Page 20 of Moonlight Bonds (The Nexus #4)

Chapter

Ten

“ T he city is pretty at night,” I whisper as Alek walks into the large open room.

Tonight, we had three different flavoured pizzas ordered in, and two whole cheesecakes.

It’s all gone, but my stomach is full and content.

It was all absolutely delicious, so at least they have good takeout in the city.

I should be sleeping now, but I can’t, even though everyone else has gone to bed.

I think back to my dreams, half whispers in my mind of Severi, of Rhodes.

Both of them are in some kind of danger that my mind has no doubt made up, because Finnegan has contacted his sister.

Severi is recovered but still locked up, and everyone is fine, right down to Nibbles.

The city doesn’t get less beautiful the longer I stare, but truthfully, it has nothing on Starlight City. It’s pretty, but Starlight commanded the night like the city itself was a star.

“It is.” I turn to see Aleksander standing next to me. “We are going into the city. I know you want to, and it’s why you can’t sleep.”

He has a point. It’s hard to be somewhere new and kind of safe and not explore. “We shouldn’t.”

“We should,” he counters, stepping closer and offering me his hand.

“This is a massive city, and we will easily disappear for a night. I want you alone.” I shiver at his tone.

I don’t need to be convinced when it comes to Aleksander, and I wonder if he knows the sheer need I feel when he is near.

I take his hand, which is warm against mine. “But what are we going to do?”

“Go shopping first, because we can’t go anywhere I want dressed in these enticing grey clothes they’ve given us.” He grins and I match it.

I glance at his grey sweatpants, which match my own, and his loose black shirt.

I have a grey cropped top on, but everything in my wardrobe is the same.

It’s equally matching and plain. The only thing that was slightly different was a pink fairy-like dress that would be more fitting in a Barbie world than it would be for me to wear.

I’m certainly not wearing or touching it.

“It’s not fair as you can pull off any clothes, Alek. ”

“So can you. I think I’ll prefer you without the clothes though.

” He winks, and I can’t help but blush. We go down the elevator hand in hand and in comfortable silence until we get to the bottom.

The entrance hall is empty, but there are guards outside, who don’t even so much as blink as we walk out into the cold air, which smells like the flowerbeds dotted around. They really like their flowers here.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk much, not since…” I pause mid-sentence. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t have any family left in the city, but you must have known someone.”

“The reason we haven’t spoken about it is because I can sense how guilty you feel.

” He nudges my shoulder. “And I want you to come with me to speak about processing those emotions when you’re ready, but not tonight.

Tonight is just us having some time to be normal, and for the record, I see that dark day as our mistake for not protecting you as we should.

That’s the king’s spilled blood. I do not blame my dagger for the deaths I take; it is on me. You are not to blame.”

He’s right. I blink, feeling the weight almost come off my chest as his words sink into my chest. I was the weapon, not the one who chose to wield it, and if I could have stopped myself, I would have.

Maybe I am only guilty of not coming to terms with my Nexus before it got to that point.

I should have trusted her, trusted myself, and it’s a lesson that came with a heavy price.

I know that time will help fix how I feel about it all, but Aleksander’s words will linger. I was the weapon, not the wielder.

“Thank you for always being there for me and so…accepting.” I lean my head on his thick arm. “I always feel like I’m failing at sorting out messy bonds, and then you’re just here, not pushing or demanding. Just there for me, turning up and fighting. I think I love you for it.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Nothing could part us, my mate, not the stars, not the Gods, not the world or any force within it. It’s never been an ‘I think’ for me.”

It hasn’t been for me either, not for a long time. I knew when he held me on the roof that I was completely in love with him and that would never change.

We see the city for the first time at night as we walk for what feels like an hour, both of us happy to just take it all in.

People just walking about the parks, both Nexus and Vian, and children join them all.

It’s so strange to see it and to think of how divided we have all been, yet it can work, like this city.

This is proof. I know showing the Vian king this city wouldn’t suddenly change his mind on the war, but it has to mean something.

We walk towards the main part of the city and find a shopping centre. I frown at Alek as I realise we don’t have any money or a way to get it. “How are we paying for stuff? I guess that’s out… We can just keep walking around.”

