The Forgotten World
Page 18
“You mean while we take a bath,” he amended.
For a change, I didn’t argue. One way or another, I knew that I was in this. We needed time to breathe, time to heal. If he was willing to work to make this right, then so was I.
The Idealist
For the first time in his life, Gunther didn’t argue about staying away from the main fray. He had a different mission.
He made a beeline for BeLa’s rooms, switching places with his father when he arrived.
BeLa’s eyes lit up.
“What are you doing here?” She asked.
“I’m here because I missed you, and also to keep you safe.” Gunther had learned frankness was the best way with BeLa.
“Thank you,” she said shyly.
She was, perhaps, the only woman in his life right now that wouldn’t have his head for implying she was in need of protection.
He wrapped his arms around her, and he felt her lips moving against his neck. He backed up so she could repeat herself.
“I missed you, too.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Clark
For all that she had claimed to be tired, Addie certainly perked up when my hands gently rubbed her neck, then her shoulders. She leaned against me, eliminating what little space had been between us.
I ran my fingers gently from her shoulders down her arms, taking her small hands in mine. She let out a breathy sigh. I counted slowly in my head, reminding myself that however enticing it was having her this near to me, wearing nothing at all, she was exhausted.
Then her head fell back against my chest and she snuggled into me, making a little “mm” sound of contentment. We would have time later to be close. This was all I needed.
But then, she giggled, turning enough to glance up at me with an impish expression on her face.
“Really? You were just going to let me fall asleep? After weeks apart?” She grinned.
“I was being a gentleman,” I protested, splashing her with water.
She put a finger to her lips, intentionally driving me wild.
“Hmmm, and here I vividly recall you once telling me you were no such thing.”
“Maybe I’m evolving,” I offered.
“I’d rather you didn’t.” She looked up at me flirtatiously through eyes that looked even bigger with her damp eyelashes.
“Well then, Mrs. Noble. Far be it from me to disappoint you.”
“Hey, that’s not my name! You’re Mr. Kensington, remember?”
“I’m just assuming you’ve accepted my proposal and, since we’re technically Ceithren, surely someday you’ll have to get used to it.” I kissed her neck, and I thought she would stop arguing.
I should have known better.
“But I haven’t yet,” she said in a breathy, sing-song voice.
Then she turned so she was on top of me, blocking whatever comeback I was going to make with her mouth. Not that I was complaining.
Then she backed away far enough to lock eyes with me, her expression more sincere.
“Do you think we’ll ever really have that? A normal life, a marriage?”
“I don’t know what’s in our future. I don’t even know what’s in our present, since I haven’t left this room in the two days you’ve been in here.” I gave her a half smile. “But I do know that I never imagined we’d be back here together, and here we are. I never imagined Gunther would be alive, but he is.
“So don’t give up hope now, Addie. Not when we might have everything.”
Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears, and she managed to look even more beautiful than she had a moment ago.
“All right, then.” She locked eyes with me, blinking back the moisture in hers. “I’ll take the giant mutt that follows you around.”
Even though I suspected where she was going with this, I couldn’t resist the urge to tease her.
“Her name is Biscuit, for the last time.” Though, to be fair, I had never called Addie’s cat by whatever its devil name was.
“And your overprotective brother,” she continued as though he hadn’t spoken. “Also, the one I’ve learned recently occasionally blows things up on accident.”
“Or on purpose,” I added helpfully.
She placed a hand over my mouth, and it was so typically Addie that I had to laugh.
“I’ll even take your complicated father. Don’t think I missed you referring to him that way.” Of course, she hadn’t, but I wasn’t going to go there right now.
She looked away as though bracing herself. Then she met my gaze full on, letting me see the love blazing in her gorgeous amber eyes.
“But mostly, Clark, I’ll take you. Because I love everything about you, too. Your stupid, cocky face and your brash, reckless nature.
“And you’re right. Things have been insane, and I don’t know if that will ever calm down. But I do know that however crazy life gets, I want to face it together.
“So yes. I’ll marry you because I want to, first under Levelian law again, then any law you want. Anywhere in the world. Everywhere in the world.”
