Page 20 of Rose and Shadows
I stared.
I couldn’t… I couldn’t believe it.
Amusement twinkled in her eyes. “You heard me, right?”
“Heard you?” I croaked. “It’s gonna be burned into my memory forever.” I sucked in a breath. “You love me.” I smiled. “The incredible, stunning, powerhouse sweetheart, Velra Nox loves me.”
She giggled. “Lazriel.”
I lunged at her then and drove her down onto the grass, kissing her hair, her forehead, her cheek, her lips. “I loveyou.Fucking love you so much, my Wraithqueen.”
When I finally stopped, she linked her arms around my neck and held me tightly to her, keeping me so close.
I rolled her on top of me and banded my arms around her back as she rested her head against my chest, sinking into me so amazingly.
A wave of awareness rolled over me.
Not wanting to end this amazing moment between us, I discreetly followed the sensation, turning my head very slightly and reaching out mostly with my peripheral vision.
And there in the distance, only perceptible to those with animal or vampiric senses, was Cassius.
He stood camouflaged by the heavy foliage, smiling out at me.
I smiled back and he gave a nod of relief.
He must have felt her massive distress through the Soul Brand.
And now he’d witnessed this.
He winked at me, then teleported away.
5
~Velra~
Ariana Martel had meant well.
She’d actually gone out of her way to connect me with the Healer and trauma specialist, Brandise Parker, revealing to me what she’d gone through and why she’d found it so helpful to see somebody like Brandise.
I knew it had been at Nyx’s request. Even though he couldn’t read me with the empathic abilities from his Incubus side anymore ever since my firstdeathand Cassius tethering me, he’d obviously seen me struggling. As someone who carried a great deal of trauma with him—and for similar reasons to me—he could recognize the signs better than most.
I pulled my phone out from the back pocket of my leather pants as I stared at the gates of Wraeven Academy, where Brandise was about to come through. Security personnel would have to open the ward briefly to allow her onto campus.
I tensed and paused, just staring down at my phone for a few moments.
I’d told Lazriel and Cassius that I would connect with them before I went in for my session. I wasn’t at the location for it, but they needed to believe I was. I couldn’t afford any suspicion fromthem. They would try to stop me from doing what I had planned. What needed to be done.
I sucked in a breath and fired off a text in our Group Chat.
Velra:Just got to the Mental Wellness Center for my session with Brandise. Have a good class.
Cassius:How are you feeling, little shadow?
Velra:Calm and as prepared as I can be.
Lazriel:We’re really proud of you.
Cassius:Without a doubt.
