Chapter 52

They had moved to a very well-guarded area of the cells, and since doing so, Nova stood there without comment. It concerned Bastian that she was so quiet. Was she still cross with him for her being here? He glanced to see Tor was still on the phone, hopefully, that meant Trendan had names. The prince from Veiltide had been called and his response hadn’t been pleasant Michael told them. It seemed to him that the more they unraveled, the more questions they had. That annoyed him more than all of it. He liked puzzles, but this was layer after layer after layer.

Liri looked completely enthused to be involved in all of this. He smirked; may the Gods help her other when she finds him. Keeping her out of trouble would be a full-time job.

Bastian found himself watching Nova again as she moved over to speak with Crissy. Whatever she said animated the little seer, who immediately went over to her large intimidating mate, Victor. He gazed down at her with such adoration on his face, that it struck Bastian with the realization that all creatures were the same in the sense that they all sought love and treasured any measure of it they found.

When he looked back at his lovely Nova, her captivating eyes were on him. Pushing away from the wall, he moved around the large bodies in the hall to get closer to her. His attention moved to the stone around her throat. The very token that kept her soul safe was currently the bane of existence. He wanted to go to her, pull her into the shelter of his arms and hold her. Just hold her. To feel the warmth of her body against him, her breath touching his throat as he cradled her against his chest would likely be the most heavenly thing he’d felt in his long existence.

She raised one beautifully manicured eyebrow at him and then shook her head. “That look says you’re about to do something that will affect your health.”

He stopped and smiled at her. “You can read my expressions already? I might be in trouble here.”

She smirked. “That one I can.”

Bastian chuckled. “I only meant to ask how you were doing?” The look on her face clearly challenged what he said was the truth. He loved that she did. Challenge him. Too many boring decades he’d spent living in a yes sir, no sir environment. She was perfect for him, in so many ways.

“I’m...” She paused and looked around at a few of the bodies close to them. “Processing.”

“You’re doing well if you need any affirmation in that department.”

Her smile brightened. “Then I’m faking it well, because inside I’m still stuck on the fact that I’m in another realm— and you sent me here.”

Bastian put his hands in the pockets of his jacket, so he wouldn’t give in to the urge to hold her and end up on the floor completely incapacitated. “It’s like it was meant to be.” He was winging this. “You being here,” He jerked his head in the direction of the cell that held the criminal they’d just spoken to. “I doubt he would have been as sharing if it had of just been myself standing there looking in at him.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that I wasn’t asked.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, his soul felt like it was trying to leave his body, just to be close to her. “But you were meant to come here today.” He watched her turn and look at Crissy. Even her side profile, without her captivating eyes, was lovely to look at.

“Is she always right?” She turned back to him/ “With her visions?”

Bastian had to force himself not to stare longingly at her mouth. “Yes. They’re a bit cryptic, but she’s always in a sense, right.”

“Mmm.”

That was the only response she gave. The very sound drew his gaze back to her mouth. He leaned as close as he dared. The painful prickling started running through him, without them even touching. “If I asked you to take off that stupid rock, that is keeping you safe, for a short time, would you?” He whispered it but honestly didn’t care who did or didn’t hear him.

A softer look appeared in her eyes, it changed the coloring ever slightly and he once again had to force himself to maintain the few feet between them.

“Maybe.” She whispered it in such a breathless way that it made him not care if he passed out on the floor right at her feet, he needed to touch her.

A large arm wrapped around his shoulders and jerked him back a few feet.

“Let’s not be stupid twice in one day,” Tor said in a flat tone from behind him.

Nova looked up at his guard over his head, amusement on her face.

“Are you ready to see Arwan, Nova?” Troy said loudly, breaking the magical moment that Bastian was still hoping to revive. Just as soon as Tor released him.

Nova was smirking at him, something in her eyes, daring him to do it. His other was a defiant, risk-taker and it made Bastian smile back at her. This game would be played out sometime in the near future. “Are you ready?”

She lifted one shoulder and then let it drop. “I am, hopefully seeing me will make him chatty.”

Autumn snorted. “If you can get him to do anything but talk in riddles, that would be something.”