Epilogue
Killian Noble had taken many lives, but he had never truly wanted to murder anyone outside of the man whose image was currently taking up his entire comm screen.
“I assume you’re desperate if you’re contacting me for help.” Killian’s words were dry.
To anyone else, he may have looked casual, leaning back into his chair, sipping from his mug of tea. But he spent most of his life on alert. Levelia was celebrating a victory tonight, but the general knew better.
The Court of Yomi’s disappearance was troubling, even before he had received a call from the person he least expected to hear from in his lifetime.
“The whole world will soon be desperate, General. Spectrum is here.” The Director hid his fear even better than his daughter did, but it was there, in the corners of his eyes.
As well it should be.
“Understood. I’ll be in touch.” Killian pulled the comm cylinder out of its port before Sebastian could respond.
Talking to the man who had done so much to ruin his life never ceased to put him on edge. Even if he had been under duress, a man always has choices.
Just not always good ones.
The General rubbed at his temples in a rare display of weariness. Was conflict always brewing on the horizon, or was it only the nature of his career that made him feel that way?
In any event, this news could wait one day. His sons had been through hell. In many ways, he had been the one to put them there.
The least he could do was give them tonight, give them some semblance of peace.
Because there sure as hell wouldn’t be any if Spectrum was here.
Acknowledgments
It seems like the longer we write, the more people we have to thank for being supportive. I guess it’s not a bad problem to have!
Thank you to Roni for reading even the early, not-so-great version of this book, for late night phone calls and brainstorming about characters and plot holes even when there were so many real-life things going on, and for making me two grilled cheeses for lunch every day without judgment.
Thank you to Elle for being my sounding board and helping me write parts of this book even when you really, really didn’t feel like it. You’re the bestest bestie!
To our street team, readers, and everyone who has all the shenanigans with us in Drifters and Wanderers, you’re the reason we keep writing!
Jamie, I will never stop thanking you for putting up with me. You beta, you answer my infinite obsessive questions, you work around my complete inability to set or keep a deadline. I quite literally could not release these books without you.
Thank you Mammam, for watching my children and reading every book I’ve written, and generally supporting me in every other single way for my entire life!
Amanda, Audrey, Frost, and Michelle, thank you for being there to ask all the bookish questions all the time! You guys are amazing <3
Briann
a, you’ve stuck with me since the beginning, even when I make your job/life difficult and forget to do things and tell you things and go MIA for an entire summer when I was supposed to be writing. I appreciate your support more than you know.
Soraya, you fixed my map with almost zero notice because you are just that awesome!
I 1000% percent know that I’ve forgotten people who deserve to be on here, but know that I’ve appreciated everyone who has been a part of our lives this past year and helped these books become what they are today.
About the Author
The name Robin D. Mahle represents a dynamic husband and wife storytelling team. They’ve travelled the world for both love and war, and a tale began to form between the two of them that just had to be told. One’s love of anime and comics collided with the other’s love of fiction novels to produce a story with action, captivating dialogue, and riveting prose.
The female piece to the puzzle that is Robin spends her days as a captioner for the deaf and hard of hearing. She loves to read, write, and loves all things Doctor Who. The man of this duo is a Marine Corps veteran who loves to write and spend time in his garden.They have two offspring, lovingly nicknamed Thing 1 and Thing 2, as well as three fur babies: a standard full-sized poodle, a persian cat, and a very portly mini aussie. Their family lives in Colorado after a lifetime of being way too hot in Texas.
Also by Robin D. Mahle
The World Apart Series:
The Fractured Empire (Book 1)
The Tempest Sea (Book 2)
The Forgotten World (Book 3)
The Lochlann Treaty
by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison:
Winter’s Captive (Book 1)
Spring’s Rising (Book 2)
Summer’s Rebellion (Book 3)
Autumn’s Reign (Book 4)
COMING SOON
The final installment of The World Apart Series
The Ever Falls (Book 4)
If you’re interested in receiving free Advanced Reader Copies, please contact me at author@robindmahle.com to find out how to join my ARC Team.