Chapter Fourteen
Dashiel
The transition through the portal lasted only a heartbeat. One moment, we stood outside a damaged warehouse surrounded by family, guards, and friends.
The next, we had arrived at my beloved home.
Landon stumbled a little, but I curled an arm around his waist to steady him.
He laughed, grinning up at me, making my pulse race. He shook his head. “That’ll take some getting used to.”
His tone said we would have more opportunities traveling together.
Could it mean…? No, I would not jump to conclusions. I would wait until he was ready to accept me… or not.
His attention jumped to my cottage and widened.
I followed his gaze. The forest that surrounded my home stretched in every direction, and currently, the last traces of sunset painted the horizon gold and orange while shadows gathered beneath the branches of the tall old trees.
For the first time since he had been taken, I breathed properly.
Landon stepped forward slowly, and I watched as his amusement began to replace the exhaustion lingering across his face. “Dashiel.”
“Yes?”
“When you said cottage”—a smile threatened—“I pictured something small.”
I glanced toward the house. “It is small.”
Landon looked at me, then at the building before turning back to me. “That is not small.”
A laugh escaped before I could stop it. The sound felt strange after everything that had happened.
My cottage sat among the trees with warm light spilling from every window. Stone walls wrapped around timber framing, and climbing vines covered portions of the exterior.
Compared to the palace, where I had grown up, it was very small.
Landon folded his arms. “How many rooms are in this thing?”
“Not many.”
His laugh was music to my ears. Hearing it after what he’d been through was something special. I had brought that out in him, even when I did not understand why.
He shook his head. “The type of cottage I pictured had one, maybe two bedrooms and one living area. What does this have, Dashiel?”
“Shall I show you quickly before we shower?” Landon’s gaze flared, and I could feel my cheeks heating. “Separately, of course.” I would never push for more.
Landon smiled. “Yeah, I could do with a shower.” He reached out and took my hand, making my skin come alive with a tingle.
I led him toward the front door, and the moment we stepped inside, warmth greeted us. The cottage always smelled faintly of cedarwood, tea leaves, and the herbs I had growing in the sunroom.
Landon immediately turned in a slow circle, taking everything in. This was the large living room that held a stone fireplace. Bookshelves lined one wall, and there was comfortable furniture in the middle.
His attention then drifted toward the kitchen, which was visible through the archway, before noticing the staircase, the artwork, the rugs, the walls—everything he could see from this one spot.
His expression softened. “It feels like you.”
“What do you mean?”
His gaze moved around the room. “It’s warm and inviting and comfortable, but cute too.”
I blinked. My heart hammered against my ribs. His words affected me in ways that made me want to reach out and embrace him. Kiss him.
Instead, I clasped my hands behind my back and inclined my head. “I appreciate your kind words.”
Landon rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, then shrugged. “Yeah, no problem. Just stating the truth. I haven’t seen it all, but I like it.”
I was glad he did. Hopefully he would like my home enough to stay with me each and every day.
I cleared my throat, pushing those thoughts down. “I will show you the rest.”
I guided him through the house. The kitchen received immediate approval. I liked that as we went on through the dining room, the second living room, my office, and guest bedrooms, Landon seemed incapable of entering a room without mentally calculating its practicality.
Then we finally stopped at my favorite room.
The sunroom.
After I opened the door, I moved aside for Landon to step through first. He stopped dead in the doorway.
I smiled.
Even for me, that reaction happened every time I entered because of the floor-to-ceiling windows that surrounded the room, from which you could see out over the well-kept lawn and into the woods. Plants occupied nearly every available surface. Flowers, vines, small trees, and rare herbs.
I had color filling every corner.
Landon stared and stared before he breathed out, “Dashiel.”
“Yes?”
“This is the best damn room I have ever seen in my whole life. It’s… hell, it’s incredible.”
Pride expanded my chest while happiness flowed through my veins.
He loved it as much as I did. I could see it as clear as day in his wide, amazed gaze.
Landon gave me another bright smile, and once more, I found myself staring at him.
Gods. How had I survived two centuries without this?
Without him?
“Knowing you enjoy this as much as I do…. It means a lot, my beloved.”
He took my hand in his again and squeezed it.
Eventually, I dragged my attention away when I noticed how exhausted Landon looked now that the adrenaline had worn off.
I needed to take care of him. Shower, food, and sleep.
Which was why I continued to my bedroom and bathroom as the final part of the tour.
After we stepped into the largest washroom, I turned on the shower while Landon looked around and commented on the things he saw.
Soon, the hot water filled the room with steam.
“One day, I really want a bath in that massive tub,” Landon said from somewhere close.
My body heated at the thought of Landon in my tub with me and having the chance to take care of him by washing his perfect body.
But now was not the time to think such things and have my own body reacting to them.
Once the temperature was perfect, I turned and found him just behind me.
“It is ready for you.”
“Thanks, Dashiel.”
I moved over to the cupboard, took out a towel, and placed it on the counter beside the sink.
