My head twists, trying to see what he does, to sense it, but I can’t. I just see people meandering around the streets, cars driving by.
“How do you know someone’s watching?” I ask as he starts to walk quickly. “Is it the guards?”
“No.Someone was following us from the station. I cannot destroy the portal key as Rathyn asked. Not yet. Not when I don’t know who has seen us.”
I swallow as he rushes across the street, a car horn honking loudly at us, but Cielo doesn’t seem to mind, walking quicker.
“Do you know how to get rid of it?”
“Yes, but I need something older than what it is made from. I do not have that, not here, but Quilliyn may. I have given him the key to keep safe until we can destroy it.”
I let my mind stew on that as he continues to wind his way up and down the streets until we’re finally home. He doesn’t letme go as he opens the door, then slams it behind us and moves right to the bedroom. I don’t question it. I simply let him set me down on the bed and keep the lights off as he peers out the window.
Something dark and shadowed has set over his face, and I find myself twisting with anxiety.
I’m not sure what’s going to happen now, but if someone knows about the portal, we may be in more trouble than I thought.
twenty-eight
CIELO
Ibarely sleep that night, my hearts beating much too fast. My brothers are here on Earth. They are with Quilliyn. He has sent their location and several pictures of where they will now live.
It is nice. Much nicer than where I lived when I worked for Rathyn.
They will not know the pain I did when I first arrived. They will have people to rely on. The crushing loneliness will not plague them, though I know the grief of missing Erethar will be profound. But they will heal and adapt, just as I have. They will learn that pleasure, joy, and contentment are not the greatest sins.
They will be happy.
Dante is curled around me, his head on my chest, right above my frantic hearts. I thread my fingers through his hair and peer down at him. He is my joy, my soul. I am so glad I have found him, that he is a part of me. But I did miss my family, and knowing they were suffering has only made things harder for me.
But they will not suffer anymore.
I shift slightly, and I see the pink socks Dante’s mom made me. I wonder if she will make the same for my brothers. I am sure they would enjoy these odd bits of clothing. They are soft and warm and feel a little bit extravagant.
I keep my eyes open the entire night, not wanting to wake Dante, but eager to get moving. He needs his rest, so I wait patiently until his eyelids blink open and he stretches. He feels wonderful against me, a soft moan escaping him.
“Oh shit, I slept like the dead.” I trill in my throat, not wanting to think about him dying, but he just pats me on the chest and says, “It’s not like I almost died. It’s a figure of speech.”
“I do nooot liiike.”
He huffs a laugh and then leans up and kisses me softly. I wish for more, but he moves away too quickly.
“Alright, I know you’re anxious to go, so let’s move it. I need caffeine, and then we can visit your brothers.” He hesitates a moment and then turns to look at me. “Wait, do you want my cum now or later?”
I do wish for his cum. Always, but today I would like to see my brothers first. It will calm my nerves.
He must feel my urgency because he nods and begins moving.
“Alright. Let’s do this. Give me like fifteen minutes, and if you can make me a coffee, I’ll love you forever.”
I wish for him to love me forever, so I am up in a flash, moving to pull a scarf around my waist as Dante enters the bathroom. In the kitchen, I make us both a latte and make sure that Dante has something to eat, so when he appears several minutes later, we are ready to go.
He takes the latte from me and sips on it, a sigh escaping his lips. “This is so damn good. Thank you.”
I incline my head and then step toward the door, opening it with nervous fingers, my ears fluttering.
“I can drive us,” Dante says, searching around for his keys, “but I need the address. Did Q send it to you?”
