KIERAN'S POV:
I wake up warm.
Which is wrong.
I'm always cold in the mornings. My apartment in Brooklyn has shit heating, and I usually wake up freezing, wrapped in three blankets like a burrito of regret.
But now I'm warm.
And there's something heavy draped over my waist.
And I can hear breathing that isn't mine.
My eyes snap open.
Oh no.
Oh no no no no—
I'm still in the Dark King's bed.
Which, okay, I knew that. I remember falling asleep here.
What I don't remember is ending up completely wrapped around Ravion like a fucking koala.
My face is pressed against his chest. My leg is thrown over his hip. My arm is around his waist. And his arm is locked around me like a vice, holding me against him like I'm a teddy bear he's afraid someone will steal.
How did this happen?
I was on the edge of the bed last night! Far away! Maintaining boundaries!
Now I'm practically inside his ribcage!
Okay. Okay. Don't panic. Just... carefully extract yourself. He's still asleep. You can do this. Just—
I try to move my leg.
Ravion's arm tightens.
I freeze.
Is he awake?
I hold my breath, waiting.
His breathing stays even. Deep. Still asleep.
Okay. Try again. Slowly.
I attempt to slide my arm from around his waist.
He makes a noise.
Not quite a word. Just this low, sleepy sound that goes straight to parts of my body that have no business responding right now.
Fuck fuck fuck—
"Where are you going?" His voice is rough with sleep, vibrating through his chest against my face.
"Nowhere!" I squeak. SQUEAK. Like a mouse.
"Then why are you trying to escape?"
"I'm not—I wasn't—I just need to—" I'm babbling now. "Bathroom! I need the bathroom!"
"Mm." His arm loosens slightly. "There's one through that door."
He doesn't let go.
"Ravion."
"Mm?"
"You need to let go for me to use the bathroom."
"Do I?"
"YES!"
"But you're warm." He sounds genuinely confused, like this is a problem. "And you fit perfectly right here. And the bond is very happy."
"I don't care what the bond thinks! I need to pee!"
That makes him laugh—this low, sleep-rough sound that does things to me.
"Fine." He releases me. "But come back."
"I'm not—that's not—UGH!"
I scramble out of bed with all the grace of a drunk giraffe, my legs tangled in the sheets, and nearly face-plant onto the floor.
Ravion catches me.
Of course he does.
Because apparently, Dark Kings have supernatural reflexes even when half-asleep.
"Careful," he murmurs, steadying me.
We're standing now. Too close. His hands on my waist. Those red eyes looking down at me, still heavy with sleep, hair messy in a way that should not be attractive but absolutely is.
"I'm fine," I mutter, pulling away. "Just—just give me a minute."
I practically run to the bathroom.
The bathroom is ridiculous.
Of course it is.
Because everything in this nightmare castle is ridiculous.
Black marble. Gold fixtures. A bathtub the size of my entire Brooklyn apartment. Candles everywhere because electricity hasn't been invented yet.
I splash cold water on my face, staring at myself in the ornate mirror.
My hair is a disaster. My eyes are red from crying. There's a hickey on my neck.
Wait.
WAIT.
I lean closer.
There is definitely a hickey on my neck.
"What the FUCK!" I hiss at my reflection.
Did Ravion—while I was asleep—did he bite me?!
I storm back into the bedroom.
Ravion is sitting up now, looking unfairly perfect despite just waking up, watching me with amused curiosity.
"You bit me!" I accuse, pointing at my neck.
He blinks. "I did?"
"YES! Look!" I gesture wildly. "There's a mark!"
He leans forward, examining my neck with scientific interest. "Hm. So there is."
"HM?! That's all you have to say?! HM?!"
"I don't remember doing that." He actually looks confused. "I must have done it in my sleep."
"You bit me in your sleep?!"
"Apparently." He doesn't sound sorry. "The bond probably wanted to mark you."
"The bond needs THERAPY!"
"Probably." He's trying not to smile. "Does it hurt?"
"That's not the POINT!"
"Then what is the point?"
"The point is you bit me like some kind of—of—vampire!"
"I'm not a vampire."
"That's not reassuring!"
Now he's fully smiling. "Would you like me to kiss it better?"
"NO!"
"Are you sure? Because—"
I throw a pillow at him.
He catches it. AGAIN.
Why does he keep catching things?!
"I hate you," I announce.
"You said that last night."
"I'll say it every morning for the rest of my life!"
"Looking forward to it." He pats the bed. "Now come back. You're too far away and the bond is complaining."
"I'm three feet away!"
"Exactly. Too far."
"You're insane!"
"And you're my husband. Come back to bed."
"It's morning! People don't stay in bed in the morning!"
"Kings do."
"I'm not a—" I stop. "Wait. Technically I am a king now. Whatever."
"Exactly. So you can do whatever you want. And what I want is for you to stop being all the way over there and come back here where you belong."
"I don't belong anywhere!"
"You belong here." His voice goes soft. Serious. "Right here. With me. Whether you like it or not."
The bond hums in agreement.
KAELIS' POV
I wake up to someone watching me.
I know someone is watching me because I can feel it—that prickling awareness of eyes on skin.
I open one eye.
NYX is sitting in a chair beside my bed, chin resting on his hand, just... staring at me.
