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He reached out and pinched my chin with his other hand. Then his eyes began to glow, and his head dipped to mine. Our lips met, and straight away, I shuffled closer to him.
The wind whistled through the leaves above us, shaking many free. When my arms snaked around his neck, Rumir pulled me onto his lap. With a hand around my waist and another behind my neck, his mouth devoured mine. The way he squeezed me could break a human in two, but I held him just as tightly.
This part of our relationship had been stifled. It was the same with my bond with Lucian. There was so little chance for intimacy because of everything happening in our lives. Moments like this one were rare. And I intended to enjoy it.
My wolf whimpered with joy, and our lips parted.
Rumir kissed my cheek, temple, and then between my brows before hugging me. The way he held me, his face hidden in my neck and hair, and his crushing grip told me he desperately needed this.
He was so rough and unfriendly at times with everyone, but now I had proof that he was exactly what I thought—a gentle giant. But he only seemed to show his nice side to me.
“I’m sure Rehema understands,” he whispered, his face still in the crook of my neck. "So don't beat yourself up. We all know what's happening is out of your control. None of us will abandon you. And for me, only death can take me from you.”
When I didn’t react, he tugged on my hair. "Do you hear me?"
“Yes,” I answered. “I hear you.”
We sat in silence for a long while, and I took advantage of this moment of peace. I could feel the power within me, but it was quiet.
I wasn't sure when I would have another opportunity to be with Rumir like this, so I committed the moment to memory before he and I went back to the house.
* * *
Natalie
Someone's heart was beating too fast, and it was driving me nuts.
I’d finally fallen asleep, only to have the sound pull me from my slumber. My eyes flew open, my fangs already elongated, and my vision sharpened when I found myself very close to the ceiling.
I looked down and found that I was floating above the bed while surrounded by a light red shield of sorts. Suddenly, it vanished, and I yelped as I fell back onto the bed, almost going over the edge.
I sat up straight away, my pulse quickening. Had it been my own heartbeat I’d heard? Suddenly, I sensed Rumir standing by the door.
“Rumir?” I called, and he stepped forward.
"You were talking in your sleep, a language I've never heard before. I tried to come in, but I couldn't get close to you." He took another step forward and stopped, his hands clasped behind him. "There was a barrier around you, similar to the one you had at Fate's place. It seems to protect you whenever you're unconscious by lashing out at anyone that gets close.”
“Did I hurt you?” I looked him over but found no wounds or ripped clothes to suggest I’d attacked him. “Where are the others?”
He shook his head. "I'm fine. Lucian went home. He’ll be back later. And Rehema and Brian went home as well.”
“Okay.” I stifled a yawn and rubbed at my eyes.
By the end of that day, I had been feeling better. When Myleon prepared dinner, I’d finally felt hungry enough to eat something, and after that, I’d just wanted to sleep. The feeling of exhaustion I’d felt hadn’t been gradual—it had hit me like a speeding truck.
I’d gone from not feeling tired or hungry to starving and exhausted—all within a few hours.
It was as if I’d returned to my normal self, and had to deal with the repercussions of not eating or sleeping. Just before I’d drifted off, though, I’d remembered that gods didn't need food or sleep. And now that I had Tedara’s divinity, I might feel the same.
But the fact that I’d been so tired last night told me I was still mortal. Thank the Goddess!
Rumir came into my room, not seeming to be put off by the fact that he’d seen me floating around the room. “Did you sleep okay?” he asked, sitting beside me on the bed.
I looked out the window at the dark forest beyond it. “I slept okay. I didn’t even dream.”
“Or you just don’t remember it. Because it seemed to me you were definitely dreaming. I know all languages in the realm, but the one you were speaking was new to me." He frowned. "I'd never considered it before, but maybe the primordial beings have a language of their own."
“It’s possible,” I replied.
