The possibility of having something real, something lasting, something worth protecting. Something that would destroy her to lose.
"Hey," he murmured.
"Mm?"
"Stop thinking so loud."
"I'm not thinking."
"Liar." He shifted, pulling her closer. "Whatever you're worrying about, it can wait until morning."
"I'm not worrying."
"Then what are you doing?"
She considered deflecting. Old habits died hard. But this was Thallos. And she was done hiding.
"I'm being happy," she said quietly. "And trying to figure out if it's allowed."
His hand found hers in the dark, laced their fingers together.
"It's allowed," he said. "More than allowed. Encouraged. Mandatory, even."
"That's not how happiness works."
"It is now. I'm making a new rule."
"You can't just make rules about emotions."
"Watch me."
She laughed, helpless and happy and completely, utterly lost.
Tomorrow, she thought. Tomorrow I'll worry about what this means, about how fast we're moving, about all the ways this could fall apart.
But tonight—tonight she would just be here. With him. In this moment.
CHAPTER 17
Thallos woke to find Marigold's head on his chest, her arm around his waist, and her leg slung over his and grinned. Awake she might have some doubts about expressing her feelings, but her body knew what it wanted. And apparently it wanted him.
He shifted slightly, hoping not to wake her, but her eyes opened, green and sleepy and even more beautiful than when she was fully awake.
"Morning," she murmured, tightening her arm around him.
"Morning."
She yawned. "What time is it?"
"Late enough that we've officially spent the entire night together."
Her eyes widened slightly, then she blushed and ducked her head. But she didn't pull away.
"Does that scare you?" he asked gently.
"A little." She drew circles on his chest with one finger. "But not in a bad way."
"How do you mean?"
