Kalona's Fall (House of Night Novellas #4)(16)

“So, you are close to Nyx.”

Always.

Kalona hid his smile. “If you are always close to Nyx, then where is she? I do not see her.”

L’ota’s strangely shaped body rippled in consternation, changing colors from pale pink to crimson and rust. Not here. Otherworld.

Kalona couldn’t contain his smile. “Are you here watching me for her?”

No! L’ota exclaimed, her voice rising above its usual whisper.

Kalona’s smiled faded. “She didn’t send you to watch me?”

I watch for me, not for Goddess.

Kalona’s brows lifted in amusement. “Why would you want to watch me?”

You make Goddess sad. I want know why.

Kalona felt as if the strange little Fey had driven a knife into his heart. “Nyx has been sad?”

The creature’s elongated head nodded, making the pink fringe of fur on its head bob. I want know why.

Kalona thought the creature didn’t sound particularly worried about Nyx, or even concerned that her Goddess was sad. It just sounded curious.

“I want to know why, too. And I want to make sure she is never sad because of me again. The only way I can do that is to have her come here to me, so that I can fix the wrong I did that saddened her. L’ota, please go to your Goddess and tell her that I ask—no, that I entreat—she come to me.”

The Fey went very still, and Kalona held his breath, waiting. When she finally spoke, L’ota surprised Kalona with her nonchalance.

If you command I tell Goddess you here.

“If I command you? That’s all it takes to get you to tell Nyx I’m here and that I entreat she come to me?”

No matter. Not my concern. Only notice what commanded to notice.

Kalona thought the creature thoroughly odd, but he said, “Then I command that you go to Nyx and entreat her to come to me.”

L’ota’s body completely liquefied and she disappeared, leaving Kalona to stare after her and worry that he had, again, made a mistake.

*   *   *

“You found my favorite lake.”

Her voice startled him. He’d been sitting on a rock, staring out at the blue water. So much time had passed since the strange little skeeaed had disappeared that he had begun to despair of Nyx coming. The sound of her voice was like balm on the aching wound that was his heart. He stood and turned so quickly that he almost lost his balance.

She smiled. “Hello.”

“Hello,” he said. He took in every detail of his Goddess. Today she had chosen to appear to him as the young maiden she had been when they’d first met. Her blond hair curled down past her shoulders. Her dress was simple, the color of the summer sky—the color of her eyes. The only adornment she wore was her mantle of stars, which rested over her hair like a headdress made of silver strung diamonds and the fascinating sapphire tattoos that decorated her skin.

Nyx was the most beautiful thing Kalona had ever seen, and he knew he could spend an eternity gazing into her eyes.

“I have missed you.” They spoke the words together.

Kalona could contain himself no longer. His long strides closed the space between them and he gently, carefully, took her into his arms and just stood, holding her, breathing in her scent as every particle of his being rejoiced.

“Yes,” he said, nuzzling her hair and whispering into her ear. “I found your favorite lake.”

She pulled back a little so that she could smile up into his eyes. “I am glad you called for me.”

“I am glad you came.” He returned her smile. It frightened him how her presence could make him so happy, and how her absence could make him so miserable, but he pushed aside those thoughts, determined to stay in the moment, to enjoy every instant he had alone with her. “I made you something.”

Her smile dimmed. “Oh. You’re ready to complete the next test? We must call—”

He touched her lips with his finger, silencing her gently. “I am ready to complete the next test, but first I want to show you what I made for you. I didn’t use magick. I didn’t call Water. I only used my desire to please you. I need no test to school me in that.” Putting his arm around her shoulders, he guided her to the spot where he had beached the boat.

He felt her little start of surprise. “You made this for me?”

“I did.”

She pulled free from his half embrace and hurried to the boat, running her hands over the symbols carved around it and making soft sounds of delight. When she looked up at him, her eyes were filled with tears.

“I wanted you to be able to float on the lake in peace and to think of nothing but the beauty that surrounds you,” he said. “I hope it pleases you.”

Nyx rushed to him and, laughing, hurled herself into his arms. Clinging to his neck, she covered his face in kisses, between kisses saying, “Yes, it pleases me! I love it! Thank you! Thank you!”

He was laughing with her as he spread his wings and lifted her from the ground, twirling her around. Neither realized they were hovering in the air until Nyx’s gaze tried to find the boat. She gasped and clutched his neck. Kalona tightened his arms around her.

“Trust me, Goddess. I would never let you fall.”

Nyx gazed into his eyes. “I trust you.” Then she kissed him. Not playfully, or gently, as she had before. The Goddess kissed him as if she thirsted, and only he could slake her need.