"WHAT THE FUCK!"
He doesn't even flinch. "Good morning."
"WHY ARE YOU WATCHING ME SLEEP?! That's—that's creepy! That's serial killer behavior!"
"I wasn't watching you sleep. I was watching you wake up. There's a difference."
"NO THERE ISN'T!"
"You're very expressive when you sleep." He sounds delighted. "You were frowning. Then you smiled. Then you tried to punch something."
I grab my pillow and press it over my face.
"I want to go back to 1811."
"No you don't."
"You're right. I want to go to Mars. Somewhere you aren't."
"Mars doesn't have water. You'd die."
"WORTH IT."
He laughs—that infuriating, beautiful sound that makes me want to throw things.
I sit up, glaring at him with all the fury I can muster pre-coffee. "How long have you been sitting there?"
"Not long."
"Define 'not long.'"
"...An hour."
"AN HOUR?!"
"You sleep quite peacefully when you're not plotting murder," he observes. "Except for the punching. Who were you punching in your dream?"
"You. I was punching you."
"I'm flattered I featured so prominently in your dreams."
"It was a NIGHTMARE!"
"Was it?" He leans forward, those silver eyes glinting with amusement. "Because you were smiling."
My face burns. "I was not."
"You were. Right before the punching part. Very sweet smile too." He tilts his head. "What was I doing in this dream-that-was-definitely-not-a-nightmare?"
"DROWNING! You were DROWNING!"
"I'm the Sea God, Kaelis. I can't drown."
"Then I need better dreams!"
He's fully grinning now, and I hate him. Hate his perfect face and his stupid glowing eyes and his—
"Are you hungry?" he asks.
"NO!"
My stomach chooses that exact moment to growl so loud it echoes off the crystal walls.
Nyx raises an eyebrow.
"Fine. Maybe a little hungry."
"I brought breakfast." He gestures to a table I didn't notice before, laden with food.
I eye it suspiciously. "Is it poisoned?"
"Why would I poison you?"
"To make me more compliant."
"If I wanted you compliant, I'd use magic. Much more efficient."
"That's not reassuring!"
"I'm not trying to reassure you. I'm trying to feed you." He stands, moving to the table. "Come eat before you collapse from stubbornness."
I should refuse.
Should stay in bed out of principle.
But the food smells amazing and I'm starving and—
Fuck it.
I climb out of bed and stomp over to the table like a petulant child.
Because I'm mature like that.
The food is... weird.
Good, but weird.
There's that blue bread from yesterday. Some kind of fruit that glows faintly. Fish that looks normal but tastes like it's been seasoned with moonlight or some shit.
And this drink that Nyx claims is "seaweed tea."
"I'm not drinking seaweed," I announce.
"It's good for you."
"I don't care."
"You need nutrients. The portal journey depleted—"
"I'm not drinking SEAWEED!"
He sighs—long-suffering, like I'm the unreasonable one—and pushes a different cup toward me. "Fine. This is sweetened coral water."
"That sounds worse!"
"Just try it, Kaelis."
"No."
"Yes."
"NO."
"YES."
We're leaning across the table now, glaring at each other, both refusing to back down over a drink.
This is my life now.
Arguing with a sea god about beverages.
"If I try it, will you stop hovering?" I demand.
"I don't hover."
"You're literally hovering right now! Your feet aren't touching the ground!"
He looks down. His feet are indeed about three inches off the floor.
"That's just how I stand."
"That's hovering!"
"It's efficient."
"It's WEIRD!"
"TRY THE DRINK, KAELIS!"
"FINE!"
I grab the cup and take a huge gulp just to spite him.
It's...
Actually really good.
Sweet. Refreshing. Tastes like honey and ocean breeze and—
"It's amazing," I admit grudgingly.
Nyx's smile is blinding. "I know."
"I still hate you."
"I know that too." He sits—actually sits this time, feet on the ground—across from me.
"Eat. You need your strength."
"For what?"
"For today's agenda."
I pause mid-bite. "...What agenda?"
"I'm giving you a tour of the Tidelands. Showing you my realm. Teaching you how things work here." He's way too cheerful about this. "It'll be educational."
"I don't want a tour."
"You don't have a choice."
"That's kidnapping!"
"That's orientation."
"Same thing!"
"Not legally."
"There are no laws here! You are the law!"
"Exactly. Which means I can make 'mandatory tour' a law right now." He snaps his fingers. "Done. It's official."
I stare at him.
He stares back. Unblinking.
"You're the worst," I finally say.
"Thank you." He stands, offering his hand. "Shall we?"
I look at his hand like it's a snake.
"I'm not holding your hand."
"It's slippery down here. You might fall."
"I'll risk it."
"Suit yourself." He turns and starts walking—floating—toward the exit.
I follow, arms crossed, radiating fury.
We make it exactly ten steps before I slip on the wet stone floor and nearly break my neck.
Nyx catches me. AGAIN.
"Ready to hold my hand now?" he asks sweetly.
"I hate you so much."
"So you've mentioned."
I take his hand.
It's cool. Steady...
"This changes nothing," I announce.
"Of course not," he agrees, that smile playing at his lips.
And we head deeper into the Tidelands, hand in hand, both pretending this is purely practical and not something else entirely...