Page 38 of Toward Immortal Ruin

“Nero, look at me.”

It took everything in his power to come out of his frozen terror and face Aidan. “We have to tell her the truth. And we have to know if she’s healthy.”

“I—I don’t know,” he sputtered. “I just met her, Aidan. She doesn’t even know about the immortal world yet. About me and her. I can’t lose her.”

Aidan’s tangerine eyes searched his, but it was Jeremiah who responded, the Elemental rounding to Nero’s side to grip his other shoulder. “We’re going to work this out, sovereign. Eden will be okay.”

Chapter Twelve

Nero had gone missing.

The moment he had abandoned her to ‘check something outside,’ she’d been waiting on pins and needles for his return. That alone was patently ridiculous. They had only known each other for a couple of days; he wasn’t bound to her or obligated to turn his entire life upside down to stay at her side.

Despite the strength of Nero’s connection to her, Eden knew how she felt for him. Something within her reacted to him in a way she’d never experienced with any man before. It was as if a part of her soul was churning, something that was inherently hers, yet distinctlyother.Like a phantom limb, it writhed with sensation whenever he was near.

When he vanished, she had been bereft. Having him beside her seemed to help with the anxiety she faced about her future—even if she hadn’t revealed it to him yet.

At some point today, Eden would tell Nero that she was sick. It wasn’t fair to keep him on the hook without being transparent. She needed to be honest, even if it cost her everything. He’d offered her a place to stay in his own home to get her awayfrom theCitizens, and now, she needed to come clean about her future. This had been the adventure of a lifetime, but hers was rapidly coming to an end.

An hour after Nero had disappeared, Luna and Key had taken her to the dome. It was an adequate distraction from the missing man, even if some part of her brain continued to keep a lookout.

Across from her, Luna and Key were playing ping pong with varying levels of success. While Key had managed to hold a pleasant back and forth, Luna’s aim was atrocious. For the first time in ages, Eden had experienced something she’d missed for far too long: friendship. A hole carved inside of her had finally been filled—if only for a few hours.

“Yes, you’ve got it!”

The other red head finally managed to hit the ball onto her side of the tabletop court. Gently punting it back to her, she watched as Luna’s grin grew and the paddle in her hand connected with the ball once more. And then the ball slammed into the wall behind Eden with a hollow thunk.

“Well, at least that’s progress!” encouraged Eden.

“What’s progress?”

Her attention immediately shifted to the man sauntering into the dome. Looking significantly less frazzled, Nero’s easy smile greeted her as he closed the distance between them. Before she could speak, his lips brushed against hers. The possessive claim instantly spurred her to link her arms around his neck.

Nero’s affection had a way of chasing away her thoughts, and when he finally retreated, Eden didn’t need to check a mirror to know her face was firetruck red.

“What a greeting,” came her far too breathless response. “You ran off like your tail was on fire. Everything alright?”

“All good, professor. How’re Luna and Key treating you?”

The question was directed at the women behind her, a thinly veiled threat behind his smirk. Luna motioned to the table andsaid, “She’s a saint. I can’t figure out how to get this contraption working.”

“Perhaps because it’s a paddle and not a contraption, sister.” Key’s golden eyes blazed with humor. “Eden has been a most patient tutor, my friend.”

“Yes, even when I accidentally hit her with the small white ball.” Remorseful still, Luna turned somber.

“Luna, you’re totally fine; it was nothing!”

Though Nero threw the other woman a menacing glare, there was no heat behind it. Clearly, Nero and these women were close, and Eden adored the fact that he had a support system in place. She hadn’t had that in years, and she’d missed the companionship it’d once offered her.

She was reaching out for her mental defenses before the dark thoughts spiral took over. Recentering herself, she focused on the moment—and pretended that she’d left her troubles at the door.

Inhaling to ask Nero where he’d been, the most delicious aroma of blueberry pie filled her nostrils. She looked around wildly, intent on finding the source of the scent. Suddenly, the sweet treat was all she was craving—in addition to a few Advil.

A headache had bloomed between her temples promptly after Nero’s abrupt departure. She’d hoped to tough it out, but it’d grown to a full throb now, difficult to ignore. Rooting around in her purse, she grabbed the small bottle and popped two in her mouth, swallowing sans water.

Nero’s eyes were fully trained on hers. “Not feeling well?”

“Bit of a headache.” She forced a smile, knowing it was so much deeper than that. “I’m sure it’s from the time zone change or jet lag. Nothing to worry about.”

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