Page 56 of Tears of Revenge

Probably not, but she put it to the back of her mind and focused on her fluttering friend in front of her.

“Little dove?”

Marcus’s voice startled her. She’d been staring at a bee, so intent on taking in every little detail that she hadn’t even heard her own thoughts. For how long had she been doing that?

“Lysander is returning soon and just wanted to be sure you didn’t need anything.”

“I forgot to think about it,” she admitted.

Marcus chuckled. “Yeah, you did seem a little distracted. Do you enjoy gardening?”

“I’ve never tried it.”

“Why don’t I have Lysander pick up some supplies for you to try?”

That did sound nice. She inhaled deeply and turned towards him, creatures fleeing at her sudden movement. That wasn’t what made her feel uneasy, though. She hadn’t noticed that she hadn’t been breathing until she’d consciously filled her lungs.

“It’s just an idea. We can always find something else.”

“No, I like it.” Another deep breath. “It’s just… I wasn’t breathing.”

“It made me uneasy in the beginning as well, but it comes with perks.”

“Perks?”

“Yes. Cities didn’t used to be this clean. Most history books don’t mention it, but they reeked horribly. I don’t know how people could live in their own filth, but I guess they had no other choice. Not breathing meant not smelling either.”

She giggled. “You’re old.”

Marcus crooked a brow, feigning offence. “Thank you, just what I hoped to hear.”

“You don’t look like it,” she said, trying to redeem herself.

Marcus grinned then, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, sweet little dove, I’m just playing with you.” He offered her a hand, and she quickly closed the distance between them. “Let’s get you fed.”

Twenty

Marcus

Once Avalon had her glass in hand, he led her to the library where Varos had stored the huge cushion that he’d ordered for her.

“I know it’s not yours, but I was hoping this would make you feel more at home,” Varos explained.

Avalon squealed, leaving Marcus to take her glass from her as she threw herself into the fluffy cushion. “Thank you.”

“I wasn’t sure if you wanted to keep your apartment and didn’t want to take anything you didn’t permit me to.”

“So you just bought a new one instead?” Avalon was laughing, though there was a tone to her voice that Marcus couldn’t quite place.

“Well, now you can have two. One in your room and one here,” Marcus suggested. “At least, once we have brought your other one here.”

Bright honey eyes stared up at them, and she finally relaxed. “Thank you.” A single tear broke free and fell, leaving a thin red line over her porcelain skin. “Thank you,” she repeated.

He and Varos fell to their knees beside her. While Varos took her hand, Marcus brushed the tear away with his thumb.

“I don’t know what else to say,” she whispered, blinking back more tears.

Marcus was the one to answer. “I think I speak for both of us when I say we expected you to rip us to pieces.”