Dark Flame (The Immortals #4)(24)
I nod. That’s the first decent sleep I’ve had since—well, since you know who started invading my dreams. And even though I’ve no idea how long I was out, I feel so much better now, like I’m ready to head back to the earth plane and face all of my demons—or at least one in particular.
“Shall we?” He lifts his brow.
About to close his eyes and make the veil when I say, “But—what about this place? What’ll happen to it once we leave?”
He shrugs. “Well, I was going to let it go since we can always manifest it again. You know that, right?” He gives me a strange look.
And even though I know it’s easy enough for him to re-create it exactly as is, somehow I want it to stay. I want to know that it’s solid and lasting. A place I can return to on a whim, and not just some hazy figment of a really great day.
He smiles, bowing deeply as he answers my thoughts. “And so it is.” He takes my hand. “Versailles stays.”
“And this?” I grin, fluffing the frills on his cream-colored shirt, causing him to laugh in a way I don’t hear nearly enough anymore.
“Well, I thought I’d change for the return trip home—if that’s okay with you?”
I cock my head and screw my lips to the side, carefully looking him over as I consider. “But I like you like this. You’re so handsome, so gallant—regal, really. It makes me feel like I’m looking at the real you, dressed in the period you seem to have liked best.”
He shrugs. “I liked ’em all—some better than others, but in retrospect they all had something to offer. And you, by the way, look quite dazzling too.” He trails his fingers over my jewels and down the snug-fitting bodice of my dress. “But still, if we want to fit in back home, a costume change is in order.”
I sigh, sad to see our eighteenth-century finery replaced by our usual Laguna Beach wear.
“And now—” He nods, tucking my amulet back under the neck of my dress. “What do you say—my place or yours?”
“Neither.” I press my lips together, knowing he’s not going to like what comes next but committed to being completely honest with him during the few times I can. “I need to see Jude.”
He flinches. It’s minor, barely visible to the untrained eye, but still, I see it. And I need him to know what Jude already knows: that there’s no competition. Never really was. Damen won my heart centuries ago. And he’s had it ever since.
“There was an accident.” I nod, determined to keep my voice calm, even, and just stick to the facts, no matter how gruesome. And though I could just let the scene flow from my head to his—I don’t. There are too many parts I don’t want him to see, things he might take the wrong way, so instead I say, “I—I sort of attacked him—”
“Ever!” He balks, his expression so shocked it’s all I can do not to look away.
“I know.” I shake my head, pausing to take a deep breath. “I know how it sounds, but it’s not what you think, I—I was trying to prove he was a rogue—but—well—when I learned that he wasn’t—that’s when I rushed him to the emergency room.”
“And you failed to tell me this because—” He looks at me, obviously hurt by my neglect.
I sigh, looking right at him when I say, “Because I was embarrassed. Because I mess up all the time and I didn’t want you to lose patience with me. I mean, not that I’d blame you—but still.” I shrug, scratching my arm even though it doesn’t itch, yet another nervous habit of mine.
He places his hands squarely on my shoulders, looking me right in the eye when he says, “My feelings for you are not conditional. I don’t judge you. I don’t lose patience with you. I don’t punish you. I just love you. That’s all. Pure and simple.” His eyes search my face, his gaze so warm, so loving, clearly upholding the promise of his words. “You have no reason to hide anything from me—ever. Understood? I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be here for you. And if you need anything, find yourself in a bind, or in over your head, all you have to do is ask and I’ll be right there to bail you out.”
I nod, unable to speak I’m so humbled by my amazingly good fortune, feeling so incredibly lucky to be loved by someone like him—even though I’m not always sure I deserve it.
“So, you go take care of your friend, I’ll take care of the twins, and we’ll meet up tomorrow, okay?”
I lean in to kiss him, quickly, careful to let go of his hand since we’re headed in different directions. Closing my eyes long enough to envision the portal before me, that shimmering golden veil that’ll lead me back home.
I land at Jude’s door, taking a moment to knock a few times, allowing plenty of time for him to answer, before I decide to give up and go in uninvited. Searching every last room in his tiny beach cottage, including the garage and backyard, before locking up and heading straight for the store.
But on my way there, I pass Roman’s. And all it takes is one look at the window display—one look at the sign overhead, reading: RENAISSANCE!—one look at the open front door that leads directly to him—and just like that, the magick of Summerland is gone and this strange foreign pulse, this horrible invader, has taken over again.
I will myself forward, summoning every last bit of my strength to move past it. But my legs are too heavy, unwilling to cooperate, and my breath runs too shallow and comes out too quickly.