22. Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

For the fifth time, Eden smoothed out the blazer she'd put on, ensuring no wrinkles remained in the grey material. Her weight loss was strategically camouflaged by the structured fabric, and she hoped her dad wouldn't notice it and start to worry.

The thought of seeing her dad tonight was exciting and nerve racking at the same time. Too many times she'd planned to go visit, only to be foiled by a last-minute speaking engagement or funds running too tight. After her symptoms started, she hadn't dared to face the man who would be more crushed by her life-altering diagnosis than anyone else in the world.

Nero had taken her back to her apartment to let her change into appropriate clothing, and was currently taking out her trash while she wore a hole in her floor. As soon as he reappeared, she ambushed him.

"Can we go now?"

The devil smirked. "Yes, your alphaness, we can go."

Two minutes later, they were striding up to the front doors of her father's residence in his assisted living community. The rows of townhouses were well-kept but frustratingly similar, with only a stray pink flamingo or some such lawn ornament separating one from the other. She instantly recognized her father's favorite weathered rocking chair, sat on the left end of his porch, a host of reading material in a plastic box next to it.

With a single steadying breath, she knocked on the door.

"Coming!"

Her heart thumped in her chest at the sound of her father's voice, practically bouncing up and down as the door finally opened and she saw his face. "Sugar plum!"

"Daddy!"

Her tears came quickly. It'd been far too long, and the days too hard, since she'd seen her father. He wrapped her in his hug, not a bit weaker than he'd been when she was growing up. Whenever she'd needed him, he was always there: fixing a tire, hauling around furniture, or taking her out for ice cream when the world got to be too much. Her dad was more than just a father—he'd been her best friend growing up.

"Baby, I didn't know you were coming!" He held her out at arm's length to get a good look while she gave him a watery smile. "You've lost weight."

"And I wasn't even trying," came her flippant answer, hidden beneath a grin. "Daddy, this is Nero."

Her father's expression turned from ecstatic to scrutinizing in the span of a second. Those emerald eyes, bracketed by laugh lines, narrowed as he took in the man behind her and weighed him for all he was worth.

Nero extended a hand in greeting. "Eden's told me so much about you. Pleasure to meet you, sir."

"Sir, huh?" he chuckled. "I like this one already."

Her dad returned the handshake. A gleam of approval registered in his aged features before he looked over his shoulder. With a tilt of his head, he urged them inside.

"Still getting those headaches, sugar plum?"

Eden scrambled to cover for the reveal, before Nero took interest. "Nope, daddy, I'm all good."

But her smile felt forced, and it was only moments later that she realized Nero's stare had hardened. Concern siphoned along their mating bond, and that was when she finally understood the source of his discontent. He'd sensed she'd been deceitful.

Nero didn't mention it, seamlessly transitioning into the most helpful man she'd ever known. Her father had been cleaning up after dinner. Nero eagerly jumped in to put away the food, clean up the table, and wash dishes so she could spend as much time with her dad as she wanted.

She'd never appreciated him as much as she did in that moment.

For the next three hours, they played card game after card game, ranging the gamut from euchre to gin rummy and blackjack. Nero was shamelessly proficient in all three of them, wiping the table with their fake chips and penny purses.

Her father grilled Nero about every aspect of his life and ensured that he was treating Eden right. A happy smile seemed to keep finding its way to his face, and she knew that Nero had passed all of the tests her father had sent his way.

By the time he started to yawn, Eden was more than ready to sleep herself. She made every promise to return swiftly, peddling the story that Nero travelled for business often and could take her along. They left her father's home arm in arm.

The chill of the night had her tightening her blazer. Then her eyes found the nearly full moon, and it no longer seemed to matter.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" She barely recognized the breathy voice as her own.

"Gorgeous. And in a few nights, you'll be running beneath it as your wolf."

Heavy emotion made her shiver. Knowing that werewolves were real was mind-blowing enough, but facing her death—being almost assured of it—was something entirely different. After speaking with Aidan, she knew that time was short. Telling Nero had to be her priority. Tomorrow morning, she would tell him the truth, and bank of a good night's sleep helping her find the right words.

"And you'll be with me?"

"Every step of the way, Eden." His arm closed around her shoulders, offering her the support and warmth she needed. "And after your wolf is steady on her paws, we'll run together beneath the moonlight."

A part of her couldn't wait.

Nero shifted beside her. "I did a poor job of giving you time alone to think, Eden. I'm sorry for that."

"I'm not. You gave me the opportunity to speak to Aidan and Lucy about werewolves, and then you brought me to see my dad." She turned to him. "Thank you."

"Always."

"I'm not sure I need any more time to think," she admitted.

"No?"

"No. But I am tired."

He nodded. "I'll see you back to Oahu."

"Good. Then we can both get some rest. Your bed is comfortable."

Chuckling, he planted a kiss on her temple. "I know."

"I'm looking forward to snuggling again."

"How forward of you, Miss Hawthorne." Mock admonishment curled Nero's lips.

"If you prefer, I'll go snuggle with the werewolves instead and have a ‘ Wolves Rule, Panthers Drool ' T-shirt made for the full moon. Wouldn't want that now, would we?"

Two minutes later, they were back in Nero's bedroom. Eyelids heavy, she went through the machinations of getting ready for bed on autopilot, and barely crawled into bed beside him before collapsing from exhaustion.

His silk sheets wrapped her in a soft cocoon, and the warmth radiating from Nero only enhanced her comfort. The massive Raeth male was gently massaging circles into her outstretched palm.

She murmured a sleepy, "I think I love you, Nero."

"I think I love you, too."

***

Restful sleep made the night pass blissfully as she lay curled in his arms. Eden smiled as she woke to the blissful white room, blinking the sleep from her eyes.

