Page 112 of Cages and Crowns
He looks peaceful, calm. His face is relaxed, his lips parted slightly. I can hear his soft breathing as I turn to face him in the bed. I pull my knees up to my chest and close my eyes. I count each breath as they lull me to sleep.
Chapter Fifty-Five
The Caged
Soft fingers brush my face. I relish in the feel as I stretch in the bed, my limbs heavy and tired.
“You came back.” He says softly and I open my eyes to Nithe’s. He has a surprised smile on his face.
“Kass found me in the library and made me.” I respond quietly.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I am. I shouldn’t have said those things. I know you are not Tobias and I have been comparing you against him. It’s not fair to you.” I admit, shame coating my voice.
“Yeah, well I could have been nicer too.” We are quiet for a second and then he smiles. “Did you really fall asleep in the library dressed like that?” I nod and bite my lip. “Thank gods no one saw you.” My eyes widen as I release my lip and roll onto my back.
“Well, someone did see me. Three people actually.” I admitreluctantly.
“Who?” He says, his voice a little rough.
“Mama Collette and Kass.”
“You met Mama wearing a nightgown? I bet she thought you were one of the—wait. You said three people.”
“Nero.” His silence is palpable as he slowly sits up and slides off the bed.
“Of course.” He clears his throat.
“Nithe.”
“Don’t.”
“Stop acting like this is a relationship.”
“Stop acting like it’s not!” He snaps. I sit up and watch him step into the dressing room, his bare back flexing, scales and swirls of dark ink coating the tan skin.
“Name only.”
“No. Stop fucking saying that.” He steps out of the dressing room pulling a shirt on. “You want to go around and screw every guy here? Fine. But the second you do that; I can’t protect you. I can’t keep you safe.”
“I don’t need you to keep me safe!”
“Yes, you do! You think you are safe in here? Safe with Nero? You’re not. Nobody knows him, he just appeared. What about with my father? You think your little stunt was enough to keep him checked? Itwasn’t. You are so gods damn strong, Elaenor. But you are untrained in magic and combatandcourt affairs. I am trying to help you, but you are too damn stubborn to see that.”
“I know you are trying to help me. I know that, Nithe.” I scoot over to his side of the mattress and sit up on my knees, making us level. I reach out for his face, and he slaps my hands away. “I know.” I try again and he lets me. His stubble pokes into my hands, but I just hold his face tighter. He reaches up and grabs my wrists. “I don’t know how to act or what to do. I don’t know how to be anything other than scared.”
“Let me help you.” He whispers, pleads. I hold his gaze, light purple eyes meeting mine. “Let me be there for you.” He releases my wrists and wraps hisarms around my waist, pulling me against him. “Let me help you heal.” My eyes search his as he hesitates.
“Okay.” I whisper, my heart racing. His lips brush mine softly, and I lean back. He pulls me tighter against him and when his lips brush mine again, I let him. He kisses me slowly, softly. No sense of urgency, no carnal need. Just softness, gentleness. His arms stay wrapped around me, his hands brushing underneath my breasts. My fingers slide into his silky hair, getting caught in the small tangles. The kiss doesn’t deepen, it doesn’t escalate. It just stays pure, and when he pulls away, I’m not left in pain.
I feel almost whole.
“No expectations. A kiss doesn’t have to have expectations.” Our foreheads touch and I nod. “We can do everything and nothing, whatever you want.” I nod again. One of his hands slides off my back to brush my stomach, his fingers skimming over the barely there bump.
“I’m estimating at least 2 or 3 months.” I whisper. “Otherwise I wouldn’t be showing.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He says.
