47. Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter forty-seven
The color drains from Dex's face as he mirrors my shocked stare.
The second I shift my weight, ready to rush to him, he shakes his head frantically then subtly tilts to the left, motioning to an alley cloaked in shadow.
Nodding, I step down and press myself against the dusty wall.
Loathe to take my eyes off the man who's always been more like family, in case he disappears.
Reaching the spot where he slipped into the shade, there's no time to try and scan for Zenn to let him know before a hand shoots out, yanking me into the narrow lane, and I come face-to-face with an exhausted Dex. "What in the dark realms of hell are you doing in Orz?"
"What happened to you?" I demand, ignoring his question. There will be plenty of time to get into all of that once I understand why he looks like he hasn't had a meal or a decent place to sleep since he left the Grotto.
"I'm sorry, my lady. We got separated, and I haven't found a way back to her." No need to ask who he's talking about. How did they both end up here but not together?
"Don't worry about that right now. I came to find her.
We'll figure it out." His eyes widen a fraction in surprise.
"Tell me what happened to you, Dex? You look terrible.
" He doesn't protest when I hand over my water canteen.
Once he's drained it, I give him one of the fresh rolls of bread I just bought, and he explains between hurried mouthfuls.
"Aubria told me to go home when her fella collected her from the foot of the mountain with his men.
It didn't feel right leaving her like that when I've been watching out for you girls your whole lives.
I knew she was coming here, so figured I'd come see she was safe then head back.
Before I could attempt to get into the castle, I was jumped and lost everything.
They took all my money and supplies, so I've been stuck here. "
"Oh, Dex, I'm so sorry. Where have you been staying? How have you been eating?" From the state of him, I suspect I already know the answers.
"I've been making do, don't you worry. Do you...do you know how Suisa and the girls are doing?" His voice cracks at the mention of his family, and I reach out to grip his hand.
"I'm sure they're all fine." I can tell he’s worried, despite my reassurances. "Why didn't you come home? You still have your Amplifier, right?"
"Of course. Linti is stabled at the far end of the Triv. I muck out the place every night in exchange for her keep and a place to stay sometimes, if it gets too rough. Nobody is stupid enough to mess with an Amp. I couldn't leave. I was too ashamed. I failed your family and mine."
"You didn't fail. It’s not your fault." My voice is indignant. He's been homeless and starving, all to try and find my sister. "Wait, do you know who Bri’s with or why she's here?"
He shakes his head with bone-deep weariness.
"I never saw more than the back of his head.
I think his hair was light brown, or maybe blond, don't know for sure.
What about you? Are you here on an official visit about Aubria?
Where are you staying? I could come by and see you properly, if I can get into the castle looking like this. "
He frowns when I reply. "Not official, unfortunately. We're likely staying somewhere in the Triv. Haven't quite figured that out yet."
"I'm not going to pretend to understand how it's even possible one of Zelindyr's Foundations is in another realm and looking for a place to stay.
" I swallow my grimace and decide not to correct that number to two of us.
"There's a place not far from here with a decent upstairs apartment they hire out, if you've got the coin.
I stayed the first few nights when I arrived.
It's on the outskirts of the nicer part of the Triv quarter.
Look for the terracotta brick house, dark green door with white flowers painted in the corners, about six blocks that way.
" He points in the direction I think I entered from.
"It's clean and safe, with running water and a tiny private rooftop. "
I give him a grateful smile, relieved we have somewhere to stay. "Thank you. Is that stable also close by any chance? We need somewhere for the horses."
"Horses?" Dex repeats, perplexed. "You rode? Glad to at least know you're not here alone."
"Not on my own. With a few Shields." His eyebrows shoot up, clearly not expecting that response. "I should probably get back to them. I've been gone longer than planned."
"Yes, you have." A dark silhouette fills the entrance to the laneway, blocking the bright sunshine. "Care to explain why?"
I fill Zenn in; his unexpected appearance has Dex more confused than ever, but he agrees to come stay with us.
In under an hour, we retrieve a hot and bothered Jeska and Hendrix, take the horses to the stables, and rent the airy apartment for a few days.
