He’s a man who needs to be shown that my words are true. A man who has been hurt enough to know not to fall for pretty words.
I know that all too well, too.
Chapter 26
Adriel's POV
The air feels charged tonight, and the forest is too quiet.
“Danger is coming,” I whisper to Ludo unnecessarily. He can sense the aether more easily than I can. Animals just have that innate ability.
The type of danger, however, I can’t pinpoint. And that leaves me feeling unsettled.
After the darkness I sensed in Rami last night, I know that won’t be the last we see of it. For some reason, it has imprinted itself on the sweet man.
Thankfully, he was too distracted by my unconscious form to focus on the words I spoke to him. Words that came from the depths of my soul to free him of the darkness’ hold.
I could sense it attempting to regain control throughout the evening, but my presence along with the diviner’s necklace Rami was fully fortified.
Tonight feels different.
When I emerge from my home, Rami is already working in the garden, so I join him. We work for several hours as he tells me the stories from his favorite books and movies. On more than one occasion, he even stands up to act out the scene.
I only understand a small portion of the stories, but seeing his elation while telling them is more than enough for me.
Partway through one of his stories, a light breeze blows across my face and loosens a few strands of the hair I plaited down my back. Mother Earth’s whisper in my ear draws my full attention until I close my eyes.
Rami goes quiet from his spot nearby. I feel a little bad that I stopped listening partway through his rendition of a story he calledBeauty and the Beast.
When I open them, Rami is staring at me with his mouth agape. I cock my head to the side, curious for an explanation for his confusion.
He clears his throat and blinks twice. “Sorry. You just looked so serene like that. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”
A small chuckle escapes my lips as I lose the battle on a smirk. “You could never be an interruption.” He opens his mouth as if he’s going to argue, but I hold up my hand. “And if you were, it’d always be a welcome one.”
A gorgeous blush darkens his cheeks as he nibbles on his lower lip. My cock plumps desperately in my pants. There have been no further intimate interactions since the time I pinned him to the tree and frotted us to completion.
“A storm approaches,” I say instead of what my unhelpful brain has supplied. Which is predominantly him divested of his clothing and in any number of precarious positions.
He glances up at the slow-moving cumulus clouds, blocking out the otherwise starry night. “The South is sort of famous forour summer storms,” he says with a subtle shrug, blowing off Mother Earth’s warning.
I shake my head vehemently. “This one is a larger storm. One that comes from the sea.”
One brow rises high on his head. “How do you know that?”
“Mother Earth warns through the aether.” I hold up my hand again when he tries to argue with me. His safety will never be something I concede on. “It’s not safe for you to remain here. You should seek shelter back in town.”
He quickly shakes his head as his eyes widen in panic. I know he’s worried about returning to town. “I-I-I can’t return.” He cringes and curls in on himself, and I hate how weak the town has made him feel. He doesn’t see his own strength.
Taking one large step, I crowd his space, forcing him to step back until I have him pressed against a nearby tree. Placing my hand flat on his chest, his warmth seeping through the thin material of his shirt. I lower my lips until our mingled breaths are the only thing our bodies need to survive.
“I need you safe, my sweet Rami,” I mumble, hoping he’ll hear the plea in my voice. Both of our chests rise and fall heavily, our pants the only sound in the otherwise quiet night. “Please,” I whisper, and I see the last of his resolve break when he sighs heavily.
“Okay,” he says, giving in. “But I’m coming back as soon as it passes,” he promises.
“I’d like that very much.” Leaning near his neck, I inhale his scent deep into my lungs. Hoping to use it to rewrite my being to include him. Because without him, I am nothing.
Chapter 27
