House of Leights (Secret Keepers, #3)(52)

“It’s getting very swollen,” I said mournfully, staring down at my puffy foot. “That’s going to slow us down through the trees.”

With great care, and a gentleness that should have been difficult from such a huge guy, he lifted my foot and lowered it into the warm water. It wrapped around me, thick and gel-like, and the relief was immediate. “This will help with the pain and inflammation,” he told me. “Just give it a few minutes to work.”

He then took some of the liquid into his hand, lightly pushed the neckline of my sweater aside, letting the gel slide down the cut in my shoulder.

“How did you know I was hurt there?” I asked, astonished.

He shrugged. “You’ve been favoring the other arm, and Lexen told me they cut you. It wasn’t hard to figure out.”

The relief in my ankle and shoulder allowed me to relax finally. “Thank you,” I sighed. “I don’t know what this is … and if it’s something gross, please don’t tell me … but whatever it is, it’s working.”

Chase laughed, and it was nice to see a happier emotion on his face. “It’s just water, legreto. This sort is extra special. It comes from the Galinta and has their healing energy within it. The same water you were born in.”

He lowered himself so he was sitting next to me, our arms and bodies pressed together down my left side. I leaned into him, not because I needed to, but because I wanted to. The mark on my stomach responded to our touch. I could feel the bond wrapping around me like the most comfortable blanket in the world.

Chase lifted his arm and I shifted forward so he could slide it behind me, then we fell back together again, not an ounce of unease between us. Our conversations started up easily enough. I told him about the events from the time Lexen landed with us in Daelight Crescent, to the fake Chase and Daniel, and getting lost in the darkness of the transporter. As I talked, our bodies continued to mesh together, until I was practically lying across Chase.

There was no guy in my entire life, outside of Brad, who I would have ever felt relaxed enough around to be like this with. Especially not one I hadn’t known for years. It gave me that feeling of home again.

When I finished telling him everything, he was quiet, and I could feel the simmering emotions just under the surface waiting to burst free. “I’m okay,” I finally said, reaching out and taking his free hand. He interlinked our fingers in the same instant, and that happy jump was back in my chest.

“Knowing you were hurt, could have died—” He broke off. “It riles me in a way that I’m not used to dealing with. In general, House of Leights are calm and tranquil. We do not involve ourselves in the drama of the other houses much. We remain neutral. But after what Laous has done, the way he has taken so much in his selfish quest to retrieve the starslight stone, neutral is no longer an option for us.”

Twisting myself around, I hugged into his body, offering whatever comfort I could. He’d been there for me so much, this was the smallest thing I could do to try to return the favor. “I will support whatever decision you make,” I murmured against his chest.

His lips pressed against my hair, and I tried not to cry at the perfect moment we were having. “That’s good to know,” he said, remaining close. “Because you’re going to rule with me one day as overlord. I already know that you’ll have the final say, because I can’t deny you anything.”

I jerked, having forgotten that very important and pertinent detail. Chase was an overlord minor. When his parents decided they were done ruling, that role was passed on to him.

Wiggling free, I tilted myself back to see him. “What if I make a mistake? I don’t know anything about ruling people. I’m a freaking human … what if they don’t accept me?” There were literally a million what ifs. I mean … I was the girl who couldn’t even decide on a college – or an outfit half the time.

He twisted around, his free hand cupping my face. “You don’t have to do anything but be the person I already know you to be. Kind. Compassionate. Incredibly smart. Ruling together means you don’t ever have to worry about carrying the burden alone. As for the fact you’re not a Daelighter…” His hand pressed against my stomach – which jumped like crazy – right where the symbol was. “You wear our language, the mark of a bonded overlord. You’re one of us.”

Just like that, at least ninety percent of my fears faded away. How in the hell did he do that? I guess it helped that most of the restlessness I’d felt in my life was gone now. This new path, the one with Chase and Overworld, felt right.

“Could I still go to school on Earth? If I want to finish up my education?” It didn’t hurt to determine how all-encompassing this was. Like … if I’d married a prince back home, I wouldn’t get to have a career as well. Being a princess was your career … life … everything. Was it the same here?

Chase’s arms tightened around me. “Maya Lewis, you can do whatever you need to for your future. I will support you, the same way you have vowed to support me. Being Overlord of House of Leights is a full-time job, but my parents plan on ruling for many more years. And even if they were to abdicate, you still have the freedom to make your own choices. I don’t own you.”

Perfect.

This was all my perfects. Now we just had to make sure Laous was stopped before he took them away.