It was almost unfathomable how much her life had changed within the last week. She'd been attacked by a magical animal, met her mate, took the leap of faith to join him in Hawaii, and found out all the fantasy elements in her books were real. If she hadn't already been used to life-altering events, it would've thrown her for a loop.

Telling Nero the truth of her situation consumed her thoughts. It was essential that he be informed of what she'd spoken to Aidan about—and prepare himself for the potential fallout. Based on her conversation with the werewolf, she knew that if she died, it'd affect more than just them. The waves it'd make in the immortal communities seemed boundless.

She stretched and sat up in bed, reaching over to press the button on the remote to open the shades and let in the brilliant Hawaiian sunlight.

Her Raeth wasn't anywhere in sight. She spotted her pants and jerked them on before changing out of her sleep shirt. Then she padded downstairs, ready to declare open season on the mate hunt.

"Good morning, professor."

The heavy weight of her secret settled firmly in her stomach. Banishing her angst with a smile she didn't feel, Eden waltzed over to the man at the table. "Morning, Coffee Shop. What are you doing?"

A hint of embarrassment colored his cheeks. "Sketching."

"You sketch?"

"That's actually what I meant to show you yesterday," he replied. "But meeting your father and giving you time with him turned out to be a far better plan. This isn't half as exciting."

Suddenly, seeing what was on his drawing pad became her main focus.

Her image stared up at her, a perfect recreation. He'd captured each line of her features, the shading reflecting the truth of her bone structure. Her eyes were nearly finished, piercing with expressivity, and the abstract curls surrounding her face only blocked in. His talent was phenomenal.

Battling against a tongue tied into knots, she asked, "Did you do this just this morning?"

"I had a few minutes."

"A few minutes ? Nero, this looks like a masterpiece they'd hang in the Louvre. Gracious, what could you do with an hour?"

"How about I show you what I can do with a few centuries, instead? You remember when you asked if I ever had any feelings for someone else?"

Eden crossed her arms defensively, shrugging. "Yeah."

"Can I prove that I've never yearned for anyone but you?"

"Prove it to me how?"

Nero extended his hand toward her, waiting patiently. As her fingers gently brushed over his palm, feeling the warmth and steadiness he radiated, the Raeth dragged in a steadying breath. Moments later, a wave of dizziness washed over her.

She was immediately impressed. Modern lines, floor to ceiling windows, a spacious, open concept: the house was an architect and artist's dream. Nero had teleported them into a kitchen, and while it was smaller than the Oahu gallery, it was a comparable design. This home's style and concept were strikingly similar, but more intimate.

"Where are we now?"

"Indiana. I have a home here for when I need a break."

"From five hundred immortal clansmen? I can't imagine why."

The immediate pulse of guilt that siphoned through their mating bond was a kick in the gut. Though her comment had been meant in good humor, it was apparently a sore subject for him. Cringing, she closed the distance between them and linked her fingers with his.

"I've always felt guilty about leaving clan lands, even if it's only for an hour." He shrugged. "Makes me feel like I'm failing them somehow."

"Hey, I'm glad you have this. You need to be able to get away sometimes. From what I've seen, you give too much of yourself."

Almost bashful, he brushed his lips against her forehead. "Come on, I have something to show you. It's a refuge of sorts."

Eden let him lead her down a long hallway. Art was strung up on the walls, beautiful works in varying styles. At the end of the hall was an open doorway.

A hint of nervousness pulsed through their bond, disclosing what the man beside her was truly feeling.

"This entire house was built around one concept." As they reached the door, Nero opened it wide, then flicked on the lights to illuminate the breathtaking space. "My studio."

Eden audibly gasped. Walls, painted a soft green, were covered with Nero's artwork. Every surface was lined with paintings and pencil drawings. Canvases, half-painted or finished, were hung on easels that were positioned in the best-lit areas of the gigantic room.

She was in awe of the collection, when she noticed one common thread: Eden herself was its subject .

Her likeness, whether it was painted, penciled, or sculpted, was the focus of his artwork. Laughing, smiling, cooking; none of the images could be confused with anyone else. The sheer number of artworks was proof of how many years he'd spent in the studio, with Eden as his muse.

Equal parts flattered and disturbed, she warred with her instinctual response. Though her heartbeat soared, her breath stalled in her lungs. A faint tremor began to ripple through her limbs.

"Nero, you met me three days ago." Her voice was hollow. "How is this possible?"

"Remember when I explained about the various powers Raeths can exhibit? Key has the ability to see the future." A gentle squeeze as he took her hand. "She foresaw you coming into my life, and I've been waiting for you ever since."

Shock suffocated her. Eden moved away from him, closing herself off. "How long has it been, Nero? How long have you known about me?"

"I've known about you for eleven hundred years, Eden. That's when Key shared her first vision of you with me."

"The first vision?"

The shock seamlessly shifted to horror. Her eyes darted from sketch to sketch, as she tensely waited for his answer. When he took a step toward her, she cringed, and he immediately stilled.

Nero's voice was pinched with regret. "Yes. Key's seen several visions of you over the years. She's the most powerful precognitive in modern history."

Eden gripped the counter behind her, desperate for something tangible as she unraveled. This simply wasn't possible—what he was saying didn't make any sense. A pinprick of pain pulsed behind her temples, but it barely registered in her panic.

"Eden, I've been waiting for you because I've loved you for centuries. Ever since I first saw your face, knew you were meant to be mine, I've longed for you." He paused. "I love you."

Eden couldn't help the terror that beat in her veins. By keeping the truth about her health situation from him, she'd unwillingly strung him along. Nero had been waiting centuries for her, yearning for their relationship, only to lose her within a week.