Chapter 43

Connie

The instant I woke up, I opened my eyes and looked next to me on the bed.

Empty.

I shut my eyes and let out a heartbroken sigh. ~Just a dream.~

I lay back, wiping a tear from my face and closed my eyes. Last night’s dream felt so real. I could feel him, taste him, and smell him.

The way he loved every inch of me, all night, and how good it felt to be in his arms after.

I shook my head and sat up. My room looked the same as I had left it.

Clothes were scattered on the floor, my jeans from last night were on the chair in the corner, and my shoes had been kicked off to both sides of the room.

I got up and pulled on my robe and slippers. My head hurt as I pulled the curtains open, and I felt a little sick again.

~Damn tequila. I’m never drinking again!~

I caught a glimpse of myself in my dressing-table mirror and sighed.

Somehow every strand of my hair had found a different direction to stand in, my makeup made me look like I had gotten into a fight, and my bloodshot eyes finished off the look.

I waved my hand at myself in surrender and stuck my hands into the pockets of the robe. I left my bedroom and watched my feet slide on the wooden floor of my home.

“Good morning, Lady Connie.” The voice made me jump back with a squeal as I looked up to see Rein standing by my front door.

~Wait!~

~He’s here!~

~It wasn’t a dream!~

I smiled at Rein, and as he nodded with a smile to me, I looked around my tiny flat, but there was no sign of Raylon.

“He has returned to the Ful ship. He wanted to be back before you woke up.”

I nodded and smiled wide as the memories of last night came flooding back. Rein smiled at me in a knowing way.

“Were you here all night?” I asked.

“Yes, my lady. I have not moved from this spot.”

~Oh God! He heard us all night!~

My cheeks grew hot as I turned my face away. I didn’t look at him as I said, “Do you want some coffee? Why don’t you sit down for a while?”

“Thank you,” he said and went to the sofa. “I do not know what coffee is.”

I went to the open kitchen. “I’ll make you some and you can try it. If you don’t like it, that’s fine.”

“Thank you,” he said, and I got to work with the grinder and cups, all the while trying to hide my smile at the thoughts of Raylon and I last night.

He was so exhausted, and so weak but he didn’t stop. ~I think he needed it as much as I did.~

When the coffee was ready, I handed Rein a cup and sat down on the chair across from him.

“So how have things been?” I asked.

“Well, thank you.”

“How is Laylar?”

He paused for a moment. “She is well. Her heart is strong. I receive a communication from her every day.”

“Good. I’m glad for you.”

“I was sure that once the king found out, it would be the end of me, but Lord Raylon saved me.

“He brought me on this journey with him. I am unsure of what will happen once we return.”

“The king knows?” I asked with shock. “What did he say?”

“To me, nothing. But I know he and Lord Raylon had strong words over it.”

“I bet,” I said and took a sip of my coffee. Rein tilted his head to the side for a moment then said, “Lord Raylon is on his way back.” He placed the cup on the table next to him.

I shot up off my chair and ran to my bedroom, hoping to get some control over how I looked before he got here.

I had just gotten into my room and placed my coffee mug on my dressing table when I heard a soft knock on my door.

I spun around to see Raylon leaning against the door frame, smiling at me.

~Great! Not again!~

Raylon

My body felt strong again from the few hours back on the Ful ship. I had hoped to be back before Connie woke up, but I needed to use their healing abilities.

Despite how tired and weak I was last night, I had summoned all the energy I had left to be with her.

Now, watching her cheeks grow red and her face take on an embarrassed look, I could only think that I wanted this woman in my bed, at my side, and in my life for as long as I lived.

Just looking at her now, my body wanted to do all the things we had last night again and again.

I pushed off the wall and went to her. She gave me a shy smile and met my eyes. “I thought it was a dream,” she said as she placed her hands on my chest.

“It was,” I said as I reached for the belt of her garment. “A dream come true. It was for me at least.”

At her frown, I laughed. “I had a dream once, very similar to last night.”

“You did?”

“Yes,” I said, and slid the thick fabric off her shoulders. “The night before I took you to Parna.”

She let the gown fall to the floor and met my eyes as she bit the corner of one lip.

“Come back with me,” I said in a whisper.

She opened her mouth to answer, but a knock on the front door made her pause.

From outside I heard the voice of the woman from last night, calling, “Con! You here?”

“Shit,” Connie mumbled to herself. “Not now, Ash.”

“Do you want Rein to tell her to leave?”

She shook her head. “No. She’s probably worried about me. I did kinda just ditch her last night at the club.”

She reached for the gown again and pulled it back over her shoulders. “But hold that thought. We are coming back to it when she leaves.”

I chuckled. “Consider it held.”

She gave a smile and went to the front door. Rein stood next to her, ready to protect her if anything happened.

She swung open the door and the white-haired woman stood there with four large white cups on a gray tray. Connie moved out of the doorway to let her in.

Rein stepped over to her and took the cups from her while he blocked her entry with his body. “What is this?” he asked, eyeing the cups.

She narrowed her eyes at him and snatched them back. “Coffee. Do you mind?” she asked as she tried to side-step him.

“Stay where you are!” Rein said, moving in front of her again.

“Boy, you better move out of my way,” she said in a fiery tone.

“Rein,” I said as I came out of Connie’s bedroom. “It’s okay. Let her in.”

He moved to his post by the front door again and stood with his arms at his side.

“Friend of yours?” she asked Connie as she handed her one of the cups.

“Thanks,” Connie said as she took the cup from her. “What are you doing here?”

Ash came over to me, and with calculating eyes she handed me one of the cups. She turned back to Connie. “You ditched me last night. I was worried about you.”

As Connie took a sip of her drink, Ash went to Rein and glared at him for a moment before handing him one of the cups.

She sat down next to Connie and pulled her feet under her. I leaned against the wall, watching them.

“I’m sorry. I just had to go,” Connie said.

“You wanna introduce me?”

“Shit, yeah, sorry. Um, the big guy by the door is Rein, and that’s Raylon,” she said as she gave me a smile.

“~The Raylon? Like Mr. Heartbreak, ‘I miss him so much I might die’ Raylon?”

Connie blushed as she took a sip of her coffee with a small nod.

“You told me he was dead,” Ash said.

“Yeah, about that,” Connie said as she shifted in her seat.

“It was easier to tell you that he died than to tell you the truth.

“You kept asking why I could never see him again if I missed him so much, and I didn’t know what to say, so I told you he was dead.”

“Tell me what truth?” Ash asked, and I could see Connie struggled to find the words.

I stepped forward. “I am not from here,” I said.

Ash looked up at me with her brows raised. “Yeah, so? It’s not like we haven’t invented airplanes yet. Unless you are married already. Is that what it is?”

“No. And if she had used the crafts your people have invented, it would have taken Connie over two hundred and fifty million years to get to my home.”

“What?” Ash said, as her frown deepened.

“My Lord,” Rein said from the door. “The Fuls are requesting to speak with you.”

I nodded and touched the side of my ear. “Yes?”

“Lord Raylon,” Billy said, “The king is asking to speak with you. Would you like us to transfer the connection to Connie’s home?”

“Yes, thank you,” I said, and looked around for where he would appear. On a flat square screen in front of us, my brother’s face appeared.

“Hello, brother,” he said with a wide smile. “Connie, it is so good to see you again.”

“Hello, Your Highness,” she said with a smile.