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They were dancing, and Leah got to witness this wondrous moment.
“I think they like you,” Taryn muttered, soft enough not to disturb the beautiful sway happening around them.
“Or maybe they just like visitors,” she said.
“Nobody else has been in my refuge, except for me.” He looked at her, his features more gorgeous now that they looked so open. Like sharing his secrets had released some heavy burden he had been carrying. Nana always said confronting your demons made them small enough to squash. Leah hoped it would apply to her, as well. “And you.”
It melted her heart a bit more to hear he trusted her enough to bring her here, to his sanctuary. This is what this place felt like. Hidden and glorious, all at once. But it also felt lonely. Remote. Like Taryn was trying to remove himself from the rest of the world.
“Thank you,” she said. “Why do you need a refuge?”
He seemed so big and strong and powerful, while Leah felt small and weak and tugged in whatever direction the winds of her life dictated. He was solid. Sure of himself. He could withstand everything.
“The me I need to be outside these walls, and the me I can be within them,” he said.
“Is it that big of a difference?” To her, so far, the two Taryns were the same. Strong. Constant. Comforting.
“Not exactly, but I sometimes tire of putting on a facade,” he went on, his voice turning colder. “I need to tell you one more thing. Something that truly cannot leave the confines of this place.”
Leah’s muscles tensed. She instantly checked herself. Taryn being half-Zavorian hadn’t scared her, nothing he was going to say would either.
And she couldn’t expect him to understand and accept what she had to say if she didn’t do the same thing. It was all about reciprocity and compassion. Perhaps even empathy. Leah had no say in where she came from. Neither did Taryn.
What mattered was what they decided to do with what they were given, and it was time Leah fully accepted that.
“Whatever you have to say stays with me,” she said and meant every single word. “You can trust me.”
“After I felt the Zavorian ship, I did something with my existence. Something I am proud of, but I have to keep hidden.” He turned toward her, grasping her other hand in his, too, and bringing them both to his chest. “I’m a spy. A Nines-damned good one. I try to cut off whatever vicious plans the Zavorians have to take over the entire universe, and protect those I can protect. Most times I succeed.”
She looked up at him, this amazing guy she’d had the insane good fortune to meet and talk to, and felt her knees go weak. He was incredible.
“I don’t know much about Quillon spies…but the human ones risk their lives,” she said. Before her world turned upside down, Leah was no stranger to the news, especially the kind that didn’t involve Zavorians.
And while they came to cower Earth, the planet had issues before that. Companies spying on each other, people turning up dead on the beach.
Humans might like to believe they’d evolved past their more violent ways, but most simply chose to ignore the aggressions hiding underneath the surface.
“You’re risking your life to help,” she whispered, in awe.
Taryn clenched his jaw. “Some say I skulk in the shadows. Deception is very close to lying, and Quillons hate lies.”
“Who cares what they say? You know you’re doing the right thing.” She splayed her palms across his chest. The connection between them tightened. “Those Quillons didn’t seem too taken with me back in the garden, seeing me by your side. Do you agree with them?”
She was actually proud of herself for having the courage to ask that. She had been wondering about it since they had left the Capital.
Leah knew these thoughts were more about how she saw herself, which was sad. Not feeling worthy of someone she considered so amazing wasn’t…great. But acknowledging it was the first step, right? Hopefully, she would rid herself of this idea. Soon.
“No,” he said forcefully, tightening his hold on her hands. “They are nothing to us. They never will be. We will not let ourselves be swayed by what others say. Ever.”
“I agree,” she said with a soft, relieved smile. “Then why are you letting them get between you and what you want to do?”
Taryn tilted his head to the side. “Because…very few beings have told me otherwise.”
“Beings you trust?”
“Yes.”
“Then trust them–and trust me–when I say that what you’re doing is amazing.Youare amazing. I am in complete awe of what you do. Being a spy takes skills not everyone can master. Or muster.”
