Page 94 of Storm

The bed moves as Seraphina stands. “What did I tell you, Stormy? Owned with a capital O.”

CHAPTER 28

THIS IS NOT A PLACE YOU LEAVE

That night, while lying in bed in the comfort of Ren’s cottage, I can sense something is wrong with the man curled up behind me. He’s been quiet, contemplative in my presence since we found out Nix was alive. Rolling over slightly, I ask the darkness, “What is it?”

Melek’s gruff voice clears beside me. “We need to talk.”

Ominous. Vague. My favourite.

If I had the strength to sit up, I would. Instead, I choose to make myself comfortable, looking up at the lush moon-filtered canopy before us. Sunny sleeps soundly beside me, and right now, I wish I had his childish, carefree nature.

“Okay.”

“Okay,” my husband repeats—a bit condescendingly, I may add. He lies on his side, looking down at me, playing with the ends of my hair.

Taking a shaky breath, I feel him land in my marrow, his smooth, intoxicating smell grounding me. “Before you start, I need you to hear me when I say I don’t want to talk about anything other than us staying here. Being a family. So I’ll answer the question before you ask it. I’m not leaving.”

“Wife.” His voice is gravelly but luxurious as it glides over my skin, pinpricks running the length of my body. “Just listen to me. That’s all I need.”

A swift kick comes from inside my stomach. Two against one. Nice. Pushing down at the wayward foot, I answer, “Fine.”

“Good girl,” he murmurs fondly, kissing my forehead.

Angling up, the whites of his eyes shine brightly down at me. I can’t stop the brattiness that comes out when we are like this, so I add with snark, “Go ahead, then.” The need to pull his lips to mine is forceful, so I quickly look away, trying to focus. He wants to take you away from this place, remember?

His fingers find the strap of my nightgown, aimlessly playing with the thin material. “We’ve run out of time in this place. No doubt, they’re already readying Halo for evacuation. If we stay here, we are dead. If we borrow some kelpies, we could be back at Halo in a couple of days’ time. Safe.”

Strong, thick fingers go to wrap around my jaw and cheek, like my form is moulded just for him, the perfect fit every time. Yet he forgets my will holds magnitudes, and he is mine. The reverence in his laser focus through this filtered night is enough to tell me that.

“Did you discuss this plan with Ren?”

“I don’t see the point in concerning the whole of this place when they have no avenues of retreat. Better they live out their days in peace.”

On hearing his callousness, my body springs to life. Pushing him aside, I sit up, solence pumping, agitation working its way throughout my limbs. “So you would condemn a whole community because you think they have no better options?” I hiss lowly, careful of the sleeping child next to us.

Silver swirls of molten lava sparkle to life, his hands gripping the sheet. “I’m not condemning anyone. I’m giving them peace. An option I wish we had. If I were none the wiser about what the empire have planned, I would happily stay ignorant. However, I know the intricate details of this situation, and I will not have you or Sunny in harm’s way.” He hits his sternum harshly. “I literally cannot not protect you from this. The mate bond is wearing down my reserves. The damn beast in me wants to fling you and Sunny over my shoulders and run until I hit the Elysian underground stronghold.” As if to prove his point, a faint snarl comes from his throat, which he swiftly clears.

“Hypothetically”—when kelpies fly—“let’s say I agree with this. How are we any safer in this Empire?”

Warm fingers find mine, holding tightly. “Each member of the council and other high-ranking families has lodgings in the underground empire. It’s already a bustling metropolis, no different from Halo. You and the children won’t need or want for anything.”

I snicker under my breath. “And what of everything we already know of the hollow and how they treat fae, your own kind? Your children’s kind. They drink fae solence, they keep seronds, and we both know they aren’t above killing for the sake of it.”

“Those things will never touch you or Sunny.” There’s no guarantee of that. “Or Phoenix.” If what Sera said is true, Phoenix will be more fae than human, and I can’t risk that. I won’t—not even for the man I love.

“Stop trying to kid yourself. There’s no hiding what lives in plain sight.”

“I’ve ensured our family’s safety. Is that not enough?”

I want to scream. Is that not enough? Why can’t it be enough? My husband. The person who has all of me, whom I just found out I’m mated to, has done everything to keep our children and me safe. But he forgets this fight was never about me. It was always about the bigger injustice. The unfairness of my people’s existence. The unbalanced exchange of power. It was never about what we are together. I don’t just dream of safety for myself, but everyone else like me. It’s how my mother raised me. It’s her last legacy, and I won’t let that go. “No.”

My answer lands heavily in the warring atmosphere between us. We sit in silence for beat after blustering beat, both of our stubborn natures preventing us from breaking the hush that has descended.

To my utter surprise, though, Melek speaks up, conceding. “I will speak to Ren in the morning.”

Sliding back down the bed so my front is firmly pushed against his, I grasp his newly smoothed cheeks. “Thank you.” I kiss him the way I’ve been wanting to since I started this conversation—with burning passion. He groans, pulling me in closer. I wiggle in as close as my bump will allow.