Tobias
Iwoke before sunrise with Quinn’s hair tickling my face. Even with last night’s interruption, I couldn’t remember the last time I slept this well. Or when I last opened my eyes without expecting to feel the cold, claustrophobic pressure of my mask against my face.
Instead, I was warm. Almost too warm with my anima wrapped around me.
I should have told her the truth sooner—the one that seemed obvious the second I let myself acknowledge the depth of my feelings. Quinn clearly had guessed based on her lack of surprise last night.
There was an unexpected relief in realizing I could be loved after so many years abandoned in that cell as that cold, cruel mask dripped ice into my soul…
and that I could love her as much as she deserved.
For so long, I had believed I was so damaged that there was only room for vengeance and loneliness in my heart.
And yet all along, it had beat for her.
I should’ve known that she’d prove me wrong.
It was peaceful listening to her steady breaths and the synchronized beats of our hearts.
She needed the rest, not only after what we had done last night, but from the continual drain on her magic as she poured it into the cure.
Quinn had worked until the last possible minute yesterday, preparing each of the life essences to ensure everything was ready for Eva and all the others Silvius had infected.
She had poured everything she had into it, as I knew she would with what was at stake. Then again, she always did.
I also knew Quinn wouldn’t be happy with me if I let her sleep in.
After all, today was the day we had been striving for if all went to plan—my literal blood going into it, along with our figurative sweat and tears.
Today we would save my sister. Although Silvius was still out there, we would undo the damage his virus caused before defeating him together.
Counting each second, I blew out a slow breath…though for once I didn’t feel the need to. I felt safe with her in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time.
Quinn stirred slightly, perhaps roused by the feeling of my excitement. I couldn’t help but press a soft kiss against her lips.
“Hi,” Quinn mumbled, her smile brushing against mine.
“Hi,” I whispered stupidly back.
Against her, I hadn’t stood a chance. I never had.
I lifted my chin, brushing the barest of kisses against her forehead. Trailing them across her cheeks, her eyelids, the point of her ear…
She yawned, blinking open her eyes as she snuggled closer. “How long do we have until the lab opens?”
I should have known that would be her first thought. Her single-minded determination brought a smile to my lips as I gently chided, “It’s still dark, Sagray.”
She gave an exaggerated sigh. “I thought we were finally on a first name basis.”
I smirked. “Old habits die hard. But you have some time if you want to get a little more rest.” I ran my fingers down her spine, tracing lazy circles onto her back. “I’ll wake you when it’s time.”
Stubbornly she shook her head. “I’m up. I won’t be able to get back to sleep, not when there’s so much to do today.” Her brows scrunched together. “Did the others ever make it home last night?”
I frowned, straining to hear any sign they returned. “I’m sure they would’ve told us is something went wrong.”
Unless they were in too much danger, or worse. I was only too aware of the methods Silvius had for keeping one silent.
Quinn reached for where a pad of paper sat on the bedside. “I’ll send a note to check in, just in case.”
My reply lodged in my throat. I could feel the metal of the mask, icy against my skin as I tried to push that recollection back down. It felt more difficult than usual to picture the cells that once held me, even as that steady drip of moisture echoed in my ears…
The warmth of her hand brought me back as it rested on my cheek. “Where did you go?”
I tried to sound casual as I asked, “When?”
Her gaze sharpened, as if debating whether to call me out. “When you lost the light in your eyes, Tobias. When I couldn’t feel you anymore.”
For a heavy beat, I couldn’t find my voice.
“Back to my cell,” I whispered.
I wouldn’t—couldn’t—lie to her anymore. I didn’t want to anyway.
I had raised my walls instinctively, unthinkingly blocking our bond. Her concern now bled through the cracks in my shield, wearing away at the barrier between us like water against sand.
“You don’t have to anymore,” Quinn said though without any judgement. “Talk to me. Before you bury your feelings again, try to remember that I’m here and I’ll help you through it.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’m sure they’re fine.
