Fifty-One
CHAPTER
Zathrian’s study was so cozy. The walls were covered in books and knickknacks and oil paintings.
It was beautiful. Everything in the Realm of Stars was.
The leather chair I was sitting in was big and squishy.
The blanket around me was fuzzy and soft.
I was quite comfortable snuggled up beneath it.
I turned to the picture of us laughing together at the celebration that his Realm held after our return.
We looked so happy, simply because we were.
Those were good times. Good memories. Memories I hoped to make more of with him and the rest of the Court of Stars.
Eternity with them wouldn’t be long enough.
No amount of time ever would be, in any sort of comparison.
I had been in Zathrian’s study for hours now.
Stacks of books surrounded me. I sat at his desk, attempting to research the Gods and make sense of what I had been seeing in my recent visions and dreams. I knew I had seen these things before somewhere, but where?
Gnawing at my lip, I was unsure of my next steps. No matter how much I tried to push the dark thoughts and memories away, they somehow managed to grab me tighter. Especially this late at night.
I couldn’t run from those things forever, but I would keep running until I couldn’t run anymore.
Everyone had their own demons, but sometimes I had no control over mine in the way others could control theirs.
It was more like my demons controlled me.
I skipped the pages of the book before me, the scent of parchment and aged ink filling my nose. It was only a matter of time before my bottom lip became red and raw again from the way my teeth dug and scraped into my flesh.
The sun had set hours ago and the candle that sat at the corner of the desk would soon fizzle out.
Almost all the wax had melted away and pooled at the bottom.
I lifted a hand to rub the tiredness out of my eyes.
Dark circles remained beneath them, not that I paid mind to them by any means.
Even if I tried to sleep, it was no use.
I was restless.
Always tossing and turning the night away. Plagued by memories and riddled by nightmares each and every night. I wanted answers I simply could not find.
Infuriating, really.
There had to be something here that would help. I had to be missing something. Some tiny detail that I somehow overlooked. That had to be it, right? I had a stack of sketches and drawings I made. Zathrian and the others could more than likely be of help, but I didn’t want them to worry.
So much had already happened, and I didn’t want them to think that perhaps things weren’t over in the way that we thought that they were.
I turned the page.
My head slowly dropped, attempting to fight the sleep that attempted to consume me.
Just… a few more… minutes… just… another page… or two… just… a little… bit… longer…
My head hit the desk. One moment I was researching, the next, I felt warm fingertips gently massaging my scalp.
My eyes slowly fluttered open. My head rested on the open book upon Zathrian’s desk. My hand rubbed at my eyes as I came face to face with Zathrian, who had knelt down to my level. Sleepily, I smiled at him.
“Perhaps you would sleep better crawling back into our sheets where you belong, Starshine,” he whispered.
Goosebumps appeared across my freckled skin while he embraced me. Mmmm.
“Perhaps so,” I replied, my lips curling into a smile.
His hand glided from the back of my head to my neck.
Tilting my head back, Zathrian planted kisses across the other side of my jawline.
I felt nothing but bliss. Slow, soft kisses drifted up my neck and down my jawline, landing on the corner of my lips.
Zathrian parted from me just enough for his nose to brush against mine.
“I mean it, Aerilyn. Everything I do, I do it for you,” he whispered.
“I know you do.” One of my hands slid to his cheek. “I am alright, just… tired.” I leaned my forehead against his.
“I bet you are. You have been quite tired lately.”
“Mmmm,” I mumbled softly.
“C’mon, let’s get you to bed before you make yourself sore from sleeping at my desk. Come, rest with me, let me comfort you in times of unease.” He carefully scooped me up into his arms.
“Mmm… thank you,” I said through a yawn.
“I told you I would always take care of you. But what are you doing here so late, anyway?” His eyes drifted past me and toward the open book. He raised his brow, turning back to me.
“Researching.”
“I can see that…” He trailed off. His lips pressed against my temple, planting a soft kiss against my skin. I didn’t reply. I buried my face back into his chest. Zathrian carried me out of his study, down the hall, and toward our bedroom.
My eyes closed again mid yawn. He was quiet.
In no time, I felt the soft cloud-like feeling of being carefully placed into bed.
I smiled, feeling Zathrian tuck my legs into the bed.
The comforter and blankets were pulled over me.
Zathrian climbed into bed beside me. I felt the shift of the blankets as he pressed his chest against my back.
Leaning over, he planted a kiss against my cheek.
“Goodnight, Aerilyn. I love you,” he whispered
I love you, too, Zathrian, I replied lazily through the Bond.
He pulled me closer into his warm embrace.
His chin rested upon my shoulder, nuzzling his face into the nook of my neck.
I could feel the warmth of his breath every time he exhaled, almost tickling me, in a way.
The corners of my lips curled into a smile.
I wiggled back against him to ensure there was no space between us besides the thin fabric of our pajamas.
Content, and comfortable, I drifted off to sleep knowing he had me.