30. Soren

Chapter thirty

Soren

T he next few days seem like a dream. We get to be, to exist for each other. The rain still pours outside. Which means she has to stay. I watch her stare out at the cold grey sky every morning, wishing I could fix it for her but also thanking the spirits I have another day with her.

It's another morning, just like the one before that and the one before that. I wake up, still finding her curled next to me. Her breathing is soft, and she even heats the skin on my chest.

Some mornings, I wake her up with my head between her legs. Others, I'll sneak out and make her breakfast. Indulging in her sleepy expressions of thanks.

Today is a rest day. No one in my family works. It mimics what Mari would call a weekend—two days when we live without work.

I know one of my siblings will stop by sooner rather than later. They always do it on rest days.

They all expect me to have something baking.

I grumble as I walk down the steps, leaving Mari warm and delectable in my sheets. I'm tempted to lock the door and spend the rest of the day doing something more enjoyable than baking.

When I reach the landing of the banister, there is a gentle tapping on the door. The sun hasn't fully crested over the mountains yet, and they are already at my door. I run my fingers through my thick hair, still mussed from sleep.

The copper door nob is cool to the touch. I take a deep breath, centering myself to not explode in frustration at whatever relative couldn't wait for a morning pastry.

The door cracks open, and my brows immediately knit with confusion.

"Patti?" I ask into the cool morning air. My breath puffed out in white condensation.

He's standing on my porch with a blue sprite glowing behind him.

"Soren, my boy," He says, slapping me on the arm in a friendly gesture.

"What are you doing here?" I say in complete and utter shock. "How is your property? How are you?"

I haven't seen the Male since he had to leave. I should thank him for bringing Mari to me, butI feel thatequating my happiness to his tragedy might not be the best conversation.

"I have Hali here." He gestures to the glowing water sprite.

This confuses me; why is a water sprite porting him to his land? What happened to the slide damage? Why is he here ?

"Hi Hali, I'm Soren," I say to the creature hovering in my doorway. "Won't you both come in?"

Patti and Hali enter. The sprite lights my golden space blue.

"Please sit; I was just about to make some coffee and get the baking done for the day." I move into the kitchen, lighting the stove and the oven.

"How are you? Did you get everything taken care of?" I ask. Filling a pot of water.

"Yes, the sprites helped me with the damage from the slide. They are porting me back and forth to the village for deliveries."

"What are you delivering?"

"Wool. With this weather, the demand has increased tenfold. So I'll spend a day or two at home shearing and cleaning, and then they will port me back with a fresh delivery. I'll stay in the Villages for a day or two. And help process the fabric further, then go back." The sprite flickers in confirmation.

"But that's not why I'm here." My ears perk up at that.

"Oh, are you here to check on Mari then? Make sure she hasn't killed me yet?" He bursts out laughing. Knowing the formidable woman well enough.

"No, not exactly." He pauses, and I use the opportunity to grind some coffee beans.

"Someone was asking about her in town yesterday." I stop, my fist tightening on the metal handles, causing my knuckles to whiten.

"A woman and the Vaki. Arrick. The one from the forest." He continues. "I overheard them asking about someone of her description, so I told them where she is."

I know the Vaki; he's helped me a few times despite this area not being his spelled territory.

I nod, wanting him to continue.

"I believe they are going to be here today. I thought I might give you a heads-up."

"Which one?" Asks a choked voice behind me. I turn to see Mari. Her eyes are glassy with tears, and she looks so hopeful it makes my heart ache.

Patti stands at the sight of her. "Mari!" He holds his arms out. She walks toward him, letting him wrap her in a hug. He holds her out at arm's length as if to inspect her. "I see the Vissers have been treating you well?" He hugs her again. "Have you been treating them well?" He asks, knowing how prickly my warrior can be.

She laughs, brushing the questions aside. A slight blush stains her cheeks. She sure treated me well last night. The image of her riding me flashes in my mind. I shake the thought away, not wanting to give up just how well we have treated each other these past few days.

"Which one of my friends was looking for me? You said there was a woman; what did she look like?"

"It was Yera," Patti says. Her name came so quickly to him you'd think they were friends.

Mari covers her mouth, holding back whatever emotion has her breath catching—hope, longing, excitement. I can't quite pinpoint the look in her eyes.

"Yera's here, she's coming here?" Patti nods in agreement.

"I had quite the conversation with her, but I'll let her tell you the story."

"What about Ava? Did she say anything about Ava?" Patties shoulders drop. This must have been a sore subject for Mari's friend, too.

"No, just the two of you," Pattie says, causing Mari to shrink slightly. There is always some sourness with the sweetness.

"But." Patti continues. "Yera is coming. You're going to see her today." Mari brightens at that.

The sprite at Patty's side twitches as it turns on and off.

"Time to go, Patti; I only have enough charge to get you back to the ridge." The sprite's bright voice speaks for the first time. I had almost forgotten they were there—the creature content to watch the conversation unfold.

Patti nods, then rises, groaning like an old man when he does.

"So much to do so little time." He says, standing and moving to the door—the glowing orb in toe. "Will you let me know how everything works out?" He asks over his shoulder.

Mariana nods, smiling. "How can I get in touch with you?" She asks.

"The Vaki will show you when you meet him." She looks at me, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

A mountain of questions is building in my mind, and no doubt hers. I returned to grinding my coffee, watching the two exit and vanish into the dense air.

Mari looks at me, shock still lighting her features. "Well, what do I do?"

I cock my head, not understanding the question. "What do you mean?"

"What am I supposed to do? I want to run and go wherever Yera is. I want to cry, I want to scream, I want to laugh." Tears sting her eyes, but she still has a questioning smile. She shakes her head. Her eyes bounce back and forth, seeking, reaching for—something. She needs to do something. Act, but all we can do is wait.

"Mari," I say, walking over to the table where she sits, staring blankly. "She's coming. Arrick knows where I live. According to Patti, they will be here today. I know you want to act, to take part somehow. And I know the idea of someone finding you is a sensation you're not accustomed to." She whips her head to look at me like I've spurned her.

I hold my hands out in surrender. "I'm just saying that I understand why you look like you're going to crawl out of your skin. You expected to be the rescuer. Because that is what you have always been. It's ok not knowing how to feel. It's ok to be confused, to have a thousand emotions hitting you all simultaneously." I grab her hand and bring it to my chest. "I am with you, My Love. And if you let me, I want to always be with you."

She looks up at me from that blank place she had let her mind roam. Her eyes cleared as if someone has lifted a fog.

"My Love?" She asks.Aconfused expression on her face.

"Mari, I have loved you since your first defiant words left those perfect lips. I have loved every moment you gave to me. Only to pull away seconds later. You are fierce, angry, and willful. You are kind, smart, and protective. You are a world of contradictions. A world I would choose to live in for the rest of my life."

The words spill into the space. The words maybe said too soon, but I can't pretend I don't love this woman with every cell in my body. She is inked in me as surely as these tattoos are inked on my skin.

She blinks back, her face softening. "I think I might." She hesitates. "I think I love you too."

"You think." I quip, crooking my brow at her.

"Of course, I love you, ass-hole." Her face is set stiff and defiant with a hint of playfulness.

"That's my girl," I say before grabbing and lifting her.

I wrap my arms around her waist, holding her muscular frame to mine. She is all hard and sharp lines. Her body is so at war with what lies beneath.

I kiss her hard, parting her lips with my tongue, taking her mouth as if to devour every piece of her to be given.

She wraps her arms around my neck, making small keening noises. I swallow each, taking them for my own, taking her for my own. Mine.