14. Willow
Willow
A thick clawed finger inches toward me, tapping softly against my outer thigh. I glance up from the book I’m flipping through, finding Rhune laying on his stomach at my feet, gazing up at me with a hopeful expression in his bright pink eyes.
“Yes, Rhune?”
A purr rumbles deep in his chest as his mouth tips into a bright smile. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”
What a sweetheart. I’m about to tell him as much when Nyx speaks out, breaking my train of thought.
“Please. You just wanted her to pay attention to you.”
Rhune’s smile dims as he turns to narrow his eyes at his brother. “Maybe I wanted both.”
I let out a small laugh, reaching out to tousle the hair between Rhune’s horns. “You have my attention now. What will you do with it?”
“I have a few ideas…” His eyes burn with hunger as he leans in, swiping his tongue over his lower lip. The sight does something to my insides, and I drop my gaze, unable to face the intensity.
Clearing my throat, I turn my attention to Nyx, who has placed his own book down and is watching the interaction with rapt attention. “Any word from Dravik on the storm?”
“Not recently. I’m sure he’ll let you know as soon as it’s safe to travel.”
I nod, turning back to my book, though now I can’t seem to focus on the words.
It’s been four days since Dravik promised he would bring me back to earth—at least, I assume that’s how long it’s been.
According to Nyx, time doesn’t work the same way in The Far Place as it does on earth.
There are no days of the week, no months or real seasons.
They measure in cycles of light and dark—times when the silver sun is high in the sky, and times when the land is bathed in moon and shadow. Day, and night.
It’s inconsistent, almost random, and for all I know, a month could have passed on earth while it feels like I’ve been here for a week.
That thought should give me cause for concern, but I just don’t feel it.
It’s strange to admit, but my time here has actually been enjoyable.
Nyx and Rhune pamper me constantly, and while it made me uneasy at first—I’ve never had any human man treat me in such a way—I quickly adapted, and now, it’s hard to think of my life without two handsome demons answering to my beck and call.
The interesting part is that they both seem to gain intense pleasure from taking care of me. Making me happy is all they want to do from the second I wake until the moment I fall asleep, nestled between their warm bodies in the furs.
The sense of safety I feel when I’m wrapped up in them is unmatched, and with every passing moment, I fall deeper under their spell. I’m not sure what it means for me when the time comes for me to go home, but right now, I’m just going to enjoy myself and go where the fates take me.
As for the other two brothers…
I haven’t seen Cin at all since the day he went all demon-mode and tried to eat me.
Apparently, Nyx let him free from his chains yesterday, but he’s been holed up in his room, and won’t let anyone near.
Dravik comes and goes, and I always notice his stare burning into my profile—but we haven’t had a single conversation.
I’m beginning to realize that each brother—each soul piece—represents something unique.
Rhune is the gentle caretaker with a heart as big as he is.
Nyx is a relentless sweet-talking flirt with a cunning side.
Dravik is clearly the brooding warrior, with an iron-clad honor and a need to protect his family.
And Cin… well, Cin is a mystery. A dangerous one, because I’m determined to figure him out.
I’m a little alarmed at how fast my heart seems willing to move on from what happened with Nathan and Kimberly.
It’s only been a week, but when I think about it, it feels like a lifetime ago.
Even when I try to imagine their faces, they’re blurred at the edges, and the memories we made are harder and harder to grasp as the minutes tick by.
I don’t know if it has something to do with this strange world I’m in, or if something fundamental in me is changing.
It’s concerning, and a little exciting. I had felt stifled in my previous life, and never noticed until now, which is ironic, because I’m currently trapped underground with a bunch of possessive demons.
Still… For some reason, I feel lighter just being around them. It’s like something inside me had been missing all along, and I’ve finally found it.
In the back of my mind, I’m mindful that the storm will cease eventually, and when it does, I will have to go home and leave them behind.
“What’s wrong, pup?”
“Nothing,” I say. “Just thinking.”
Rhune presses up on his elbows, holding his chin in his palms as he stares up at me like a lovestricken teenager. “You can share your thoughts with me. I promise to keep them safe.”
I giggle, reaching forward and booping the tip of his nose. “You’re sweet. You know that?”
A low growl sounds behind me, and I look over my shoulder to find Nyx’s expression caught between roiling jealousy and an aching longing.
