26. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

V erner's family home was like something out of a storybook.

The architecture in this part of the realm was nothing like the palace. Sunlis was more like a collection of towers, connected by covered walkways that were open on either side—probably because of the suffocating heat. Every corridor was lined with lush foliage, and I wondered what it would look like when it was entirely colorful, rather than just shades of gray with the odd hint of green like it was now.

I'd never been to East Asia, but the polished timber, extended eaves above the open-sided walkways, and ornate carvings reminded me of that region of the human realm.

"It's actually obscene how hot it is here," Verity panted, peeling off her fishnet arm warmers as though that was the key to cooling off.

Theon grunted in agreement, marching ahead. I didn't know him well enough to know whether he was in a worse mood than usual or not, but I hazarded a guess that he didn't like being away from Lindow. From what Verity had said, his home was a real sanctuary for him.

"Do you know where we're going?" I whispered. I had no idea why I was bothering to be quiet—Theon had already barged past a staff member in the entryway, and Verity was loudly exclaiming over everything that she'd spotted of interest. I was pretty sure Theon had agreed to build her a whole Sunlis-inspired wing at Lindow at this point.

"I've been here before," Theon clipped. "Back when I was the Crown Prince, I toured many family estates."

We headed down winding stairs to ground level where the trees towered above us, before going along a corridor and heading down yet again, this time beneath the surface. This area felt a little more slick, a little less tuned in with nature. But it was cooler, which was nice. I'd only been here ten minutes, and I was already sweating.

The humidity in this part of the realm was oppressive . I felt the energy draining out of me with each passing second.

We came to a tall set of grand black double doors, and Theon threw them open like he was walking into his own house. I heard the voices from within the room go quiet, and I took a steadying breath before I followed after Verity, hoping I looked—and smelled—less scared than I felt.

"Meera?" Verner stood immediately from his spot at the head of the table on the far side of the room for me, looking at me as though he'd seen a ghost. "You're here."

"Yes. Why is that?" the Shade at the opposite end of the table snapped, glaring at me. He looked too much like Verner to be anything other than his father.

Apparently, I'd already made a poor impression with the in-laws.

I should have planned what I was going to say. I should have written something down—something romantic, and understanding, and reassuring. Shoot, what was I doing here? I wanted Verner, but I didn't know how to convince him that I was worth the hassle.

Seeing his house had me even more unsure—what on earth would he want me for? Verner was rich rich, and I brought nothing to the table except human-realm vegetables that he didn't even like.

Damn it. I hadn't thought this through.

"Hey, big guy," Verity said, slinging an arm over my shoulders and looking at Verner. "This is all you. Meera has done the scary part—don't let her down now."

"Verity," I chided softly, not wanting to put Verner on the spot.

"Stop telling me off, he knows I'm right."

"I do know that," Verner agreed, straightening up and surveying the room. "Will you stand with me, Meera? I've missed you terribly, and I want nothing more than to hold you right now."

"I've missed you too," I whispered, feeling the eyes of the room follow me as I walked down the length of the table on my own, coming to stand in front of Verner. He pulled me into his embrace immediately, shrouding me in shadows that mostly hid me from the rest of the room.

"I can't believe you're here," he murmured for my ears only. "It never occurred to me that you'd seek me out. This mess is my problem to deal with, I suppose. Not yours. You shouldn't be dragged into this."

I tipped my head back so I could see his face, narrowing my eyes at him. "Verner, whatever mess you're in is because of me. I dragged you into an entirely different realm to deal with my problems. If anyone would have told me where you were, I would have come sooner—you never left me alone, even when it put you at risk. Why would I leave you? We're a team, you and I."

I didn't like speaking in front of people, it usually gave me heart palpitations. But with Verner holding me, staring into my eyes as though they held the answers to all of his questions, I felt invincible.

"Are we, Meera?" he asked softly. "Are you ready for that?"

"Yes." Heat crawled up the back of my neck. I hated that Verner even had to ask, but I'd been so wishy-washy about it, and he'd been more than patient with me. "We're more than that."

"I've been trying not to rush you, my love. I know this is a lot for you to process, and I want you to know that you're always safe with me. That your heart is always safe with me. But I've been in love with you for so long that I can't even remember a time before I felt any other way. If you need more time for your feelings to develop—"

"I don't." Hearing how he felt gave me the security I needed to give him the words that had been floating around my head since we were in the human realm. Except, how could mere words be enough? How could I capture the depth of what I felt for Verner in a way that would make him truly feel it?

Nothing was adequate. But I was done flailing in silence, forever fighting to articulate myself and giving up when it got hard.

