“You are very kind,” I say as I lead a large group into the palace. While there are definitely not enough rooms for all ofthem, they find ways to cram into the dining hall and every room they can before I take those who are left to the town hall that is still in rather good condition.
Once they’re settled, I head over to my bedroom and sort through a chest before I join Riley on the other side of the Door I’d made that goes straight to the Magical Interference Unit. He went over earlier to discuss things with some people there. When he sees me, he smiles. “They’re going to work on getting us some food.”
“Thank you.” I hold up a few gemstones as I notice he’s alone. “Do you know where I could sell these?”
Riley picks them up. “Are they… are these okay to sell?”
“Yeah, I can always find more,” I assure him. “They weren’t hard to get.”
He stares at them for a second before nodding. “Don’t tell anyone that they came from your world, understand? You found them in a different realm and casually picked them up hundreds of years ago. I don’t want anyone trying to come into your world looking for quick ways to get rich.”
“Understood,” I say. “But you find it sexy when I beat people up.”
Riley grins at me, and since no one else is in the room, he slides into my arms. Kit is mesmerized by the shiny gemstones, so Riley’s eyes aren’t quite following me, but once his hands are on me, he knows just where to tuck himself.
“I’m sorry I worried you,” he says.
“You’d better be,” I tease as I kiss the top of his head. Then I push his hair back and kiss his forehead before I move down to his lips. His kisses are so sweet and gentle before he rests his head against me.
“Are you okay?” he whispers.
“About?” I kind of feel like a lot is going on, and I’m hoping he mentions something specific so I don’t say the wrong thing.
“About them moving into your realm. Not that long ago, you said that you liked it being just us. Does it bring up bad memories?” Riley asks. His words are so gentle and calm, but I can feel his fingers digging into my back, like he’s desperately hanging on to every word I have to say.
I slide my hand around his back to pull him into a more secure hold. “I think… it makes me happy to see so many people. The idea of walking down the streets… seeing the shops… greeting people… who knows how many will even stay, but even if just five or ten do…”
His hands tighten. “I need to know why I did this. Why I killed everyone you love.”
“Youdidn’t do it,” I remind him. “You work so hard to save everyone. You’ve always done so much for them. It’s okay. I promise you that it’s okay.”
“How can I not hate myself, Torin?”
“Because you didn’t do it. Because I don’t hate you. I love you. And I want you to realize that you’re the reason so many people are still alive. So many people get to continue to live because of you.”
I tip his chin up and run my thumb over his cheek. “Believe me, please.”
Riley nods, but I don’t know if it’s just to appease me. I kiss his cheek before I hear someone knocking, and Riley pulls back to face Lt. Lindsey when she steps in.
“Lieutenant, I did have one more thing. Can you find us someone who’d be interested in Torin’s gemstones? We’d like to use the money to buy supplies and food for the displaced people.”
Lt. Lindsey examines the stones before nodding. “I know someone who’d handle this. I’ll call him now.”
“Thank you. Then I’m thinking we should go to a bulk store to buy supplies, right? I mean… how do we buy thousands ofthings? We don’t even know how many people we have yet. Story is supposed to get us some numbers,” Riley says. “I guess I could summon some undead who could get supplies from multiple places. I’ve been careful not to touch anyone since I touched Mickey.”
“They need those mini hairbrushes for their teeth,” I suggest.
“Yes, mini hairbrushes for teeth should definitely be on that list. But we need to make sure the water is running well.”
“Almost everything in my world ran with magic,” I say. “It wouldn’t take much to get them going again, especially if we combine them with your ways to make energy.”
“Sounds good.”
“Oh, and maybe some staplers so they have something to do.”
Riley stares at me. “What are you going to have them staple?”
“Do I judge you when you giggle and beam at that tappy device you love holding?” I ask.