“You’re sweet too, Nyx,” I say with a teasing smile. “Sweet and spicy.”
Nyx’s growl is replaced with a rumbling purr, and his eyes brighten as a smirk tugs at his kissable lips. “You hear that, Rhune? I get an extra descriptor. Clearly, her affection for me is superior to yours.”
“Not so!” Rhune turns his attention to me, his gaze softening with a hint of insecurity. “Do you… do you like him more than me, my Willow? I can survive it if you do…”
I take in his crumbling expression, and decide he’s being completely honest. Luckily, I’m able to speak the truth when I tell him, “I like you both equally, in different ways. There’s no need for competition.”
“Because I am winning,” Nyx mutters with a grin.
“You are not!”
“What did I just walk into?” comes Dravik’s booming voice from the doorway. I turn my gaze toward him, my lips tipping into a bright smile when I notice a struggling baby antethorpe held in his strong arms. “Just what are you winning, Nyx?”
“Willow’s undying affection.” He casts a smug glance in Rhune’s direction. “Rhun’es upset that it’s not much of a competition.”
Rhune opens his mouth to rebut, but Dravik holds a hand up, silencing him. “Enough, both of you.” Kevin continues to struggle, and he sighs deeply, placing him on the floor. As soon as he touches the ground, Kevin races over to me, snuggling deep into my lap with a contented bleat.
So. Cute.
Dravik clears his throat, drawing my attention back to his grumpy expression. “There is no winning her affections, because I am taking her home at first light.”
Rhune’s expression crumbles, a high-pitched whine echoing in the base of his throat. “What? The storm can’t possibly be over yet.”
“It is dying as we speak.” Dravik’s thunderous expression leaves no room for discussion. “I just came from the surface. It’s calm enough to travel in right now, but I imagined your reactions if I tried to take her back now, and realized I don’t have the energy to deal with your petulant whining.”
Nyx bares his teeth at Dravik in a vicious smile. “I don’t whine—I sulk dramatically and make my bad mood everyone else’s problem until someone gives me my way.”
Dravik rolls his eyes. “My point still stands. You have until the sun flips to say your goodbyes—and then I am taking her home.”
With that, Dravik storms from the room, his large orange wings twitching with irritation.
“He grows more unpleasant each time.” Nyx pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a deep sigh. “But unfortunately, the grumpy bastard is right.” He raises his head, his eyes swirling in a pained emotion as he gazes at me. “You want to go home, don’t you?”
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out.
Half of me desperately wants to get back to earth and my regular life.
The other is pulling me in the opposite direction.
It abhors the idea of me leaving this place—so much so, that I worry I’ll have to leave that piece of myself behind in order to go home.
“I don’t know what I want anymore.” I drop my gaze to my hands clenched tightly in my lap. “But… part of me misses my bed, my books, and the other comforts I had on earth. Plus, I’m a human. I can’t survive here forever. So… Yes. Yes, I want to go home.”
Nyx nods, a stone wall closing over his expression. “Then we will get you home. Won’t we, Rhune?”
He whines, dropping his head into my lap. “I don’t want you to go, Willow.”
“That’s not fair, Rhune.” Nyx places a comforting hand on his shoulder. “She told us what she wants. We have to let her go. It’s for her own good. For her happiness.”
Rhune pulls his head up, his eyes watery as he gazes into mine. “Going home will make you happy?”
My heart lurches violently as I whisper, “Yes.”
It’s one simple word, but it feels so wrong. As soon as I say it, I want to take it back, but it’s too late for that. I’m going home.
Rhune nods slowly, his mouth pressing into a thin line. “I have come to realize in this short time we’ve been together that your happiness means more to me than mine ever could. No matter how much I want to keep you, I… I will let you go.”
“Thank you, Rhune,” I say, cupping his cheek. He leans into my touch for a moment before his eyes flash with pain, and he pulls back, putting a few feet of space between us.
“We should celebrate your happiness,” Rhune says, his voice choked. “I will grab the welwig sap from Dravik’s room, and we’ll have a toast to the good memories we’ve made.”
Tears well in my eyes as I look at the expression on sweet Rhune’s face. He’s trying so hard to be brave, to show me he’s okay with me leaving. The worst part is that we have made some wonderful memories. If celebrating them will bring a smile back to Rhune’s face, then I want to do it.
“Okay.” I smile through the pain in my chest. “Let’s toast.”