But the thought of Silvius silencing them somehow…
I spent four years with that psychopath.
Four years listening to him talk about how I wasn’t worthy to be in his King’s presence, never mind the fact that I would’ve given almost anything not to be.
Aviel may have been my torturer, but Silvius was the mastermind of it all.
He was the inventor of the band around my neck and the mask that hid my face, and the one behind the silence I grew so accustomed to that I’m still working to find my voice again.
Aviel may have orchestrated it…but Silvius was the one who broke me. ”
“You’re not broken,” Quinn protested. “And you never broke, or I wouldn’t be here with you now. That silence saved me too.”
“Just promise me you’ll be careful,” I rasped. “If anything happens to you…”
Quinn nodded, like she understood. And maybe she did, considering what I must be sending across our bond.
“This is going to take some getting used to,” I muttered. “I didn’t even realize that I blocked you out.” Taking her hand, I brushed a kiss against the back of it, relishing in the soft flutter of her response across our bond. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”
I knew she could sense my determination and regret, along with the truth of my apology.
Quinn pursed her lips. “That’s one thing you’ve never been good at, you know.”
“And what’s that?”
“Asking for help.”
I continued kissing my way up her arm, determined to wipe the remaining concern from her face. She squirmed a little as I reached a sensitive spot on the inside of her elbow, and I noted it for later.
“And you know me so well?”
Quinn rolled her eyes. “I know everything about you.”
“Oh yeah?” I raised one eyebrow. “What’s my favorite color?”
She smiled like it was obvious. “Yellow.”
Her laugh made my heart skip a beat.
“Yellow, huh?”
Those amber eyes sparkled. “Nothing garish. Warm and golden, like the magic that flows down your sword. Like—”
My gaze fell to where her necklace sparkled against her chest. “Like sunflowers.”
Her breath caught. My eyes slid up slowly to see the blush coloring her cheeks.
Of course, my favorite color was yellow. It reminded me of her.
Yellow like the sunflower amulet she hadn’t taken off for as long as I could remember, its pale diamonds shining above her heart.
Yellow like the sunlight playing across her cheeks as we sparred in the courtyard.
Yellow like the dress she had worn when she danced with me in a perfect, stolen moment.
Yellow like the field of flowers in Soleara I once watched her walk through from the shadows of my room—a voyeur as she spread her arms wide and fell back into them. I had stared at her through my window, wishing I could find the courage to go to her and fall into the flowers too.
I picked up her necklace, the backs of my fingers brushing against the curve of her breast. Its diamonds glimmered, golden and alive, as I watched Quinn’s slow swallow move down her throat.
“You’re right,” I said. “It’s yellow.”
The smile she gave me could have rivaled the sun. The morning light painted her hair with an angelic glow, that smile growing as I gently tugged her amulet so the chain brought her closer.
I twirled the sunflower in my fingers, feeling each dull point against my thumb. “Now, are you going to make me guess yours or is it still yellow too?”
She told me that once, a lifetime ago. When we were teens on an early morning car ride and Eva had fallen back asleep in the backseat.
Yellow, like the sunrise, she said as the early morning light set her amber gaze aglow.
I remembered being thankful she had her eyes on the road since it gave me the excuse to watch her unobtrusively. Though given the way she had accidentally missed a green light, there was a chance she noticed.
“Hmm,” she murmured suggestively. “I know a way you can get the truth out of me.”
I leaned in, unable to resist the allure of her arousal, the entirely intoxicating feeling of her need for me.
When we were home in Soleara, I would spend a lifetime worshiping her and spend each day in awe that she was mine.
For the first time in a long time, I not only had a future—I was looking forward to it.
“You are my sunrise, Quinn Sagray, and I never want to wake up without you again.” My voice was steady and sure, even as I sent a silent plea to the universe that I always would. “I hope you’re prepared to be sick of me because I’m never letting you go again.”
“About time, Maris,” Quinn said with a laugh.
I kissed her again.