“I sorted that out already.” He holds up a black bank card from his pocket with his name on it. “I asked one of the rangers for it. I wired money onto it from my accounts and got it sent to the door earlier. I know your aunt left cards for us to use, but I want to have some independence.”

I shake my head. “So organised.”

He flicks my nose, and I laugh. “Says the girl who carries giant bags of millions and does dodgy trades in the black market.”

“Fair enough.” I shake my head at him. We head inside a boutique that is crammed with clothes. The men’s are on one side, the women’s on the other.

Alek nudges me. “Go and choose something, get into it in the changing rooms, and I’ll pay for it. We can leave our things here, and I’ll get someone to gather them in the morning.”

Wow, he’s definitely talking my language now. “Telling me to go shopping alone is dangerous, just so you know. Dangerous for that card, I mean.”

I grin at him before he can back out, and rush to the women’s section.

I look at all the dresses for a while, admiring the many different brands and styles, before my hand stops on one of them.

It’s a shimmering dark purple colour, and it’s my size.

Stars are woven into the material effortlessly, beautifully, and it looks tight, almost like a bodycon dress.

I want to make Aleksander look at me tonight, and this is the dress for that.

I want him to look at me, snap, and break the tension that hovers between us.

I take it into the changing rooms and try it on, running my hand through my hair when I’m done before looking in the mirror.

The dress wraps tightly around my breasts and just comes up to the middle of my thighs.

It’s very revealing, but I actually really like it.

I like the tiny stars, how you can’t really see them unless I’m moving in the light.

I find a pair of high-heeled boots, black, that go up to my mid-calf and put them on before taking the labels off them both and grabbing my pile of clothes and boots.

Alek is already at the counter, and my mouth dries when I see him.

A crisp, ironed black silk shirt, with several buttons undone, clings to his tight and toned body.

His hair’s still curly and wavy in that almost perfect way, and the shirt’s tucked into tight trousers that I really, really like.

Especially around his ass. He turns to look at me, and his expression tells me everything.

He likes what I’m wearing too. Aleksander actually stutters. “Gwenieve.”

The cheeks of the woman behind the counter are bright red, and she looks down as I answer. “Aleksander.”

He clears his throat and drags his eyes away. “We’ll pay for it all.” I place my clothes next to his on the counter. “Can we leave these here? Someone will claim them tomorrow.”

“Of course.” She takes the card from him. “Any nice plans for the evening?”

His eyes are on me still, still absorbing my outfit from head to toe, but he manages to answer her. “Tell you the truth, we are new to the city. Where would be the best club to go dancing and drink until we can’t feel our feet?”

“Oh, down the road, there’s one called the Dazzler. It’s, well, with stars on your dress, you’ll definitely like it,” she suggests.

Aleksander touches my arm, and I shiver. “We’ll do that, then.”

“I can call you a taxi to take you straight there if you wish. I’ll put it on the card too?

” she offers. Aleksander leaves her a very decent tip before we head outside, and the cold air is only just enough to chill the heat burning in my veins.

After a few minutes, we get in the car and it takes us ten minutes down the road, to just outside a nightclub that looks busy, people moving in and out, bodyguards standing at the door, and a heavy thump of the music comes through the floorboards.

Alek thanks the driver before getting out and taking my hand.

I’m glad he doesn’t let go. “Don’t tell anyone, but I really do like coming to clubs like this, to lose myself in the music and forget the world.”

“You like music?” I softly ask.

“Always have,” he admits. “I often write my own. I haven’t in a long time, but I hope when it’s quiet, I can write something for you.”

“I’d love to hear anything you write,” I gently reply. “Truthfully, I’ve never had the opportunity to come to many clubs like this. When I was on the run, this would have been risky. Too many people and cameras, and the risk of Vian or Nexus being there.”

“It can be your first time I’m bringing you to a club and showing you how to dance with your mate. Our first date.” We walk up the steps.

I can’t help the joke. “I thought the black market was our first date. This is our second.” He laughs. “Wait, you dance?”