Page 129 of The Girl Who Fell Through Time
Dorian studies her, eyes tracing over her face, as though memorising her all over again. Then, just as gently, he tugs her closer.
She doesn’t resist.
Their lips meet softly at first, hesitantly, as if neither of them quite believe this moment is real. His fingers press at the nape of her neck, anchoring her there, and she deepens the kiss withoutthinking, without caution.
Dorian exhales against her, as if he’s been waiting for this, as if the only thing he needed to come back to the world was her.
She pulls away just enough to whisper. “You scared me.”
His forehead rests against hers, his breath warm against her lips. “I know.”
Selene’s fingers tighten in his shirt. “Don’t do it again.”
Dorian lets out a breath—half laugh, half something else. “I’ll try.”
Soren wakes with a start, his eyes snapping open as if some unseen force has jolted him from sleep. He takes a second to orient himself, blinking blearily at the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. Then he sees Dorian.
Awake.
With a strangled sound, he launches himself off the settee and straight onto the bed, knocking into Dorian with a force that has Selene half-wincing. “You fucking idiot,” Soren chokes out, gripping Dorian’s shoulders as if to reassure himself that he’s real. “You absolute, stubborn bastard, you nearly died.”
Dorian wheezes. “Good morning to you too.”
Soren ignores him, pressing his forehead against Dorian’s, as if checking for fever even though he knows it’s gone. “Don’t do that again,” he mutters.
“You too?” Dorian says, voice dry.
Selene pushes herself up from the bed, smiling despite herself. “I’ll let the others know.”
She slips out quietly, giving the brothers their moment.
In the next room, Aunt Elizabeth is dozing in an armchair, her head tipped slightly to the side. The sight of her, so dignified even in sleep, makes Selene’s heart ache. She’s barely left Dorian’s side either.
Selene kneels beside her and gently touches her hand. “Aunt Elizabeth,” she whispers.
The older woman stirs, her eyes fluttering open. It takes a second for her to focus, but when she sees Selene, she straightens. “What is it?”
“He’s awake.”
For a moment, Aunt Elizabeth simply stares at her. Then, without a word, she grips Selene’s hands, her fingers trembling ever so slightly. She nods sharply, standing, composing herself in a heartbeat.
Selene moves on, hurrying down the corridor. She knocks on Rookwood’s door but gets no answer. With a frown, she tries Ariella’s next.
The door creaks open.
Rookwood isn’t in his own room—he’s here.
Selene blinks. He’s lying beside Ariella on the bed, curled around her body. He’s mostly clothed, but his wooden leg is propped up on the floor beside him. He’s definitely been here all night. Ariella is still half-asleep, her hair messy, the sheets pulled around her.
Selene crosses her arms, pretending to be scandalised. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No,” says Ariella, at the same time that Rookwood says “yes.”
Ariella startles awake properly at that, eyes widening in alarm. Rookwood, however, doesn’t look particularly concerned. He just sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. “You better have woken us up for a good reason.”
“Dorian’s awake.”
Ariella sucks in a sharp breath, sitting up fully. “He’s—?”
