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“Well,we certainly know how to make our mark on a room,” I commented as soon as we were ready to leave, something that didn’t happen quickly seeing as we took advantage of what the pool had to offer. Which basically meant we could get as dirty as we wanted this time. Although it had to be said that this part of the room didn’t exactly go unscathed by the act, making me wince at the sight of all those broken tiles that surrounded the pool.
However, when I mentioned to Lucius about ‘healing’ the room he simply laughed the idea away and went back to the preferred task of drying me. This was before he conjured up a new outfit for me, one this time that was free of amor.
“Oh, you are good,” I praised, making him grin back at me. And I certainly shared in that grin when looking down and taking in the sight of myself wearing clothes I finally recognized. Just the feel of my comfy grey leggings, high top, black converse sneakers, and one of my off the shoulder black sweater was making me feel more human by the second, and this certainly wasn’t a bad thing. Because despite having changed physically since coming into Hell, I knew at heart I would always be mortal, and I liked that I would never lose that part of myself. And by dressing me this way, I had to say, I think Lucius liked it too. Something that seemed to be confirmed when I saw the warm look in his eyes when scanning the length of me.
“I do try, Love,” he replied before sweeping an arm down himself and in place of naked skin, was now a handsome dark-navy suit that brought out the hints of blue in his gorgeous eyes. The crisp white shirt beneath the form fitting jacket and suit waistcoat was left open at the collar without its tie, just as I knew Lucius preferred it.
“You look ready for a date,” I commented with my own smirk tugging at my lips. This made him reach out his left hand to me and again, it was nice to see it without its glove.
“Then would you do me the honor of being my date? As right now, I only have one destination in mind.” I laughed at this and took his hand, letting him pull me from the room. However, just as he opened the door he looked back at the feathered carnage, a knowing grin transforming his already handsome face to one that was off-the-chart’s panty melting.
It was like he seemed almost smug at the thought that we had left his brother’s harem in such a mess. As always, I was embarrassed by the idea and wanted to make a quick getaway before his brother realized. Although this hope was dashed the moment we met Dariush in the hallway leading back to his office. Lucius approached him, then he put a hand on his shoulder and declared with cocky arrogance,
“We found your harem and I am not sorry.”
“Lucius!”I hissed after my mouth dropped.
“Subtle as always, brother,”Dariush muttered, and at this Lucius grinned but then again, I think it was more to do with my own reaction than that of his brother’s as that grin was soon solely focused on me.
“Can I also assume that being now dressed this way, you are ready to depart?” his brother asked, making Lucius nod before confirming with words,
“We are, for I am eager to get Amelia home.” Dariush nodded as if he understood this and held his arm out towards his office door, telling us we should go inside.
“Wait! I haven’t said goodbye to Nero!” I shouted as Lucius led me into the room so as we could have some privacy when Dariush sent us home. As for the McBain brothers, I had already said my teary goodbyes to them on the second day when sitting my bored ass on Lucius’s throne waiting for him to come back. Now they were free men they were eager to get back to what I imagined it was they did best… drinking, fighting, bounty hunting and well, I didn’t want to think of the other thing.
But as for Nero, she had stayed with me, and thank the Gods she had or it would have made my time waiting near unbearable.
“Don’t worry, my sweet, she will join us soon in the mortal realm,” Lucius assured me.
“Wait! She will? Has she agreed to join your council?” Lucius smiled at my enthusiastic tone.
“She has, but she is needed here a little longer so as she can… how did she put it, ‘tie up the loose ends of her Hellish life’.” I chuckled at this. It was weird to think of her closing the doors to her shop and sticking up a bigFor Salesign, making me wonder who its next owner would be.
“Are you ready?” Lucius asked, once again offering me his hand to take, something I did without a second thought. Because now I was more than ready for this next chapter of our lives together to begin. Which is why the moment Dariush created a portal for us, I squeezed his hand tightly and told Lucius,
“Absolutely…” Then I let out a relieved sigh and whispered the exact same words he had said to me…
“…Let’s go home.”
10
CURSED TO DREAM
As soon as I was faced with Dariush’s portal, I found myself more than looking forward to finally going home. Although where that home would end up being was still a conversation Lucius and I needed to have. Of course, I knew that we would be moving in together, that was most definitely a moot point after all we had been through. And it was like he had said, the ultimate can of worms had already been opened.
But knowing this still didn’t prevent me from having a million questions about how this was all going to work. Technically I was already moved in, as Lucius had already pointed out that my precious picture of Spock was still decorating his wall. Yet after everything that had happened, I realized all the little things didn’t really matter anymore.
We had just spent weeks in Hell looking for each other, fighting tooth and nail at every turn, only to find one another, and then be cruelly ripped apart once more. It had been a constant battle to just stay in each other’s arms. So, I had to question if wherever we lived, did it really matter as long as we were together?
But I also had to confess how I felt the moment we stepped through the portal, and I realized where we were… back in Lucius’s mountain castle, standing in his unique living space. It was as if I could finally breathe easy for the first time since I had left my home realm.
Being fully mortal when I step through the first time, I had wondered how I would feel stepping back, no longer the same girl as when I had left. These past few days I had felt different, but over time, it was something I was beginning to get used to.
However, the moment Lucius had stepped back into that throne room it was as if the last puzzle-piece of my altered-self had just slotted into place, creating a clearer picture of what I had needed all this time. Of what my soul had been missing.
Everything within me suddenly felt right. I could breathe easier, despite the heaviness of added power weighing on my mortal-born vessel, making the weight feel lighter. Everything cleared, as if my creator had suddenly clicked their fingers and my body had responded by handing the hardest parts back to Lucius to care for. This new power that had been placed upon me, Lucius had literally lifted the burden, but then again I was not surprised. He had carried a piece of my soul with him all of this time, and it was as if my body recognized its keeper.
