Chapter 13 Ketheron
~Ketheron~
I could feel Ambrose’s gaze on me as I scanned the immediate area.
We had materialized from his guided teleportation just moments prior.
He’d informed me that this was the site of the surprise he’d teased several days ago.
It had taken until now because we’d been immersed trying to determine a way to locate Ruxnoth’s magical construct, Sanctus.
So immersed, in fact, that we hadn’t entertained anything but business, and we had delayed any sort of ‘gratification’ with each other as well.
That was the term he used, because he knew less graphic and brazen wording was more comfortable for me, as opposed to what I’d overheard from Sylas, Lazriel, Velra, and Cassius over the years in our shared home of Glacialis Arx.
More importantly, it suited us.
My gorgeous and me.
And now, here we were standing in a patchwork of colorful fields.
Not anywhere I recognized.
“What is this place?” I asked.
It didn’t match any of the locations from my Landmarks and Wonders to Behold text, which included every special site across the world, all of which I’d visited several times over. I knew them all intimately at this point.
Ambrose’s lips pulled into that serene smile, forming those wonderful dimples that made my chest squeeze.
Especially given that he rarely ever gifted anyone outside of me with his special smiles.
“It’s not about the location. Its only significance is that it’s out of the way of everyone and everything.
” As he came to stand before me, he gestured to a patch of grass a few feet across from us. “Open yourself, treasure.”
I concentrated and reached out with my senses.
The moment I did, I shook my head in dismay, realizing in my excitement, I’d inadvertently been toning down my perception.
Well, it was a little more than that. I did it often with him, shutting out the world—noises, scents, sensations—to be fully present during our special time together.
Time that was far too rare for my liking.
But the nature of his work made things that way, and it couldn’t really be helped.
Also… he was afraid.
Of letting himself go in that manner. In not having his work be all to him.
In being immersed in another so very deeply.
He worried that he would lose himself, and that if he went too deep, he would never recover if he lost anyone he dared to love.
Many believed him to be immutable where that was concerned, even viewing that fear as a negative, almost defective sort of thing.
That wasn’t how I viewed it—or him. I believed it was proof he loved so very deeply, that he had so much to give.
“Your magic… it’s everywhere. But only if you know to look for something,” I murmured, searching and analyzing. “There’s a ward, too? I can’t feel it fully, just a form of resistance.”
“Yes, that’s exactly the way it should feel for you.
The moment you step through, there will be a little resistance just this once, then none on your next pass.
The magic just needs to feel you initially and then it will acclimate to you permanently.
” He gestured around at the nothingness that clearly wasn’t actually nothingness at all.
“To anyone other than you and me, any magic here, including the ward, will be imperceptible.”
“You used your ability to warp magical intent on your own creation—whatever the surprise is that lies beyond this?”
“Indeed. Without it technically being an illusion, which several beings we know can see through.”
I frowned. “Several beings we know? You’re concerned about that?”
He reached out and stroked my cheek in that way that warmed me beyond even skin deep. As a peaceful sigh escaped me, he smiled and told me, “Let us not dwell on any of that presently. You’ve already waited long enough for this surprise.”
I nuzzled against his palm and his enchanting ivory eyes softened for me.
“Yes. Show me.”
“With pleasure.”
In the next moment, he eased from me, then swept a glowing black palm ahead of us.
Something altogether unexpected materialized into being.
An obsidian stone structure with navy-black glass.
A black diamond house with an aesthetic that was duly representative of the Ambrose Wisteryn I’d come to know—opulent, otherworldly couture, and decidedly elegant while exuding great power.
Black diamonds were worked into the front threshold, the window frames of both levels, and the seams of the terrace railings.
“You created another home,” I mused. “This one is a definite break from your others spread over the supernatural world.” They were either caverns or domains of swirling black magic—floating containment areas for him to seek refuge from the world.
“Well, I know you don’t care for the others.”
“I do if you’re there. That makes them almost cozy.”
He stared at me in that way he often did, as though he still couldn’t believe anyone would view him that way, nor feel that way about him.
