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“Never forget that you are strong and powerful, Izidora. Don’t let your inner fire go out.” And with that cryptic statement, he left, leaving me standing in the center of our new room, too confused to move. The unease that wormed it way into me only increased.
What happened and why did he have to leave so suddenly?
A bath was the perfect way to forget the strangeness in the air. A good first impression would be important when our guests arrived later, and I was certain my eyes still held the puffiness that came after a night of crying.
“I am strong. I am powerful. I got this,” I whispered to myself as I filled the tub with steaming water. Light floral scents filled the room as I poured salts and soaps into the bath. In the bedroom, I perused the stack of books beside the bed, selecting a romance. Book in hand, I returned to my waiting bath, slipping out of my robe and pants and into the waiting water.
I cracked the book after I got comfortable, wanting to get lost in a world that was not my own. What better way to get over my own heartbreak than to read about another female being swept off her feet by a sexy male?
Since Ruslan was not there, I skipped the words I did not know, but still managed to read over half of every page. When the water’s decreasing temperature caught my attention, I decided to bathe. Setting the book aside, I dunked my head and washed my hair, working my fingers through my long chestnut tresses until they were clean, then turned my attention to my body, freeing it of every hint of grime from the previous day’sbattle. The water had gone cold by the time I finished, and the fluffy white towel warmed me as I wrapped it around my body and stepped from the tub.
Ruslan had yet to return, so I busied myself drying and curling my hair with magic, creating soft waves that cascaded down my back. My magic had refilled, but the well was nowhere near full. I stoked my inner flame, caressing it with love I had not given it in some time. It flared brighter under my attention, and more energy returned to my still weary limbs the longer I focused on it.
The heady thrum of power grew in my chest, intoxicating and alluring and calling me to use it, but I needed to save every drop I could for later, when tensions would run high and the risk of everything falling to ruin would be great. So I returned my attention to the mirror in front of me, staring at the aquamarine eyes filled with fiery determination. After a few more touches to my hair, I was satisfied with my appearance and decided to read by the fire until Ruslan returned.
It was past mid-day, and it was unlike him to let me out of his sight, let alone for hours on end without anyone else present. The uneasy sensation from earlier settled once more in my stomach, and I sensed the wrongness in the air, even though I could not place who or where it came from. It was like all of Radence held its breath as it watched us stand at the edge of a cliff, waiting to see if we would plummet or soar.
And more than anything, I needed to speak with him. My anger had abated with the passing hours, and I understood he had acted from a place of fear. So long as he did not follow through on his actions, I could forgive him.
But he owed me.
I buried myself in the story, sighing when the female main character swooned over the passionate words of her lover, biting my lip in anticipation as the male fought to save his true love,and smiling when at last the couple overcame all obstacles to be together. As I closed the book after reading the last page, I noticed Ruslan sitting in the chair across from me. I screamed, jumping to my feet on pure instinct as he smirked at me. A low laugh rumbled from his chest as I clutched my own, tears pricking my eyes as I tried to breathe through the panic.
“How long have you been there?” I cried, still gasping for breath as my body wound up to fight.
“Long enough. I did not want to disturb you during the climax,” he winked. My shock gave way to anger as my heart slowed and adrenaline dropped away.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again! At least announce yourself when you walk into the room,” I snapped.
“But I like watching you too much for that,” he purred.
I scoffed and rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. “We need to talk.”
His playful mood turned somber in an instant.
“I heard you last night, talking to Drazen and Rares.”
White knuckles gripped the edge of his chair. “I can’t lose you, Izidora.” His voice cracked, filled with strain and anguish.
I knelt in front of him, my hands covering his as I siphoned his pain until his breath flowed evenly. I held back my surprise as he allowed it. “I know you are scared, Ruslan, but taking my choice away isn’t the answer. Talking to me is.”
His black hair tumbled into his face as he dropped his head. “I love you, Izidora. You make me feel… loved. I don’t want to lose this feeling I’ve wanted for so long. You almost died yesterday. I almost lost you. And then the thought of you returning to him… I can’t bear it.” He pulled me into his lap, burying his head in the crook of my neck.
I wrapped my arms around him, rocking him against me. “I know you’re scared, Ruslan. I know you love me, and you know I love you. But more than that, I understand you, and youunderstand me, and being understood, especially after suffering in the ways we have, is an irreplaceable feeling, more precious than any gemstone, and I will not give that up.”
My mate’s strong chest heaved as I laid my feelings bare for him.
“I don’t deserve you.”
“Yes, you do. It will always be us against the world.” And I meant those words. We’d both been on the outside looking in for so long that when we were together, I didn’t feel so lonely, and I knew with Ruslan I never would be again.
“My sprite,” he croaked. “I am so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?” He lifted his head from my chest, staring deep into my eyes with a plea etched on his face.
“Only if you are honest with me. Do you have something?” I asked pointedly.
He nodded, pulling my ring from his pocket. “Rares enchanted this with magic.” Then he tossed it into the fire without a second thought. The gems screamed and hissed as if a demon were trapped inside them and the heat burned them out. “I will get you a new one, free of any magic. We can pick it out together.”
I kissed him lightly on the lips. “Thank you for being honest with me. Now, what else do you need to feel okay?”