Then I summoned a small flame to my palm, and while Landon watched curiously, I warmed the material, but never enough to burn it.
His eyes widened. “You’re literally magical.”
“I am.”
“I don’t think you understand how unfair that is.” He said it in such a light tone that I knew he was teasing.
The smile tugging at my lips grew. “I shall attempt sympathy.”
He snorted. “That doesn’t sound convincing.”
“This is true.” My body hummed at his small chuckle while I made my way to the bedroom. “I will leave clothes outside the door.”
“Dashiel.” I turned back, and when I did, he said, “Thank you for coming. For protecting me.”
I bowed slightly. “You never need to thank me for protecting you.” It would always be my top priority. No one would get their hands on him again.
Emotions flickered briefly through his eyes, and then he smiled—a small but beautiful smile that had my throat thickening.
I love you.
I will do anything for you.
I will cherish you for all the years to come.
Please accept me.
Love me back.
Instead of saying anything, I left before I embarrassed myself further and went to have my own shower in the spare bathroom. But that was after laying some soft sleepwear of mine by the door for Landon. I ignored the way my body reacted to the thought of seeing my beloved in my clothes.
My shower was one of the fastest ones I had ever had. I barely remembered washing. I was too occupied with thoughts of getting back to Landon.
But they also lingered on the fact that I finally had my fated mate in my home.
He was here with me.
In the shower. Naked.
My body throbbed at that thought.
I ignored it and dressed quickly before stepping back out into the hallway.
Only to stop.
Landon stood there. Freshly showered. His hair was damp, and he was wearing the clothes I had provided.
And he was staring at me.
The air shifted, but neither of us moved. For a moment, we simply looked at each other.
Then I cleared my throat. “You should eat.”
His gaze remained fixed on me, and he said nothing.
I tried again. “We should go to the kitchen.”
Landon crossed the distance between us with a quick stride, and before I could think, his mouth was on mine. The kiss stole every coherent thought from my head, but I managed to kiss him back.
The mating mark warmed, along with my chest.
When we finally pulled apart, neither of us moved far.
Landon’s breathing was uneven, and mine was not much better.
“I knew you’d come,” he said again.
Was this him showing his appreciation?
I closed my eyes briefly. “My beloved—”
“I did. When I was in that warehouse”—his fingers tightened slightly against my shirt—“I knew you’d come.”
The certainty in his words threatened to destroy me. I gently took his chin between my fingers. “I will always come for you.”
Landon laughed softly and a little shakily. “I know.” His soft eyes rose to mine, and everything else disappeared as he added, “I’ve never believed in someone as much as I believe in you.”
For one terrible moment, I forgot how to breathe as so many emotions tangled together—joy, hope, disbelief.
Landon smiled in a way that had me thinking he could see every emotion crossing my face.
He shrugged. “That probably sounds crazy.”
“No.” The word came out rougher than intended. “No, it does not.”
His gaze softened further.
Gods, I loved this man.
Landon lowered his hands to rest them at my waist. “I also realized something while I was in that warehouse.”
My ears rang from how fast my pulse raced. “What was it?” I asked quietly.
“I like the time we’ve had together, and… I don’t want to be away from you.”
I stilled as the confession landed like a prayer and a gift.
“I want to keep spending time with you. Keep seeing you. All the time.” He lowered his voice. “I-I care about you, Dashiel. So much.”
The final words nearly brought me to my knees.
“Landon….” I had no other words because I was feeling so much, and to tell him everything I felt could scare him.
He grinned up at me and went onto his tiptoes to press his mouth briefly against mine. “I know,” he said. “You’ve been honest the whole way. I know exactly how you feel. It’s just taken me longer.”
“I would wait forever if I had to,” I told him.
He kissed me again with a light peck before we deepened it into a slow and tender rhythm.
When we parted, his cheeks were slightly flushed. He blew out a breath. “I don’t know everything…. I’ve never done this before.” His laugh sounded embarrassed.
A smile tugged at my lips. “I know.”
Landon looked up at me. “I want to keep exploring this with you in every possible way, and….”
My heart skipped a beat.
His blush deepened. “And….” He let out a frustrated groan.
Emotion lodged painfully in my throat as his smile turned shy. It was a look so rare, it stole my breath.
“Dashiel, I want to complete the bond.”
Everything stopped.
The world.
Time.
Thought.
For one glorious moment, everything simply stopped.
Hope exploded through me.
Bright enough to hurt.
Gods.
He was choosing me.
Not because Fate demanded it.
Because he wanted to.
My hands found his face. “Are you sure?” The question emerged softly, and it wasn’t because I doubted him. I just I needed to hear it.
Landon didn’t hesitate; he nodded. “Yeah.” Then, on a whisper, he said, “Take me to your bedroom, please.”
For one long moment, I simply stared at him.
At the man Fate had chosen.
At the man I loved.
At the man who had chosen me in return.
Then I smiled and took his hand.