Page 29 of The Never List (Never List #1)

Rylee

Although Pierce meets me in the Emerald Wood, it’s nothing like when I met with Kal for the first time, or even Axl.

Gone is the banter he delivered at the dinner on Axl’s ship, replaced with nothing but exhaustion written on both of our faces thanks to last night’s attack.

Even tired Pierce looks incredible, his full lips smiling softly, his fit body still wearing the clothes he wore last night, some of them tattered from the battle. I didn’t have time to change, either. Not when we’d spent the entire night ensuring that all of Axl’s people affected by the battle were taken care of, and after, we discussed possibilities of the motivations behind the Faders’ attacks.

Kal and Axl had both made a point to check in with me before I climbed into the carriage that would take me to the Emerald Wood, asking if I wanted either or both to accompany me.

I thought about it for only a moment before I realized the earlier apprehension about being alone with each Legend following Kal was gone.

Maybe I’ve spent enough time with Pierce for that old worry to be soothed, or maybe I’ve settled into my role as chosen a little more than I thought I would. Either way, I have no hesitation being with Pierce alone now. I know I’ll see Axl and Kal soon, so missing them won’t sting as badly.

Pierce gives Mirren a nod from where she stands behind me, then reaches his hand out to me.

“Come,” he says, beckoning me into his estate. I slide my hand into his, sighing at the connection. “I fear this is not the welcome I wanted to give you,” he says as he leads me through the front doors of something much quainter than the other two Legends’ homes I’ve seen so far.

It’s still magnificent, but it’s smaller than the others’ mansions. Cozier, almost like a luxury cottage set among lush green trees and grass. It’s tucked away, nothing but silence save for the sounds of nature around for miles.

Inside is warm and rich, the home filled with comfy furniture, soft lighting, and all sorts of books and scrolls and parchments and knickknacks in every corner, making the home lived-in and cozy as opposed to crowded and uncomfortable.

“I’ve drawn you a bath,” Pierce continues as he leads me up the stairs and into what I can only assume is his bedroom. His scent is all over the space.

I only get to glance at it before he walks me into the bathing chamber. The smell of something floral wafts on the steam from the full bath set into the floor, tucked against a pair of grand windows open to the elements and letting in the crisp pine scent from trees. Light dawns from the sun breaking over the sky.

“You did this for me?” I ask, smiling at the tub filled with bubbles, the wax candles burning to give the chamber a soft glow that is beyond relaxing.

“I did,” he says, tapping his temple with his free hand. “While we said goodbye to Mirren.”

My eyes flare in wonder. The depth of his power never ceases to amaze me. And this is only a portion of what it could be…

He rubs his thumb over the back of my hand where he holds it. “I assumed after last night’s events, and the fact that neither of us slept, we’ll need to table the little flirtation we had on Axl’s ship. Now my most pressing concern is ensuring that you’re well kept, well fed, and well rested.”

I swallow around the emotion in my throat. Kal and Axl gave such importance to my well-being, too, but I’m still overcome by the gesture each time. Maybe it’s because I’m not used to such luxuries or kindness, or maybe it’s because my baser instincts are still terrified I’ll wake up and this will all be an act. That they’re treating me so well for a chance to magnify their power…despite everything in my heart countering those fears.

“I’ll come check on you in a little bit,” he says, leaning close to plant a soft kiss on my cheek before he heads out of the bathing chamber and closes the door behind him.

I don’t waste time, shedding my battle-weary clothes and stepping into the deep tub, sighing as the hot water soothes the exhaustion I can feel in my bones.

I settle back against one of the benches that’s built into the tub, stretching out because it’s big enough to hold five people, let alone just me.

“Pierce,” I call out, somehow knowing I don’t need to yell for him to hear me.

“Yes, darling?” he answers from just outside the door.

“Will you come in here?”

Pierce opens the door almost timidly, his eyes finding me in the tub easily, noting the massive array of bubbles covering my body beneath the water.

“This truly is divine,” I say, my heart fluttering in my chest. I motion to the water. “I know you must be just as exhausted as I am, even with all the power you have. Why don’t you join me?”

He tilts his head just slightly. “Do you want me to join you?”

“Yes,” I say, meaning it with my whole heart. “I’m not saying I have the energy to properly satisfy you right now,” I hurry to admit. “And I don’t think you have that energy, either. I’m completely on board with making sure we’re fed and rested before we cross that line, but this bath is certainly big enough for both of us. There’s really no point for you to wait when I know you have to be craving the warm water just as much as me.”

“When you put it that way,” he says, and I nod.

He slowly sheds his dress shirt, his jacket already discarded somewhere I didn’t see. And when he goes for his pants, I do the polite thing and turn around. After all, he didn’t stay for the show of me undressing, and I can’t help the butterflies that take flight in my stomach when I hear him breach the water, feel the ripples from his movement brush against my skin.