"You're the love of my life," I said simply.

Because maybe the words didn't have to be perfect. They just had to be true.

Verner exhaled as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders, pulling me in tightly against him. "Thank the goddesses for that."

I moved my hands up to his chest so I could rub soothing circles into his skin with my thumbs. "Did you ever doubt it?"

"Perhaps a little." He squeezed my waist reassuringly. "I didn't doubt that we'd be together—that seemed certain. But that you'd love me the way I love you? That didn't seem possible. And if you ever did, I thought I'd have to wait years."

I was shaking my head before he'd even finished speaking. "Even when I was convincing myself that I could never be in a relationship, that I wouldn't know how, that I wouldn't be good at it, I always thought… but if I did, it would be you. You'd be my first and only choice."

Verner pulled me into him again, pressing a firm kiss on the top of my head. I wanted to do a lot more than forehead kisses. I wanted to solidify our union, ideally with a mating bite, but the fact that we were surrounded by his entire family was keeping my libido—and hopefully my scent—in check.

"I will not tolerate this!" Verner's father said, slamming his hand down on the table hard enough to make me jump. "You will ruin this house. The family name. Our legacy. Verner, how can you be so selfish?"

Verner sighed heavily, tucking me into his side as he turned to face his parents. His shadows wrapped around me like a comforting blanket, and I wanted to wear them every minute of every day.

"I see now what a waste of time these talks have been. It was foolish of me not to see it earlier—there is simply no middle ground where we can meet. You want me to give up Meera, and I will not. There's no halfway."

I didn't mean to cling to Verner like a koala bear, but just hearing the fact that they'd been telling him to give me up had me wanting to wrap myself around him and never let go.

"What is it that you're proposing then, my lord ?" his father asked with a pointed sneer.

I sucked in a quiet breath. Verner had already inherited his family seat? When and how had that happened?

Verner hummed thoughtfully, gently cupping my cheek and pulling my gaze up to his. The claw of his thumb drifted lightly over my skin as he pushed my sweaty hair back off my face, and I dreaded to think what I looked like right now.

"I wanted all of this to be ours," he said quietly. "You deserve the best, Meera. You deserve a life of luxury, and I wanted to be the one to give that to you. But I also don't think they'll ever accept us here. Is the luxury worth it if we don't have happiness?"

I blinked up at him, baffled at his line of thinking. "Of course it isn't. And I don't want a life of luxury—I want to work. I want to be busy, and to feel like I'm contributing. I want my garden." I hesitated for a moment, clearing my throat. "Verner, this is a beautiful home, but I don't even think I'd survive in this climate. It's so hot here."

Clearly, I'd been gone from the mother country too long. I'd adapted to Denver's semiarid climate.

"You don't want to live here?" Verner repeated, sounding suddenly hopeful.

"I mean, not to sound ungrateful or anything—it's beautiful. But I don't think I could be happy here, away from court and Elverston House and the garden."

And surrounded by your hostile family, I added silently. That part probably went without saying.

I'd never had the desire that Austin, Verity, and Tallulah all seemed to have to get away from the palace. I had no desire to lead, but I liked being in the thick of things, even if it was just to observe them from the outskirts. Would they let us stay there, though? Verner had been fired because of me—I had no idea what his current relationship with the king or the captain looked like. Surely, they wouldn't kick us out?

"You're not welcome in the palace," a female Shade snapped. Perhaps his mother? "Unless you are staying in the family apartments as the Earl of Sunlis."

"He is the Earl of Sunlis, for Godwin stepped aside," Theon drawled, sounding desperately bored with the proceedings. "How fortunate for you all that Verner seems to care about accommodating you all rather than simply telling you the way things will be now that he is in charge."

"Some of us are more tyrannical than others, honey," Verity said cheerfully before turning to face us. "If tensions are high at the palace, then you guys should come stay with us for a bit—we've got heaps of room at Lindow. I'm sure the king will get over his temper tantrum eventually, and then you can move back there if you still want to."

Theon made a sound of annoyance, and Verity narrowed his eyes at him. "I know you're not objecting, pookie. We have literally hundreds of rooms. Even if they live there forever, it wouldn't be a problem for us. I hope you do—I'd love the company."

"We use those rooms," Theon objected.

Verity raised an eyebrow. "You can use me in any of the other rooms, darling."

Verner patted me firmly on the back as I choked on my own laugh. Living with the two of them would certainly be an experience. It was a generous offer, and I was grateful for it.

"What do you think?" I asked Verner. "How do you feel about a fresh start?"

"I think it's just what we need, my love."