Page 23 of Ruling in Flames (Reborn 5)
“Okay? Sure. Just completely fucked up from seeing you die and then be resurrected.” Guilt hit me, and it must have been plain on my face because he shook his head, looking panicked. “I shouldn’t have said anything, I’m sorry, sugar, I just…I just can’t believe you’re here. Standing in front of me. Alive.”
Before I could respond, he looked up at the other two in the room. “Atlas is downstairs talking to her parents. Someone should let him know she’s up.”
My parents?Holy crap. They were here, that’s right… I would deal with that later. Right now, I could feel that Croy needed me.
“I got it,” Sai said. “Marco, want to come with?”
“I’m not leaving her,” Marco growled, but he did move across the room towards a large bank of windows, giving Croy and me a moment alone.
I focused on Croy again, studying the way he was watching me. I worried that if I spoke, I would break the intense moment between us.
“I love you.”
My eyes widened. This was the first time Croy had said those words to me. I think we had both felt them for some time, but the impact of the words couldn’t be described. I swallowed down the wave of emotions that slammed into me as my eyes watered, my grip tightening on him. “I love you so, so much, Croy.”
“Sugar…” He let out a soft groan, cupping my jaw and kissing me deeply before whispering, “I love those words on your lips.”
“I love you, I love you, I love you,” I murmured again and again, willing to give him those words a million times over if he loved them. “And I’m so sorry I scared everyone so much—”
“No.” Croy let out a low rumble. “Never apologize for being brave, Maya.”
Brave. He was right—I’d been brave.
“Angel?”
My head turned towards the open doorway as Atlas stepped in. His hair, which was normally brushed out and long, was tugged away from his face, his soft blue and gold eyes hard as they ran over me. It was obvious that Atlas wasn’t in his normal state, a predatory energy running under his skin.
“Atlas,” I breathed out. I could see that he’d thrown up an emotional wall, and I knew it was to hide what he was feeling. I also knew that it meant we needed to be alone.
“Croy, Marco, can I have a moment alone with Atlas?”
Croy let out a rumble of agreement. “Of course, Sugar.”
“No.”
I looked over to Marco, who was holding Atlas’ gaze. There was a silent conversation going on between the two of them, and when a rumble left Marco’s throat, I knew I needed to step in.
“Marco, please?” I kept my voice soft and relaxed, but also firm.
“I’m not leaving,” he bit out as I approached him.
“I need to be alone with him,” I explained quietly, squeezing his hand. “You can be right outside the door. I promise I’m not going anywhere.”
Marco’s breathing was harsh as he looked down at me, holding my gaze for long enough that I thought he would ignore my plea…before grunting and striding towards the door, clearly upset. I swallowed, trying to not feel nervous about handling that and instead turning towards Atlas, who was now rounding the bed and walking towards me slowly. Once the click of the door sounded, something shifted in the room, and I felt everything inside of me freeze.
Something had changed with Atlas, and I was nervous to find out what that was.
