Page 67 of Crossing Between
I'm going to take everything you love.
I looked at the three men around me, each one of them precious to me in different ways, and felt a chill of premonition race down my spine. Whatever the Essencefeaster was planning, whatever secrets were still being kept from me, one thing was clear: this was only the beginning.
And I had to be ready for what came next.
Chapter 38: Zoey
I couldn't sleep that night. Despite the exhaustion weighing down my limbs and the emotional roller coaster of the past few days, my mind refused to quiet. I'd told the men I needed time alone, and they'd respected my wishes, though not without concerned glances.
The Essencefeaster's voice from my nightmare echoed in my head:I'm going to take everything you love.
Those words, combined with the horrific message carved into that poor girl's body, kept me tossing and turning until I finally gave up on sleep altogether. Throwing back the luxurious covers of Varon's guest bed, I slipped my feet into the plush slippers he'd somehow thought to provide and padded to the door.
The mansion was eerily quiet at this hour. I wasn't sure if any of them were even sleeping. Did vampires sleep at all? But I didn't want to disturb them. I just needed to move, to think, to process everything that had happened.
I wandered down the hallway, my fingers trailing along the ornate wallpaper. Despite having stayed here before, I realized I'd seen very little of Varon's home. The place was massive,with corridors branching off in multiple directions like a labyrinth designed for the immortal and wealthy.
As I turned a corner, I heard it. The soft, rhythmic splash of water. Curious, I followed the sound, descending a flight of stairs I hadn't noticed before. The splashing grew louder as I continued down a dimly lit hallway, the air growing noticeably warmer and more humid with each step.
The corridor opened into a cavernous space that took my breath away. A massive indoor pool stretched before me, its surface reflecting the moonlight that streamed through a glass ceiling. The room was designed to feel like a natural grotto, with rock formations surrounding the water and lush plants growing in strategic corners. Steam rose gently from the surface, indicating it was heated.
But what truly captured my attention wasn't the pool itself, but the man standing at its edge.
Elias stood with his back to me, shirtless and wearing only swim trunks that hung low on his hips. His broad shoulders and back glistened in the moonlight, droplets of water clung to his skin like tiny diamonds. His long blonde hair was loose, cascading down his back in wet strands. And there, at the center of his back, his kraken mark glowed with a soft, ethereal blue light that pulsed gently in the darkness.
He was breathtaking.
I must have gasped or made some sound, because he suddenly turned, his eyes finding mine in the dim light. For a moment, he looked startled, but then his expression softened into a gentle smile.
"Couldn't sleep either?" His voice echoed slightly in the cavernous space.
I shook my head, suddenly feeling like an intruder. "I'm sorry. I heard the water and..."
"Join me," he gestured toward the poolwith one hand. The movement caused his muscles to ripple under his skin, and I had to force myself not to stare. "The water helps clear the mind."
"I don't have a suit." I was flustered by his invitation and the way my body was responding to the sight of him.
A mischievous grin spread across his face, so unlike his usual serious demeanor that it caught me off guard. "Then swim in your pajamas," he suggested, his eyes twinkling. "Or naked. I'm not picky."
I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the laugh that escaped me. "I'll stick with the pajamas, thanks."
For a moment I hesitated, then decided that a swim might help. I was already wearing shorts and an oversized t-shirt that I'd borrowed from Kenji. It would do. I kicked off my slippers and approached the edge of the pool where Elias stood.
"Is it deep?" I peered into the clear water.
"Varies," he pointed. "Shallow there, deeper in the middle. I need the depth sometimes when I..." He trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed.
"When you what?" I touched his arm.
"When I need to fully shift," he shrugged. "My kraken form is rather large."
I found myself smiling at his bashfulness. "I'd like to see that someday."
His eyes met mine, surprise and something warmer flickering in their depths. "Perhaps. Someday."
Before I could overthink it, I sat at the edge of the pool and slipped into the water. The warmth enveloped me immediately, soothing in a way I hadn't expected. It wasn't just physically warm, there was something magical about it, like it carried healing properties.
"Oh," I sighed, letting myself float on my back. "This isamazing."
