Page 53 of Somnium

Elias turned so his shoulder rested against the wall, peering down at the lower level where Cadi was still seated on the couch, fully engrossed in the movie. The tiny flutter in his chest stirred, shifting to more of a pull as he watched her. His smile grew when she reached her arms over her head and bent back over the sofa into a stretch before letting out an adorable squeak.

He was in so much trouble.

“I know …” he whispered.

The end of the line was silent for a moment, and Elias began to wonder if the call had dropped until Sera spoke, her words sending ice into his veins.

“You know you have to tell her …”

Elias pushed off the wall and stepped farther into the bedroom, his voice dipping low. “You know I can’t, Sera. And I don’t want you⁠—”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, E …”

His entire body tensed as anger began to simmer in his chest. There was no question Sera had orchestrated this entire set up, but until that moment he had never thought to question her motivation. Sera was one of the most genuine people he’d ever met, but he couldn’t deny that she stood to gain a lot from Cadi’s presence in his life. He had to be sure. “Sera,” he said, trying to hide the way his voice had started to shake. “Please tell me this wasn’t all some play to help you find⁠—”

“Elias—babe—no,” she replied calmly, “I did this because I love you both … and because I saw the way you look at her.”

His fingers dug into his hair as a low breath slipped from his chest. Thank the gods. That was one battle he didn’t think he would have had the energy to fight, especially not with Sera.

“But she’s involved in this whether you want her to be or not,” she continued, “she always has been. Keeping her blind now won’t keep her safe. She deserves to know.”

Elias stood from the bed and began to pace. His stomach twisted at the idea of dragging Cadi into the mess they were in. He’d thought he’d have more time, that he’d be done with this before she⁠—

That didn’t matter. She was in his life now, and he would do anything to keep her safe.

Whatever it took.

“Okay,” he said, “I’ll tell her, but … not yet. I just want to be with her for a little while.”

Sera was quiet for a long moment, and Elias could almost feel her disappointment bleeding through the line. “Okay. I won’t say anything as long as you promise me you will. You can’t keep this from her, E.”

“I know. I promise.”

Elias ended the call and slipped his phone into his back pocket before he descended the metal steps.

“What did Sera want?” Cadi asked, her eyes tracking him as he lowered himself down next to her.

“Just calling to gloat,” he replied.

Cadi let out a full laugh as she rolled her eyes. “Of course she was.”

Something in Elias’s chest tightened at the sound of her joy. “I can’t wait to hear more of that,” he said, tracing his thumb against her cheek.

Cadi’s brows drew together in silent question, and her head tilted slightly in a move that drew him even further into her.

“Your laugh,” he said.

A shy smile pulled at her lips again as the most captivating shade of crimson spilled across her cheeks. She looked down at her hands, but he caught her chin, refusing to let her retreat.

“You don’t have to hide with me.”

And he meant it. He wanted every piece of her. The sharp edges, the stubborn pride, the parts she kept locked away. He wanted it all.

She stared at him for a moment, like she was fully letting herself hear his words. Then, she nodded.

Elias leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. He let his hand drift, trailing the tips of his fingers against her neck until they reached her collarbone. He held back a groan at the soft sound she made in response to his touch, his mind filling in the blanks to imagine all the other sounds she might make for him.

But not tonight. She was still just learning to let him in.