Page 70 of House of Kallan
I laughed and turned my attention back to Tyrus. He wasn’t where I’d last seen him, but was bringing Bael around to each table. I sought out his family, pleased to see that they were all watching him with soft smiles.
“Hey, you sexy thing.”
Turning my attention back to the guys around me, I found Aden heading our way. He gave Merrik a wry smile. “Hey, Merrik.”
“Come to hang a bit? There aren’t any more chairs, but you can sit on my lap, precious.”
Aden looked at him with amusement. He turned dark eyes to me and offered his hand. “Want to go for a walk?”
Taking his hand, I stood and let him guide me to the back of the yard. “He’s harmless,” Aden said. “Just so you know.”
“I gathered that,” I said.
He nodded. “I get overwhelmed by all the people and sometimes need a break from the noise and all the bodies. There’s a path back here.”
“I was just thinking that one of our guys was going to subtly hint that we haven’t had much solo bonding time today,” I said, earning myself laughter.
“Give them time. I should have announced that I was taking you for some alone time, so they knew we were putting in our daily quota.”
I laughed. His hand squeezed around mine. We joked about it though it wasn’t far from the truth. But I didn’t think either of us minded much. Even if Aden wasn’t there yet, I was sure that we’d happily grow old together and in love. Some things got better with time. Instant love wasn’t everything.
As we passed into the trees, the temperature dropped, and the light started to get choked off. “I recently learned that the night monsters often have these little pockets that are always night,” Aden said. “They’re like stepping into an entirely new world without a transport portal or anything else.”
Just as the light from the sun was completely swallowed, the path became framed by little glowing orbs. Rocks, maybe? They were an enchanting blue. That icy color that you can feel in your bones.
The path twisted and turned until we stepped into the oasis beyond. There was a night pool here. Within the depths of the dark water, I could see the stars and the moon. Twinkling and shining from a different plane.
All around us, the vegetation was dark, interspersed with small, bewitching lights.
“This is beautiful,” I said.
Aden let go of my hand and walked around, running his fingers along the surface of the extra wide leaves that grew to waist height. He nodded. “I come here sometimes when I need silence and darkness. Being in this pocket makes it feel like theworld is just shut down. All your senses are shut off from it, as if it doesn’t exist.”
“Definitely. There isn’t even a hint of the sun overhead.” I looked up to find I couldn’t even see the canopy of the trees.
When I looked back down again, Aden was a few steps away. He took my hand, the pads of his fingers soft against my skin. Though now and then, when he stroked my skin just right, I could feel a long-healed callus. A reminder from a past life.
“Are you having fun?” he asked. “At the party?”
I nodded. “There are a lot of people, and I don’t remember even a third of their names.”
He laughed. “I know that feeling. It’s strange that when a family adds humans, they’re usually the last to arrive on the scene. Generally speaking, it’s either a wife or human to complete their families. Have you noticed?”
“Huh,” I said. “Never thought about it but yeah, I definitely see that pattern.”
“I sometimes wonder if it’s intentional,” he said. “But then, how can it be? It’s not like I was just hanging around, waiting for someone to say it was my turn to find my family, you know? And you weren’t even looking.”
“I think at least half the time, those who find their families aren’t looking at all. Someone from our world found you and brought you in. I’ve heard that story a lot.”
Aden nodded as he stepped a little closer. “Is it going to make this awkward if I ask permission to kiss you?” he asked.
I grinned. “No. That’s adorable, actually.”
“Just what every manly man wants to be called. Adorable.”
I laughed. His dark eyes glistened in the light of the glowing orbs. Making them look darker and depthless.
“Can I kiss you, Tatum?” he asked quietly.
