13. Chapter 13 #2
Suddenly, as if just a thought commands them to appear, two magnificent black feathered wings sprout and stretch nearly the width of my bedroom.
His wingspan is impressive, and I find myself sliding off my bed and approaching him as a priest would exude reverence for an altar.
He's beautiful and although I have sparse memories of the Venturan warriors soaring through Orlencia many years ago, I have never found myself close enough to touch one until now.
This time I keep my hands to myself, not wanting to push boundaries, but sensing my hesitation, he grabs my hand and pulls me closer. The gap between us is non-existent and his wings wrap around me, cocooning me with him.
"Do you believe me now?" he asks with a voice that teeters on broken.
I glance above me and see how tall his wings are, and a tear slips from my eye at the wondrous sight before me. Reaching upward, I stroke a finger against one of the soft feathers and smile.
"I believe you." I meet his line of sight and there's something so haunting about the way he stares at me. "What is it?"
"I haven't seen you smile until now." He slips his hand along the crook of my jawline. "I'd have you smile again."
"I still hate you for what you did," I say softly, wishing there was more conviction backing those words up. "I have yet to forgive you."
"Then allow me to pay penance for my sin against you." He presses his forehead against mine before dragging his hand down from my face to my waist and slowly kneels before me. "What must I do to earn your trust, Vibora? Speak freely and it will be yours."
My skin heats as I finger through his hair, internally screaming I shouldn't allow myself to fall for this man. He's dangerous. But I've never been a good listener.
I lean downward as he tilts his head upward. Our lips are so close, just an inch of bravery and I'll finally know what he tastes like, but before anything more can transpire between us, a heavy knock on the door breaks the thread of tension.
His wings disappear as he dashes to his feet, ensuring his back isn't facing the door. I toss him his shirt and as he thrusts his hands into the armholes, the door flies open, and Lupe stops dead in her tracks when she sees us. Her mouth opens and closes several times, but words fail her.
I have to do something, so I tease, "Don't just stand there looking like a fish with their mouth open, Lupe. Either come in or get out."
That seems to snap her from her stupor and a deep frown line ripples across her forehead.
"Mocosa," she grumbles. "I came to help you get dressed but it seems someone has already seen to that." Her judgmental gaze slides to Remus and I start to wonder if she is privy to his true identity or if she only knows him as Salvador.
"Apologies, Tia." Aunt. Remus refastens his buttons with lightning speed. "I assure you, it's not what you think."
"Oh, and you know what thoughts are running through my head now, do you, culo?" Ass. Lupe slams her hands to her wide hips and snarls.
My eyes bounce between them. "Tia?"
"Don't look so surprised, girl." Lupe's nostrils flare like a raging bull darting across a field. "I practically helped raise him and that rascal cousin of his."
Now everything starts to fall into place. Lupe has been in Otero's service for over thirty years. If she is aware of Otero's private and political dealings, then she obviously knows about Remus and Cassias.
Lupe's disapproving glare is pinned on Remus, now completely dressed. "You know you need to keep your face hidden. Far too many gossips in Orlencia for my liking."
Remus sighs as if he's used to the old woman's lectures. He walks across the room and plants a gentle kiss to her forehead. "As always, you're right."
He slips his hand in his pocket and pulls out the infamous mask, which is in fact not used to hide a disfigurement, but his identity. Quickly fastening the mask he's clearly familiar with wearing, he gives me one last look before he slips past Lupe and out into the hallway.
Now her eyes are trained on me, and I can't help but feel as if I'm in trouble and about to be on the receiving end of a rather long and scathing lecture.
Instead, the old woman gently closes the door and makes her way to the curtains I had drawn minutes earlier and swipes them open to allow the now rising sun entry. She goes about her normal morning routine as if there wasn't a half-naked man in my room when she first arrived.
"Do you truly have nothing to say?" I ask, her silence worse than her nagging.
She snatches a dress from my closet and marches to hang it by my changing curtains before turning to face me, a devilish grin already planted across her face. "Is he as handsome as you imagined he would be?"
I roll my eyes and exhale a sigh of relief. "Here I was worried you would be angry with me."
"Angry with you?" She purses her lips and shakes her head. "No. I was young once, too, Mocosa. I know the exhilarating rush of secret moments with a lover – "
"Calm down," I interrupt, stomping toward the bathroom. "He's not my lover."
"Yet." She says with such confidence I want to smack her. As if I didn't have a say in the matter at all. "Where are you going? You need to get dressed for breakfast."
"What I need is a nice warm bath." I snatch a towel on my way to the porcelain tub and switch the water on as hot as it will go. "I also need a nap."
Lupe pops her head around the doorway, wiggling her eyebrows. "Long night?"
I splash water at her, and she hisses like a cat. "Unless you want to watch me strip, I suggest you find something else to do for the next thirty minutes as I freshen up."
"Shall I inform the Dona you will be tardy?" Lupe's eyebrows pinch together. "You know how she feels about promptness."
"Ugh!" I toss my head back and groan. Tearing the dress I borrowed from Carmen over my head, I toss it at her. "Fine. Give me ten minutes and we'll do our best to make it to breakfast on time. Even though I feel like death."
"Maybe next time send him away sooner so you can get some much-needed rest."
"If you don't stop, I'll shoot you."
She waves a dismissive hand and clicks her tongue, calling my bluff. "Cállate, Mocosa. We both know you would be sad if I wasn't here to pester you anymore."
I slip into the scalding hot water and moan in delight.
This is exactly what I needed after the longest night out of my life.
Knowing I'll have little to no chance to rest as Dona Otero finishes fine-tuning my high society training is enough to make me weep.
But after weeks of tiptoeing around who Salvador really is, I finally have answers, which was worth the sacrifice of sleeping.
"I'll be out in a few minutes, Lupe."
But when I look toward the door, she's already gone. Finally, a moment of peace.