Page 17 of Walking in Darkness

Funny, it was only two weeks ago when I’d been terrified of seeking her out. Worried of breaking the creed given by Valeen that we neversearch for our Nol while awake. A warning given that it would only cause us more danger. That we might somehow turn on each other.

Our Nols were the ones chosen to fight beside us in Faydor. I wasn’t sure if it was the case with every Nol, but I knew the connection I shared with Aria. Knew she was meant for me the way I was meant for her.

And I knew right down to the fabric of my being that there wasn’t a chance I could harm her.

“Yes.” She said it without hesitation.

“And what kind of place is that goin’ to be? Tell me it’ll be on the beach, Princess.”

I let my words twist back to the fantasy she’d woven—one of us on some deserted island. One where, when we went to sleep, we didn’t arrive on another plane to fight a war that was never going to end.

One that would go on through every generation.

A soft smile played across her tempting lips as she leaned against the door. “Hmm ... our vacation home will be on the beach, but I think we’ll have another house. Maybe one in Albany.”

I took another step forward until I was standing directly in front of her. I slipped my palms onto her sides as I murmured close to her mouth, my voice rough with need, “Oh, we’re going to havetwohouses, huh?”

Heat flamed at the contact.

Her tongue stroked out to wet those plush, tempting lips, and she peeked up at me with a sweet dose of playfulness swimming in her expression. “I am a princess, after all.”

“My princess.” My hands curled around her waist as I claimed it.

“Yours,” she murmured. All the lightness vanished, and her voice quivered with the truth. “Just like you’re mine.”

Dipping down to capture her mouth, I kissed her slowly. Needing her to understand what she meant to me. I thought she did, though. I thought she was the only person whocouldget me.

A low whimper rolled up her throat as she pressed herself against me, all that soft sweetness against the hard planes of my body, every muscle coiled with need.

“Is it wrong that I want you? After what happened earlier today?” she whispered into the lapping shadows of the room.

Twilight just beginning to take hold.

Edging back so I could look at her, I ran my fingers through her hair. “Isn’t it you who told me that we didn’t know how long we had? That we had to relish every second? There is nothing wrong with that, Aria. You deserve every ounce of joy. Every bit of pleasure. And if that means eking it out in the few moments of quiet we have, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Except Aria and me? We were going to have forever.

I knew it.

Knew it in my soul.

Because I was sure then that mine didn’t function without hers.

My heart.

My purpose.

My Nol.

“I think that sounds like a really good plan.”

“Oh, I have plans for you.”

She rocked her head back on the wood of the door, a shy, excited smile dancing over her lips. “Oh, really? Like what?”

She squealed when I swept her off her feet and into my arms; then I turned and tossed her onto the bed.

Then I peeled myself out of my shirt and tossed it to the floor. “Like this.”