“You’re safe to turn around now,” he says, amusement drenching his tone. “Though you would have been welcome to look.”

I smile and bite my lip as I turn and reclaim my seat on the bench, finding him on the opposite side.

My heart stutters in my chest. The sight of him leaning against the bath, his arms outstretched, soft glittering bubbles caressing his brown skin, is enough to steal my breath. But it’s the weariness in his eyes, the ones usually filled with such intelligence and calculation, that has me frowning.

“I am sorry,” I say.

His brow furrows. “Why would you be sorry?”

I blow out a breath, doing my best not to think of every reason I have to be sorry—the things I’m hiding from them, my inability to offer them much help with their obstacles—and focus on what is known.

“These attacks are starting to take their toll on you and the other Legends,” I say. “Not to mention your people. I can’t imagine what that’s like for you, not knowing why they’re doing it and not being able to predict when they’ll strike again.”

“It’s quite taxing,” he says, his eyes going distant for a moment. “I couldn’t break into their minds,” he continues. “Whatever substance they’re using that nullifies our powers staggered mine in a way that meant I couldn’t easily tell their motivations. I’ve never been up against anything like that, and I’m not exactly sure what we’re going to do about it.”

A lump forms in my throat as I remember his assumption from last night that some, if not all, of the Faders could be demis. Could be someone like me, hiding their power to avoid ridicule or imprisonment, like so many of the demis who live openly face.

“I’m sure that doesn’t happen often,” I say.

He smiles at me, just a little. “It doesn’t,” he says, eyes trailing over my face. “Though I do try not to invade everyone’s privacy…” He shifts slightly in the water. “Sometimes I can’t help but hear what people are thinking, if they’re thinking it loudly enough.”

“That has to be exhausting in itself,” I say.

“It certainly was when I was younger.” He leans a little bit farther back, his head resting on the edge of the bath. “It took me years to learn how to block peoples’ thoughts, but even I’m not a master of it. Jax and I practice with each other, though both of us struggle in regard to feeling everybody else’s emotions for him, and hearing their thoughts for me. It’s gotten easier, but sometimes we simply can’t shut people out.” He raises his hands from the water, indicating the space around him. “Hence why I chose a secluded place for my home. It’s quiet out here, surrounded by woods. Animals aren’t nearly as loud as people.” He chuckles softly.

My heart aches for the pair of them, seeing their power from an entirely new side.

Of course, when the enforcers told us stories of the Legends in the past, I’d always thought that they were entitled, pompous royals blessed with goddess-given powers that they used for their own selfish desires.

Now I know how wrongly those stories paint them.

Their powers are as much of a curse as they are a gift, although it seems like Jax and Pierce got the more complicated ones compared to Axl and Kal.

Even my control over the wind isn’t such a weight to carry, relative to hearing people’s thoughts or feeling their every emotion.

“I promise after we get some sleep, I’ll be a much better host,” Pierce says, smiling sleepily at me across the water.

“I think you’ve already been a wonderful host.” I sink into the tub just a bit more. “This is perfection.”

His grin widens as he looks at me. “I must admit,” he says, wetting his lips, “this bath has never held as much appeal as it does now.”

A flush breaks my skin at the compliment. “And what shall we do after this?”

Pierce sighs, moving through the water to get closer to me. Heat radiates between us, that tension tightening like a pulled string as he pushes some of my damp hair away from my face. “I have every intention of making you a delicious breakfast while you change into some comfortable sleep clothes, and then after we eat, I say a good long nap is in order.” His smile deepens. “How is that for foreplay, my darling?”

A laugh tumbles from my lips, and I lean into the hand lingering at the side of my face. “It’s perfect,” I say, and I truly mean it.

As much as I would love to keep flirting like we did on the ship and explore our connection like I have with all the other Legends, I know we have time. We have an entire month to be intimate, and after last night’s battle, I think what we both need most is to recover.

After another half hour in the bath, we each step out separately, both of us giving each other privacy to dry off before changing into the aforementioned sleep clothes.

Pierce delivers on his delicious breakfast—it’s simple but filling—and afterward, we climb into his oversize bed, the two of us sighing at the comfort it offers as we lie down facing each other.

“What’s that expression for?” he asks from where his head rests on his pillow and me on mine.

“I’m just grateful for you,” I say, unable to keep the vulnerable admission to myself.

I’m full and bathed and relaxed and exhausted, and there’s no hiding right now.

“For all of you,” I add.

Pierce reaches across the distance between us to take my hand. He holds it, and my eyes become heavy.

“Sleep, my darling,” he says. “Tomorrow, I’ll show you the Emerald Wood.”

My eyes fully shut, as if his soft command broke whatever willpower I had to stay awake. And just as the heavy blanket of sleep is draping over me, I hear Pierce whisper softly, “I’m grateful for you, too, Rylee Gray.”