Gift (Enchanted Ardor #2)

Chapter Ten

Nick made love to Olivia again and again, with murmured conversations in between.

He wanted to know everything about her, this woman that had stumbled into his life so suddenly, bringing a light to it that he hadn’t known in so long.

He lay stretched out, head on hand, Liv curled into him. He studied every faint freckle on her face, the perfection, and the minute imperfections, that made her unique.

Did she have a family?

No, she told him, just her closest friend, the djinn, Gena, that had gifted her this life.

Long ago, her birth family had sacrificed her to a dragon for the sake of their village—so they’d believed.

Pain flickered in her blue eyes as she whispered “It was for the best. In a long and circuitous way: it led to this moment, though, didn’t it?”

“Don’t do that. Don’t diminish what they did. Just because the dragon turned out to be a shifter doesn’t change the fact they believed they were sending you to your death. To save themselves.”

“Nick, it was five centuries ago. For the good of the many.”

“And you were a child.” His intense gaze flicked over her features as he pushed the wisps of hair from her face. “That’s why you do it, isn’t it? Your work to help the vulnerable? Those cast out of society?”

She swallowed. “It always has been. Convent work, fostering, orphanages wherever I’ve lived, I’ve found people in need. Adults, children…” she shrugged.

“And none of your own.”

She shook her head.

“Have you? Had children?”

Pain beat in Nick’s chest. He nodded.

Her fingers smoothed over his brow.

“I did. A wife, a son, and a daughter, killed in a raid.”

“And you never remarried.”

He shook his head. “We retaliated—not the children, but all the adults.” He sighed, rubbing his eyes. “My worst moment. Our worst moments, led to this path too. Atonement for the orphans we created in our vengeance.”

Her fingers trailed along the tattoos adorning his neck. “Still, after all these years?”

“Everything we—I—did? It never seems to be enough. I don’t believe it can be. The world has changed so much in the last thousand years. And yet, it really hasn’t. People haven’t changed.”

“I know.” Her fingers drifted over his brow. “But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep trying.”

“I’m tired. We’re all tired. But I’m glad it’s led to these moments, here with you. It is a great solace after so long a time alone.”

The nearly inaudible sound of harness bells drew his attention to the present. “Sleipnir is coming. Better dress quickly, he isn’t patient.”

Olivia rose from the bed, scavenging for her strewn clothing, tossing him his, as she found them.

“You’re comfortable around horses?” Nick pulled his shirt over his head, then slipped his feet into his boots.

Olivia dipped behind the bed, one sock in hand while she hunted for the other. “No, they terrify me. My uncle had a mean mare when I was young, so I learned to avoid them.”

“That may be a problem.”

Her head popped up from behind the bed. Her mouth popped open. “You said there was no sleigh.”

He shook his head.

“Really? Ah, crap shots.” She slumped against the wall to pull her socks on, casting him baleful looks. “Does he bite? He won’t crush my foot with his hooves, will he?”

“He won’t. But he may push you around a bit if you let him.”

Olivia stood, muttering, as she pulled her boots on. “Wonderful. Not really easing my concerns here, Nick.”

He held up her scarf as she moved toward him. Rather than hand it to her, he looped it over her head and shoulders, pulling her closer. He looked down into her large blue eyes as he tucked it into place. His voice turned gruff, “I’ll protect you, Liv.”

She blinked, concern clearing from her forehead, and smiled.

His throat tightened at the naked trust in her expression as she looked up at him, stirring something he’d thought long ago lost from his heart.

He cleared his throat. “Ready?”

Olivia drew a deep breath and nodded. “Ready.”

Nick grabbed his satchel, pulling it over his head and settled it on his shoulder before grabbing Olivia’s hand firmly in his and eased the door open. He poked his head out, glancing up and down the empty corridor. “No creepy shadows.”

She squeezed his hand, following at his gentle tug, their footsteps light as they hurried toward the stairwell. He guided her up to the top floor.

“Won’t it be locked?” She hesitated.

“Pre-arranged agreement with management. They let rooftoppers up here all the time, so long as they sign waivers.” He pushed the door open to a glittering panorama of city lights, twinkling in the crisp midnight winter air, the moon low in the western sky. He guided her to a lit corner of the rooftop.

Olivia’s breath escaped in a soft puff as she took in the scene of her city from above. “It’s so beautiful up here.”

The illuminated parliament buildings dominated one side, the black and silvered river rushed along behind it, while the city stretched southward from the front of the grounds.

Olivia shivered. Nick drew her close, wrapping his arms around her, reveling in the feel of her leaning into him as they absorbed the view.

Sleipnir’s harness bells grew louder in Nick’s inner ear. “He’s almost here,” he whispered into the soft hair covering her ear.

The wind picked up, swirling the rooftop snow around them. Nick turned to face the center of the roof, waiting for Sleipnir’s arrival.

The air surrounding them crackled.

Olivia jumped with a gasp at the sudden pop, right before the city lights surged, the illumination drawn toward an open ring through which Sleipnir became visible.

“Jésus,” Olivia breathed.