She mouthed the word, and it reverberated through her. If anyone else had sent this message, she wouldn’t have given too much thought.
But Nikhail wasn’t a random acquaintance, and after what they’d shared, she knew the monosyllabic word had meaning.
More than that, it was a life-altering declaration.
River could feel the pieces of herself shifting the more she repeated the word. She could feel the change deep in her soul, in that same part of herself that had come to life and been drawn to Nikhail when he’d first walked into her parents’ home.
Yours.
River stared at the message for so long, her eyes crossed. Her head started pounding. Her tea grew cold on the nightstand.
Still, she couldn’t look away.
River had left the Hub, sure that she could walk away from Nikhail, knowing they would never be anything more than friends, but now she had no idea what to do.
Because that word and what it meant were changing River. They were helping her. The clouds that had been hanging over River for days weren’t as thick. The vacancy in her veins was less harrowing. Even the hole in her heart, where her father’s love used to reside, seemed less awful.
All because of one simple word, written by an incredibly handsome air fae that she had no business wanting. That she endangered just by existing around him.
Gods, this was a disaster.
The problem was that even though Nikhail wasn’t here, River’s heart, body, and soul yearned for him. She was desperate for him in a way that didn’t make sense, and that scared her more than everything else that had happened since she woke up in the Hub.
River’s fingers were moving over the phone before she even realized she was typing.
River
Thank you, Nik. I’m… Well, I’m here.
And honestly, right now, that felt like the best-case scenario.
I really appreciate you checking in on me. It means a lot.
More than she was prepared to put into words.
Her phone vibrated, and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She hadn’t expected him to reply, and certainly not so soon.
Nikhail
Of course, Princess. I’ve been thinking about you every moment of every day.
Her cheeks burned at the nickname, and gods above. How could she have ever thought she’d be able to keep Nikhail at bay? Already, something inside her felt like it was mending, and they’d barely conversed.
Really?
Even if I weren’t fae, I would never lie to you. You know that, right?
She tucked her legs beneath herself, typing and deleting and retyping a message. None of the words felt right.
I wouldn’t.
I swear to you, River, that I will always tell you the truth. Even when it hurts, I won’t dance around it. I will be honest with you, not because we are fae, but because that’s what you deserve.
Always.
Even when it hurts?
Especially then.