But I did.
So very much.
He took my hand and wove his fingers with mine and I marveled at the intricate black veins threaded through his skin that melded so prettily with the golden fissures and cracks plaguing mine. It was so perfect in an unconventional way—I supposed that was the essence of our coupling.
He raised our joined hands and pressed a kiss to my fingers. “Come, treasure. Let me show you the rest of your surprise.”
More than a little intrigued, I let him lead me to the shimmering black diamond door, my hand tightening in his as excitement thrummed through me.
Even though he didn’t possess the sort of durability that creatures like vampires or dragons did—which I had both of in my makeup—due to his power and its roots in highly-controlled black magic, it provided him another sort of durability which meant if I ever lost brief control of my strength in excitement or upset, it couldn’t harm him.
I didn’t have to tone myself down around him or practice constant control every single moment when we were together.
And it was even more perfect, because it worked both ways. It had been discovered as we’d grown closer that I couldn’t be negatively impacted by his black magic either, that his particular brand of it wasn’t toxic or detrimental to me, let alone any sort of potentially corrupting force.
With a flick of his magic, he unlocked the front door and we stepped inside.
I looked all around, taking in the dark stone floors that had a curious sheen much like wet ink.
The surrounding walls were a pale gray, and a narrow navy runner covered the floor.
On a tall table there was a shallow black crystal dish with a soft flame that looked like a captured star, providing muted and soothing illumination.
“The living room,” he spoke, leading me into a room a few feet down to the left, just past a navy diamond staircase.
We stepped inside to what could best be described as a temple of comfort.
There was a midnight gray leather sectional that looked so incredibly soft, a charred wood coffee table in front of it. Just off to the side was a lovely stone fireplace burning with a flame that was black at the edges with silver at its core.
And then there were sapphire, purple, and ivory velvet throw pillows over the sofa, even a soft blanket draped in a casual way—not his style, but definitely mine. Just like the pillows and blankets themselves. There were even plants clustered around the windows and corners of the room.
I looked up to see hanging lights shaped like starlight in the ceiling, giving off such a cozy and enchanted vibe.
“This surprise… you did this for us. It’s not just another home that happens to be distinct from your others.”
“Correct. It’s a great deal more than that. I call it Adamor.”
“Diamond-love?”
“The literal translation, yes.” He gave my hand a squeeze. “The meaning, however, is us. I forged this home all for us, Ketheron.”
“Our home?” I breathed.
“That was the intention.” A rare nervous smile played on his lips. “If you are ready to step into this new realm of our relationship with me. Should you need more time, of course take as much as you require, just know that this home will be waiting for you.”
I slid my hands down to his hips, brushing circles over his cloak there. “You are always so patient with me.”
“Well, that goes both ways.” He stroked my forearms and I could see the struggle all over his face to keep from sliding higher to my biceps. When he lingered there, it was more often than not the indication that he wished to indulge physically with me.
Just the thought of it had me stirring.
With him being away for too long recently, then us being focused on the investigation, we hadn’t been with each other in that manner for a while. We were both clearly feeling the strain of it now.
But I made myself focus on the conversation at hand. It was far too important to merely gloss over.
Besides, if things weren’t smooth and steady emotionally between us, I couldn’t sink into the physical aspect of things—it posed some sort of barrier. Ambrose said it was because the emotional intimacy and connection between us was inherently important to me, first and foremost to me.
“Both ways?” I queried. He was the one who’d taken his time with me and had to put up with my quirks and general odd way of being.
Although, he didn’t like it when I referred to it that way.
He always said that what I worried was ‘odd’ was actually uniqueness that made me ‘stand apart in a spectacular way’.
“My work has stagnated our relationship.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Don’t say that.”
He smiled and kissed my forehead. “It’s all right. I see it. I see it growing so much harder for you to leave me at the end of a day spent together, to bear my absence for days on end, and often with barely any warning beforehand. I experience that strain too. You are not alone in that.”
“I know how important your work is.”