Page 14 of Antiletum (The Nocturne #1)

Deos , I really am being unfair. It’s beyond time for me to decide where I stand with my husband. If I should continue being wary, or if I should take the bits of truth he offered me so willingly and let him in. Learn more. Let it be enough.

This is the first time I’ve seen Val since arriving in Omnitas late yesterday morning. To The Citadel, perched on a hill overlooking the city like a massive bird of prey. Beautiful, yet terrifying. Like it might swallow you whole.

Fitting. Especially with the stone parliament of owls sitting on the roof. The live parliaments that hoot and screech and fly laps around us at night.

Due to his scarcity, I half expected Val to not even be in his chambers when I came barging in.

Taking advantage of his surprised silence, I add, “You really don’t seem like you like me.”

That snaps him back to focus. “I don’t like seeing you needlessly hurt yourself. Not only do I very much like you, Delaney, I love you more than anything that exists in this world.”

My formerly galloping heart stops beating.

“You don’t even know me.”

A small, secretive smile plays at Val’s lips. He bends his head closer to mine, our mouths nearly brushing. “I know enough,” he whispers.

The quiet insight of that simple statement makes me shiver, nearly choke. I rationalize the sensation by imagining that Val experienced a similar loneliness to mine. From what I’ve gleaned, he only started being open about his own necromancy when his father became Alter to the former Lord.

It’s difficult for me to deny my own draw to him, knowing he shares in something that I was conditioned to think wrong. That he’s owned his otherness proudly for years. That he wants me to do the same. With him.

Nevermind the similar grief we’re both silently harboring for our recently lost loved ones.

Mine layered on top of another that I’ve been holding for too long.

Entirely too fresh being back in Omnitas.

Just looking at Val brings that old ache to the surface and I’m having a harder time now pushing it back down.

“Now.” Val’s expression has darkened again, staring at me with intensity, back to the core argument.

No wonder there was no push back from Parliament about Val assuming the role of Lord despite being so far down in the line of succession it would have easily been challenged. He really has such a way of putting so much oomf into a single word.

“Are you going to seat yourself? Or should I do it for you?” Val’s palms land on my shoulders, squeezing with promise. “Last warning, Delaney. I have to leave in the morning after our celebration, and I will enjoy your company before I have to go.”

His announcement breaks me from my internal war. “You’re leaving?” My question is embarrassingly high pitched.

I am not a fan of this intense fear that suddenly blankets me.

Val obviously is.

He smirks, having clearly heard the tone I wish I hadn’t given away.

Again. “Not for long.” He strokes a gentle knuckle across my cheekbone, mapping me out.

“And I vow to return to you in one piece. Promptly.” His promise is oddly soothing, steering me more towards the direction of putting to rest Rainah’s warning.

Behind my outrage over the demanded breakfasts and the clothes, something about it all is oddly endearing. Bold. Almost exciting.

Val steers me to my chair, us finding some strange middle ground between my agency and him wanting to command me.

“You already know how important tonight is,” Val tells me, getting settled.

“What we are for Noctua , it matters. Though our position isn’t much more than a name, a pair of messengers between Parliament and the people and holding no real power, it matters.

I want us to be a Lord and Lady for the people.

For them to have something to look towards other than struggle. Deos know they’ve endured enough.”

The passion behind his sentiment is staggering.

As he says it, I think I very much want that too.

Through all the years since my single trip into the city, I’ve never forgotten how dire it was, even back then.

From what I’ve heard, famine, sickness, and crime are even worse now.

Survival is the best most hope for these days.

“Yes.” I swallow hard. Such an empty word. But I’m not really sure what else to say. How long will it take for me to acclimate to my new life? My new surroundings? I’m still not even fully sure what exactly Val is involved in, what I may be now too.

Val reads me thoroughly. “Are you frightened?”

“I’m nervous,” I tell him honestly. “So yes, to a degree, I suppose I am frightened.”

“Don’t be. I will be by your side, the whole time. You don’t have to speak to a single person you don’t want to. I will ensure you are not subjected to any questions about your family that make you uncomfortable.”

A sense of security wraps around me. Far too comfortable. Too inviting and easy to sink into.

Val smiles mischievously as he watches me relax under the promise of his protection, a sense of victory settling over him. “And after we’ve made our appearance, I have different plans for our evening. Just the two of us.”