Imperfect (Disappeared #1)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

She managed to struggle out of her dress so that she was just in a petticoat and bloomers. She felt painfully naked. Tucking herself under the quilts, she drew the covers up to her chin and said in a small voice, "I'm decent."

Ahuil turned around, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "No doubt. I can't see anything but your face. All right, I'm getting in. Clothed." He shuffled under and drew the covers up to his hairline. "Are we decent?" he asked in a muffled voice.

She rolled her eyes and pulled back the quilt slightly. "You're embarrassing me."

"What if I held your hand? Would you die from embarrassment then?"

She felt for his fingers under the covers and grasped them. "There. No one's dying."

He moved closer to her and gently folded her hand in his. "That's better." His hand felt warm and protective.

"It's not so bad," she said, swooning inside. She felt she might blush and quickly changed the subject. "How did you know to find me in the woods?"

He smiled crookedly. "You know how. You tapped into something between us." He cleared his throat. "I was awakened by this feeling like a storm of energy. It was faint at first and then grew so that I could barely lie down, I was so anxious. At first, I had no idea what it was. Then I had this reoccurring image of you curled up in the woods asleep. I was filled with panic because I knew you shouldn't be alone there. How dangerous it was."

He sighed and rubbed his bristly cheeks. "I could see where you were, more or less, so I went running over before anyone could stop me. I'm actually not allowed to go out on my own. Anyway, I ran like I've never done before. And then I found you."

He closed his eyes for a moment, his dark lashes fanning across his cheek. Then, to her surprise, she saw his shoulders shake a little, as if he were crying. When he opened his eyes again, she saw they were wet. He attempted a smile that promptly collapsed like wet cardboard.

"I'm sorry. I'm exhausted and it's making me a bit odd. I just ... I thought I'd never see you again."

She reached over and gently stroked his temple. "Me too. I didn't think the door between our worlds would let me through again."

He sighed. "But Theo, you shouldn't have come back. Really. You have no idea how lucky you are that nothing happened to you out there. I just can't believe you would risk yourself for — well, I'm going to assume <i>me</i>."

"Of course it was for you. I can't believe you've made me say it. I'm practically dying from embarrassment already."

"I'm the one almost crying in front of you." He reached out and pinched her cheek. "I think we're even."

Theodosia laughed and then grew serious again. "Did you really tell me not to come back?"

"I did." He took a deep breath and traced his thumb over her bottom lip. "In that moment all I could think was, Being here is going to cost her her life. I have to make her believe I don't want her back."

"Fortunately, I'm rather stubborn."

Ahuil smiled deeply. "My brave and lovely Theodosia. I should scold you, but I can't. It's too good to see you again. Lying here, it's as if everything bad that's happened in the past couple of months has just disappeared."

Her lips reflexively curled into a smile. He gathered her close. She nestled her face in his neck and breathed in deeply. There it was, that now-familiar scent of wood smoke and pine. Relief flooded her body, even though she had been away for only twenty-four hours. That it had been two months for him was unfathomable. From the way he held her so tightly, she imagined his relief must be on a whole other level.

"Still not kissing you," he whispered, cutting into her thoughts.

She tensed. "What!"

"Because you should not be here, Theo. I know you don't want to hear this, but you may have to go back soon. I want you here so badly, but I don't want to see you hurt."

"You'll have to force me." She looked up at him. "Didn't I tell you I was stubborn?" The serious cast of his face gave her pause. "Ahuil, what's been happening here? You're scaring me."

He caressed her cheek with his thumb. "You've seen some of it. Tomorrow you're really going to know. Listen, my sweet, you're exhausted. We're safe here now. Let's sleep a while and forget everything. We found each other again. That's all we need right now."

But Theodosia wasn't sure what she was supposed to be forgetting. Ahuil soon fell into the calm waters of sleep. His breathing slowed and she felt his gentle snores ruffling her hair. Yet slumber didn't come so easily to her. Her confused thoughts clashed together like opposing waves. He wanted her. He didn't want her. And something so bad was happening that it threatened to split them apart. Her ignorance felt the furthest thing from reassuring.

Then came thoughts of home along with all the horrid feelings of guilt and pain. How Louisa would demand to know where she was and receive no answers. How her parents would grieve, believing her ruined or even dead. All of these reflections churned through her mind and made her stomach weak. She found herself staring up into the trees until the first light of dawn appeared and banished her to sleep.

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