“I’ve got you,” Ambrose says, draping my arm around his shoulders.
My heartbeat picks up dramatically when he does that, and I know he can hear the change of pace. He doesn’t comment on it, though. Just leads me back to the house, with Kael following wordlessly behind. He leads me all the way to my bedroom.
“Can I start a bath for you?” Ambrose asks me.
I nod.
He lets go of me to head to the bathroom, leaving me in the entrance of my bedroom with Kael.
“I’m okay, you can go rest,” I say to Kael.
He shakes his head, looking over my shoulder to where Ambrose disappeared. “His curse isn’t gone. I know a lot of good things have happened lately, but that doesn’t mean that the danger has passed or that things are going to work out. You still need to be incredibly careful. And as your beta, it’s my job to protect you, alpha.”
I roll my eyes. “Stop calling me that. I’m just your best friend. Nothing more.”
“You’re my alpha. You can command me to jump off a cliff, and I would.”
“You would have done that before because you’re my best friend.”
“Well, now you can boss me around like you’ve always wanted to since we were little kids.”
I sigh. “Go. I’m fine.”
He frowns. “Is that an order?”
“No.”
“Good, then I’ll be right outside the door.”
I’m about to protest when Ambrose steps out of the bathroom, “Your bath is ready.”
I’m still naked. But the way he’s looking at me now that we are alone in my bedroom is different. Subtle, but unmistakable. There’s a flicker of heat in his eyes, like the hold he’s had on his feelings has slipped.
I nod, a ball of nerves caught in my throat as I walk into the adjoining bathroom. My fingers brush against his, and a gentle warmth spreads through my body.
I take a deep breath as I look at the bath he’s drawn for me and gasp.
The room has descended into darkness. With shimmering stars lighting the ceiling, a crescent-shaped moon lights up the bathtub. The water looks crystal blue, like the color of my eyes, with snowflakes floating like rose petals on the surface.
I’m in awe. I wrap my arms around my body instinctively, covering myself. I spot the snowflake still on the back of my hand. The only ruin or marking that remains after I left the Moonlight pack.
“I’ll give you some privacy,” he says.
I take a deep breath, unsure of what to do, but I let the words tumble out. Today has been about taking a leap of faith. Of breaking curses, maybe there is hope for us… “Please stay.”
He jolts, like I electrocuted him, and then freezes, staring at me like he’s been waiting for me to say those words all his life.
He swallows, his jaw working hard, and nods.
I start walking toward the tub, and he holds out his hand to me. I take it gently as he helps me into the bathtub.
It feels like heaven on my sore muscles as I sink below the water. My eyes fall closed as I let myself completely relax, focusing on nothing but the warmth surrounding me.
Midnight black eyes greet me, along with that predatory grin of his that mocks me even with my eyes closed. Almost as if he’s saying, you’ll never get rid of me. Never stop loving me, no matter what I do to you, love.
Nyx.
I quickly open my eyes, ripping the images from my vision.