Iwanted to loop my arm over his shoulders and hold him tight, butIresisted. “I’msorryIasked.Wedon’t have to talk about it.Ifyou want to, when you're ready, we can.Butfor now, perhaps a bit more rest?Weare going to try to get out of here tomorrow.”
Jundidn’t speak again but nodded and made his way to lie down next toPallas.Theydidn’t touch, but she rolled over, so their pinkies were intertwined as they lay side by side.
Ineeded rest as well.Icould feel the exhaustion of everything weighing on me.Butinstead of approaching the fire,Isimply pressed my back againstAbraxas’ hard side and slid down soIwas cradled in the crook of his arm.
“Goodnight, myDragonKing.”
Theoceanof my mind ebbed calmly.Butit glowed that mystic blue of the wild spring.Ilanded on the shore, butIwas also in the cavern, the ocean becoming the spring that glowed softly.Iknew it wasn’t real sinceIcouldn’t focus on anything, and my surroundings shifted with my thoughts.So, a dream then?Isat whereIhad fallen asleep, but there was no fire, and no one lay around it.Ileaned back into the hard scales ofAbraxas’ side, only to find a cool, soft body instead.
Abraxaswrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear, “It’sgood to see you, little bird.”
Ispun around, and there he was, just asIremembered him.Justa fae man, his ears pointed and his smile wicked.Hislong silver-white hair ran down over his bare shoulders, andIsaw the scars from our fight with theNalleacross his chest.
Heraised his hand up and cupped my face. “Aren’tyou happy to see me too,Tori?”
Ipunched him right in the face.
Helet out a pained groan, butIdidn’t stop.Islammed him down, but he snagged my wrists and flipped on top of me.
“YOUASSHOLE!”Irammed my feet into hisstomach, and he flew back asIscrambled up.Ilunged at him again, but he easily blocked me, sending my arms off to the side.Hisviridian eyes twinkled, and it only pissed me off more. “Youabsolute asshole!Whydidn’t you tell me?Yousaid we had no secrets, and now… now…”
Heblocked my blows, andIcould hear an occasional muffled groanwhen one landed, but he was laughing now. “I’mdying,Tori.Begentle with me.”
Islammed my fist into his chest, and tears streamed from my eyes. “Youcan’t, you liar.Youcan’t die.”Icollapsed, my face pressed to the skin of his chest, sobbing.Hewrapped his arms around me and gently stroked my hair.
“Iwanted to tell you, my little bird, every single day.Itwas forbidden.Nodragon has ever revealed our ability to shift, not once in all of written history.Icouldn’t tell you, even if you are my…” he trailed off.
“Sayit,”Icommanded.
Hesighed. “Evenif you are my mate.”
“Youlied to me about that, too.Howlong did you know?”Ilay on his chest for a while, listening to his heartbeat.Itwas weak, so weak.
“Iknew from the momentIset foot inNiatayou were my mate.Whatevermagic it is that connects us, it must have been bound by the sea and the salt water.ButonceItouched that land,Iknew you were meant to be mine.”
Thatstirred something in me, a deep hurt.Hewas dying, andIdidn’t know what to do, but still,Ifound new ways for pain to cut me.
“So, what?AllI’vefelt was a lie?Thiswas all because of some mystical connection we had no control over.”
Helaughed, really laughed then. “Theconnection may have drawn me to you, and yes,IconvincedHadeonto let me takeyou toXyrbecause of it.Butdo not thinkIdidn’t regret that choice many times over.”
Ipushed up off of him.Washe really saying whatIthought he was?
Heraised his hand and gently pushed a stray hair back behind my ear. “Fora time,Ihated you.Ihated how weak you made me.Ihated how my every waking thought was consumed by you.Ihated how when you were near,Icouldn’t control myself.Youpossessed me, mind and soul.Ihated howIwould have done anything,anything, for you to smile at me.”
Hehit me with that grin that pulled at my heart, and his eyes sparkled. “BecauseIsaw you,Tori.Ireally saw you, the ferocious, caring, and uncontainable force that you are.HowcouldInot have hated you completely and fallen madly in love with you?”Hiswords soothed my aching heart. “Ifell in love with you the moment you held your sword to my throat with that perfect ass planted on my chest, and let me tell you, that had nothing to do with this bond.Youwere so filled with life and fire, and it reminded me whatIwas truly fighting for before hatred turned my heart to stone.”
Hesqueezed me tight, andIlay my head back down on his chest. “Ilove you, too,Abraxas.”Ilet myself linger there with those words finally shared between us, andIimagined his heartbeat grew a bit stronger.
“Nomore lies,Abraxas,”Isighed. “Ormaybe it doesn’t matter.Idon’t even know if this is real or if it really is just a dream.”
Hegripped my face softly, running his thumb over my lips. “Doesthis feel real?”
Ishivered. “Yes.”
Heleaned in. “Andwhat about this?”Hislips traced over the sensitive skin of my neck, trailing small kisses upand down.
“Yes.”
