This time you do, the soft words drifted through his mind. Because she loved you and desperately wanted to save you, all her goodness infused in you, keeping out the dark souls. Do not fear. I fixed it. Light laugher now. Enjoy my gift.
His lady boss had a warped sense of humor.
Nik ran his tongue piercing against the roof of his mouth, his anxiousness growing, and dematerialized. Moments later, he reformed on the terrace of the rec room. He glanced up at the looming castle. Moonlight cast a silvery glow on the ivy-covered stone façade and over the rolling lawns and spruced flower gardens. Inhaling lungfuls of the brisk air, his gaze fastened on the shut French doors, his mind focused on only one thing.
Finding Shadow.
Nik opened the door and entered the massive gaming room, then he just stood there. Everything remained the same—near him was the seating area with leather armchairs facing a massive, flat-screen TV, opposite it, the wet bar. At the far side, a foosball table took up space, and a pool table—yet a sense of melancholy reigned heavy in the castle.
The inner door opened, and a tall male with steel gray hair stumbled to a halt. Orange-green eyes widened, his face paling as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Sire,” he whispered. “I sensed an intrusion in the wards…”
And the male’s name floated into Nik’s mind. “Hedori.”
“Aye.” The next second, he strode across and hugged Nik, startling him. He stepped back, eyes bright. “It’s good to see you again.”
Nik nodded. “My mate?”
“In your quarters, asleep.”
He didn’t know where that was. Didn’t matter. “Thanks.”
Nik headed for the door, then pivoted. “Don’t say anything to anyone about me being back, not just yet. I don’t want to be disturbed for a while. And yeah, don’t sire me.”
“Very well, Nik.” He could hear the grin in the male’s voice. “Your return’s going to cause quite the upheaval…sire.”
Snorting at the smartass, Nik strode out into the corridor and made his way to the side stairwell. More memories stirred. These steps, he’d kissed her here, unable to keep away from her even when it had been incredibly dangerous.
Impatient now, he jogged up, tracking the heart-tugging fragrance of wildflowers down the corridor to his quarters. He walked into his dimly lit bedroom. The drapes were undrawn, moonlight casting its eerie glow into the bedroom and over her.
His breath trapped in his lungs, Nik slowly crossed to her side of the bed, where she rested facing the window. Lowering to his haunches, he stroked her much shorter, white-streaked inky hair away from her alabaster pale face, caressing the strands between his fingers and absorbing the silky texture. But her face appeared too lean, eyes sunken.
She lost so much weight.
His heart shuddering in pain, he picked up her slender hand and pressed her fingers to his lips. A soft moan escaped her.
“Nik…” Tears seeped from beneath shut eyelids.
“I am here, agápi mou.”
Blindly, she reached out and tugged him close. “I miss you so much. It hurts to breathe without you…”
His own eyes dampened. He kicked off his boots, shifted her, and lay down beside her, holding her against him, savoring having her in his arms once more.
She burrowed into his chest for several long seconds. Then she looked up, her memorable starburst eyes glittering in the moonlight. She pressed her brow to his chin.
“T-take away this pain, this loneliness…” she choked out with a despair that shredded him. “Make me forget, if just for a while…”
“I’m so sorry for all you went through, agápi mou, but I promise we’ll build new memories,” he whispered, kissing her hot, damp cheeks, her wet eyelids. Finally, he kissed her mouth, needing to taste her, memorize her again…
Shadow moaned, stroking Nik’s hard, warm back, the dream so tangible she didn’t want to awaken. But tears found their way out, knowing it wasn’t real.
Nik trailed open-mouthed kisses along her jaw and down her throat, his teeth lightly scraping her skin. A sob escaped her, her fingers sliding into his long hair. She gripped the silky strands, wrapping them around her fingers—
Nik didn’t have long hair.
She froze, her eyes snapping open.
At the sight of the shadowy man above her, his hair falling about his face, a cry of horror escaped. “Nooo!”
She reared back and scrambled off the bed, falling to the floor on her butt, and scampered away, her back hitting the wall. Oh, God, oh, God!
She just kissed a stranger. Who’d broken into her room!
How did one even get into her quarters in a fortified castle?
The dark shape leaped over the bed and landed in front of her like a cat. “No—” she cried, hands flashing up, caught between dream and terror, “Stay away from me!”
“Shadow, i kardiá mou, it’s me. Nik.”
The wall sconces in the room came on, casting a soft glow and chasing away the darkness.
She shook her head, so sure this was another dream tormenting her. But his scent, dear God, it was so powerful again, overwhelming her.
Gleaming, sun-streaked brown strands brushed his broad shoulders. His tough, muscled body appeared leaner. But those tattoos…she blinked at the snakehead inked on his neck. The last time she’d seen it, blood gushed from the almost decapitating wound.
Her gaze rushed up to his lean, chiseled features sporting a light stubble, his otherworldliness vivid in familiar ice-green eyes that watched her with so much tenderness.
“Nik?” she whispered, too afraid to hope.
“It’s me.” He smiled, the single dimple coming to life. “It’s me, agápi mou.” He held out his hand, and ice flowers formed like once before.
Tears spilled over, trailing hot tracks down her cheeks. She dove into him with a huge sob, taking him down from his crouch onto his butt. The ice blooms fell to the floor and shattered. Strong arms wrapped around her, crushing her to him. “I have you, moró. I have you. I will never let you go.”
Resting on her knees, she pushed back, her wet gaze fixing on his. “How? I saw you d-die?”
Nik expression darkened. “I did. It was that accursed sword, one of the few heavenly weapons that can kill an immortal. I don’t know how the demon got a hold of it—oomph!” Nik exhaled, grabbing her as she threw herself at him again, shaking her head, her arms constricting him, her body shaking, her silent tears wetting his neck.
He pulled her on his lap, his arms tightening around her, his chest heaving as fast as hers…
Shadow shut her eyes just feeling him, then she pushed away again, staring into his beloved face. Cautiously, she trailed her fingers over his eyebrows, down his cheek to his intractable jaw, absorbing the feel of his skin that appeared slightly pale beneath his normal tan one.
Oh, God, please don’t let this be a dream.
Nik dragged her back into his arms and just held her. Seconds past, then minutes…
Shadow had no idea how long they sat on the floor. When her shuddering eased, she ran her palm up his back to his neck, soaking in feeling him.
“I’m never going to leave you, agápi,” Nik said softly, his voice muffled in her neck. “Never.”