the bed.
Watching the fiery glow slowly fade away into a dull hue.
No. No, not now.
“Anya.” She flinched when Aeric placed a hand on her shoulder, coming to sit beside her. “What is it?”
“I…” She found it difficult to breathe as she watched the shadows continue to consume everything around her. Slowly closing in with every breath she took. “I think it’s happening. The curse.”
Aeric tensed, then he was kneeling before her on the bed.
“How? What is it you feel? Pain?”
Anelize shook her head, still staring at that ray of light like she could will it to stay.
“Look at me.” He curled his fingers under her chin, bringing her attention back to him. It was only when she saw the shadows closing around his face that her eyes stung with the ghost of tears. Aeric’s request sounded pained now when he saw the torment on her face. “Tell me what it is, please.”
“My eyes—I think I’m losing my sight. It’s been happening more and more every time I conjure. If this continues, I doubt I’ll be able to see much of anything else. It will all fade away.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner that this was your curse?” he pressed.
Anelize licked her lips nervously. “I’m sorry. I was afraid, and there was too much at risk. I didn’t want you to change your mind about letting me do this. I need to do this, now more than ever. Not just for Enid, but for all of us.”
Aeric was silent for a long moment before he made to get off the bed, his movements rushed as he hurried to the settee to grab a black tunic and the leathers draped over the side.
“What are you doing?”
“The Senin is in a week. We need to get you into the castle as soon as possible to have you establish the familiarity you’ll need to be able to navigate through the halls without one of us nearby.
Once you’re there, we’ll be able to show you where to go during the ceremony so that you can reach the tunnels.
We can break the curse and destroy the Loom before it goes any further. ”
His words were clipped, rushed. His movements not that far off, and she realized that she’d scared him. Before last night, she would have assumed it was because he feared losing his chances of getting the book, risking everything because of her curse. Only that was not the case, she knew that now.
“Aeric.” He didn’t seem to hear her as he pulled the tunic over his head with one quick movement, almost done so in anger. Then he moved on to his pants. It was only when he was dressed that she said again, “Aeric, look at me.”
His eyes snapped back to her where she still had yet to move from the middle of the bed surrounded by the scent of him and the fading warmth where he’d laid that she wished would return.
The shadows hadn’t ceased as they had before, and her hand trembled even as she raised it toward him. “Come back to me.”
It was almost laughable how easily he obeyed her request. He stood at the foot of the bed, watching her like an unmovable statue.
“Let’s just stay here for a moment longer.
I do not wish to be alone right now.” Her voice was thick with the uncertainty of her fate and the fear of losing yet one more thing that could cost her everything.
She motioned for him to get back on the bed, silently begging him with her eyes that took in the sight of him for as long as she could.
He did so, albeit reluctantly, as he crawled onto the bed back to her.
“Anya, I—”
“No.” She leaned forward, capturing his face between her hands, resting her forehead against his. “I do not wish to talk about what may happen, nor look to what awaits us. Just this. This is all I want—you. I only want to look at you for as long as I can.”
Aeric breathed in the scent of her as he leaned into her touch. She heard him swallow thickly before he nodded.
This time when he kissed her, it was slow.
So gentle and searching, it brought tears to her eyes.
Never had anyone treated her with such care the way Aeric did, and to think that she’d nearly lost him.
The mere thought made her whimper into his mouth as he caressed her lips with his tongue, begging for entry.
Before long, he laid her down, running his hands over her shoulders, then to her chest where his palms started a burning need through her.
His eyes scorched every part of her as he molded the fabric of her nightgown along the curves of her breasts, her waist. He was the sculptor responsible for her making and undoing as he drew out a gasp from her lips upon drawing her legs up around his hips.
The hem of her gown fell around her stomach, and she shivered.
Aeric noticed, and smiled as he placed a kiss upon her throat, then further down.
Every single touch and nip making her writhe beneath him until she was a living flame.
There was nothing that could have torn his gaze away from her as he watched her burn, flickering and swirling to life all by his touch alone.
He nipped at her bottom lip, distracting her as his hand slid down the plain of her stomach, between her thighs.
The sound that escaped her was a sharp gasp that he claimed with a kiss as he touched her.
Again, again, again. Playing her with his fingers, drawing out soft sighs and desperate whispers for more that were meant only ever for him.
“Aeric…”
“I’m here,” he said as he kissed her again, only increasing his movements when her hands slid beneath his tunic and undershirt. Running her nails down his back as she lost herself to him entirely.
Not once did she close her eyes as she watched him, wanting to remember the way his gaze roved over hers with hunger.
The dip between his brows as he ensured she was all right, with this—with him.
The shadows were still there, lurking in the corners of her vision, but she didn’t care.
Not so long as he was here, making her feel only him, see only him.
All it took was a single nod for him to understand.
A low moan escaped him as he granted her the one thing she wanted from him in this moment.
Kissed her once, then twice as he moved his hand over her in maddening circles.
Unleashing the fire within her before stoking it completely as he eased her down.
Whispering her name softly in a silent request—a worship.
“Touch me…” he said, bringing her hands up to his face as he watched her. “So that you may never forget me.”
Anelize smiled, a tear rolling down the side of her face before he brushed it away. “I could never forget you.”
They laid together for a long time as she did as he asked. Running her hands over his face until she familiarized herself with him. Kissing his forehead, then his eyes, down to his lips once more.
“I’ll not let anything happen to you. I swear it,” he rasped, before she silenced him with another kiss just as her hand trailed down the muscled plane of his chest and abdomen, and down until her name was a deep groan in the back of his throat.
There was so much they could say to each other in this moment. Yet, it would do neither of them any good. Not in this world they were born into and all the uncertainty it promised.
For the briefest of moments, in the safety of his arms and the unmistakable happiness she felt taking root in her chest with every kiss they shared, Anelize allowed herself to dream that this could be their lives someday. That they could have everything they could ever want.
That had been her first mistake.
Everyone was gathered around the parlor by the time they’d both gotten dressed and ready to face what laid ahead of them. Their peaceful haze, as fleeting as it had been, was quickly forgotten when they stepped inside to find everyone was there. Waiting for them, by the looks of things.
Adan and Idris were seated at the round table, each nursing what looked to be steaming cups of spiced tea that Zara had given them as she poured one for Henry before handing it to him.
Castian stood when he spotted Aeric, the relief on his face unmistakable as he looked at him, and smiled.
Gabriel was leaning against the wall, looking out the window with a scrutinizing eye.
No doubt looking for any sign of trouble beyond the safety of the Dobrins’ tavern.
Henry beamed when he saw them and walked over to hand Anelize the cup Zara had poured for him. “Good to see you both well. You had us all worried, son.”
Aeric nodded in gratitude. “Thanks to you and Zara, no doubt.”