Tears flowed freely. Kisses were exchanged. Promises were made. And eventually, they went their separate ways. Tertia, to her office. Ryker and Brynleigh, to their home.
And River went to her room.
Alone.
CHAPTER 23
Welcome to Castle Sanguis
“Does it ever stop snowing in this gods-forsaken place?” Isobel Clearbrook asked from where she stood at the window, pulling up her long black hair into a ponytail and exposing her curved human ears.
Looking up from the computer where he’d been working for hours, Nikhail ran a hand through his hair. Snow cascaded down in thick white sheets outside the office window, reducing the visibility to next to nothing. Even the forest, which they’d passed on their way in, was masked by the snow.
“I mean, I don’t really think it does,” he replied. “I’m pretty sure that’s why the vampires claimed this part of the continent in the first place.”
The Northern Region was known for its inhospitable weather, endless cold nights, and short days.
“Gods, I hate it so much,” Isobel groused, drawing her black cardigan tighter around herself. She retook her seat at the computer across from him, sighing as she pulled open her laptop.
Isobel had graduated at the top of her class from theUniversity of Balance two years ago, and she’d promptly been recruited by the intelligence sector of the military. Isobel was great at her job, and she was on loan to Nikhail’s team from the military intelligence branch in the Western Region.
In Nikhail’s experience, it wasn’t uncommon for new intelligence officers to complain about the tediousness of their job. It wasn’t always fun, which they quickly came to understand. Often, it meant hours, or even days, of analyzing evidence and searching for the smallest piece of useful information.
That said, he understood where Isobel was coming from. The bitter, northern cold was the polar opposite of the heat he’d grown up with in the south. After enduring a week in the Northern Region, he was ready to escape the snow for good. He yearned to feel warmth on his skin once more. Maybe a trip to his hometown was in his future.
Would River want to come with him and meet his family? His mother would love her, he was certain of it.
The thought was enough to redirect him.
“I know, but it’s not like we’re here for a vacation.” He gestured to the computer, raising a brow at his younger colleague. “The sooner we get through this intel and make sure there aren’t any active rebel forces in the area, the sooner we can go home.”
And gods, he wanted to get back to Lakewater. In the past, work trips had rarely bothered him, but that was before he’d kissed River.
His body was in the Northern Region, going through hundreds of reports, detailed accounts of suspected rebel activity, and aerial maps, but his mind and heart were both with his water fae.
He wanted to be with her, to hold her and feel her beneath his hands. He wanted to assure himself that their moment inthe solarium hadn’t just been a blip but the beginning of something long-lasting and real.
They’d exchanged a few texts throughout the week. He knew she’d returned to Lakewater and was working long shifts at the hospital, but the messages weren’t enough. He wanted to do more than just chat back and forth.
Nikhail was beginning to suspect that nothing, save having all of River, would ever be enough. He wanted everything she had to offer. He wanted every one of her kisses from now until the end of time, every hug, every laugh. He wanted to see her smile, to fall asleep beside her, and to wake up with her in his arms.
The way he yearned for her was entirely unprecedented. He dreamed of the day he’d feel her body beneath him, of that glorious moment when he’d be able to get on his knees for her and show her exactly how magnificent he found her.
It was that thought that had him diving back into work. Soon, the steady clicking of keys was the only sound that could be heard in the small office.
Hours passed before Isobel exclaimed, “Oh!”
Nikhail jolted, his stiff back cracking as he met her gaze over the top of his computer. “You’ve got something?”
“I think so.” Her eyes were bright. “Come take a look.”
He rounded the desk, resting one hand on the wooden surface as he peered at the thermal imaging map spread across the screen. Taken by drone, it was one of the hundreds they’d been analyzing. The Chancellor’s orders had been clear: every single piece of intelligence, no matter how small, had to be looked over with a fine-tooth comb.
“Someone was there, right?” Isobel pointed to the bright red spots on the map. “That’s what those mean?”
Nikhail chewed on the inside of his cheek, leaning in closer. “It looks like it.” His eyes swept over the screen. “What’s the date on this file, Isobel?”
The building in question had been vacant for decades, and no one was supposed to be there.