Food is a priority for all of us, so I leave the others to look around the tidy, two-bedroom space decorated in shades of bright tangerine and white, while I prepare avocado and smoked chicken salad rolls.
I make a note to get more supplies tomorrow.
Dex looks like he could eat everything on the table by himself.
He tells his story in more detail while we eat, leaving out the part about Bri being involved with a man from Orz at my request. He looks embarrassed to devour everything we put in front of him, in between huge gulps of water from the jug in the icebox, before passing out on his makeshift bed in clothes that look far too big on his frame.
I briefly tell the others what I overheard about the Prince's masque ball, and we finish our meal in comfortable silence, more than ready to bathe properly with piped-in hot water and go to sleep in actual beds, despite the sun still setting, casting the place in warm, golden light.
Half expecting to share a room with Jeska, I'm pleasantly surprised when I check the bedroom by the stairs leading up to the roof and find my pack and jacket on the smaller of the two beds, next to Zenn's.
"Are you ok with this? I wasn't sure, we can swap if you're not," he murmurs quietly, coming up behind me. It’s the first glimpse in days, of the man behind the controlled Commander exterior.
"This is good." I slip through the door and sense him following, pulling it shut.
The air charges the second it clicks, and we pause, drinking each other in.
Sharing a room and a bed somehow feels a lot more significant than sleeping in the same tent.
The loud clunk of the water system turning off breaks the humming tension, and we focus on the distraction of digging through bags for sleep clothes and toothbrushes.
"I'll be quick," he mutters, grabbing a towel and ducking out the door, giving me a much-needed moment to catch my breath. Being in a small space together, his scent already permeating the air, is intensely intimate after the push-pull of being in camp, surrounded by people.
The second he's back, I escape before I can be ensnared by those eyes, the muscles of his chest and arms, the low-slung sleep pants just clinging to his hips, or the way his messy damp hair curls invitingly.
If I don't leave, I won't be able to resist. And right now, we need sleep. Given I’ve been dreaming about a hot shower for weeks, it’s ridiculous how fast I turn that tap down to near-freezing.
True to form, when I awake at dawn, I'm alone.
The bed is massive compared to the narrow bedrolls I'm surprisingly used to now.
It didn't stop us from sleeping as close as we did in the tent, even if all we did was sleep.
Slipping into my new lightweight cotton clothes, I'm amazed to find the air is chilled, a refreshing break after yesterday's muggy heat.
Following the alluring scent of freshly brewed coffee, I climb the narrow stairs to a small rooftop patio overlooking the sprawling Triv and red cliffs in the distance.
Zenn sits at the small wrought iron table, holding out a steaming mug to me.
A knowing smile curves that sensual mouth I can't get enough of.
Cradling the smooth clay cup in both hands, I stand between his outstretched legs, relishing the dark, bitter taste and the new sense of an inner reservoir of power that finally feels replenished after food and rest.
Minutes pass in easy quiet, until Zenn laughs quietly at my halfhearted protest when he takes the mug from me.
A protest that dies on my lips when he reaches up to wrap a warm hand around my neck, pulling me down for a deep, exploring kiss.
His smoky woodfire scent blending with the coffee is a heady combination, only heightened by the heat of his mouth contrasting the icy air.
His tongue dances with mine until I'm more than ready to go back to our room, or maybe just lock the rooftop door for a while.
Only the sounds of our ragged breathing disturb the vast silence when we finally break apart.
It's as if we're the only two people awake and witnessing the world.
My insides feel effervescent and light. Would I float away if Zenn's forehead wasn't pressed to mine, tethering me to the earth with his steady presence?
"Good morning," he says tenderly, tucking a section of purple hair behind my ear with a soft smile I return.
"Good morning yourself." For a moment, we're in our bubble with the fire and the forest and the stars.
I'm startled to find myself wishing we were back there, before Willa got hurt and everything got more complicated.
The realization ricochets from my heart to my head, and I have to admit, these early morning moments with him have become precious to me.
Terrifying, when we might not get many more.
"Would you two knock it off? We haven't even eaten yet," Hendrix complains lightheartedly, stomping up the stairs.