52. ZARA #3
“I refuse to be outdone by a fucking octopus,” he growled when he finally relented. “You tell Eddie to keep his tentacles to himself from now on, unless he wants them to end up on my dinner plate.”
“Seth! That’s horrible. You can’t eat Eddie. He’s just a cute little baby. I’ll take you to meet him when you come home. And Danny the Dolphin.”
“Are these really their names or are you just making them up?”
I giggled. “Sea creatures don’t really have names, it’s not a concept they understand. But I have to call them something.”
“Of course you do,” he murmured. He pulled me a little tighter against him, his chin resting on the top of my head, and we fell into a comfortable silence again.
“I never thought it would turn out like this, you know,” he said after a few minutes.
“I thought by now I’d be settling back into life in the mortal realm with you.
Planning our wedding.” He ran his thumb over the emerald and diamond band I was still wearing on my right hand.
“Finally getting to put this where it belongs. If I’d known how messy things were going to get… ”
“You’d have done it anyway.” I felt him flinch and turned my head so I could kiss his shoulder.
The last thing I wanted now was another argument.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so bitter.
We both knew the risks, even if we chose not to dwell on them.
But when the six months were over and you didn’t come back, I was still heartbroken.
If Nero hadn’t decided to break his word to you and tell me that he’d seen you, I’m not sure how I would have coped.
Of course, you also told him you’d try and come home for another visit first if you were going to stay longer, so when that didn’t happen I panicked and thought you were being kept here against your will. ”
“And went into battle mode according to Gabriel. I’m still tempted to spank your behind for making that deal with Michael by the way.”
“We wouldn’t be lying here like this now if I hadn’t,” I reminded him.
He grunted. “And that’s the only reason I haven’t done it.
But I don’t ever want you putting yourself at risk like that again.
Are we clear?” He nipped at my neck when I didn’t answer straight away, and a delicious shiver ran through me.
“I mean it, Zara. I want you to give me your word that you won’t do anything like that again.
Or I’ll be too busy worrying about you to focus on what I’m supposed to be doing here. ”
“I promise.” That was an easy promise to give considering what the consequences would be if I tried to interfere with Michael again.
“But do you really think you’ll be able to achieve what you set out to do here?
And if you don’t, will Lucien really let you leave or will he make you stay here and take his place? ”
“I think there’s a very good chance we can achieve at least some progress when it comes to opening the gateway. And as for Luci keeping me here, he’s already given me his word that if one of us has to stay, he’ll be the one to do it. I just need you to be patient a little longer, my love.”
“You know I will. But there’s nothing keeping me at the manor if you’re not there, so I think I’m going to go back to Fae soon and pick up where I left off with my training.
And I’m going to ask Nero to help me work on strengthening my dream walking abilities.
Maybe I can find a way to get through the gateway’s barriers without an amplification stone. ”
“It sounds like you and Morpheus have grown pretty close while I’ve been away. Gabriel said he’s very protective of you.” He didn’t sound very happy about that, but I wasn’t about to deny it to make him feel better.
“To be honest, I’m not sure how I’d have got through the last few months without his support.”
“Supporting you was supposed to be my team’s job. Although of course,” he added irritably, “they were supposed to keep you out of trouble too and look how that turned out.”
“Hey, don’t be like that. It’s not their fault I went off doing my stupid shit as Jed and Eli call it. And they have been supporting me, especially Eli. But he’s got his own little family to look after now, and Nero’s on his own.” Like me. “I think he’s rather enjoying being my rock.”
“As long as he doesn’t get any ideas,” he grumbled, his arms tightening around me possessively. “I don’t like the idea of you spending so much time with someone who isn’t me.”
“You’re being ridiculous and you know it. But you should probably hurry up and come home, just in case.”
“Or maybe I need to remind you again who you belong to.”
He nipped at that spot on my neck again and another delicious shiver ran through me.
I’d thought I’d had about as many sethgasms as I could handle in one night, but as usual he managed to prove me wrong.
Spectacularly. Afterwards I snuggled into him, trying not to cry at the thought that this was bound to end soon.
“I love you so much,” I murmured, but only silence greeted my words, and I poked him sharply in the ribs. “Hey! Don’t you dare fall asleep.”
I wriggled away enough that I could see his face and my heart melted as I took in the sight of him. He looked so impossibly handsome when he was sleeping, freed of the cares of waking life and with his mouth curved into a contented little smile. One that I was pretty sure I’d put there.
“Seth! Please wake up!” I leaned down and dropped a gentle kiss on his lips. Lips that had thoroughly ruined me not so long ago despite looking so innocent now. “Wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” I whispered, but I already knew he wasn’t going to. Our time was up.
My own eyes started to grow heavy as sleep tried to claim me too and I didn’t bother trying to fight it, knowing it would be useless.
Instead I burrowed into his chest determined to make the most of every last conscious moment, taking comfort from his promise that it wouldn’t be much longer before we were together again.
His arms tightened around me, the response automatic even in sleep, and I thought I heard him whisper mine. Then there was only darkness.