Chapter 40 : Meant to Be Here

*Gemma*

Making love to Kael was better than I hoped it would be. Much better than it would have been if we tried it down in Nedra while I was tipsy.

I felt empowered by my desire for him, to get the release and pleasure I wanted, but… I wanted to make him happy most of all. I wanted to distract him from his pain and fear and worry about his family and his encounter with Connor. Heavy was his crown. But I told him I wouldn't let it fall on my feet.

I would keep it from falling at all. And if it did, I would catch it and bear its weight too.

I fell asleep quickly in his arms, surprised and secretly overjoyed that I slept straight through the night, and when I woke, he was in a fitful sleep. His brows were knitted in pain, eyelids moving rapidly back and forth as his eyes tried to follow the madness of a nightmare, his body trembling as it overheated despite the still-cool morning.

Fighting to remain calm for both our sakes, I woke him. And I was able to breathe a sigh of r